From: mjm@flash.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Michael Mammoser)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: southeast Arizona
Date: 8 Apr 92 15:54:59 GMT



	I just returned from a weekend trip to southeast Arizona, whose
purpose was to find some of the recent rarities that have been there.
Target birds were Blue Mockingbird, Flame-colored Tanager, and Eared
Trogon. A friend and I arrived in Phoenix Friday evening and drove all
the way to Nogales before stopping for a few hours rest.

	At about five in the morning we headed for Patagonia, and a spot
along Sonoita Creek just south of the sanctuary, where we were hoping to
see the Blue Mockingbird. We spent the next five hours there, scanning the
edge of the creek and the undergrowth along it, without success. Still,
the area produced a number of interesting birds. Cassin's Kingbirds called
and chased each other through the trees, as did Northern Cardinals.
Vermilion Flycatchers caught flies and a Green Kingfisher caught us, by
surprise that is, as it cruised back and forth along the creek. Small birds
moved through the trees; Yellow Warblers by the ton, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Lucy's Warbler, Bridled Titmouse, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Bushtit,
Solitary Vireo, and a couple of Chipping Sparrows. Canyon Towhee and the
pale race of Song Sparrow sang from the low cover while Canyon Wren sang
from on high. Overhead, with the Turkey Vultures and White-throated Swifts, 
was a lone Black Vulture and two Gray Hawks. One of the Gray Hawks was an 
adult, the first adult that I had ever seen, my two previous trips to 
Arizona having produced only immatures. The obligatory stop at the Paton's 
on the way out gave us a look at the Violet-crowned Hummingbird, in addition 
to Broad-billed, Black-chinned, and Anna's.

	As the afternoon started we were in Madera Canyon, on the handicap
loop trail above Proctor Road, looking for Flame-colored Tanager. This
easy-walking paved path was quite quiet, with only a couple of Gray-breasted
Jays there to break the silence. Looking up, I noticed a vulture flying
over and, since it was backdropped by a gray rain cloud over the mountain,
decided to check its markings in the good light. A distinct white band about
halfway down the tail, dark barring on the gray primaries and secondaries,
and fully feathered head showed this to be that great vulture-imitator, the
Zone-tailed Hawk.

	Having missed out on the tanager, we went to Florida Wash with
the hopes of finding a Crissal Thrasher, a life bird for me and the only
U.S. thrasher that I still needed. Instead, we found a nice male Costa's
Hummingbird; his purplish droopy gorget glinting brightly in the sun.
Other birds present here were Verdin, Lucy's Warbler, Bell's Vireo, Black-
throated Sparrow, and Phainopepla.

	After seeing a Magnificent Hummingbird at the gift shop, we
settled in at the Santa Rita Lodge to wait for the owls to come out at
sunset. As we waited, a group of people gathered, all with the same intention.
A local guide, who was leading a Smithsonian group, took pity on us and
stationed us in front of a telephone pole, telling us to watch a hole near
the top. While there was still enough light to see, an Elf Owl twice poked
its head out of the hole and became my first lifer of the trip.

	The next morning we drove to Ramsey Canyon to try for the Eared 
Trogon. Arriving at the Mile Hi Sanctuary without a reservation, we found 
that we would have to come back after 9:00 to see if there were any 
cancellations. However, while browsing in the gift shop and talking with
the manager, we discovered that one of the volunteers did not show up that 
day. She offered us the use of the parking spot reserved for the volunteer,
and our quest was able to continue.

	We hiked up the Hamburg trail about two miles or more, to the place
where the trogons had tried to nest last September. Hutton's Vireos and
Painted Redstarts were in the pines, while Rufous-sided Towhees and a Hermit
Thrush occupied the forest floor. We spent a couple of hours in the nest
site area, but could find no trace of the trogons. We did see an American
Dipper, somewhat rare for southeast Arizona.

	We were tired from the hike and had to be back in Phoenix for the
flight home, but couldn't resist a stop at the San Xavier Mission south of
Tucson. A short walk behind the mission allowed us to see a Cactus Wren
calling from atop a cholla, while a Curve-billed Thrasher carried food into,
and fecal sacs out of another. Black-tailed Gnatcatchers "mewed" from a
line of mesquite trees. However, what I was hoping to find here was a
Crissal Thrasher; and I only had about forty-five minutes to do it. With
time running out I finally found a pair of adults feeding and teaching a
young fledgling to forage. I was able to watch them for about five minutes
from thirty to forty feet, before I had to leave. A second life bird as
the game clock runs out.

	I don't know if the three rarities are still around. The Blue
Mockingbird was last seen three days to a week before we arrived, the
Eared Trogons were last seen on the 30th of March, and I don't think that
the Flame-colored Tanager was seen after the first weekend that it was 
discovered. Although I didn't see any of these birds, it's hard to say that
I'm disappointed. Birding southeast Arizona is hardly ever disappointing.

Mike