lrasmuss@dante.nmsu.edu (Linda Rasmussen) (05/20/89)
For anyone interested in birding SE Arizona, here are some
highlights of a trip May 11-14, 1989.
Areas covered:
Las Cruces-->Chiricahuas-->Ramsey Cnyn-->Sonoita Creek/Nogales
Most of the SE Arizona specialties were there: the Trogon, Sulphur-bellied
Flycatcher, Strickland's Woodpecker, Beardless Tyrranulet, Rose-throated
Becard, Gray Hawk, hummingbirds, etc.
Total species: 156 (2 short of last year's record!)
Ducks & Shorebirds
------------------
This was the weakest area. Shorebirds at the Road Forks ponds were not
as abundant as usual this year. In all, 17 species, the only notable:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Kino Springs Golf Course, Nogales)
Raptors
-------
6 species, including:
Grey Hawk (Sonoita Creek Sanctuary)
Harris Hawk (Hwy 80 near Cienega Ranch turnoff)
Doves
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All 6 local doves, including the elusive (for me):
Common Ground Dove (Kino Springs Golf Course)
Owls & Nightjars
----------------
Whiskered Screech Owl
No. Pygmy Owl
Burrowing Owl
Whip-poor-will (a good look at one in the morning, too)
Poor-will
Lesser Nighthawk
Hummingbirds
------------
8 species, including:
Anna's Hummingbird (Ramsey)
Calliope Hummingbird (Chiricahuas, Spofford Ranch)
Magnificent Hummingbird
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Lucifer's Hummingbird (Spofford Ranch)
Trogons
-------
Elegant Trogon (Chiricahuas, Sunny Flats campground)
Woodpeckers
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7 species, including:
Gila Woodpecker (Sonoita)
Hairy Woodpecker (Chiricahuas, Rustler Park)
Strickland's Woodpecker (Chiricahuas, South Fork)
Flycatchers
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17 species, including:
Cassin's Kingbird
Thick-billed Kingbird (Patagonia roadside rest)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Sunny Flats; with Trogon as usual)
Rose-throated Becard (the usual sycamore at Patagonia roadside rest)
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Greater Pewee
Vermillion Flycatcher
No. Beardless Tyrannulet (Sonoita Cr. Sanctuary)
Swallows
--------
5 species; Bank Swallows at Road Forks
Chickadees, Creepers, Nuthatches
--------------------------------
7 species, including:
Mexican Chickadee (Rustler Peak)
Pygmy Nuthatch (ditto)
Warblers
--------
14 species (most from Chiricahuas):
Virginia's Warbler Grace's Warbler
Lucy's Warbler Northern Waterthrush (Las Cruces,river)
Olive Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler
Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat
Black-throated Gray Warbler Wilson's Warbler
Townsend's Warbler Painted Redstart
(Alas, no Slate-throated Redstart; reported at Chiricahua's South Fork,
but hadn't been seen for several days.)
Blackbirds, etc.
----------------
10 species, including:
Eastern Meadowlark
Hooded Oriole
Bronzed Cowbird (doing a wild breeding display at Kino Springs)
Tanagers
--------
3 species: Western, Hepatic, and Summer.
Finches, Sparrows, etc.
-----------------------
20 species, rather weak on sparrows this trip. A real treat in the
Evening Grosbeak however (an *unusually* beautiful bird.)
Cardinal
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting (common in Chiricahuas this time)
Evening Grosbeak (Chiricahuas, Barfoot Park)
Lark Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Yellow-eyed Junco
lrasmuss@nmsu.edu :: L. Rasmussen
frontraz@nmsuvm1.bitnet :: New Mexico State University