Aliso Spring, Paton Center, Patagonia Roadside Rest, Patagonia Lake

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Despite the ferocious heat, we managed to find our main target bird and had a very productive day, with 87 species in total.

Gardner Canyon Rd:

Along the road we found GREATER ROADRUNNER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, CANYON TOWHEE, BOTTERI’S SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK, and ‘LILIAN’S’ EASTERN MEADOWLARK.

Aliso Spring:

The PINE FLYCATCHER continues, despite a large group of campers and birders.

Also in the area, a couple of female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS on nests, ARIZONA WOODPECKER, DUSKY-CAPPED and SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, HUTTON’S VIREO, ‘BROWN-THROATED’ HOUSE WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, PAINTED REDSTART, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

As we left, we saw a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL and heard another calling nearby.

Gardner Canyon:

We continued to the end of the road and birded up canyon for a while, finding GRAY HAWK nest, two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, DUSKY-CAPPED and SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, HUTTON’S VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, PAINTED REDSTART, HEPATIC TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and SCOTT’S ORIOLE.

Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center, Patagonia:

A couple of VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS were coming in, using at least three different feeders: feeder D, feeder 8, and the feeder near the new pond.

It was good to see another YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Sadly, the western subspecies is now on the endangered list, with SE Arizona being the last stronghold for this splendid bird.

The center was very birdy, despite the high temperatures. Highlights included GRAY HAWK, BLACK-CHINNED and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, INCA DOVE, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, DUSKY-CAPPED and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, ABERT’S TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW, and BLACK-HEADED and BLUE GROSBEAKS.

Blue Haven Rd:

A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was present in the usual area, and we even managed to find the nest, which requires viewing from exactly the right angle.

Several pairs of GREAT BLUE HERONS are also on nests, and we also saw LARK SPARROW, and BLACK-HEADED and BLUE GROSBEAKS.

Patagonia Roadside Rest:

All was silent mid-afternoon, but after a while we heard a THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD which called as it flew from the nest tree and crossed the road. We went to investigate and found it feeding on Mexican Elderberries.

Patagonia Lake:

I was surprised to see as many birds as we did, given the heat. The highlights were ‘MEXICAN’ MALLARD, PIED-BILLED GREBE, NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, SNOWY EGRET, GREEN HERON, BLACK VULTURE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, absolutely loads of LUCY’S WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, RUFOUS-WINGED and BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS, SUMMER TANAGER, and BLACK-HEADED and BLUE GROSBEAKS.

Nogales:

A colony of ‘MEXICAN’ CLIFF SWALLOWS has sprung up around the Candelwood Suites hotel and nearby buildings, and the first juveniles have just left the nest.