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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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