[TopOfUtah] Not Utah: Trip report to SE Arizona

[Ryan O'Donnell]

Last weekend I took a break from birding in Cache County to do a little
birding in Cochise County, Arizona.  I was there to help some friends
with their field work on rodents, but managed to sneak in some great
birding during the breaks.  I had a total of about nine lifers and saw
many Arizona specialties that I had seen before.  Black-throated
sparrows and Chihuahan Ravens were common in the valley:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/BTSP.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CHRA.jpg
 
I also saw Canyon Towhees and my first Crissal Thrasher there, among
others.  The most exciting birds for me were up Cave Creek Canyon in the
Chiricahua Mountains.  Mexican Jays were common. 
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/MEJA.jpg
My first lifer of the day was a Yellow-eyed Junco, a species I'd been
hoping to see.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/YEJU.jpg
We also saw several Painted Redstarts and Bridled Titmice at our first
stop, along with several species that also occur in Utah like Wilson's
Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Dark-eyed
Juncos.
 
At the Southwest Research Station I saw my first Zone-tailed Hawk, a
beauty that tricked my friend into thinking it was just a Turkey
Vulture, which were much more common there.  Supposedly this species
mimics Turkey Vultures to surprise its prey.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/ZTHA.jpg
While standing in the same spot I saw my lifer Cassin's Kingbird.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CAKI.jpg
At the hummingbird feeders here were at least four species.  This shot
shows two Magnificent Hummingbirds and one Blue-throated Hummingbird in
the same tree!
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/Hummers.jpg
I saw my lifer Hepatic Tanager at the research station, which was
exciting enough, but I topped that by finding my second Hepatic Tanager
in the same dead tree as my lifer Lewis's Woodpecker within an hour!
Lewis's Woodpecker had been a nemesis bird for me - it seems ironic to
find it in Arizona at the extreme edge of its winter range when I've
spent so much time in core breeding habitat without finding it.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/HETAandLEWO.jpg
The next day we were able to return up the valley again and I picked up
a couple more lifers, including a Grace's Warbler and a Dusky-capped
Flycatcher. 
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/DCFL.jpg
There were Elegant Trogons around, but we weren't able to find any.
After finding so many great birds, I don't mind leaving something to
search for next time. . . .
 
Good birding, 
Ryan
 
Ryan P. O'Donnell
Department of Biology and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5305
 
http://200birds.blogspot.com