Southeast Arizona Bird Guide, Birding Tours SE AZ: Welcome to Fun Birding Tours in AZ with Richard Fray » rarities

Buckeye Thrasher Site

Richard — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:51:58 +0000

Well, it's probably not a normal experience in July, so don't count on it, but to my amazement it took me only 12 minutes to find a calling LE CONTE'S THRASHER, see it fairly well and get a reasonable record shot. It was nothing more than dumb luck, [...]

Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon

Richard — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:40:37 +0000

Beatty's Guest Ranch was low on quantity of hummers, but as usual very high on quality. BERYLLINE, WHITE-EARED, BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, ANNA'S, BLACK-CHINNED, BROAD-TAILED and BROAD-BILLED were all seen in 40 minutes. We hiked up canyon and enjoyed good looks at a SPOTTED OWL roosting in a [...]

Madera Canyon

Richard — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:35:42 +0000

The general birding around Madera Kubo was just amazing: BERYLLINE, BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT and more HUMMINGBIRDS, BLUE and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, FLAME-COLORED, WESTERN, HEPATIC and SUMMER TANAGERS, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, ARIZONA WOODPECKER, BRONZED COWBIRD, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, PAINTED REDSTART, HOODED ORIOLE, PLUMBEOUS VIREO and [...]

Richard’s Photothon 2010

Richard — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:47:42 +0000

After a decent effort last year where I photographed 105 species, I took my photothon even more seriously this year and aimed for 110. I decided on a new route, spending more time in the car to reach more sites, so even though I would be in the field less I'd be exposed to more birds. And it paid off. I saw/heard a total of 127 species and somehow got photos of 114! [...]

Ramsey Canyon, San Pedro House

Richard — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:09:13 +0000

The highlight was the continuing male GREEN KINGFISHER which I heard calling from my position a little way from the river. After I shouted it out, Roger and Joe both saw it as it dashed upstream level with the Kingfisher [...]

Amado, Florida Canyon, Madera Canyon

Richard — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:13:48 +0000

The gorgeous Rufous-capped Warbler burst into life, feeding excitedly and calling frequently. It ranged slightly upslope, and then came right down to investigate me and my camera. It was difficult through the forest of small branches but I was quite pleased with the [...]

Gilbert Water Ranch, Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Richard — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:23:06 +0000

I met Neill and Karen again, today at Gilbert Water Ranch in Phoenix, where we spent a pleasant morning with the great variety of birds to be found around the ponds.

We started by studying contrasting birds – roosting Turkey Vultures and busy Anna’s Hummingbirds. Pond 7 was the place to be, with Great and Snowy Egrets, [...]

Sweetwater Wetlands, Santa Gertrudis Lane

Richard — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:05:50 +0000

I spent the day with great company, Karen and Neill Hart from Little Rock, Arkansas. We started at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson, where we soon racked up a good list of birds.

Straight away we were into warblers, predominantly Yellow-rumped Warbler. We picked out one Myrtle from the regular Audubon’s. Several Orange-crowned Warblers frequented the lower [...]

Take the Ruff with the Smooth

Richard — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:15:16 +0000

I’m on a roll!

I started the day at Sweetwater Wetlands and had a fine time with the camera.

From there I headed to Pinal Air Park to look for Burrowing Owls. I wasn’t disappointed either, with two splendid owls by the side of a dirt road to the east of the old pecan grove.

I [...]

Bay-breasted Warbler

Richard — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:10:38 +0000

I’ve been in Arizona for seven years without exactly setting the place ablaze with my rare bird finding exploits. I’ve chanced upon a few notables, but nothing to really get people racing to the scene. That finally changed on Saturday…

I was looking for a Rusty Blackbird, itself a very rare bird here, found by Mark Stevenson [...]