http://www.funbirdingtours.com Have FUN with wildlife in one of the world's truly great birding destinations Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:12:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/26/sulphur-springs-valley-4/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/26/sulphur-springs-valley-4/#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:59:13 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4885 We planned to stop at the pond by Faria Dairy for a few minutes but it turned into a much longer visit. This pond is attractive to wildfowl including diving ducks and grebes and often has interesting birds. That was certainly the case today. Straight away I noticed a loon and a quick look through the scope confirmed it as a PACIFIC LOON, a rare bird in SE Arizona. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/26/sulphur-springs-valley-4/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/longspur-sp/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/longspur-sp/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:34:06 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4805 Whilst birding with Bill and Laura Couchman in the Santa Cruz Flats south of Eloy, I noticed a longspur in the short grass. It was too distant to get much on it through binoculars. I rattled off a few record shots, glanced down to grab my scope, looked back and it was gone. The overwhelming verdict is that it's a McCOWN'S LONGSPUR, and not a Lapland as I suggested. A new bird for me and apparently only the third record for Pinal County. My thanks to everyone who helped me reach the correct ID. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/longspur-sp/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:35:35 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4813 Highlights were a dark phase FERRUGINOUS HAWK, a splendid pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES, a couple of BENDIRE’S THRASHER, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a couple of CRESTED CARACARAS. A sprinkling of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were found in most suitable fields. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/sweetwater-wetlands-anza-trail-at-carmen/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/sweetwater-wetlands-anza-trail-at-carmen/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:36:53 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4773 For the fifth year in a row, a GRAY HAWK has chosen the Arivaca Road exit on I-19 at Amado as it's wintering area. It's probably the only one in the U.S.A. at the moment, but it certainly didn't make itself difficult to find today. It's a shame more birds don't take this approach when it comes to revealing their whereabouts... [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/sweetwater-wetlands-anza-trail-at-carmen/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/i-19-corridor-birding/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/i-19-corridor-birding/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:10:13 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4768 Highlights at Pena Blanca Lake were an ARIZONA WOODPECKER, a gorgeous male LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH and a minimum of 12 LEAST GREBES. I was particularly pleased with some of the photos. We eventually saw the SCARLET TANAGER along Peck Canyon Rd in Rio Rico. It was silent and motionless in a large mesquite for about ten seconds, then dropped out of sight. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/20/i-19-corridor-birding/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/12/fun-birding-workshop-rarity-chase/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/12/fun-birding-workshop-rarity-chase/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:58:06 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4759 There were a few contenders in the days leading up, but we settled for heading north and going to see a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL discovered by Tommy DeBardeleben at Glendale Recharge Basins in western Phoenix. My second new gull in Arizona this week! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/12/fun-birding-workshop-rarity-chase/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/07/black-legged-kittiwake/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/07/black-legged-kittiwake/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:39:05 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4692 News of a rare bird here in Arizona always gets my attention, but sometimes it leaves me with a dilemma. This was one such occasion. The rare bird in question was a Black-legged Kittiwake, a genuine seabird with no business being inland at all. But, whilst extremely rare in Arizona, it's a fairly common bird around Britain's coastline and I've seen thousands in places like the Shetland Isles. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/07/black-legged-kittiwake/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:54 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4628 We watched this area of brush piles and shoreline for a long time, with different birds coming in throughout. It was a veritable sparrow fest! As well as the GOLDEN-CROWNED we had brief views of a smart BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW, as well as LARK, LINCOLN’S, SAVANNAH, VESPER, BREWER’S, RUFOUS-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED and CHIPPING SPARROWS, making it ten species in one spot. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:32:59 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4584 Whilst birding at Pena Blanca Lake with Jean and Sterling Weaver and Sue and Dave Schwardt of New York, I was pleased to pick out a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW among White-crowned Sparrows and other birds coming in to drink and bathe. I managed to get some distant record shots of this rare visitor from the West Coast. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:37:11 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4543 Whilst birding with Peter and Marianne Hosford in the Santa Cruz Flats south of Eloy, Arizona, I was lucky enough to find a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN, a rare visitor to the U.S.A. from Mexico. They are usually found at fruiting trees in riparian or other lush areas, but surprisingly this one was feeding on the ground in a small pecan grove in an area of cotton fields, sod farms and hostile, sparse desert. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:23:05 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4550 Considering the early date, the Santa Cruz Flats were awesome! We found a handsome FERRUGINOUS HAWK along Picacho Highway, and as we watched it disappear over the fields a WHITE-TAILED KITE crossed our line of sight. Two CRESTED CARACARAS were perched up distantly in a hedgerow. Elsewhere we found a PRAIRIE FALCON and a couple of BENDIRE’S THRASHERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:36:28 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4139 We made a brief stop at Montosa Canyon where we saw FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW, soon followed by the family party of BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS (we counted at least six) and a showy VARIED BUNTING. What a great birding site this is. Three major targets, all found and photographed in 20 minutes! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:46:10 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4024 It was a great day, with some nice sets including: two vultures, seven hawks, two falcons, four owls, three Myiarchus flycatchers, four kingbirds, three nuthatches, five wrens and twelve warblers. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS were singing at about five sites, CASSIN’S and BOTTERI’S at two or three. Much of SE Arizona is looking green, lush and beautiful. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/09/rio-rico-purple-gallinule/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/09/rio-rico-purple-gallinule/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:59:42 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3811 The PURPLE GALLINULE performed superbly. What a cracking bird! It was often out of view but regularly came into the open, allowing some half decent shots. It flew from one side of the pond to the other, then back, and ended up perched a few feet up in a mesquite by the time I left. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/09/rio-rico-purple-gallinule/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/12/june-fun-birding-workshop/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/12/june-fun-birding-workshop/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 06:31:29 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3718 We pulled up outside Alan's house and, as luck would have it, the STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE flew in and landed briefly. We waited a while and over time got fantastic views of this gorgeous rare bird. We met top photographer Charles W. Melton, which is always a pleasure. As usual, Charles got the best photo. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/12/june-fun-birding-workshop/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/03/willcox-gray-catbird/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/03/willcox-gray-catbird/#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 06:16:23 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3683 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/03/willcox-gray-catbird/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/01/empire-gulch-mourning-warbler/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/01/empire-gulch-mourning-warbler/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:43:31 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3674 A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was soaring over the riparian area as I arrived. I found the MOURNING WARBLER immediately but didn’t manage much of a photo. Also in the area, both CASSIN’S and BOTTERI’S SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK, SWAINSON’S and HERMIT THRUSHES, WESTERN and SUMMER TANAGERS and late WILSON'S and Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/01/empire-gulch-mourning-warbler/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 06:11:37 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3627 At the Paton’s house, we were entertained by a couple of COMMON GROUND-DOVES, several GRAY HAWKS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LARK SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK and BROAD-TAILED, BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 04:38:47 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3609 FAN-TAILED WARBLERS are famous for being one-day birds - even one-hour birds - so I was pleasantly surprised on my arrival to find a group of birders watching it at close range near the amphitheater. Easy! And... wow! What a fantastic bird. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/feed/ 4 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/19/blackpoll-warbler-at-sweetwater/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/19/blackpoll-warbler-at-sweetwater/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 08:55:59 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3571 After a while I found the BLACKPOLL WARBLER, in exactly the spot described. It was foraging silently, mostly in the lower branches of the largest tree overhanging the southern end of Willow Pond. It was loosely associating with four TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a WARBLING VIREO. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/19/blackpoll-warbler-at-sweetwater/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 06:39:54 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3462 I ended on a total of 144 species. At Willcox, six CASPIAN TERNS, 18 RING-BILLED GULLS and three FRANKLIN’S GULLS were the obvious stars. On the shorebird front, single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and WILLET were among hundreds of peeps. PRAIRIE FALCON and SWAINSON’S HAWK were overhead. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/08/cochise-stronghold-benson-wtp/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/08/cochise-stronghold-benson-wtp/#comments Sat, 09 Apr 2011 06:03:16 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3334 Highlights included several SCOTT’S ORIOLES, LAZULI BUNTINGS, PAINTED REDSTART, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER, GREEN-TAILED, SPOTTED and CANYON TOWHEES, BROAD-BILLED, BROAD-TAILED, BLACK-CHINNED and ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS and my FOS WHITE-THROATED SWIFT. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/08/cochise-stronghold-benson-wtp/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/06/crossroads-park-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/06/crossroads-park-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:15:33 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3320 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/06/crossroads-park-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/03/arivaca-cienega-pena-blanca-lake/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/03/arivaca-cienega-pena-blanca-lake/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:35:43 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3304 The CRESCENT-CHESTED WARBLER put in a couple of brief appearances. The other nine warbler species on display were single VIRGINIA’S and NASHVILLE, three BLACK-THROATED GRAY, several COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and plenty of YELLOW, WILSON’S, LUCY’S, ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/03/arivaca-cienega-pena-blanca-lake/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/11/santa-cruz-river-at-cortaro-rd/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/11/santa-cruz-river-at-cortaro-rd/#comments Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:55:37 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3149 The first bird I saw was the stunning drake WOOD DUCK. This was followed by a SWAMP SPARROW at the river’s edge near the huge concrete culvert. Eventually the TENNESSEE WARBLER showed, silently foraging in the usual patch of willows. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/11/santa-cruz-river-at-cortaro-rd/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/04/sweetwater-wetlands-4/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/04/sweetwater-wetlands-4/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:53:28 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3101 The highlight was the continuing female BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, which we encountered in a cottonwood just east of the very SW corner of the wetlands. Another couple had seen it moments before right on the other (north) side of the ponds, so it’s still zipping about like crazy. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/04/sweetwater-wetlands-4/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/22/patagonia-kino-springs/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/22/patagonia-kino-springs/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:58:54 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3064 We headed for Kino Springs where we bumped into the continuing PALM WARBLER. Also there, VERMILION and GRAY FLYCATCHERS and GREAT EGRET, GREEN HERON, TREE and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS around the pond. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/22/patagonia-kino-springs/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/20/sulphur-springs-valley-3/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/20/sulphur-springs-valley-3/#comments Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:15:12 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3049 We checked out Kansas Settlement and eventually found the ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hunkered down six inches from the ground at the edge of the usual field. An impressive seven FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were with two RED-TAILS. Another FERRUGINOUS HAWK, a dark phase, was my second dark phase in two days. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/20/sulphur-springs-valley-3/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:20:49 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3000 Many thanks to Andrew Core for emailing the news of the drake EURASIAN WIGEON at Benson WTP this morning. I can’t really add to what he said, other than to confirm that it didn’t exhibit any obvious signs of hybridization at long range and looked good for a ‘real’ one. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/29/santa-cruz-flats-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/29/santa-cruz-flats-2/#comments Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:16:01 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2982 The first target was FERRUGINOUS HAWK and luckily it was the first hawk we saw on Sunshine Blvd. We also found a BURROWING OWL, with another on Eleven Mile Corner. Our next target was MOUNTAIN PLOVER and we eventually found a flock of 44. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/29/santa-cruz-flats-2/feed/ 0