Fun Birding Tours in SE Arizona with Birding Guide Richard Fray » reptiles

Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard

Richard — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 05:44:43 +0000

We found a really interesting looking YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD. It was quite small and lacked a really full collar, so was maybe a younger individual. But what it lacked in stature it made up for in color. It was showing extremely well and didn't run away, which was unusual. This was explained when it darted from the log it was skulking on and grabbed a large insect from the trail just inches from our feet. [...]

San Pedro House, Ash & Ramsey Canyons

Richard — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:34:08 +0000

Along the river, migration was evident. There were quite a few LAZULI BUNTINGS with one or two BLUE GROSBEAKS and an INDIGO BUNTING. Other migrants included OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, HOUSE WREN and NASHVILLE WARBLER. Other birds included GRAY HAWK, SONG, LINCOLN'S and CHIPPING SPARROW, ABERT'S and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, SUMMER and WESTERN TANAGER. [...]

Target birding in SE Arizona

Richard — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:36:28 +0000

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! [...]

Fun Birding Workshop Shorebird Special

Richard — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:33:59 +0000

Lake Cochise had no gulls, no terns, relatively few shorebirds and very few ducks. With some effort we recorded ten shorebird species: KILLDEER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WILSON’S PHALAROPES. [...]

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Richard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:59:01 +0000

Whilst exploring Madera Canyon with Kristen Heimerl from Ohio, we were shown two beautiful BLACK-TAILED RATTLESNAKES right at the side of the road, just uphill from Chuparosa Inn. Two birders had found them moments before, one of them by almost standing on the snakes. The shocked birder was still trembling! [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:30:17 +0000

Madera Kubo had a nice selection of birds, including BERYLLINE and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS, SUMMER and HEPATIC TANAGERS, BRONZED COWBIRD, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and PLUMBEOUS VIREO. A bit like buses, after waiting for nine years to see one, I saw my second BLACK BEAR of the month. It ambled across the road right in front of us. [...]

Agua Caliente Park, Mt Lemmon

Richard — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:31:22 +0000

Summerhaven was very birdy, with BAND-TAILED PIGEON, lots of YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS, WESTERN TANAGER, MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, several family parties of CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, a few VIRGINIA’S WARBLERS, ROCK and HOUSE WRENS feeding young, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN and SPOTTED TOWHEE. [...]

Ruby Rd Desert Tortoise

Richard — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 05:00:47 +0000

Whilst birding with author Richard Crossley, we found this Desert Tortoise at the edge of Ruby Road, between California Gulch and Arivaca. It was the first I'd seen in the 'wild' in Arizona (having found three previously in Tucson, all presumably lost pets). It turns out that it might be a significant record. [...]

Continental to Patagonia

Richard — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:43:40 +0000

Next up was Patagonia Roadside Rest, which produced THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD and a gorgeous VARIED BUNTING. Four COMMON GROUND-DOVES were at Paton’s in Patagonia, along with INCA, MOURNING, WHITE-WINGED and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE for a five-dove moment. VIOLET-CROWNED, BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED and a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD added to the fun, along with HOODED ORIOLE, GRAY HAWK and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. [...]

Huachuca Mountains

Richard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:25:26 +0000

We first went to Ash Canyon B&B. The birding was exceptional as usual. Highlights included LUCIFER, RUFOUS, MAGNIFICENT and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, loads of BUSHTITS and BLUE GROSBEAKS plus much more. [...]

White Mountains: Reptiles and more

Richard — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:57:41 +0000

While in the White Mountains I was able to get photos of a wide range of wildlife... birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Here's everything else, from lizards to grasshoppers. [...]

Sweetwater Wetlands

Richard — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:25:35 +0000

The main highlights were reptilian. We found a snake, a six foot COMMON KINGSNAKE of the California Kingsnake variety. Unfortunately it didn't hang around for many photos but it was nice to see. Amazingly, this was the first live snake I'd seen this year. Hopefully it won't be the last. [...]

June Fun Birding Workshop

Richard — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 06:31:29 +0000

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. [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Sun, 29 May 2011 06:46:50 +0000

Our highlight was undoubtedly a COMMON BLACK HAWK soaring over the lower reaches of the Carrie Nation Trail. Could it be one of the birds seen at Patagonia Lake recently? Another raptor, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, pushed the Black Hawk close for bird of the day. This was much higher up the Carrie Nation Trail. [...]

Madera Canyon, Rio Rico, Patagonia

Richard — Sat, 28 May 2011 06:11:37 +0000

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. [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:13:43 +0000

Santa Rita Lodge had a male INDIGO BUNTING with the LAZULI BUNTINGS, plus a BRONZED COWBIRD and a gobbling WILD TURKEY. Madera Kubo had the usual eye candy such as BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, HOODED ORIOLE, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, BLACK-CHINNED and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD. [...]

Fossil Creek

Richard — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 06:37:22 +0000

I had the chance to find some butterflies you don't always see in SE Arizona. A couple were new ones for me. Likewise, the dragonflies and damselflies were species associated with larger rivers, so not readily available around Tucson. [...]

Arivaca Cienega, Pena Blanca Lake

Richard — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:35:43 +0000

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. [...]

Sweetwater Wetlands

Richard — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:57:50 +0000

We saw a SWAMP SPARROW, showing quite well among the cattails. We managed lots of good views of SORA in the currently favorable viewing conditions that the prescribed burn has afforded. We found six warbler species: YELLOW, WILSON'S, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-RUMPED, LUCY'S and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. [...]

Santa Cruz River, Cortaro to Ina

Richard — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:45:42 +0000

The ‘Bird of the Day’ prize was shared between a reptile and a mammal – a splendid but skulking Bobcat was almost eclipsed by a turtle, a Spiny Softshell, which was a first for me and was something I’ve long wanted to see. [...]

Santa Cruz River at Cortaro Rd

Richard — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:55:37 +0000

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. [...]

Buckeye thrasher spot, Santa Cruz Flats

Richard — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:58:31 +0000

We couldn’t rustle up a Le Conte’s Thrasher but we did find four BENDIRE’S and a single SAGE THRASHER as well as 20+ SAGE SPARROWS, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, a SANDHILL CRANE and flyover TREE, BARN and an early CLIFF SWALLOW. [...]

No Solitaire

Richard — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:10:45 +0000

Southeast Arizona always attracts interesting birds from Mexico, but so far this year the birds have been surprising – a Gray-collared Becard (or maybe two, depending on who saw what) in the Chiricahuas, and now a Brown-backed Solitaire in the Huachucas, first at Miller Canyon, then at Ramsey Canyon (or are there two of these [...]

Snaking

Richard — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:10:18 +0000

There are few places in life that feel like home. For me, Cochise Stronghold is one of them. I’ve stayed there on many occasions over the past six years but it still gives me a buzz of anticipation every time I drive into the canyon.

The wildlife is always interesting, and there’s always something new. [...]

Contrast

Richard — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:06:31 +0000

From Vegas to the Sulphur Springs Valley and Dragoon Mountains in Southeast Arizona… from the ridiculous to the sublime? Or the other way round? I don’t know.

Anyway, I headed out on my own, leaving Melanie and Val to meet me later. I started at Sweetwater Wetlands again and amazingly connected with my target bird immediately [...]

Phoenix

Richard — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:37:52 +0000

My sister-in-law, Val, is staying with us for ten days, so I took the chance to get out with the camera on the way to collect her from Phoenix Sky Harbor. It’s great having Val here, as it means we’ll be getting out to do lots of cool stuff in the next week and a half. [...]

Dangerous!

Richard — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:02:53 +0000

I’d managed to wangle a day off and my original plan was to go to Patagonia again and try to see the wren, but in an attempt to inject a bit of success into my birding trips I changed my mind at the last minute and opted for a day of checking watery sites. I’m better [...]

Rattled!

Richard — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:32:22 +0000

Well, the trend of not seeing what I’m looking for continued, with the absence of not one but two Northern Waterthrushes at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson, and an American Purple Gallinule (which was seen just before we got there but had wandered off back into the reeds).

But whilst the birds let us down again, [...]