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/2011/11/25/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/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:37:04 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4832 The highlight was finding 39 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the Santa Cruz Flats. I think this is the first report in SE Arizona this fall, so it was nice to spread the news of their return. We also saw dark phase FERRUGINOUS HAWK and watched a thrilling chase between a PEREGRINE FALCON and MOURNING DOVE, which lasted for a couple of minutes before the dove finally escaped. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/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/2011/10/28/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/28/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:41:15 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4597 A couple of INCA DOVES were showing well here and a ROCK WREN was calling. Around the corral on Baumgartner just west of Wheeler, five CRESTED CARACARA gave excellent views from the road. The irrigation channel opposite had two GREAT and a SNOWY EGRET, which was a surprise. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/28/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats/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/2011/08/17/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/2011/06/19/sweetwater-wetlands-8/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/19/sweetwater-wetlands-8/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:25:35 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3754 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. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/06/19/sweetwater-wetlands-8/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 06:19:23 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3625 Rose Canyon Lake was very birdy, especially around the amphitheater just below the parking lot nearest the lake. Several GREATER PEWEES were in song, a stunning pair of OLIVE WARBLERS were the biggest hit of the day, whilst others included GRACE’S WARBLER, YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, PINE SISKIN and CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 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/2011/05/14/sweetwater-wetlands-7/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/14/sweetwater-wetlands-7/#comments Sun, 15 May 2011 06:48:53 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3554 The highlights were mostly flycatchers: at least two continuing OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS as well as two WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES and at least four TROPICAL KINGBIRDS. There were still double figures of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, three calling SORAS, WESTERN TANAGER, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, LAZULI BUNTINGS. A smart Bobcat was lurking near the middle of the complex. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/14/sweetwater-wetlands-7/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/03/richards-photothon-2011-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/03/richards-photothon-2011-2/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 06:26:56 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3481 It was a difficult day with strong winds all morning, making photography of wind-blown warblers and the like somewhat tricky. Despite the weather I continued my year-on-year improvement and got photos of 116 species. I saw/heard another 14 for a total of 130 for the day. Here are some highlights... [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/03/richards-photothon-2011-2/feed/ 0 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/2011/04/23/aveventura-birdathon-2011/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/23/aveventura-birdathon-2011/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:15:41 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3437 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/23/aveventura-birdathon-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/10/april-workshop-sweetwater/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/10/april-workshop-sweetwater/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:20:04 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3380 The swallows were phenomenal, with hundreds of TREE and smaller numbers of CLIFF, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS all swarming just over the water's surface, peeling off and flying within inches of us. It was an fantastic experience and we stood for two hours, enjoying the show and getting photos. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/10/april-workshop-sweetwater/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/02/sweetwater-wetlands-6/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/02/sweetwater-wetlands-6/#comments Sun, 03 Apr 2011 06:29:15 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3296 Presumably the same SWAMP SPARROW from last week was in the same spot. Ducks included great views of BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEALS. Once more we saw a couple of SORAS but the cattails are growing back rapidly so the free Sora show will be over soon. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/02/sweetwater-wetlands-6/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:13:20 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3240 We headed down to Tubac and enjoyed a much improved raptor spectacle. A COMMON BLACK HAWK came by, along with four ZONE-TAILED HAWKS. We transferred to nearby Ron Morriss Park and watched three GRAY HAWKS battle it out over the cottonwoods, while a very smart adult PEREGRINE FALCON gave us a close flyby. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/22/sweetwater-wetlands-5/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/22/sweetwater-wetlands-5/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:57:50 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3248 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. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/22/sweetwater-wetlands-5/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:22:27 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3122 Our first birds were a complete surprise - 18 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the stark, sandy desert along Sunshine Boulevard. I’ve stopped in this area many times this winter but haven’t seen Mountain Plovers here, nor can I remember anyone else doing so. A pair of BURROWING OWLS were also along Sunshine Boulevard. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/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/2011/02/01/sweetwater-wetlands-3/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/01/sweetwater-wetlands-3/#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:15:31 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2988 We didn't find anything terribly unusual but many of the regular birds kept us entertained. The bright colors of RED-WINGED and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were positively glowing as they flew in to roost in the cattails in the low afternoon light. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/01/sweetwater-wetlands-3/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/11/08/sweetwater-heermanns-gull/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/11/08/sweetwater-heermanns-gull/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:04:52 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2469 For the first time in the eight years I've been in Arizona, I was at home and available when news came through of a Heerman's Gull at Sweetwater Wetlands. Heermann's Gull is a rare bird in Arizona, arriving about annually, but they are renowned as being one-day birds, never staying overnight. So if you want to see one, you have to move quickly. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/11/08/sweetwater-heermanns-gull/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/10/15/october-fun-birding-workshop-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/10/15/october-fun-birding-workshop-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:19:07 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2293 The main attraction soon became evident, a gorgeous little TRICOLORED HERON which picked off small fish around the edge. Ed and I settled down to watch and were eventually rewarded with outstanding views. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/10/15/october-fun-birding-workshop-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/26/sweetwater-wetlands-tucson/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/26/sweetwater-wetlands-tucson/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:35:32 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2182 The mesquites and palo verdes were teeming with birds, which included an interesting low-elevation HERMIT WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, MacGILLIVRAY'S, ORANGE-CROWNED, several WILSON'S and scads of YELLOW WARBLERS, a family party of COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, an immature male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and both WARBLING and CASSIN'S VIREOS. Wow! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/26/sweetwater-wetlands-tucson/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/13/black-crowned-night-heron-coopers-hawk/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/13/black-crowned-night-heron-coopers-hawk/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 07:54:06 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1834 Whilst on my photothon last week I encountered a couple of birds that I couldn't resist spending a few minutes photographing, even though I was supposed to be on a mission to get quantity of species, not quality. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/13/black-crowned-night-heron-coopers-hawk/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/11/richards-photothon-2010-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/11/richards-photothon-2010-2/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 10:47:42 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1798 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! :D [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/11/richards-photothon-2010-2/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/26/aveventura-birdathon-2010/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/26/aveventura-birdathon-2010/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:26:39 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1702 After three hours we'd passed 50 species with highlights including a pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in a mulberry in the grounds of Roger Rd Treatment Plant with a male WESTERN TANAGER nearby, a flyover PRAIRIE FALCON and HARRIS'S HAWKS and CEDAR WAXWINGS everywhere. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/26/aveventura-birdathon-2010/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:12:37 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1677 I met with Joe, Becky, Roger and Mary-Louise from South Carolina for the start of a five day tour of some of Arizona's top birding spots. We birded Sweetwater Wetlands to get the list off to a good start. As is always the case at Sweetwater, it was buzzing with wildlife activity. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/07/sweetwater-wetlands-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/07/sweetwater-wetlands-2/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:28:53 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1646 My personal highlight was seeing multiple lizards for the first time this year, which means in the next week or two they will be everywhere. I managed to identify Desert Spiny Lizard, Zebra-tailed Lizard and Sonoran Spotted Whiptail as they inevitably scuttled away to hide. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/07/sweetwater-wetlands-2/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/27/silverbell-lake-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/27/silverbell-lake-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 06:49:34 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1615 The first birds we saw were six Neotropic Cormorants which allowed close approach as they rested on a concrete boat landing. They eventually hopped into the water and did a circuit of the lake in a tight pack, diving and resurfacing simultaneously as they hunted for fish. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/27/silverbell-lake-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/14/birding-with-jon-dunn/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/14/birding-with-jon-dunn/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:03:13 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1599 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/03/14/birding-with-jon-dunn/feed/ 0