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

Fun Birding Workshop Rarity Chase

Richard — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:58:06 +0000

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! [...]

August Workshop: Mixed Flocks

Richard — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:48:59 +0000

Warblers were a big target and we found an impressive nine species. ORANGE-CROWNED, VIRGINIA'S and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were foraging on sunny banks and in stream side willows, while the pine flocks consisted of PAINTED REDSTART, TOWNSEND'S, HERMIT, GRACE'S, WILSON'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS. [...]

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. [...]

Dancing Deer

Richard — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:53:26 +0000

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July Workshop: Hummingbird Special 2

Richard — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:26:18 +0000

Battiste’s Bed, Breakfast and Birds provided a veritable avian feast, with a male LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD, a probable ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (I couldn’t tell if it was the same as Tony’s confirmed one), lots of RUFOUS, ANNA’S, BROAD-BILLED and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS and a host of other birds from eye-popping cardinals to the entertaining antics of the resident ACORN WOODPECKERS. [...]

Ramsey Canyon Black Bear

Richard — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 06:55:07 +0000

Moments after leaving the visitor center, Jenise spotted a BLACK BEAR up ahead, the cinnamon cub. I was thrilled! I'd never seen a bear in the wild in Arizona before. This amiable character allowed a close approach and spent the next 90 minutes foraging around the base of an oak tree before climbing the tree in seconds and feeding on early acorns. It was a fantastic experience! [...]

July Fun Birding Workshop: Hummingbirds

Richard — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 06:24:41 +0000

We visited Mary Jo at Ash Canyon B&B and, as per usual, were straight into some really great birding. We concentrated on hummingbirds and were rewarded with BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, RUFOUS and a female LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD, plus the continuing LUCIFER x COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD hybrid. [...]

Upcoming Fun Birding Workshops

Richard — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:18:32 +0000

We've still got eight Fun Birding Workshops left this year so why not come along. Each workshop costs just $25 for a full day. Spaces are limited to ten per workshop so please book early. Read what birders say about Fun Birding Workshops. [...]

Dates for your diary

Richard — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:32:42 +0000

I've added a few new dates to my calendar this summer, including two bonus Fun Birding Workshops, another Hummingbird Special in July as the original date is almost fully booked, and a Shorebird Special in August. These workshops are restricted to ten people (as is the Miller Canyon TAS trip) so please book your spot early. [...]

May Workshop, Patagonia Lake

Richard — Sun, 22 May 2011 06:46:38 +0000

At Rio Rico, 40 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were scattered around the fields. There were five heron species: GREAT BLUE & GREEN HERONS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and GREAT and CATTLE EGRETS. There were plenty of TROPICAL KINGBIRDS, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, BRONZED COWBIRD and a couple of GRAY HAWKS. [...]

April Workshop: Sweetwater

Richard — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:20:04 +0000

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. [...]

March Fun Birding Workshop, Tubac

Richard — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:36:14 +0000

Further north we had a surprise and bird of the day, a fine adult GOLDEN EAGLE soaring over I-19 near Agua Linda. It was about 15 miles from the eagle I saw yesterday - could it be the same bird? [...]

February Workshop: Crane Special

Richard — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:20:49 +0000

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. [...]

January Workshop: San Rafael Valley, Patagonia

Richard — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:16:14 +0000

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was guarding the fruiting trees but after a while one of the RUFOUS-BACKED ROBINS appeared, was chased around by the mockingbird, and eventually gave us good views coming in to drink from the gutter on the roof of the house. [...]

December Fun Birding Workshop: Tucson Parks

Richard — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:47:00 +0000

We watched in mild horror and awe for the next few minutes as the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON manipulated the duckling into a position where it could swallow it whole, head first. Disgusting, yet compelling viewing! And this ‘National Geographic’ action was taking place for all to see in the local park… [...]

Santa Cruz Flats Fun Birding Workshop

Richard — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 06:37:30 +0000

We found a couple of PRAIRIE FALCONS, a HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK and a showy FERRUGINOUS HAWK. HORNED LARKS were especially plentiful, as were LARK BUNTINGS. We had stunning views of NORTHERN HARRIER and seven sparrow species. [...]

October Fun Birding Workshop: Sweetwater Wetlands

Richard — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:19:07 +0000

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. [...]

Shorebird Special – August Workshop

Richard — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:06:39 +0000

Lake Cochise had 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, c.10 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 50+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, c.30 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, c.150 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 AMERICAN AVOCET and c.20 BLACK-NECKED STILTS. A few KILLDEER and 30+ LONG-BILLED CURLEW were by seasonal pools. [...]

Ash Canyon, Miller Canyon – Hummingbird workshop

Richard — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:28:48 +0000

At Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon we added BERYLLINE (male and female), WHITE-EARED (male and female), BLUE-THROATED (multiple), MAGNIFICENT and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, plus the leucistic hummingbird thought by most to be a Black-chinned. The feeders were really buzzing as the rain started to fall. SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER also put in an appearance. [...]

San Pedro House Fun Birding Workshop

Richard — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:47:52 +0000

I was joined by Susan, Jenise, Flory and Ed for June’s Fun Birding Workshop at San Pedro House near Sierra Vista. It was hot but we lasted well.

Around the house we were greeted by a variety of interesting birds. One of our targets was COMMON GROUND-DOVE and straight away a pair were seen at [...]

Mt. Lemmon: May Workshop

Richard — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:25:11 +0000

We started with a ZONE-TAILED HAWK over Tucson with another over Catalina Highway. Moving up to Rose Canyon Lake, an adult COMMON BLACK HAWK was circling overhead. Nice! Next up was a male NORTHERN GOSHAWK which flashed through the pines near the entrance kiosk and perched up for prolonged views. Very nice! [...]

Patagonia Fun Birding Workshop

Richard — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:27:36 +0000

On Sunday 11th April, Ed, Susan, Sheryl, Mike and I spent the day in Patagonia for April’s Fun Birding Workshop.

Paton’s: Many thanks to Michael Marsden and Donna Knox for caring for the birds and birders. Two DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS, a WARBLING VIREO and a female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK were my FOS. A stunning adult male BULLOCK’S [...]

March Fun Birding Workshop: Sulphur Springs Valley

Richard — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:16:01 +0000

The entire crane flock took to the air, honking like crazy, giving us a great aerial display. After a few minutes they settled down again, some of them a lot closer than previously. We headed back out to the viewing platform and got better views. [...]

Fun Birding Workshops in SE Arizona

Richard — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:30:51 +0000

I've finalized dates for my monthly Fun Birding Workshops for 2010. Aimed at beginner and intermediate birders, we concentrate on having a great birding day, with a side subject or two to make sure we all learn something. [...]

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 results. [...]

Madera Canyon, Reid Park, Woodland Rd

Richard — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:22:04 +0000

The various ponds at Reid Park produced several interesting birds: an early Tree Swallow, a Belted Kingfisher, 16 Canvasbacks, Lesser Scaups on every pond and the highlight, four Hooded Mergansers, two females, an immature male and a fine adult male. [...]