April 25 - Road Trip

   Right after work we loaded up the XTerra and picked up Al and Helga. We stopped for a picnic dinner at Sweetwater Wetlands and then pressed on to the Portal Lodge. Arriving close to 10:00 p.m., we found someone had given Al and Helga's room to another party, but we got that resolved quickly enough.

April 26 - Cave Creek & Rustler Park

   Our targets were a Crescent-chested Warbler sighted earlier in the week and an early Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. We spent a couple of of hours traversing the section of Cave Creek where the bird was originally found. We spotted a Wilson's Warbler and Painted Redstarts, Arizona Woodpeckers, Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Mexican Jays, and many others--but no Crescent-chested Warbler. So we packed our bags and headed over to the Southwest Research Center, where an early Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher had been reported the week before. No luck with that bird either, but we did enjoy the beautiful hummers, an obliging MacGillivray's Warbler, and lots of other fine birds.




Back down on Cave Creek, this time along the South Fork, we heard an Elegant Trogon and spotted more fancy warblers, but still our target remained elusive. A Hummingbird Moth was neat to watch, and a challenge to photograph. Beautiful yellow columbine was blooming in and along the creek. After a picnic lunch at the Stewart Campground we drove up to Rustler and Barr Park.



Olive Warbler, Western Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker, and Pygmy Nuthatch were some of our new additions at these two higher elevations. Rustler Park was badly burned and is mostly closed, but Barr Park was spared and lots of fine habitat.



We found both White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches in the high country. After dinner we did some owling and a nightjar hunt; we had a couple of Elf Owls but missed out on the nightjars.

 

 

April 27 - South Fork, George Walker House, and Willow Tank

On Saturday morning we started off on the South Fork of Cave Creek with a dozen other eager soles. Still no Crescent-chested Warbler but fine looks at many other species, including an Elegant Trogon. Over at Bob Rodriguez's feeding station (Dave Jasper's old place) we watched troops of birds moving through, filling their bellies with seed and suet.

This is the place to get bird's eye views of colorful species like Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, and various hummingbirds.

Less colorful, but just as beautiful were Green-tailed and Canyon Towhees, doves, and both Crissal and Curve-billed Thrashers.

From here we drove over to another premier bird-feeding station--the yard at George Walker House, run by Jackie and Winston.

Scott's Orioles and Black-headed Grosbeaks were the eye-candy here, joined by Juniper and Bridled Titmice, Pine Siskins, Lesser Goldfinches, and both Lazuli and Indigo Buntings.

Jackie has a number of hummingbird feeders out. These were being frequented by Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and of course the grand Magnificent Hummingbirds.






A drive east of the Chiricahuas to Willow Tank was very productive for teal, sparrows, ravens, and totally unexpected Virginia's Rail and American Bittern!

After dinner we fared better than the previous night, actually hearing Mexican Whip-poor-will several times. We tried in vain to get closer, but it was across Cave Creek and then it went silent. Later on we helped some other birders zero in on this Elf Owl, and captured it on "film".

April 28 - Wilcox and home

On Sunday morning we stopped at Cochise Lake on the southern edge of Willcox. Among the numerous waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds were the following standouts: Franklin's Gull, Long-billed Curlew, and Baird's Sandpiper. Many of them posed obligingly for photographs.

At the St. David Monastery we got fine looks at a Summer Tanager feeding on the lawn. We were too early for Mississippi Kites, but did hear our first Gray Hawks of the season.
Later that afternoon we also made a quick stop at the Aztec Feedlot in eastern Yuma County, and added Lesser Yellowlegs. We didn't get our two targets this trip, but it was still a great adventure with good company and an excellent variety of birds!