AZ-Birding

Rufous-backed Robins at Boyce Thompson

Rick Wright — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:28:27 +0000

At least one of Boyce Thompson Arboretums two Rufous-backed Robins is said to be showing well as it feeds on fallen pyracantha fruits. With at least seven birds reported in November, this appears to be a slightly better than average winter for the species in Arizona.

A Hybrid Hummingbird

Rick Wright — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:27:12 +0000

Rich Hoyer’s consistently magical hummingbird feeders are at it again. Not only does he have two (two!) Violet-crowned Hummingbirds in residence, but there is also a mysterious bird, likely a hybrid, attending his feeders. Once again Rich shows us what watching carefully and well can turn up.

Tucson Woodpecker Show

Rick Wright — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:57:36 +0000

Got a few minutes in urban Tucson? Lewis’s Woodpeckers are being seen at a couple of sites, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker is reliably found at McCormick Park right now. And an Acorn Woodpecker in Reid Park is part of what is shaping up to be a nice incursion of montane species into the lowlands.

Upper Santa Cruz Rarities

Rick Wright — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:24:40 +0000

The Upper Santa Cruz River between Tubac and Tumacacori is the current hotspot in southeast Arizona. A Rufous-backed Robin and a Varied Thrush–an uncommon conjunction–are being reliably seen feeding on berries, and yesterday Gavin Bieber and Jake Mohlmann discovered a female-plumaged Rose-throated Becard and a highly unusual lowland White-eared Hummingbird (photo: Jake Mohlmann).

San Diego Slip Knot?

Rick Wright — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:18:49 +0000

The striking sandpiper reported from San Diego as a Great Knot appears to be a bird of indeterminate identity, perhaps a hybrid with Surfbird as one of the parents.

Congratulations to California birders for once again keeping their minds critical and their eyes open when it comes to difficult identification challenges! For decades they’ve been setting a standard we all strive to live up to.

MEGA: Great Knot in San Diego

Rick Wright — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:14:38 +0000

It’s not Arizona, but it’s not far off–especially not when the bird is a Great Knot.

Half an hour ago, San Diego birders reported an individual of that species “at Delta Beach along Silver Strand in Coronado.”

Wood Stork in Phoenix

Rick Wright — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:12:49 +0000

Once a fairly reliable post-breeding wanderer to Arizona, Wood Stork has been extremely rare in the state since about the 1920s.

One was photographed this morning at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert, a southeastern suburb of Phoenix.

Make It Two!

Rick Wright — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:25:18 +0000

The Patagonia area is now hosting two Plain-capped Starthroats, both bright adults. One bird is at feeders at the Spirit Tree Inn, the other at the TNC Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve; both birds were seen within a minute of each other this noon, ruling out the possibility that just one individual was responsible for the sightings.

Plain-capped Starthroat in Patagonia

Rick Wright — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:34:21 +0000

A bright Plain-capped Starthroat is visiting feeders at the Spirit Tree Inn in Patagonia. There are only about two dozen records ever of this extravagant hummingbird from the ABA Area, most of them from late summer in southeast Arizona.

Avra Valley Sewage Ponds Open Again

Rick Wright — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:47:18 +0000

Not a rarity report, but a hint about where to go to find rarities. The Avra Valley sewage ponds are open to birders again starting tomorrow, from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm (believe me, you don’t want to be out there right now after about 8:30 am anyway in this heat).

Have a look here to see why we’re so pleased to have access once again to this major hotspot.