K B Srinivas

On Day6 I started early and headed towards Cochise Wilcox. I had reports that it was easy to find the Scaled Quail here near the lake. Also another bird that I wanted to see were the Horned Larks and Red-necked Phalarope which were being reported here.

I did manage to reach the lake very early in the morning. There is a house right before the lake. I saw some quail sized birds moving behind the house. This got me excited. Waited here for a while to see if the birds will come near the road to get a better look at these birds. And voila in few minutes a group of 6 Scaled Quails made it to the fence of the house. They did not look very shy. I kept my distance but I was still surprise that they tolerated human presence. Spent some time here and got some pictures. After this I started driving around the lake looking for the Red-necked Phalarope. There were reports of the bird from the area but I did not find them instead there were lot of Wilson's Phalaropes. It was interesting to see their feeding pattern. The lake also had some American avocets and along with some ducks which were yet to migrate. I also saw a lone Spotted Sandpiper on the banks.

Scaled Quail

Cinnamon Teal

American Avocet

Spotted Sandpiper

Mexican Duck

After this I went to Mount Lemmon looking for the Red-faced Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch and the Mountain Chickadee. The drive to the top of the mountain was really beautiful. It was amazing to see so many people biking the mountain which almost at the height of 9,000 feet. At the top of the mountain visited some of the common birding hot spots. I did end up finding the Red-faced Warbler and the Pygmy Nuthatch but could not find the Mountain Chickadee. I did get to see my first Hairy-woodpecker here. It is so similar to Downy but one can definitely make the difference in the size of its beak compared to Downy. The drive and the walks at the top of the mountain was really great. I did see some of the trees which were part of the wildfires few years back. Looked like a good place to visit during winter for some skiing :-)

Yellow-eyed Junco

Pygmy Nuthatch

Red-faced Warbler

Hairy Woodpecker

Stellar's Jay

After this I had time and went back to Madera Canyon to see if I can spend some night time here to look for Whip-poor-will. I spent sometime near the Santa Rita Lodge here looking for any new Hummingbirds. I did see the common Mountaingem, Broad-billed humming birds here. I was hoping to see Berryline here. But instead I got to see my first Hepatic Tanager here. Both male and female were present here. Occasionally coming to the feeders.

Hepatic Tanager

Broad-billed Hummingbird

The next day was my travel day back home. But I had 3-4hours time to do some birding in Phoenix before heading to the airport. I still had some birds that I wanted to see before leaving Arizona. Hadn't seen Costa's Hummingbird and the Gilded Flicker. And if time permitted wanted to see some of the lovebirds which have made Arizona their home. Desert Botanical Garden is a very nice place which had great collection of plants spread across. It was very active in the morning. There were quite a few Hummingbirds buzzing around but I was still waiting to see the Costa's. I saw the Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher here. And then there was a Gilded Flicker drinking the nectar from one of the flowers on the Cactus plant. I was so happy to see one of the target birds here. Nearby saw a Gila Woodpecker as well. And there is a small spot which was dedicated for hummingbirds which had lot of flowering plants here. I saw couple of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds here. I was told Costa's visit this spot quite often. So I decided to wait here for a while since I had time. After about 30-45 minutes I saw a bird which had different colored Gorget. And it went and sat on a tree top showing off its beautiful purple Gorget. It was quite a colorful bird. I was very happy that I got to see both the birds that I had on my wish list here. Looking at the ebird I found a spot(Evelyn Hallman Park) close to the city where lovebirds were being reported. Here I spent 20 minutes within which I saw couple of Rosy-faced lovebirds which were hiding from the afternoon sun in a tree. It was time for me to head back to the airport.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Gilded Flicker

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Phainopepla

Curve-billed Thrasher

Gila Woodpecker

Verdin

I had an amazing Arizona trip. One of the best birding trips ever. I managed to see most of the birds which I had in my wish list. I had 45 lifers during this trip. I realized why most of the birders recommended doing birding in SE Arizona. And the best place to look for Hummingbirds. And if I had postponed my trip by couple of weeks I would have had a chance to see Berryline and White-eared Hummingbird too which were reported from the sites I had visited during this trip.

ebird :

Cochise Wilcox : https://ebird.org/checklist/S88575024

Mt Lemmon : https://ebird.org/checklist/S88575087

Madera Canyon : https://ebird.org/checklist/S88575107

Desert Botanical Garden : https://ebird.org/checklist/S88598518

Birds seen during the 2 days :

Lucifer Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Juniper Titmouse
Cassin's Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Pyrrhuloxia
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Brown Creeper
Lark Sparrow
Elegant Trogon
Gray Hawk
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Black Phoebe
Canyon Towhee
Anna's Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Black Vulture
Vermilion Flycatcher
Yellow-breasted Chat
Vaux's Swift
Dusky Flycatcher
House Wren
Lesser Goldfinch
Orange-crowned Warbler
Grace's Warbler
Red-faced Warbler
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Arizona Woodpecker
Bridled Titmouse
Bewick's Wren
Chipping Sparrow
Yellow-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee
Hooded Oriole
Bronzed Cowbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Gray Flycatcher
Scott's Oriole
Painted Redstart
Wild Turkey
Greater Pewee
Say's Phoebe
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Mexican Jay
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
American Wigeon
Mallard
Gambel's Quail
Pied-billed Grebe
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Double-crested Cormorant
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Flicker
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
House Finch
Abert's Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Burrowing Owl
Inca Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Greater Roadrunner
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Spotted Sandpiper
Turkey Vulture
Harris's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-naped Sapsucker
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Hammond's Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Cassin's Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Plumbeous Vireo
Common Raven
Verdin
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Cactus Wren
Curve-billed Thrasher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Phainopepla
Pine Siskin
Brewer's Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Bullock's Oriole
Lucy's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Costa's Hummingbird
Gilded Flicker
Hepatic Tanager
Pygmy Nuthatch
Gadwall
Mexican Duck
Northern Pintail
Ruddy Duck
Scaled Quail
American Avocet
Wilson's Phalarope
Great Blue Heron
American Kestrel
Chihuahuan Raven
Mexican Chickadee
Olive Warbler
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Hairy Woodpecker
Cassin's Vireo
Steller's Jay

This year returned to Lake Tawakoni after about 4 years. Wanted to try my luck with loons, sparrows and other birds that are reported around the Lake area. The Longspurs which are quite rare around here are regularly reported from here. Wanted to try my luck with the same this year. I'm yet to see any of the longspurs.

Ebird hostspot : https://ebird.org/hotspot/L260437

Reached the lake at around 7AM, It was quite cold. The entrance fee for this state park is 5$. The office opens a little late. The early visitors can deposit the entrance free in the envelopes near the entrance area. Once depositing the entrance fee I headed inside the park. It was freezing cold inside in the morning. After getting down from the car headed towards the lake to see if I can find some ducks. I immediately saw Belted Kingfisher which came from the other side of the lake and parked itself on one of the twigs in the lake. By the time I took my camera out to get a picture it flew back to the place from where it had come. This was the first kingfisher sighting for me this season. In the lake the only birds I could see were American Coots, Mallards and some Cormorants. On the bund I could see lot of Killdeers and American Pipits. The trees around had lot of Yellow-rumped Warblers along with Dark-eyed Juncos and some Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

After this I headed towards the Spring Point Trail. Here I saw lot of Savannah Sparrows, American Gold-finches and White-throated Sparrows. There were some Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a lone Winter Wren singing his morning song. As I walked through the trail a little I saw few White-tailed deers with no care in the world :-) They were not worried with any human presence. Along the trail I saw a skulking Brown thrasher and lot of White-crowned Sparrows. Since it was getting quite I decided to head back towards the parking lot and head towards the Tawakoni Dam area. On the way out saw my first of the season Field Sparrow. Its been quite sometime since I saw a Field Sparrow.

Savannah Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Winter Wren

Field Sparrow

Eastern Phoebe

Red-tailed Hawk(Juvenile)

Savannah Sparrow

Northern Mockingbird

Meadowlark

I headed towards the dam area and parked near the Boat Ramp area. Here near the parking lot I could see couple of American Pipits. And along with them there were lot of Yellow-rumped Warblers. They were all over the place here. Along with them I saw some American Goldfinches, there were some Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouses and some field sparrows here. I also saw juvenile Bald Eagle flying over the lake here. One of the birder mentioned about hearing a Sprague's Pippit but I could not find the bird. The only Pipits I could see were American Pipits.

Tried to find the Longspurs along the road here but with no luck. The only birds I could see were the Savannah Sparrows. After trying for a while decided to head back to the National Park to do another round of birding along the trails here.

On the way got to see my first of the season Crested Caracara. He was watching over the fields from a tree along the road. The lake on the road towards the National Park had some ducks. There were some Lesser Scaups, Northern Shovellers and some Gadwalls. The day had been slow for ducks. There also was a perching raptor along the road. It looked like Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.

American Pipit

Carolina Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Field Sparrow

Crested Caracara

Red-tailed Hawk

At the National Park parking lot I could see lot of American Pipits. They were everywhere. Along with them I saw some Dark-eyed Juncos and Northern Cardinals. I was told the Spring Point Trail was very productive for birding. I headed towards the same. I found some Eastern-bluebirds along the trail. Saw lot of White-crowned Sparrows along with couple of Brown Thrashers. As I kept walking the trail started to become very active. There were Orange-crowned Warblers and Pine Warblers everywhere. I had not see so many Pine warblers before. Both the male and female were very busy finding the bugs among the dry leaves and twigs. Even the Orange-crowned warbler and the Kinglets(both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned) were busy trying to find the bugs in these dry leaves and twigs. It was amazing to walk among the birds in the morning. Also saw my first of the season Winter Wren here. Could not get a good picture of the bird though. It was getting hence started to get back. I could have birded the whole day if I had time.