Arizona’s Desert Bloom

We’ll home depart airports nice and early. Depending on arrival time in Arizona, we’ll either head out for some afternoon birding our head right to the hotel and relax after a long day of travel.

Night: Tucson.

Meals: D

We’ll hit the ground running, bright and early before the desert heat sets in. Our first destination will be the Tucson Mountains, west of the city. The edge of the Sonoran Desert, the mountainside is dotted with towering saguaros, one of the largest cactus species. Among these towering giants, we’ll search for characteristic desert species, including the aptly-named Cactus Wren, Gila Woodpecker, Gilded Flicker, Costa’s Hummingbird, and Rufous-winged and Black-throated sparrows.

When the desert heat rises, we’ll retreat to the water’s edge of the local wastewater treatment plant, known as Sweetwater Wetlands. This reliable source of water provides habitat for waterfowl and other aquatic species, including herons and shorebirds. After we’ve checked every corner, we’ll make a stop for lunch before heading towards Portal, near the New Mexico border.

On the way we’ll stop in the small town of Willcox, where a golf course and two nearby ponds are yet another source of water in the dry desert. In recent years, Bendire’s Thrashers have nested in the shrubs around the course. If we’re lucky, we may even run into some Scaled Quail as they scurry through the brush.

Night: Portal.

Meals: B

The whole day will be dedicated to exploring the Chiricahuas, the first of the “sky islands” we’ll explore on this trip. As the sun rises, we’ll check the surrounding desert and open areas for species such as Crissal Thrasher, Chihuahuan Raven, and Loggerhead Shrike. Some years there’s even a nesting pair of Thick-billed Kingbirds right in the center of town. We’ll retreat into Cave Creek Canyon as the heat sets in, checking one of the fork roads for Coppery-tailed Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and our first Mexican Jays.

Further up canyon, a research station affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History has hummingbird feeders that will give us our first taste of the diversity of the region, with Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous, Black-chinned, Rivoli’s, and Broad-billed hummingbirds all possible.

As we make our way farther up the canyon, we’ll begin to climb in elevation, and enter into the spruce-fir forests that are home to high-elevation species including Olive Warbler (not actually a warbler!), Pygmy Nuthatch, and Yellow-eyed Junco. The main target here will be Mexican Chickadee, which is only found here in the United States. Secluded campgrounds may hold roosting Spotted Owls of the “Mexican” subspecies, while migrant flocks of warblers silently move through the canopy.

An early evening back at our hotel will allow for optional post-dinner owling, with Whiskered and Western screech-owls, and Elf Owls, being possible. Common Poorwills and Mexican Whip-poor-wills may also be heard calling from the canyon walls.

Night: Portal.

Meals: B

We’ll spend the morning targeting any remaining species around Portal before heading west through the mountains to Sierra Vista. Along the way we’ll stop at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area to stretch our legs. With luck, some early migrant shorebirds and ducks might be around.

We’ll continue on towards Sierra Vista, stopping at the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary feeders along the way. This is the most reliable spot to find Lucifer Hummingbirds, fighting for a spot on one of the dozens of feeders scattered around the property. Depending on the time, we may visit Beatty’s Guest Ranch to see if there’s any Flame-colored Tanagers around, as this is the most reliable spot for them. If we missed any owls the previous night, we may go out again tonight to check some of the new canyons.

Night: Sierra Vista.

Meals: B

We’ll begin the morning bright and early, heading up the rough road to the top of Carr Canyon. This is the most reliable spot in the state for Buff-breasted Flycatcher, along with additional chances for Red-faced Warbler and Olive Warbler. On the drive up, we may encounter Rock and Canyon wrens calling from the shear cliff face. Greater Pewee is also possible at this elevation, if we missed it previously.

In the heat of the afternoon, after lunch, we’ll take a guided tour of Kartchner Caverns State Park. Discovered in 1974 by amateur cavers, the caverns were kept secret until 1988 when the state agreed to open them up as a state park. The caverns remains nearly pristine, and represent a stunning look into the geology and unique habitat of underground environments.

Night: Sierra Vista.

Meals: B

An early start will ensure that we get a head start on the heat, as we once again head east towards another sky island. Our first stop of the day will be at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, an extensive grassland that’s home to Chihuahuan Meadowlark, Botteri’s, Cassin’s, and Grasshopper sparrows, and more. The grasslands are also an important reintroduction site for black-tailed prairie-dogs, which were extirpated in the 1960s with reintroduction only beginning in 2008.

Once we’re done scouring the fields, we’ll head towards the small town of Patagonia. In the cottonwoods of the surrounding roads, Rose-throated Becards have historically nested. We’ll also visit the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, a former residence that was donated to Tucson Bird Alliance and remains an important birding destination. Here we’ll have a chance at finding Violet-crowned Hummingbird, along with many others. If time allows, we may check the lake and see if there’s any waterfowl we haven’t seen yet!

Night: Green Valley

Meals: B

We’ll start the day checking out Santa Gertrudis Lane, to see if we can find any of the resident Green Kingfishers or any other birds that are coming in to the seasonal river for water in the morning. After, we’ll head towards the Santa Rita mountains, another sky island and home to the famous Madera Canyon. At the lower elevations, we’ll search for Varied Bunting, while the feeders at Santa Rita lodge are regularly visited by “Gould’s” Wild Turkey, the largest subspecies. We may also hike some of the trails at the end of the road, giving us additional chances at high-elevation species, in case we’ve missed them previously.

Night: Green Valley.

Meals: B

In the morning we’ll leave bright and early and head to Box Canyon, which in recent years has been home to a pair of Five-striped Sparrows, a Mexican species that has slowly increased in range in the United States.

Later, we’ll journey towards Mount Lemmon on the northern edge of Tucson. This, our final sky island, is a popular location for locals to escape the summer heat. It’s also home to a wide population of birds, including Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Greater Pewee, and Olive Warbler, although the latter two have been more difficult in recent years.

Night: Tucson area.

Meals: BD

We’ll start today looking for any species we may have missed, either at elevation or in the desert. In the mid-morning, we’ll head to the airport for afternoon flights home, full of memories!