Arizona.Although Black Vultures Are Presentthroughout the Year in the S
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(LSe),Randy Siebert (RSi), David Silverman TedFloyd, Bill Henry, Jim Lytle, Kevin Mack, andClark's Grebes persisted into mid-May (DSi), LindaSmith (LSm), V. Arnold Smith, MartinMeyers, Dave McNinch, Larry Neel, Jim at severallocations in the se.;both species Steve Stachowiak(SSt), Paul Sweet, Bob Paruk,Fred Peterson, Mark Ports,Mike San werepresent at Willcox 19 May (CDB).Very Spencer,Mort Staatz, Emily Thurston-Moench, Miguel (MS), Richard R Saval,Greg Scyphers, interestingwas the late American Bittern VanA. Truan,John Tumasonis, Terry Uyeyama, DennisSerdehely, Kei Sochi, Pain Straley, Polly found 20 May at KingfisherPond (P. JohnVanderpoel, Alan Versaw, Glenn Walbek, Sullivan(PSu), Carolyn Titus, Dennis Trousdale, Davidson).Always of interest,a LittleBlue JimWatts, Rosie Watts (RWa), Christopher L. KenVoget, Jack Walters, Tom Wurster, and Dave Heronfound along the SaltR. w. of Phoenix Wood,Ronda Woodward (RWo), Mark Yaeger, Yakitch.UTAH: Letitia Lussier (LLu). WYOMING: 24 Apr and another one at Willcox 3 Jun JeffYegian, Eric Yetsko, Sandra Zerbi, Vic Zerbi, Ann Hines,Greg Johnson,Gloria Lawrence, (GC, RS) werethe only reportedthis sea- LaurieZuckerman. NEVADA: John Anderson, Jim Lawrence,Forrest Luke, Chris Michelson, son.Wood Storks do not usuallymake their JohnBrack, Dick Brune, Graham Chisholm, Jim Rick& JanisSteenberg. appearancein the stateuntil July,so 2 at & MarianCressman, Jim Eidel, Bob Goodman, Quitobaquito1 Jun (ph. GC, RS) were early;this speciesis still consideredcasual at bestin Arizona.Although Black Vultures are presentthroughout the year in the s. centralpart of the state,nests have been dif- ficultto find.A nestwith onelarge nestling arizona at Patagonia4 Apr (MS et al.) wasonly the 3rd ever found in Arizona. A maleWood Duck waspresent in what appearedto be appropriatehabitat for nest- ing in BuehmanCanyon, Pima, 26 May (TC). A numberof puddleducks were pre- sent throughout the period; a female Buffleheadat Willcox 2 Jun (GC, RS) was verylate. Migrant Long-tailed Ducks were found 27-28 Mar at Glen CanyonDam (CTL) and at ParkerDam 7 Apr (fideSG). Three CommonGoldeneyes along with 2 Barrow'swere still present below Glen CanyonDam on the late date of 31 May (CTL). In recentyears, Gray Hawkshave expanded their breeding range in s. Arizona.This year,pairs above San Carlos L. 3 Apr (JK), along the Gila R. below PehaBianca La•e • , •; • • - CoolidgeDam 4 Apr (JK),and a nestalong PaigeCreek, Pima, 11 May (RH, M. Coker) RoyH. Jones breedingseason. The Arizona Atlas Project indicate a northward extension of its breed- 2237 North Sunset Drive continuedto provide interestingrange ing distribution.Although it wassuspected extensionsof a numberof species,particu- that a pair of Red-shoulderedHawks pre- Tempe,Arizona 85281 larly Dusky-cappedFlycatcher. It was a ([email protected]) sentat theHassayampa R. Preserve last year mediocreseason for rarities,although gems mighthave nested, nesting was confirmed GaryH. Rosenberg such as White-rumped Sandpiperand thisyear 20 Apr (RD et al), providinga 2nd RO. Box 91856 EasternWood-Pewee can hardly be consid- statenesting record. ered mediocre. Tucson,Arizona 85752-1856 RAILS THROUGH WOODPECKERS Abbreviations: A.B.C. (Arizona Bird ([email protected]) U.S.Fish and Wildlife biologists doing Yuma Committee);N.I.R. (Navajo Indian Reservation); ClapperRail (R. I. yumanensis)surveys saw RA.R(Pinal Airpark Pecan Grove); S. RR. (San andheard a BlackRail along the Agua Fria R. =hethe mostspring strikingwas just characteristichow dry it hasaboutbeen Pedro River); S.T.R (Sewage Treatment Plant); belowL. Pleasant29 Mar (L. Fitzpatrick), W.W.D.(White Water Draw, Cochise), in Arizona.The droughtis extendinginto a providing the first Maricopa record. A third year, likely to spell bad news for GREBES THROUGH HAWKS ClapperRail was discoveredat the conflu- breeding birds throughout the state. Althoughslightly outside of the periodbut enceof the Hassayampaand Gila Rivers2 Evidenceof the severityof the drought no lessexciting, a LeastGrebe was found at May,while pairswere at BuckeyeValley 9 trickledin duringthe spring:very late spar- the SweetwaterWetlands, Pima, 3 Jun (GC, May and alongSisson Road near Gila Bend rowsand warblersat migrant sitesin the RS),providing only the 2nd staterecord for 10 May (DT). SpringAmerican Golden- southeastand a plethoraof lingeringducks. spring/summer.Extreme drought s. of the Ploversare alwaysnoteworthy in Arizona, More striking though were Acorn borderin Sonora,Mexico (persisting now with fewer than 10 records for the season.An Woodpeckersseen in the lowlands--and for at least three years),no doubt con- individualstill in basicplumage [or first possiblyattempting nesting in Phoenix!It tributed to this occurrence, which is alternate?-ed.]was at Whitewater Draw 26 will be interestingto seeif widespreadnest approximately400 milesn. of the species' Apr-7 May (D. West, '•, ph. MS). A late failure will be documentedduring the known nestingrange. Individual Western GreaterYellowlegs was at Willcox 25 May 310 NORTHAMERICAN BIRDS (GC, RS). Large concentrationsof FLYCATCHERS THROUGH Gnatcatcher,any report of a male Black- Whimbrels were discovered in a flooded THRASHERS cappedfrom Chino must be documented. field eastof Yuma (DTa), with 18 found 20 An Eastern Wood-Pewee was seen and The Rufous-backed Robin that wintered Aprand 53 there6 May.The latter count is heardsinging at SunnyFlats Campground in at PatagoniaL. was seenthrough 15 Apr probablythe highestever documented in CaveCreek Canyon 2 May (J. Bocket al.) (MS), as was the one that winteredat the Arizona.The mostexciting shorebird of the and,if acceptedby theA.B.C., would repre- B.T.A. (M. Pollark). The only reports of seasonwas the White-rumped Sandpiper sentonly a 4th or 5thArizona record. A Least Varied Thrush this springwere one from at theSierra Vista S.T.P. 16-18 May (ph. BZ, Flycatcherwas closelyobserved along Toileson8 Apr (B. Grossi)and a femaleat K Zimmer,MS, m.ob.);there are still fewer SonoitaCreek near Patagonia 13 May (BZ, GreenValley 4 Mar (B.Massey); this species than 10 acceptablerecords for the state. KZ); thereare still only a handfulof well- is still a casualvisitor to the state.A Gray Severalother spring shorebird records were documentedreports from the state.A late Catbird was along Sonoita Cr. near alsoof note:2 Dunlinsat GreenValley 20-24 EasternPhoebe was at KingfisherPond, Patagonia14 Mar (J.Bock) and an individ- Apr,the onlyreport (RP, T. Stuart);a Stilt S.P.R.,3 May (JWh);there are very few true ual (sameas duringthe winter?)at Portal Sandpiperat W.W.D.6 May (MS);and Red- springmigrants from the Southwest.The wasseen again 2-8 May (fideDJa). A late neckedPhalarope reports of oneat Willcox Arizona Atlasing Project has greatly SageThrasher was reported from near Portal 7 May (MS) and 3 at Phoenix28 May increasedour understandingof Dusky- 7 May (DJa).A singleBrown Thrasher was (RMJ). cappedFlycatcher distribution in the state. alsonear Portal 25 May (Dja); anotherthat A LaughingGull at Marana16 May (J. This springindividuals were foundaway winteredin a Scottsdaleyard was still present Hays,G. Hentz, L. Liese)was the only report from knownbreeding areas at FossilCreek, 15Apr (J.Bartley). we received of this casual visitor. Yavapai,5 May (TC), on PinalPeak 23 May WARBLERS THROUGH ICTERiDS Heermann'sGulls put in a niceshowing this (RH), and near PeachSprings, Mohave, 26 A Tennessee Warbler was located in cen. spring, with four reports 9-15 Apr: May (E Friederici).An intriguingreport was Tucson23 Mar-6 Apr (MS,RH), a veryearly PatagoniaL. 9 Apr (M. Brown),Nogales 11 receivedof a GreatKiskadee along Sonoita datefor a springmigrant, so this individual Apr (DW), another(different age) there 15 Creek 18 Mar (?B. Wooldridge);there are may have wintered locally. At least 7 Apr (B. Massey),and two at Ajo 10-13Apr onlytwo previousaccepted records of this NorthernParulas, slightly more than usual, (fideTC, MS). During the last decade Least tropicalflycatcher from Arizona,one of were reported from Arizona 23 Mar-30 Ternshave become a regularspring and whichis also from Mar. Always a nicefind in May.The Chestnut-sided Warbler that win- earlysummer visitor in smallnumbers; this the state,Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were at teredin cen.Tucson was last seen12 Apr yearindividuals were reported at SanCarlos KingfisherPond, S.P.R.,22 Apr (E.&J. (RH). Outstandingin spring,a Magnolia L 12Apr (G. Hentz),Roper L. StatePark 9 Conrad)and at Ash Fork, Yavapai,19 May Warbler was well-describedfrom along May (ph. J. Fowler),and Willcox25 May (ph. J.Burton, E. Olds). HospitalRidge, Coconino, 4 Jun (P. Sweet, B. (GC, RS). Late-stayingRuddy Ground- One of the bestbirds of the spring,a Hedinger).Rarely seen in thelowlands din- Doveswere recorded at P.A.P.pecan grove White-eyedVireo wasfound in a yardnear ingspring migration, a Grace'sWarbler was 10-29Apr (AS, TP et al),and the individual Portal6-7 May (B. Rapoza,ph. MS; t.r.DS); in lowerAravaipa Canyon 15 Apr (MS); one thatspent the winter at a cen.Phoenix resi- there are fewer than 10 records from se. in breedinghabitat on Mt. Lemmon19 Mar dence remained throughout the period Arizonaand photosobtained represent the (J.Bock) was at leasta weekearlier than nor- (T &S.Martin). An interestingreport of 2-5 first photographicdocumentation of this mal arrival dates. Palm Warblers, casual in largeall-black swifts from MormonL. 13 speciesin the state.A Red-eyedVireo, still thestate during spring, were at SipeWildlife May (J. Grahame)adds yet anothersight casualin the stateduring spring, was along Areanear Springerville 30 Apr (fideSG) and reportof BlackSwifts for Arizona;there the SantaCruz R., Tucson,25 May (RH). WhitewaterDraw 2-4 May (T Godfrey,ph. continues,however, to be no physicaldocu- Therehave been rdatively few documented MS). At leastsix Black-and-white Warblers, mentation for this speciesin the state. nestsof Tree Swallowfor the state,therefore, about normal for spring, were located BeryllineHummingbirds returned again to a nestfound at th• CanyonCreek Fish aroundthe state15 Apr-13 May.Similarly, 3 RamseyCanyon, with one on 19May (BZet Hatchery29 May (C. Wise,C. Land)was of AmericanRedstarts were found during May; al) anda pair buildinga nest25 May (GC, greatinterest.