Southeast Arizona for more warblers and other stuff -April 12-15

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Virginia's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Sunrise, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Yellow eyed Junco, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Olive Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Pygmy Nuthatch, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Cassin's Vireo, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Steller's Jay, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Painted Redstart, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Wilson's Phalaropes, Green Valley WTP, Green Valley, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

The final leg of my trip involved continuing west to Arizona with the goal being to track down three more target warblers (and a few other species hopefully). With my body still on east coast time I was up early yet again, which was advantageous given that I like to get to places early. Sunday would be the last day of making long drives on this trip. My final destination would be an Airbnb in Green Valley where I would be spending three nights. I had a few ideas on what to do with my day before arriving at my lodging and I settled on driving directly to Mount Lemmon with the goal of potentially tracking down the last three warbler targets for the trip (Grace’s Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler and Red faced Warbler). All three species have been seen in the area recently so I had at least a chance of finding them. Traffic is usually the lightest on Sunday and I hoped it would work to my advantage in making the nearly four hour drive to the area on the mountain where the warblers have been reported and arriving early before crowds arrived. I got to the mountain right around dawn and my first stop was Incinerator Ridge and the wind I noticed on the drive up continued. In fact it stayed windy all day and it made for some tough spotting of birds at times. I was surprised to see so many people tent camping at the location…it must have been a very restless night of sleeping with the strong winds. I got all three of my targets at the location so still a productive stop despite the wind. The ridge itself was really windy and cold so after trying it for a bit I retreated down the road to get out of the worst of the wind. I ran into a decent mixed flock once I was almost to my car and this added several species for the day. After a couple of hours at the location I decided to try my luck elsewhere and with hordes of people driving further up I headed down to a dirt road known as Sollers Road and this was another good choice as I had lots of stuff in a mixed flock including better looks at a lot of the stuff I had earlier. I spent a hour and half plus sorting through the birds and getting lots more photos. A few more brief stops on the way down didn’t turn up anything else new. It was nearing midday so I look a lunch break and got permission to check in a little early. I did do a little more birding before heading to Airbnb with the main stop being wastewater treatment facility that produced a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds including a large group of Wilson’s Phalarope. By the early afternoon I was beat and decided to relax a bit plus the wind just made the birding tough. 

Broad billed Hummingbird, Santa Rite Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Grace's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Mexican Jay, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Black throated Sparrow, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Black headed Grosbeak, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Hermit Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Northern Shovelers, Ring necked Duck and American Coot, Green Valley WTP, Green Valley, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

As forecast the winds of the previous day continued on Monday and by the end of the day were even stronger. As I knew I would be up well before dawn I had to come up with a plan to try to make the most of my time in spite of the wind. At least in the morning it was a little lighter. I decided on heading down to Montosa Canyon to listen for a Buff collared Nightjar. I arrived around 4:15AM to find it quite breezy with a few lulls every now and then and after about ten minutes I heard the bird distantly. With that rarity found I headed to the Green Valley wastewater facility and although the gates were still closed you could view a little of the area and I had at least one Lesser Nighthawk flying around. At this point it was starting to brighten a little more so I headed up to Madera Canyon which was my main destination for the day. I headed to the end of the road to take a hike up the Old Baldy Trail mainly looking for warblers and some new species for the year and I had success. Not long after starting the walk just before 6AM I heard a Coppery tailed Trogon (the first of three of these species on this trail). Trying to get looks at it (and the others) was frustrating. There were other new species for the year including Greater Pewee and Dusky capped Flycatcher. Warblers were also in evidence with the highlight for me being a male Hermit Warbler, another new addition to my big warbler year in the US and my 400th species in the US for the year. In addition to the Hermit Warbler I had five other species of warblers. After the hike I tried my luck at the Santa Rita Lodge for a bit and the hummingbird show was fun to see even with the strong winds there. I stayed about a half hour before heading down to walk some trails near the Whitehouse Picnic Area before a return to the lodge again. A brief stop at McCleary Wash turned up a few more species for the day. By this point it pushing eleven and I decided on trying the wastewater plant again before going home for a late lunch. Super windy there with clouds of dust visible to the north toward Tucson. A nice variety of waterfowl and a few shorebirds without any rarities among them. The rest of the day was spent at my lodging relaxing and planning the final full day. 

Lucy's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Ash throated Flycatcher, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Hepatic Tanager, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

 

Coppery tailed Trogon, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Hooded Oriole, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Inca Dove, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Western Sandpipers, Green Valley WTP, Green Valley, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

On the last full day in Arizona I decided on a very early start in Madera Canyon to try for nocturnal species. The forecast called for much lighter winds than the previous two days so I was hopeful I would have some luck. My plan was to get there well before first light and hike up as far as I could on the Old Baldy Trail in the hopes of possibly getting an early Flammulated Owl or perhaps a Spotted Owl. I also would be listening for more expected species. I was out the door at around 3:15AM and immediately heard a Great Horned Owl hooting. I then made the roughly thirty minute drive up to the end of the road in Madera Canyon with a couple brief stops to take a quick listen which turned up an Elf Owl and some Mexican Whip Poor Wills. I started my walk up the Old Baldy Trail just before 4AM and was immediately greeted by multiple Mexican Whip Poor Wills and Whiskered Screech Owls. At about 1.2 miles up the steep trail I heard a Spotted Owl singing a few times and got a distant recording. I have never had this endangered species of owl before so was very happy to add a new life bird for the trip (species #2189). I walked a little further up as it started getting light before starting the journey back down. It was a productive walk down with lots of birds singing with one highlight being multiple Coppery tailed Trogons including one that actually briefly showed well. I made it down to the parking lot a bit after 7:30AM and then headed down to the Whitehouse Picnic Area to add more species for the day before taking a mid morning break at Santa Rita Lodge watching the feeders. My next stop was to head further down canyon to the Proctor Road area and this provided multiple new species for the trip thanks to a change in elevation and a corresponding change in species. Nothing too rare but some great looks at a variety of birds and butterflies. I finally left the canyon just after noon and made a brief stop at the Green Valley Wastewater Facility to add more species for the day. I ended the day with 93 species and easily could have broken a hundred with a little more effort. I was fairly beat by early afternoon so headed back to get a shower, pack for the trip home and take it easy. 

Overall for the Arizona portion of the trip I had 117 species with one life bird (Spotted Owl) and three new species for my Arizona list (the above mentioned owl, Wilson’s Phalarope and Spotted Sandpiper) bringing my state list there to 244 species.  Trip report from the Arizona potion of the trip here: Arizona trip report.

As far as totals for the entire trip from Texas to New Mexico and then Arizona I had 160 species with one life bird as mentioned above.  Entire trip report here: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona trip report.  In addition I found five new warbler species for the year in the US and more details on those can be found at the following link: Arizona warblers.

Brief trip to southeast Arizona

Broad billed Hummingbird, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ

Bewick's Wren, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ

 

Hooded Oriole, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ

I took a brief trip out to Arizona now that things have mainly settled back to the typical routine back home and I can actually get away...I had the trip planned for quite awhile but had to shorten it up a bit due to some unforeseen circumstances.  The focus of the trip would be on warblers with the goals of getting photos and recordings of a few I have seen but not photographed or recorded plus getting a Red faced Warbler for my US list. It would be my last little getaway before returning to work until I retire in late July. June is one of the hottest times to be out there but I have never been there that time of year and I hoped to catch the end of migration and still have resident birds singing (mainly warblers of course). I got in a little birding when I arrived but it was damn hot.

Sunrise, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Black throated Gray Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Virginia's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Northern House Wren carrying nest material, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Olive Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Hepatic Tanager, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Townsend's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Yellow eyed Junco, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Black throated Sparrow, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Lucy's Warbler, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Vermillion Flycatcher, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Looking south toward Santa Rita Mountains, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

With my body still on east coast time and having been getting up early for weeks now I was awake before 3AM on Tuesday and headed out to get some nocturnal species as I made my way up to Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon. Before the sun came up I had gotten a few nocturnal species including Common Poorwill, Mexican Whip Poor Will and Great Horned Owl. It was a bit cool as I topped out over 8000 feet in elevation with temps in the mid 50’s to start the day. I then spent several hours covering multiple locations on Mount Lemmon (Incinerator Ridge and Bear Wallow plus other brief stops) before descending back down to the heat of Tucson. The focus was on tracking down warblers and I had fantastic luck with great looks at all my targets as well as a few species I didn’t expect to get. I finally added Red faced Warblers to my United States list. Beyond the warblers I had a nice selection of high elevation species with many deep into the breeding season with young around or carrying food to nests. After my time on Mount Lemmon I came back down to the blast furnace that is the valley of Tucson. Despite the temps over 100 I still stopped at a few places before I headed back to my Airbnb. I added a few species for the day without finding anything unusual.

Broad billed Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Broad billed Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Bronzed Cowbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Hooded Oriole, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Violet crowned Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Bushtit, Madera Canyon, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Black bellied Whistling Duck, Amado WTP, Amado, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Black tailed Gnatcatcher, Montosa Canyon, Tubac, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

Western Screech Owl, Montosa Canyon, Tubac, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

 

Montosa Canyon, Tubac, AZ, Jun 12, 2025

On Wednesday I decided to head south with several targets on my way to Madera Canyon for the morning. I was out the door before 2:30 to make the hour plus drive down to the location of my first target of the day…a Buff collared Nightjar that has been in Box Canyon in the Santa Rita mountains. I arrived there around 3:30 and immediately heard at least one individual singing. I got some recordings and there may have been two birds present. The nightjar became species #2175 for me. As I was there a number of other species called in the predawn light by a near full moon including a few Elf Owls and yet another new species for me with a Montezuma Quail. Once I was done in Box Canyon I made a brief visit to Florida Canyon in a long shot on a Rufous capped Warbler that I missed on when out in the area over the winter. It has not been seen in quite a while and I didn’t find one. I then started the drive over to Madera Canyon but not before making a stop near Florida Wash where I added my third life bird for the day with a Botteri’s Sparrow (#2177). I finally made it to Madera Canyon itself a little after 6:30 and stayed around three hours. The most notable sightings for me were two Hermit Warblers, a species which should have already moved off to the north and a continued Beryline Hummingbird. Beyond that it was mainly breeding species with a decent selection both at the feeders at the handful of lodges plus others scattered along the trails. As the day continued to heat up I had to decide where to go next as I made the drive back to my lodging. Although it was now getting late in the morning and the heat was rapidly building I decided to head to Sweetwater Wetlands where a few rare birds have been seen lately. It is usually a good spot for waterfowl but the heat of the day looked to have forced almost all of them into the shade or reeds and I saw very few species of waterfowl. The most unusual species I had there was a brief look at a continued Chestnut sided Warbler. I saw it briefly and then it was gone. I spent some time looking for it again without any luck. By the time I finished up my time there it was noon and the temps were around 100 so I headed back to my lodging to have a late lunch.                                

Black throated Gray Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

Broad tailed Hummingbird, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

Turkey Vultures, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

View to north from Incinerator Ridge, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

Common Poorwill, Tucson, AZ, Jun 13, 2025

I had a few hours available in the morning before my flight back home in the early afternoon and I headed back up Mount Lemmon heading up to almost to Summerhaven with stops along the way listening for nocturnal species again…the advantage of being up around 2AM again! Once it was light enough to see I started walking at Bear Wallow where I intended to spend most of my available time. I was perhaps 3/4 of a mile in on my walk and got a message from American Airlines that my flight was delayed and I would then not be able to make my connection in Dallas. I was lucky to get the message as cell service is very spotty up in the mountains. I cut the walk short, got down to a spot with better reception and started looking up other options to get to Dallas earlier and saw a flight leaving Tucson at 11:30. After a talk with the airline I got rebooked on the earlier flight. The change cut off a couple hours of available birding time but worth the change to make my flight to Dallas. Without as much time I decided on walking again at nearby Incinerator Ridge instead of heading back to Bear Wallow. I had some good views of a few birds and tried to make the most of my more limited time. My new flight got out on time but then my flight home from Dallas got delayed and I never got home until almost 2AM.

During the trip I had a total of 121 species including four lifers. I also added 14 species to my Arizona state list with that total now at 235 species.