I've just returned from an extended tour of Baja California Sur (Mexico) and
the Sea of Cortes (13 days); the Sierra Madre Occidentalis mountains and
Copper Canyon of north central Mexico (2 trips via the Chihuahua al Pacifico
Railway, Los Mochis to Chihuahua - 6 days); and SE Arizona (5 days). A
truly exciting experience, with some exceptional birding -- and whaling.

I won't fill the net with a long list of species seen (over 200 birds), but
would be pleased to respond to any questions from tweeters who may be headed
to any of those destinations. Post me direct.

I was able to add about 30 life birds on the trip and, in Arizona, some 24
ABA birds. As is often the case, the best bird was probably the one that
got away. I am pretty certain that I saw a Yellow Grosbeak in the thickets
just outside the Nogales, AZ seweage treatment ponds; it was a brief glimpse
of a brilliantly golden-yellow bird in flight -- grosbeak size, with black
wings and small white wing patches. I am quite confident that it was not an
oriole. It disappeared into the thicket and, by the time we were able to get
outside the fence (pleasantly delayed by life views of a Zone-tailed Hawk,
flying very low and imitating the Turkey Vultures above it), we were unable
to relocate the possible grosbeak. It remains "unticked" on my list, but I
may be pursuaded to change that if some other tweeter/birder happened to have
seen a Yellow Grosbeak in the Nogales STP area between April 23-26. Any
takers?

I have no idea what I missed on Tweeters, but I obviously missed some
spring arrivals and bad weather here in Victoria. Northern Mexico and SE
Arizona could have used all of the rain that fell here, in Seattle and
Vancouver combined....and more.

Bryan Gates, Victoria bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca
(604) 598-7789 (H) Victoria Rare Bird Alert (604) 592- 3381