Hi Tweets,

Last week I spent 6 days birding the area generally between Tucson and
Sierra Vista in southeastern Arizona. For a wetsider like myself, this
experience definitely put me into an altered state that I'm still slowly
emerging from. It was hot! High temps ranged between 85 to 98 degrees
depending on elevation. The incredible mix of habitat and species associated
with elevation and flora was especially fascinating to explore. I visited
the following areas: The Desert-Saguaro Museum west of Tucson (much more
than a museum, great for basic orientation); Sabino Canyon; Florida Wash;
Madera Canyon; Kino Springs; Patagonia Lake; Patagonia-Sonoita Preserve; San
Pedro River; Garden, Sawmill, Carr, and Miller Canyons. I had 143 species,
66 of which were life birds for me. I realize that I've probably started a
new habit.

Here are some highlights that stand out for me: ELEGANT TROGON; TROPICAL,
THICK-BILLED, and CASSIN'S KINGBIRD; NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET;
BUFF-BREASTED, VERMILION, DUSKY-CAPPED, ASH-THROATED, BROWN-CRESTED
FLYCATCHER; ACORN, GILA, LADDER-BACKED, and STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER;
"GOULD'S" WILD TURKEY; SCALED and GAMBEL'S QUAIL; MEXICAN MALLARD DUCK;
COMMON MOORHEN; WHITE-WINGED and COMMON GROUND-DOVE; BLACK VULTURE; GRAY
HAWK; GOSHAWK; PRAIRIE FALCON; LESSER and COMMON NIGHTHAWK; WHITE-THROATED
SWIFT; BELL'S, WARBLING, and PLUMBEOUS VIREO; MEXICAN JAY; CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN;
VERDIN; CACTUS WREN; BLACK-TAILED and BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER; NORTHERN
MOCKINGBIRD; CURVE-BILLED and CRISSAL THRASHER; PHAINOPEPLA; VIRGINIA'S,
BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSEND'S, HERMIT, GRACE'S, and RED-FACED WARBLER;
PAINTED REDSTART; HEPATIC, SUMMER, and WESTERN TANAGER; GREEN-TAILED,
SPOTTED, CANYON, and ABERT'S TOWHEE; RUFOUS-WINGED, CASSIN'S,
RUFOUS-CROWNED, CHIPPING, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW; YELLOW-EYED JUNCO;
NORTHERN CARDINAL; PYRRHULOXIA; BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK; INDIGO BUNTING;
EASTERN MEADOWLARK; YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD; GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE; BRONZED
COWBIRD; HOODED, BULLOCK'S, SCOTT'S ORIOLE; LESSER GOLDFINCH.

In addition, I highly recommend the various guided walks offered by The
Southeastern Arizona Bird Conservatory. Here's there website:
http://www.sabo.org/. I took one of their canyon walks into Carr Canyon and
learned a lot about behavior, song, etc. from one of their experts.

Finally, to all of you who responded with suggestions and resources,
particularly for the ABA guide (which was indispensable), thank you! And a
special thanks to Bill Lawrence who just happened to have a copy waiting for
a place to land.

Good birding,
Joe Mackie
jmackie at cc.wwu.edu
Bellingham