Subject: SE 'Zona
Date: May 15 15:51:11 2003
From: Levine, Barron - LevineB at bsd405.org


Y'all,
Just a quick update from SE 'Zona. Many of the birds that Scott Atkinson
reported are still present. Temperature wise, things have just started
to really heat up, so it is still a great time to go to one of the
country's premiere birding locales. My focus was on visiting some new
areas, looking for some of the specialties of the area (specifically
Gray Vireo, Black-capped Gnatcatcher,Montezumas Quail and Rufous-capped
Warbler) and hopefully seeing the desert in bloom. During my short 3
day stay I was able to do all 3.
I landed in Phoenix and with the help of the Lane Guide to Metropolitan
Birding (I believe that's the title) I took off for a known Gray Vireo
location off of Hwy 87. Along the highway many species of wildflowers
were blooming in beautiful profusion. Numerous cacti and succulents
including saguaro and ocotillo were in bloom as well. Very spectacular
display! After about 1 hour of searching I was able to hear and then see
the vireo well.
>From there, I drove through the lovely Salt River area and then headed
south. Down south the highlights were:

The Black-capped Gnatcatchers at Lake Patagonia. The parents were
working feverishly to keep their 3 offspring, that are out of the nest,
well fed. The adults would grab a giant caterpillar(sometimes 1/2 the
length of the bird), beat it against the tree and then shove it down the
mouth of the waiting offspring. One of those amazing moments to see that
kind of behavior up close. I was birding with former Seattlite Rick
Romea, who found the birds. Muchas gracias Rick.

One Montezuma's Quail seen along the paved Canelo Road that exits out of
Fort Huachuca and heads to Sonoita.

Two Rufous-capped Warblers seen in flight in French Joe Canyon. A truly
spectacular hike for those of you who like to do such said thing. At the
spring there was a large flowering of Columbine. I choose to drive my
rental car in as far as possible and made it pretty easily almost to the
campground where the hike officially starts.

A migrating Red-shouldered Hawk, seen on private property, along the San
Pedro River.

Also of note were:
2 Gray Hawks seen in the Kino Springs area
1 Elegant Trogan heard only
1 Thick-billed Kingbird at the Paton's feeder
1 Botteri's Sparrow
1 Grasshopper Sparrow near Sonoita.

There was a great deal of buzz about the Thick-billed Parrots seen in
the Truth or Consequences area of New Mexico. For those of you who need
more information on those birds visit www.Birdingonthe.net website.

If you want to know more about the particulars feel free to E-mail me.


Barry Levine
Seattle
levineb at bsd405.org