Birding Arizona and Sonora, Mexico

I flew to Phoenix and enjoyed a wonderful visit with with Russ and Joyce Widner in Cave Creek. We birded that area for two days. Then Ann Johnson arrived from Iowa and we birded the Tucson area with Rich Hoyer. On 19 February, Russ, Ann, I, and Bob Cecil and Francis Moore (from Iowa) drove into Sonora, Mexico through Nogales. We enjoyed good accommodations, food, and travel adventures for eight days. The birding was a bit “underwhelming” as to numbers of species (~170), but we saw some great birds and a few lifers. We had to work for them, however!

Our itinerary was as follows:

Sat., 19 Feb: We stayed at Hotel Playa de Cortes on the Gulf of California below Guaymas where we birded estuaries and from the hotel shore, adding lots of shorebirds, gulls, etc. to our Mexico lists.

Sun., 20 Feb: Just north of Navojoa, we stayed at Motel El Rancho where we birded along a small stream. We drove south on Hwy 15 and birded a canal and near a pepper farm east of Juan de la Barrea and more estuaries just north of the Sonoran border at Agiabampo. Then we drove inland on Hwy 10 to Alamos.

Mon., 21 Feb: Casa Roberto in Alamos was our home for the first night. We birded roads and river arroyos around Alamos.

Tues.–Thurs., 22–24 Feb: For the next three nights, we stayed at the very lovely Rancho Acosta in Alamos. We birded Rio Cuchujaqui and other arroyos, roads, microwave tower roads, the Alamos dump, and other likely birdy spots. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Alamos including great street tacos and a gourmet dinner at La Aduana.

Fri., 25 Feb: After birding our way back to San Carlos, we stayed at the Creston Motel where we enjoyed more shore birding.

Sat., 26 Feb: From San Carlos, we headed back to Phoenix through Hermosillo on Hwy 15, and then followed the Rio Sonora on Hwys 17, 89, 2, and 80 to the Naco border crossing. The route is a beautiful hilly, high-desert landscape (~6,000 ft) cut by the Rio Sonora, with ever-changing flora. We had a delicious lunch specially prepared by the owner of the El Rodeo restaurant in the little town of Arizpe. We arrived in Naco only to learn that our Sonora-only car permit had to be turned in at Nogales! So that meant a trip back to Nogales and re-entry through that crossing.

Sun., 27 Feb: I spent the day with Russ and Joyce and their wonderful family, and enjoyed some more of their very special hospitality including their granddaughter's fifth birthday party! I flew back to Colorado in the evening.

Click on photo to enlarge.

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Canyon Towhee, 15 Feb, Cave Creek

Canyon Towhee, 15 Feb, Cave Creek

Bendire's Thrasher, 16 Feb, near Phoenix

Bendire's Thrasher, 16 Feb, near Phoenix

Bendire's Thrasher, 16 Feb, near Phoenix

Bendire's Thrasher, 16 Feb, near Phoenix

Burrowing Owl, 16 Feb, near Phoenix

Curve-billed Thrasher, 16 Feb., Cave Creek

Curve-billed Thrasher, 16 Feb, Cave Creek

Gambel's Quail, 16 Feb, Cave Creek

Gambel's Quail, 16 Feb, Cave Creek

Gila Woodpecker, 16 Feb, Cave Creek

Gila Woodpecker, 16 Feb, Cave Creek

Anna's Hummingbird, 17 Feb, Cave Creek

Ruddy Duck, 17 Feb, Sweetwater Marsh, Tucson

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 17 Feb, Rich Hoyer's yard, Tucson

Lesser Goldfinch, 17 Feb, Rich Hoyer's yard, Tucson

Groove-billed Ani, 19 Feb, near Guaymas

Groove-billed Ani, 19 Feb, near Guaymas

Yellow-footed Gull, 19 Feb, estuary near Guaymas

Gray Hawk, 19 Feb, near Guaymas

Sunset over Gulf of California, from Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas, 19 Feb

Looking at Guaymas across bay from Hotel Playa de Cortes, 20 Feb

Long-billed Dowitcher at edge of swimming pool at Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas, 20 Feb

Brown Booby and Brown Pelican, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, hear Guaymas

Brown Pelican, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas

Brown Pelican, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas

Common Loon, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas

Unknown bird harassing Brown Pelican, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas

Probable Heerman's Gull in center that was harassing Brown Pelican, 20 Feb, Gulf of California, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas

Bougainvillia, 20 Feb, Hotel Playa de Cortes, near Guaymas
Spiny-tailed Iguana, 20 Feb, near Guaymas

Great Blue Heron, 20 Feb, near Guaymas

Loggerhead Shrike, 21 Feb, near Navojoa

Two of several Harris's Hawks hunting together, 21 Feb, near Juan de la Barrea

Two more of several Harris's Hawks hunting together, 21 Feb, near Juan de la Barrea

Harris's Hawk, 21 Feb, near Juan de la Barrea

Harris's Hawk, 21 Feb, near Juan de la Barrea

Rock Squirrel (Citellus variegatus), 21 Feb, near Juan de la Barrea

Black Skimmer, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Whimbrel, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

White Ibis, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Brown Pelican, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Heerman's Gull, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Ring-billed Gulls, Yellow-footed Gull, and White Ibis cleaning recently beached fishermen's boat, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Heerman's Gull and White Ibis cleaning recently beached fishermen's boat, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

More scavengers, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Ruddy Turnstone, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Roseate Spoonbills, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

Wilson's Plover, 21 Feb, Gulf of California, near Agiabampo

White-winged Dove, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Gray Hawk, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Tree Lizard, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Elegant Trogan, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Elegant Trogan looking skyward, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Zebra-tailed Lizard, 22 Feb, along Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Mexican Parrotlets flew in to roost for the night, 22 Feb, Rancho Acosta, Alamos

Mexican Parrotlets nearly asleep, 22 Feb, Rancho Acosta, Alamos

Cypress vine (Iponea quamoclit) in dry bed of Arroyo El Mentidero, 23 Feb, near Alamos

Thorn scrub beneath rock formations along Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, 23 Feb, near Alamos

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron stretching to check us out, 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Birders Ann Johnson, Bob Cecil, Francis Moore, and Russ Widner (shooting the photographer!), 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Possible Nutting's Flycatcher (did not hear call), 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Silver Emperor male (Doxocopa laure), 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Giant Swallowtail, 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Vermillion Flycatcher, 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Bob overlooking the Rio Cuchujaqui, 23 Feb, near Alamos

Puddle party of butterflies, Cloudless Sulphurs (large) and Boisduvals Sulphurs (small), 23 Feb, Arroyo El Mentidero leading to Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Vermillion Flycatcher, 23 Feb, road near Alamos

Cedar Waxwings, 23 Feb, road near Alamos

Sinaloa Crow, 23 Feb, near Alamos

Turkey Vulture, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Eye spots on back of swiveled head of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Back view of barred tail of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 24 Feb, near Alamos

White-fronted Parrot in fig tree, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Small lizard, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata deserticola) (1+ inch diameter) was under log, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Black-throated Magpie-Jays, 24 Feb, near Alamos

People mining rock on microwave tower road, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Rock quarry being mined on microwave tower road, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Kapok tree, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Young kapok tree, 24 Feb, near Alamos

Rancho Acosta, lovely accomodations, 24 Feb, Alamos

Black Vultures at Alamos dump, 25 Feb

Crested Caracara, 25 Feb, near Alamos

Arroyo Cuchujaqui wildlife habitat information, 25 Feb, near Alamos

Green Kingfisher, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Spotted Sandpiper, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Bridge over Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Northern Cardinal, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Black Phoebe, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Broad-billed Hummingbird, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Opuntia willcoxii, an arborescent prickly pear cactus of the area, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Hecho or cardon cactus (Pachycerus pectin-aboriginum), 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Shrine, 25 Feb, Rio Cuchujaqui, near Alamos

Killdeer, 26 Feb, wetlands near San Carlos

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, 26 Feb, wetlands near San Carlos

Western Sandpipers were numerous everywhere along the coast, 26 Feb, wetlands near San Carlos

Puddle ducks, 26 Feb, wetlands near San Carlos

Rio Sonora along Hwys 17 and 89 NE of Hermosillo, 26 Feb

Anna's Hummingbird, 27 Feb, Cave Creek

Saguaro cacti on hills beyond Widner's home, 27 Feb, Cave Creek

Verdin snitching nectar, 27 Feb, Cave Creek

Verdin, 27 Feb, Cave Creek

Verdin, 27 Feb, Cave Creek

Anna's Hummingbird, 27 Feb, Cave Creek