Ekrunkkala

November 11, 2023 Pomarine Jaeger, Green Valley WTP, 11-8-23 This is a very odd bird, and a mega, to show up in the middle of the desert. It hung around since the 7th chasing pigeons and coots until it was exhausted. On the 11th it was taken to rehab in Tucson. Prairie Falcon, Canoa Ranch […]

October 31, 2023 Black-throated Blue Warbler, Tucson Botanical Gardens, 10-30-23 This eastern warbler was spotted by Alexis Stark at the TBG on 10-29-23 in the mid-afternoon. Two others stopped by later and found it. So I got there at 8:30 when they opened, and almost immediately found the bird, out in the open, at the

October 22, 2023 Yellow-throated Warbler, Lakeside Park, 10-19-23 The parade of eastern warblers continues in the region. Yellow-throated, Tennessee, and Black-and-White have just shown up. Yellow-throated Warbler Lakeside Park 10-19-23 Tennessee Warbler, Paton’s 10-21-23 Tennessee Warbler, Paton’s 10-21-23 Tennessee Warbler, Paton’s 10-21-23 In addition to the warblers, Ruddy Ground-doves are being seen all up and

October 16, 2023 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 10-15-23 Fragrant Valley Dairy Slop Pond 10-15-23 Yesterday, 10-15-23, there was flash of excitement in the local birding world as a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was found at the Fragrant Valley Dairy – a big deal regionally. I had been out of cellular range and soon after re-entering civilization I got a

October 14, 2023 Ruddy Ground Dove Lakeside Park 10-14-2023 Ruddy Ground Doves had been pretty much missing since last October. The usual spots were void. Lots of Incas, and Common Ground Doves, but these guys were elsewhere. Until last week when one was seen by Ron Batie along the trail south from Santa Gertrudis, then

October 4, 2023 Painted Bunting, Santa Gertrudis 10-2-23 Painted Buntings have made a good showing in the region ever since the last week-or-so of July. This one is a good example of a molting “greenie.” The bird looks like it was sent through a car wash backwards. The Varied and Lazuli Buntings in the area

September 26, 2023 Worm-eating Warbler with Sphinx Moth Caterpillar Tubac 9-25-23. Strongly back-lit subject. I was at Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia on the 25th looking for birds of opportunity. There was a credible report of an Orchard Oriole, seen once by Louie Dombrowski the birder-in-residence at Paton’s. I had 50 birds for the

Dickcissel, Fort Lowell Park 9-23-23 Dickcissels are a regular fall migrant in SEAZ. And as such, are uncommon and widespread. I took this bird as a consolation prize on my trip to Tucson’s Fort Lowell Park. I was looking for the adult male American Redstart that’d been seen the previous day. I was not going

September 17, 2023 Clay-colored Sparrow, Santa Gertrudis 9-16-23 This bird really got my attention. There were several very dull Brewer’s Sparrows foraging the seed heads and the Clay-colored just popped up in front of me near the Brewer’s. Berylline Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge 9-12-23 It’s getting a bit late for some of these birds. Lucifers

September 11, 2023 Prothonotary Warbler, Columbus Park 9-11-23 This photogenic warbler showed up in Tucson’s Christopher Columbus Park on September 10. Found by Scott Olmstead. I was at the Las Cienegas Headquarters yesterday chasing an Eastern Kingbird when the message came through about this warbler. It was already 95F and temps up to 110F were