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 to drive through Tucson’s afternoon Friday gridlock for anything less than a Cerulean Warbler. But very early Saturday morning traffic is a breeze. The Redstart was a no show. But there was the Dickcissel and an Eared Grebe.
Eared Grebe, Fort Lowell 9-23-23
Green Kingfisher Clark Crossing 9-22-23
A recent survey of the Santa Cruz River between Rio Rico north to Chavez Siding found 14 Green Kingfishers. I see this species on many of my visits to this area.
Prairie Falcons, Wilcox 9-19-23
Varied Bunting, Clark Crossing 9-21-23
Empress Leilia, Clark Crossing 9-21-23
Clark Crossing and Santa Gertrudis have been very productive recently. We are having a good fall migration. The trails around these two locations have incredible patches of green seeded grasses. The buntings, especially, are attracted. Two years back, the Lazulis spent the entire winter and finally left in mid-March. So, on the 21st two locals, Nolan Walker and Nate Thompson, hiked about 4 miles along the path south, and a bit north, from the Clark Crossing/Trail gate. They picked up 91 species including Green Kingfisher, Painted and Varied Buntings, two American Redstarts, a Black-and-White Warbler and a Painted Redstart in about 5 hours.
Canoa Ranch Pond. “It’s the Water”
Wilcox.
I think that the fence is electrified.
