Tucson Botanical Gardens – At the End of the World

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 spot it had been advertised the day earlier. Quick and easy. So I wandered around and checked the place out. As a birding spot, it’s cramped, with a lot of stuff packed into 4, maybe 5 acres. Lots of art, which is likely for sale, and even a cafe. If I lived in the neighborhood it would be visited often. There have only been a few good birds found there including a Rufous-backed Robin. By rights, the place should be hopping with worthwhile birds. But, it’s not a bird place but a botanical spot. For the first half-hour of my visit it was quiet, but then workers arrived to over-trim the trees and transport items around the paths. They even began to trim back the very hackberry tree that the Black-throated Blue favored. Not a birding spot. Still, enjoyable.

Tucson Botanical Gardens 10-30-23

Black-throated Blue Warbler Tucson Botanical Gardens 10-30-23

Red-breasted Nuthatch, East Lawn Palms Cemetery, Tucson 10-29-23

Tennessee Warbler Paton’s 10-25-23

This bird was along the Cuckoo Corridor Trail at Paton’s. Tom Brown, the manager of Paton’s, told me that another birder swore there were two Tennessees along the trail. When I reviewed my photos I noted that I did actually have pics taken that day of two distinct birds. See my last post (10-22-23) for pics of the other warbler. And, another showed up at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Tucson on 10-30-23.

Northern Parula, Sweetwater Wetlands, 10-31-23

Black-and-white Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands 10-31-23

Red-throated Loon, Sahuarita Lake

This Red-throated Loon is a Pima county record bird. It was initially, I understand, reported as a Common Loon, another birder questioned that ID, and from photos the bird was determined to be a Red-throated. This is my understanding, that’s all. I am probably wrong. I dunno. In any event, the next morning there was an army of birders there before the sun was up. The site was a long and narrow HOA lake surrounded by townhomes and single-family dwellings. The bird put on a good show even as the locals appeared to jog, walk dogs, fish, or just wander. Finally at 9:20am the bird flew off… never to be seen again.