| August 1, 2006: Madera Canyon: Male Elegant Trogan feeding a juvenile while we were watching the Aztec Thrush in the same tree. Really, southeast Arizona offers fantastic bird photography opportunities. |
| Southeast Arizona Bird Photography with Bill Schmoker, as Guide July 27 to August 2, 2010 Brief Itinerary: Tuesday, July 27: Arrival in Tucson or Phoenix, and then Tupac, other stops along I-19, and then Nogales Wednesday, July 28: Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Paton’s Feeders and Much More Thursday, July 29: Madera Canyon Friday, July 30: Madera Canyon, Florida Wash and Late Transfer to Sierra Vista Saturday, July 31 to Monday, August 2: Sierra Vista Area: Miller Canyon, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Fort Huachuca and Garden Canyon, San Pedro River and More Extension Plans: Once we have about six people signed up on the trip, we will plan trip extensions. These plans could include the Portal, Arizona and/or Mount Lemmon near Tucson. |
| July 30, 2006: Miller's Canyon: Male White-eared Hummingbird below), the 13th species in 24 hours. Costa's (above) taken later in trip. |
| Though we expect to see well over 200 species, we will most importantly take time to photograph well over 100 species, including a number of specialities in the area. Specialities in the area include Painted Redstart, Elegant Trogan, Vermillion Flycatcher, Gray Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Common Ground-Dove, Inca Dove, Phainopepla, Pyrrhuloxia, Gambel’s Quail and hopefully Montezuma Quail, Elf Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Spotted Owl, Verdin, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Gilded Woodpecker, Arizona Woodpecker and many more. Besides these specialities, the area often presents opportunities to photograph such rarities as Lucifer Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Flame- coloured Tanger and likely several surprises. |
| Southeast Arizona in 2005 and 2006: Whiskered Screech-Owl, Flame Skimmer, and Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog. Though no pictures yet, we also found a Black-tailed Rattlesnake. |
| July 31, 2006: The end of a great day, which started with finding the Montezuma Quail, sharing views of the Elegant Trogon, and then finding this Spotted Owl in Sheelite Canyon. |
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Photography Trip to SE Arizona, July/August, 2010
For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
Flight Plans and Arrival and Departure Notes:
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Nearly all photos by Bill Schmoker. Some photo editing by Charles Thornton-Kolbe; so, give Bill permission to break my binoculars if photos are messed up. One photo (the Whiskered Screech-Owls) was taken by me. Another photo (of Bill Schmoker) is by Chris Woods. Then, the rest are by Bill Schmoker. |
Bill Schmoker and Gray Jay. Photo by
Chris Wood.
Chris Wood.
Bill Schmoker: One of Most Popular Field Guides
Trip Personnel Possibility and Surprise: John Drummond (see his biography under our Trip Leaders and Staff page) wants to join the trip. John will likely be the driver of the second van, but he will contribute significantly in bird spotting and finding. John, for those who have birded with him, know that he is also a keen bird photographer. |
Trip Pricing and Costs: $1,490 for the main trip, including five breakfasts, lodging, lodging tax, bird guide, driver, trip planning and other services. Single supplement $400 and may not be available in Madera Canyon. $150 to $200 will likely be your cost for additional meals at restaurants and for box lunches (your choice here). Please call Charles Thornton-Kolbe at 1-888-203-7464, ext. 912 to book trip and to get a detailed invoice. We like folks to know what they are paying for. |
| More Descriptive Itinerary Flight Plans and Arrival Note: Arrive in Tucson in the early morning (before 11 AM or night before to enjoy morning birding) or Phoenix by 11 AM. Tuesday, July 27: Arrival in Tucson or Phoenix, and then Tupac, other spots along I-19, and then Nogales.
Wednesday, July 28: Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Paton’s Feeders and Much More. We will start early toward Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. We will definitely hit the roadside rest stop about fifteen miles north of Nogales, perhaps the most famous rest stop among North American birders: White-winged Dove, Black-chinned and Broad-billed Hummingbird, Canyon Wren, Cassin’s Kingbird, possible Thick-billed Kingbird, Rose-throated Becard, Phainopepla, Lucy’s Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Varied Bunting, Lesser Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned Sparrow. At the Preserve itself expect: Gray Hawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, Gambel’s Quail, Roadrunner, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Dusky- capped, Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers, three possible kingbirds, Bridled Titmouse, Summer Tanager, Abert’s Towhee, Black- headed and Blue Grosbeaks, Varied Bunting and Bronzed Cowbird. Northern Breadless-Tyrannulet is possible here. At the Patons’ feeders we’ll join the other birders watching the daily hummingbird show, starring the Violet-crowned Hummingbird. This should be a great photo op. Overnight in Nogales. Thursday, July 29: Nogales & Madera Canyon. In Nogales area we’ll look for the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (if not already successful). North of town we’ll turn east to Madera Canyon itself: Zone-tailed Hawk, Flammulated Owl, Bridled Titmouse, Arizona Woodpecker, Magnificent Hummingbird, Greater Pewee, Painted Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, Yellow-eyed Junco. We will especially look for Elegant Trogon and Whiskered Screech-Owl. This area frequently has Mexican vagrants like Flame-colored Tanager. Overnight in Madera Canyon. Friday, July 30: Madera Canyon, Florida Wash and Late Transfer to Sierra Vista. First thing in the morning, Florida Wash: Crissal Thrasher, Varied Bunting, Ducky-capped Flycatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, Pyrrhuloxia, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Cassin’s and Botteri ‘s Sparrows. Some of these birds will be fine in the morning light. Then we return to Madera Canyon for any birds missed the previous day. In mid-afternoon we will head east to Sierra Vista, arriving in time for checking some of the local hummingbird feeders to focus on rarities like Lucifer’s or White-eared Hummingbird. Overnight in Sierra Vista. Itinerary continued to right below the Harris' Hawks. |
| More Descriptive Itinerary Continued: Saturday, July 31: Sierra Vista Area--Miller or Carr Canyon, San Pedro River and More. Our exact destinations will vary depending on any rarities sighted in the vicinity. Miller or Carr Canyon: Flammulated Owl, Spotted Owl is possible, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Pygmy Nuthatch, Olive Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Grace’s Warbler, Hepatic and Western Tanager, Evening Grosbeak (always a great photo subject), Red Crossbill, Yellow-eyed Junco. San Pedro River Valley: Gambel’s and Scaled Quail, Common Ground-Dove, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Say’s Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, Chihuahuan Raven, Verdin, Curve-billed and Crissal Thrashers, Phainopepla, Bell’s Vireo, Pyrrhuloxia, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting and Abert’s Towhee. Again we will take our time for good virews and photos, not rush past for ticking off the species. Sunday, August 1: Sierra Vista Area--Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Fort Huachuca and Garden Canyon. Ramsey Canyon is renowned for its variety of hummingbirds including Broad-billed, Blue- throated and Magnificent. Mexican Jays are possible here along with Greater Pewee, Dusky- capped Flycatcher, Scott’s Oriole, Botteri’s Sparrow. Fort Huachuca, including Garden and Sawmill Canyons: Botteri’s and Cassin’s Sparrow in the low-lying grassland. Further upslope: Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur- bellied Flycatcher, Greater Pewee, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray and Grace’s Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Owl, Yellow-eyed Junco, possibly Northern Goshawk. Monday, August 2: Sierra Vista Area. We will consider returning to areas where we may have missed some key species and/or consider trying for additional rarities in the area. We will leave Sierra Vista area by noon. We will bird a bit more as we head towards the Phoenix airport (arriving by 5 PM) and pass through Tucson on our way (arriving by 4 PM). Leave after 6 PM from Tucson or after 7 PM from Phoenix on August 2. Extension Plans: Once we have about six people signed up on the trip, we will plan trip extensions. These plans could include the Portal, Arizona and/or Mount Lemmon near Tucson. |
