in SOUTHERN
ARIZONA

& in nearby NORTHERN 
SONORA, MEXICO  


At some great places
in the mountains and the desert

During a great time of year for birds,
with breeders and some migrants


With numbers of Hummingbirds, 
Flycatchers, Warblers, Sparrows,
Hawks and Owls, 
and a Trogon.


August 18-27, 2010

(tour: FON/AZ & MX-2, '10)

Tour to be led by Armas Hill.

Birds of southern Arizona (with photos)

Birds during previous FONT tours in Arizona (with photos) 

Mammals & Other Wildlife in Arizona (including Amphibians & Reptiles) (with photos)   

Butterflies of Arizona (with photos)

Plants of the Desert & some nearby habitats (with photos)

Birds of Sonora, Mexico

Mammals in Mexico (with photos)

Amphibians & Reptiles in Mexico (with photos)

Highlights of previous FONT tours in Arizona

Highlights of Previous FONT Tours in Sonora, Mexico

Tour Registration Form

Black-chinned Hummingbird
(photo by Howard Eskin)

Wed, Aug. 18:  Arrival mid-day in Tucson. Afternoon birding nearby in the area of Mt. Lemon. Possibilities include: Zone-tailed Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Red-faced, Olive, and Grace's Warblers. Overnight in the Tucson area.

Thu, Aug. 19:  Early morning desert birding, near Tucson, among the giant Saguaro Cactus for species such as: Curve-billed Thrasher, Gambel's Quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Verdin, and Cactus Wren. Followed by a visit to the famous Sonoran Desert Museum, where the nature of the desert is presented in natural settings, and there are good photographic opportunities.

Cactus Wrens, during the FONT Aug/Sep 2008 Tour in Arizona
(photo by Doris Potter)

Next, our Arizona journey continues as we head toward Patagonia, a good birding area east of the Santa Rita Mountains. We'll travel through the north edge of those mountains, birding along the way, in and near the Madera Canyon. 
Upon our arrival in Patagonia, we'll do some afternoon birding along the Sonoita Creek, including a place that's good for hummingbirds: maybe Violet-crowned, Costa's, and Rufous. 
At the Sonoita Creek Sanctuary there can be: Gray Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. Overnight in Patagonia.

Fri, Aug. 20:  Much of this day at the Ramsey, Ash, and Miller Canyons, where Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and Black-throated Gray Warbler can be among the birds we'll see. Last year, a Sinola Wren was. It was of the first of that species ever seen north of Mexico.  Among the mammals we could see this day: the Coati.
At hummingbird feeders there can be about a dozen species of hummingbirds. Among those we should see: the Magnificent and the Blue-throated. Among those possible: the White-eared and the Berylline. At one of the places we'll visit, the Lucifer Hummingbird is usually seen. Overnight in the Sierra Vista area. 

An immature Broad-tailed Hummingbird 
photographed during our August 2008 Arizona tour 

Violet-crowned Hummingbird at its nest,
photographed during our July 2001 Arizona tour

Sat, Aug. 21:  Travel to Portal, with birding enroute. Along the way, at places such as the valley of the San Pedro River, we could encounter birds such as: Abert's Towhee, Scott's Oriole, Greater Roadrunner, Scaled Quail, and Lark Sparrow. Overnight in Portal, at the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon.

Sun, Aug, 22:  Much of the day, birding in the highlands, but before that, some birding at a slightly lower elevation where the Crissal Thrasher will be sought. 
In the highlands of the Chiricahua Mountains, Elegant Trogon, Mexican Chickadee, Hepatic Tanager, Olive Warbler, Painted Redstart, and Red-faced Warbler all occur. And all of them amid spectacular scenery. 
It's some of the best birding in the U.S., in one of the most beautiful settings. 
If we're fortunate, after dark, we could hear (and maybe see) the Flammulated Owl. And if we're also fortunate, earlier during the day, we may find the Montezuma Quail, as we have during our tours here in the past. 
Overnight, again, at Portal.

Mon, Aug. 23:  Another morning of birding in the area of the Chiricahuas, including along Paradise Road where there could be yet more birds including Black-chinned Sparrow and Juniper Titmouse.
Later in the day, we'll make a birding stop at Wilcox, where birds could include: Eared Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Cinnamon Teal, Long-billed Curlew, and Black Tern, along with an assortment of shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, of various sorts. 
From Willcox, we'll travel south to the town of Douglas, located on the Arizona-Mexican border, where we'll spend the night in an historic hotel. 

Tue, Aug. 24:  In the morning, we'll cross the border into the northern Mexican state of Sonora, to go to a place, for birding & nature, that has been special for us in the  past. It's the property of a large ranch, about 30,000 acres, in the High Sonoran Desert. Elevations range from about 3,300 to 7,200 feet above sea level, and the area includes a number of habitats, from riparian woodland to desert. Additionally, there are some spectacular canyons to be explored and in which some notable wildlife is to be found. 

Following this itinerary, a series of photographs taken on the property, during our Sep '08 tour, show some of the marvelous scenery, topography, and the flora & fauna to be found there.

Wildlife does abound in the area. Pumas are said to be common. Deer and Coyote are as well. Many birds occur. During a previous tour, both Montezuma and Elegant Quail were found. In one of the canyons, there were Rufous-capped Warblers. A Mexican Yellow Grosbeak was seen, as were Five-striped and Rufous-winged Sparrows. The last of these species can be seen locally in southern Arizona, but not as readily as it has been in the past. Overall, the global range of the Rufous-winged Sparrow is nearly restricted to the Mexican state of Sonora.
What probably is best about where we'll be in the remote hills of Sonora is that it IS NOW, as places such as Arizona WERE in the past - before the "development" brought highways, agriculture, and many people. On the property in Sonora, such things are missing. The place is "natural". Oh, there are some cattle on the ranch, but not many. As one travels about on the property on tracks in a four-wheel drive vehicle, one can sense for a while, during the visit, what a "natural place" can be like - and how it was before the highways, agriculture, and many people.
Looking at the photos just noted, that follow below, one can see that a place that is quite similar in the United States to this special area we'll be visiting in Sonora is Big Bend National Park.
The first of 2 nights in the Sonoran hills.           

Wed, Aug. 25:  A full day of birds and other nature in the Sonoran hills. One of the birds we should see would be the Mexican subspecies of the Wild Turkey, known as the "Gould's Turkey". It has white in its plumage where other wild turkeys are buffy.
Also in the region, we'll see numerous other birds at Lake Angostura and along the Bavispe River. Not only will there be birds, but other wildlife too.
To give again an idea of how remote and wild this area is: during our last tour, as we stood on a hill overlooking Lake Angostura, we could see across the way a ridge clad on its upper parts with pines. It was there, we were told, that Geronimo had his last hangout. It was in such places that the Imperial Woodpecker once lived, and where today the Eared Quetzal still does.
In a nearby canyon, with steep walls, a couple years ago, a pair of Military Macaws were seen - the most northern sighting of that species, and the closest to the US.
Referring back to Geronimo for a second, one of the reasons why this part of Mexico has been so unpopulated is that it was, for over 150 years, the haunt of the aggressive, even ferocious, Apaches.
During our last tour on this Sonoran ranch, our early-morning wake-up call, just outside our windows, was the howling of Coyotes. Throughout the day, there were many birds, butterflies, and animals such as the Antelope Jackrabbit and the Coue's White-tailed Deer. Following dusk, owls called. After dark, the stars shone brightly, including a Milky Way that nearly jumped out at us. Our second overnight in the Sonoran hills.
 

Coyote

Thu, Aug 26:  After some final birding and exploration on the vast ranch in Sonora, that was our home for 2 days, we'll travel north to the US-Mexico border, and then to Tucson, where we'll spend the night.

Fri, Aug. 27:  Departure for home.

Includes: All accommodations and transportation. Services of an expert birding leader. Breakfasts & lunches Aug. 19-26. 

Pyrrhuloxia
(a cousin of the Cardinal)




A small mammal, the Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

A large animal of its kind, the Antelope Jackrabbit