ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA 1–17 December 2009 Leader: James P. Smith

On this unique tour we aim to find some of North America’s most difficult-to-see species at a time of year when field conditions in the deserts are at their most comfortable. Although snow will be lying on the highest peaks, the valleys will be warm during the day and a little cooler at night. Avian diversity is high here in winter and we may record over 270 species. Wintering specialities often occur in impressive numbers and the area has a proven track record for turning up rarities at this season.

Day 1 Flight from London to Phoenix for a two-night stay.

Day 2 On our first day around Phoenix we may find Gambel’s Quail, Inca Dove, Gilded Flicker, Gila Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Abert’s Towhee, Great-tailed Grackle and Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler. Many species winter on the numerous artificial lakes and water treatment plants in the city and we should encounter Pied-billed Grebe, Canvasback, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup and Neotropic Cormorant. The Phoenix area can be good for winter rarities and we’ll follow the local bird news with interest: Rufous-backed Robin, Painted Redstart, Streaked-backed Oriole, Varied Thrush and Harris’s Sparrow have been seen in recent years.

Day 3 We will leave reasonably early, heading east. The first major stop will be at The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior; this beautifully landscaped area displays desert plant species from around the world. Wintering birds may include Red-naped Sapsucker and Canyon and Rock Wrens. Recent winters have produced many rarities including Northern Saw-whet Owl, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Cassin’s and Plumbeous Vireos, Rufous-backed Robin, Varied Thrush and Brown Thrasher, and there’s often an Eastern wood-warbler wintering here. Nearby we’ll check appropriate habitat for Juniper Titmouse and Crissal Thrasher. We will then drive south to Santa Cruz flats, where Ferruginous Hawk and Mountain Plover winter. We should find good numbers of raptors, possibly including Northern Caracara. Burrowing Owl and Bendire’s Thrasher are often present and we shall certainly come across large flocks of American Pipits, Horned Larks and White-crowned Sparrows. We will then turn east towards Tucson, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 4 Our agenda for the day may be dictated by the local bird news. Winter rarities are sometimes discovered in Tucson, especially at Sweetwater wetlands, where we may try for Harris’s Hawk before we head south. Our main focus of the day will be the famous Madera Canyon, worth a visit at any season. The forested hillsides and well-stocked feeders in the lower canyon can be extremely productive, drawing in residents Arizona Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse and Yellow-eyed Junco. In some years Magnificent Hummingbird, Painted Redstart and Scott’s Oriole can be found. The upper canyon has recorded Eared Quetzal and Crescent-chested Warbler in recent winters. Black-capped Gnatcatchers are becoming regular in the lower canyon, though they remain exceptionally rare in the USA. The grasslands below the canyon can be good for American Kestrel, Eastern Meadowlark lilianae, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and Costa’s Hummingbird. We travel south to Nogales for a two-night stay.

Day 5 We will leave early for our first drive through the beautiful San Rafael grasslands. On the way, we may encounter such excellent species as Montezuma Quail, Lawrence’s Goldfinch and all three bluebirds. However, our main focus will be on sparrows: amongst many Savannah, Vesper and Lark Sparrows we hope to find Grasshopper Sparrow and the skulking Baird’s Sparrow. Bald Eagles and White-tailed Kites are possible here, too. In the afternoon we will visit Paton’s yard, Patagonia rest area and Kino Springs.

Day 6 This morning we will go straight to Patagonia Lake State Park. With will look for Elegant Trogon, Green Kingfisher and Hammond’s, Dusky and Gray Flycatchers. We might also find Sora and Virginia Rails, Green-winged Teal and shorebirds. Winter rarities have almost become a matter of course here in recent years and have included Nutting’s Flycatcher and Rufous-backed Robin. After lunch we will head back to the grasslands: Chestnut-collared Longspur is common in winter, and we’ll check for McCown’s and Lapland Longspurs. We shall also search for the furtive and nearly always solitary Sprague’s Pipit, which could spring up anywhere in these vast, scenic grasslands. Three nights in Benson.

Day 7 We will head for the Sulphur Springs Valley, where the combination of wetlands, agricultural fields and lowland desert attracts vast quantities of birds in winter, including up to 12,000 Sandhill Cranes. Lark Buntings winter here in huge numbers along with Yellow-headed and Brewer’s Blackbirds and Brewer’s Sparrows. The whole area is extremely good for raptors and we could encounter ‘Harlan’s’ Red-tailed Hawk as well as Prairie Falcon and possibly the rare Rough-legged Hawk. Great Horned Owl is often found in a daytime roost and Scaled Quail inhabits the mesquite scrub. In the evening we may try several sites for Whiskered and Western Screech-owls.

Day 8 We will leave early for the western slopes of the Chiricahua Mountains, primarily to try for Mexican Chickadee. In late afternoon we shall visit the well-known birding spot of Willcox Twin Lakes, which is good at all times of year for waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines. Loggerhead Shrike is often easy to see here.

Day 9 We will have a full morning’s birding in the canyons of the Huachucha Mountains before heading west back towards Phoenix. We shall most certainly stop along the way if any winter rarities are reported from the Tucson area, such as the Zone-tailed and Short-tailed Hawks, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Rufous-backed Robin and Black-throated Blue Warbler of recent winters. If time allows we may also try another location before reaching our motel in Phoenix in the evening.

Day 10 We head west towards Buckeye to try for Le Conte’s Thrasher. The same location occasionally holds Sage Thrasher, while Anna’s Hummingbird is often easy to see here. We will later cross the vast expanse of the Cactus Plain Wilderness Area before reaching Parker and the Lower Colorado River. Our first major stop will be just below Parker Dam, where Barrow’s Goldeneye and even Long-tailed Duck are possible. Above the dam, this huge river is a winter home to many species. We will search for grebes including Horned and Red-necked Grebes and loons including Yellow-billed Loon. Although not guaranteed by any means, the latter has appeared in the Lake Havasu area in at least five recent winters. Other birds of interest would include Ross’s Goose, Hooded Merganser and California and Ring-billed Gulls. Further north, Bullhead City maybe worth a check for Thayer’s Gull. Night in Lake Havasu City.

Day 11 We plan to have a further morning birding around Lake Havasu, especially for Yellow-billed Loon if not found on the previous day. We will then head south, following the Lower Colorado River and ultimately visiting parts of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. The whole area is very good for wetland birds and we may find ‘Yuma’ Clapper Rail. Black Rail is resident here, but we would be exceptionally lucky to see or hear one in mid-winter, but we will try! Night in Yuma.

Day 12 We will spend the first part of the morning in the Yuma area looking for Sage Sparrow. From here we head north-west entering California and birding our way through the Imperial Valley farmlands before finally reaching the southern Salton Sea. By the end of the day we may have notched up thousands of birds and a diverse species list including Western and Clark’s Grebes, Snow, Ross’s, Greater White-fronted and Cackling Geese, the latter now regarded as a distinct species, White and Brown Pelicans, Green Heron, American Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Tundra Swan, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Yellow-footed and Mew Gulls, Forster’s Tern, Greater Roadrunner, Phainopepla, Vermilion Flycatcher and possibly Thayer’s Gull or large-billed Savannah Sparrow. Overnight in Brawley.

Day 13 We will have a further full morning in the southern Salton Sea area, during which we will look for the very local Ruddy Ground-dove, before heading north for an afternoon at Big Morongo Valley. The small park, nature preserve and some well-stocked feeders attract many birds including Western Scrub-jay, Spotted and California Towhees, and Costa’s Hummingbird. This tiny area has a big reputation for rarities: it was here in 2007 that Birdfinders discovered a Common Black Hawk, just the fourth record for well-birded California. From here we have a relatively short to drive to our overnight stay in Banning.

Day 14 This morning we will drive the winding mountain roads of San Jacinto peak. California Thrashers and Wrentits sing from the scrub and we may see ‘Bell’s’ Sage Sparrow. Higher up chances for the elusive Mountain Quail increase and California Quail will certainly be present. We may find White-headed and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers and wandering Pinyon Jays and we should encounter Oak Titmouse and Mountain Chickadee. Good birding opportunities exist throughout this range of mountains and as we head south towards San Diego we’ll be looking for Wild Turkey, Pygmy Nuthatch, Tricolored Blackbird, Pine Siskin and Cassin’s Finch. Two nights in San Diego.

Day 15 The winter birding in the San Diego area is rich and diverse and we’ll spend an entire day exploring the many local habitats. California specialties may include Black-vented Shearwater and the threatened California Gnatcatcher, whilst more broadly occurring Pacific species could include ‘Black’ Brant, Pacific Loon, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, ‘light-footed’ Clapper Rail, Heermann’s and Glaucous-winged Gulls, Townsend’s Warbler and Golden-crowned Sparrow. Raptors may be represented by Golden Eagle and White-tailed Kite. We may see one of the many local rarities discovered here each winter.

Day 16 If time allows, we will enjoy more birding in the San Diego area before we take an internal flight to Phoenix followed by an international overnight flight back to the UK on Day 17

General Information The climate can vary from cold in the mountains to very hot at the Salton Sea. The pace of the tour is moderate but with some early starts. There are no special medical requirements and insects are not a major problem. Visas are not required. Distances are quite long in but the roads are good and driving is relaxed, with plenty of opportunities to stop for food and drink.

Group size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 8; maximum group size: 16 with 2 leaders.

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