I made a quick runaround the Santa Cruz Flats - Pinal County - this morning to see whether some of the good wintering birds are still around. I was able to locate 12 Mountain Plovers at the sod farm near Tweedy and Pretzer Roads. They were north of Pretzer and west of Curry and could be seen only from a small farm road heading east from Curry. After checking most of the sites where Crested Caracaras, sometimes as many as 20 or 30, had been hanging out this winter, I finally managed to get a long-distance look at one on the north side of Baumgartner just west of Cripple Creek Road. I only had one Mountain Bluebird, although there surely were more around somewhere. Other sightings included four Bendire’s Thrashers, one of which was singing and two others that appeared to be engaged in a mating ritual; two Prairie Falcons, one of which was carrying what looked like nesting material; and 12 Greater Yellowlegs and 7 Redheads in a pond at the sod farm. 

Welcome to my blog! I’ll be contributing my birding observations and I look forward to your comments and contributions!

Doug Jenness

One of the more underbirded areas around Tucson is Oracle State Park yet, it is a jewel for birders. Located just east of the town of Oracle on the road to Mount Lemmon, it offers oak-juniper-manzanita habitat and rocky hills. If you can get out there on a Saturday or Sunday, as I did today, for one of Jerry Orr’s bird walks you are in for a treat. Jerry’s a local naturalist who knows more about the birds of the Oracle area than anyone I know. Even though it was an overcast morning and a lot of birds were hunkered, down he took advantage of every abandoned nest and nest hole to point out the habits and other interesting features of birds in the area. Chipping Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, and Western Bluebirds were out in force; we had great looks at Spotted Towhees and Western Scrub-Jays; and a Crissal Thrasher was singing full force. Before the tour started I also picked up a few Dark-eyed Juncos, a Rufous-winged Sparrow, and heard a Great-horned Owl. The park can also be good for Black-chinned Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Bushtits, and an occasional Juniper Titmice. In the spring check for Northern Goshawks and Western Tanagers passing through, and in summer look for Zone-tailed Hawk, Hooded and Scott’s Orioles, and flycatchers.