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SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS 2007

2007 VENT Camp Chiricahua

11-22 July 2007

By Holly Garrod

I had been looking forward to Camp Chiricahua since I first signed up in February and was so exhilarated when the day finally came. Upon my arrival in Tucson, I met with the two camp leaders, Dave Jasper and Rob Day. I then met with a few of the other campers, and we drove over to the hotel. Immediately after finding our rooms, we began birding around the hotel parking lot, finding Tucson common species such as Cactus Wren, Gila Woodpecker, Great-tailed Grackle, Curve-billed Thrasher, Hooded Oriole and Lesser Goldfinch. Once all of the campers and the third counselor, Lia Sansomhad, arrived, we set off for the Sweetwater Wetlands. Here we got good looks at Cinnamon Teal, Harris's Hawk, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black Phoebe and a tame Gambel's Quail. Once we returned to the hotel we were greeted by a Lesser Nighthawk flying overhead.

We began the next day at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, seeing Gilded Flicker, Black Vulture and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher in the parking lot. In the museum we learned about both the common and the rare species in Arizona. Then we set off for Portal, stopping at Wilcox where we saw our only shorebirds including Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Baird's Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope. We also saw Lesser Scaup, Northern Shoveler and Horned Lark here. Then we continued onto Portal, stopping to see a Mojave Rattlesnake winding across the road. We were greeted at Portal with a breathtaking view of the Chiricahuas. Arriving in Portal we eagerly began birding, finding common birds such as Acorn Woodpecker, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, and Summer Tanager. Then as dusk began to fall we got good looks at Great Horned Owl and Elf Owl.

Our first day in Portal began with desert birding around Rodeo, New Mexico. Here we saw Gambel's Quail, Inca dove, Bendire's Thrasher, and Black-throated Sparrow. We also stopped by an old barn and flushed out a Barn Owl. The afternoon was spent at Cave Creek Canyon and Southwest Research Station getting good looks at Blue-throated Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird, Northern Goshawk, Black-throated Gray Warbler and a tame Mule Deer. At night we went night birding, learning from Jasper to put the flashlight on our foreheads to find the eye shine. This method proved exceptional, as we could even find the eye shine of a spider. Night birding yielded good looks at Elf Owl and Western Screech-Owl, though we also saw Vinegaroons and some campers saw a tarantula.

The next day was spent at South Fork Trail in Cave Creek Canyon. Here we got great looks at an Elegant Trogan, Mexican Chickadee, Cordillean Flycatcher, Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher, Painted Redstart and Red-faced Warbler. The afternoon was spent at the Southwest Research Station where we saw Buff-breasted Flycather and Yellow-eyed Junco. For night birding we returned to South Fork Road and got great looks at Spotted Owl and Whiskered Screech-Owl.

Our last day in Portal began at the road to Paradise where we saw Black-chinned Sparrow, Scott's Oriole and heard the elusive Rock Wren. We continued to the George Walker House seeing Juniper Titmouse, Black-headed Grosbeak and Arizona Woodpecker. Having heard the previous day from John and Judy Geeson, local British tourists, about a sighting of a strange bird which was believed to be a Crescent-Chested Warbler feeding a fledgling (which would be the 4th US sighting of the warbler and the first US breeding record), we decided to give it a try, and headed to Turkey Creek/Trans-Mountain Road Junction where the bird was spotted. We were not disappointed and were rewarded with amazing looks at the bird which was in fact the Crescent-Chested Warbler!!!!! In the evening we returned to Paradise Road, finding Common Poorwill and searching unsuccessfully for Long-Eared and Burrowing Owls.

From Portal we headed to the Rustler Park at 8000 feet, reminding me of my hometown in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. On the way we stopped at Turkey Creek/Trans-Mountain Road Junction to try and get another look at the Crescent-Chested Warbler. This time though, we were unsuccessful. After arriving at Rustler Park and setting up tents, we headed for Rustler-Barfoot Junction. Here we saw Short-Tail Hawk, Olive Warbler and Greater Pewee. We then did a bit of birding around the campsite, and the nearby spring seeing Pine Siskin, Yellow-eyed Junco, and Virginia's Warbler. Soon the monsoon caught up with us, and rain poured down for several hours, flooding many camper's tents (including mine), and moving a few of us to the vans.

We began the next day with an uphill hike to Barfoot Lookout, seeing a mixed species flock of Grace's Warbler, Mexican Chickadee, and Warbling Vireo. Arriving at the lookout we were bombarded by ladybugs and learned that they flew up high to find family. We also witnessed a Yarrow Spiny Lizard fight. Looking out at the spectacular view we saw only a few Turkey Vultures and then headed back down. The afternoon hike yielded Red Crossbills and Hairy Woodpeckers. As dusk fell, we hoped the rain would hold off for a little night birding and weren't disappointed, seeing Flammulated Owl and Whip-poor-will.

The next morning we left for the San Pedro River Inn. As we headed down the mountains, we kept our eyes peeled for Montezuma Quail, unfortunately seeing none. Once we left the mountains we entered a stretch of prairie and looked for Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Prairie Falcon. Though we didn't see any of the aforementioned, we did get a good look at many American Kestrels, Loggerhead Shrike and Harris's Hawk. We stopped at Whitewater Draw seeing our first of many Vermillion Flycatchers along with Barn Owl and several American Avocets. Finally we arrived at San Pedro River Inn seeing Botteri's Sparrow, Vermillion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-headed Grosbeak, several Barn Owls and Great Horned Owl. At night we could hear Common Poorwill call and could see Lesser Nighthawks flying feet from our heads.

We began the next day at the San Pedro House, getting great looks at Gray Hawk and also seeing Lark Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat and Vermillion Flycatcher. The afternoon was spent looking for hummingbirds. First we stopped at Ramsey Canyon for Berylline Hummingbird. Several of the campers got it at one of the feeders uphill. Then after much patience I and another camper saw it come to one of the feeders downhill, though it was quickly chased away by a Magnificent Hummingbird. We then headed to Ash Canyon hoping for a Lucifer Hummingbird. While we didn't see it we did get good looks at Anna's Hummingbird, Violet-crowned Hummingbird and heard Montezuma Quail calling in the distance but still refusing to be seen.

Miller Canyon began our next day. Here we saw Bushtit, Zone-tailed Hawk, Hepatic Tanager and Painted Redstart. We searched for Spotted Owls at their daytime roost, but unfortunately didn't see them. We then headed back down to Beatty's Orchard where our hike began and waited patiently at Controlled Access Hummingbird feeders. We were rewarded with great looks at White-eared Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. We were also permitted to pick fresh apples from the trees in Beatty's Orchard. We headed back to Ramsey and Ash Canyon, trying again for the two target birds, but this time neither of them showed. As we headed back to the San Pedro River Inn, the monsoon rolled in and the heavy rains began.

Soon it was our last day. We headed for Patagonia, halting at the Famous Roadside Stop and getting good looks at Thick-billed Kingbird, Varied Bunting, Scott's Oriole, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Black Vulture, Peregrine Falcon and a family of Gray Fox. We continued on to Patagonia Lake State Park, picking up Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and searching for the elusive Black-capped Gnatcatcher and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet. Our next stop was Kino Springs where we searched unsuccessfully for Black-bellied Whistling-Duck while being attacked by Harvester Ants. We did see Gray Hawk and Common Ground Dove though. We continued to a secret stop where we found Rufous-winged Sparrow and then continued on to Madera Canyon finally seeing a pair of Montezuma Quail! Unfortunately we missed Flame-colored Tanager and Black-capped Gnatcatcher again, but got good views of Black-headed Grosbeak, Arizona Woodpecker and Varied Bunting. Then we returned to Tucson where we exchanged emails and laughed over the fond memories created over the past eleven days.

Camp Chiricahua was an amazing experience I will never forget.

These young birders attended the camps/events they report on with the help of ABA scholarships.