Southeast Arizona Birding & Wildlife With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com [email protected]/ [email protected]April 20 – 28, 2017 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected]www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC
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Southeast Arizona Birding & Wildlife - Naturalist Journeyswildflowers, and mammals like Apache Fox Squirrel, possible Coatimundi, Javelina, Coue’s ... 5-million acres of semi-desert
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Thurs., April 20 Arrival in Tucson / Amerind Foundation / Willcox Playa WelcometoArizona!YouarrivetodayinTucson,avibrantcitysurroundedbymountainrangesthatrisedramaticallyfromtheSonoranDesertfloor.Pleaseplantoarriveby1:00PMaswedriveontoPortalthisafternoon.Pleasenote:Someofyoumaywanttoarriveearlytoexploremulti-culturalTucsonwithitsgreatmuseumsandrestaurantsandachancetovisittheSonoranDesertMuseumatyourleisure.Ifso,wecanmakerecommendations.Also,onthefinaldayofyourtour,ifyouwishtoextendyourstayonenight,MelodyKehlisleadingatriptoCaliforniaGulchtotryforBuff-collaredNightjarandFive-stripedSparrow.Thisoutinggoesfrom3:00to10:00PM,planondepartingApril29.
FromourgatheringpointatTucsonInternationalAirport(TUS),weleavetheurbansettingbehindanddrivetowardsthesoutheastcornerofthestate,makingseveralstopsenroute.TherenownedAmerindFoundationisaprivate,non-profitanthropologicalandarchaeologicalmuseumandresearchcenter,establishedin1937.ItissituatedinTexasCanyon,afascinatinggeologicareaofcolorfulgranitemonoliths.EnjoyexhibitsofNativeAmericancultures,nearandfar.Theirgiftstoreisawonderfulplacetopickupauthenticjewelry,basketry,andpottery.WestopnextattheTwinLakesGolfCoursepondsnearWillcox,whichshouldbeteamingwithmigrantshorebirdsandwaders.AmericanAvocet,White-facedIbis,Black-crownedNight-Heron,WesternandEaredGrebes,andvariousphalaropesandsandpipersareoftenpresent.Tonight,westayinthecharmingvillageofPortalwithstunningviewsoftheChiricahuaMountains.Settlein,andenjoydinnerandanoverviewoftheweektocome.AccommodationsatPortalPeakLodge,Portal(D)Fri., April 21 Cave Creek Canyon / Southwestern Research Station / Portal Enjoydawninamagicalrealm.Birdcallsechothroughthecanyons.Dusky-cappedandBrown-crestedFlycatchersnestinthearea,asdoahostofinterestingwarblerssuchasGrace’s,Virginia’s,Lucy’s,Olive,andRed-faced.Woodhouse’sScrubJayquicklymakestheirpresenceknowninthelowergrassland
EnjoylunchattheAmericanMuseum’sSouthwesternResearchStationandlearnmoreaboutresearchandprogramsconductedbybiologistsfromaroundtheworldthatrecognizethespecialbiodiversityofthearea.Portalisabirder’sMecca,andthisafternoonwewalkthestreetsofthispicturesquevillage,seekingouttanagers,orioles,andotherspeciesthatusetheverdantoasis.Wealsostopattwolocalfeedersthatcanbeveryproductive.WethenvisitStateLineRoadlookingforgrasslandspecialtiessuchasScaledQuail,severalthrashers,andGreaterRoadrunner,andtakeapeekatwhatmigrantsaboundatWillowTank,abirdinghotspot.Tonight,enjoyacatereddinnerandindulgeinfabulousviewsoftheChiricahuas.AccommodationsatPortalPeakLodge,Portal(B,L,D)Sat., April 22 High Mountain Birding / Owling TodayweheadtothetopoftheChiricahuas,onadramaticmountainroadfromwhichwewitnesstheepicdramaoffiresthatroaredthroughtheChiricahuaandHuachucaMountainsinMayandJuneof2011.Betweendramaticviewsofthepeaksandsurroundingdesert,wefindremainingpocketsofconiferforesttohuntforMexicanChickadee,aspecialtyoftheChiricahuas.LookforRed-facedandOliveWarblers,aswellasGreaterPewee.Explorebeautifulmountainstreams,picnicinhighmountainmeadows,andenjoythepeacefulsettingwhileyoudiscovernewbirds,wildflowers,andmammalslikeApacheFoxSquirrel,possibleCoatimundi,Javelina,Coue’s
White-tailedDeer—evenBlackBearispossible!Tonight,wereturnforanearlydinneratthePortalStore.Learnmoreabouttheregion’ssmallowls;afterwardsweventureouthearandseethem.AccommodationsatPortalPeakLodge,Portal(B,LD)Sun., April 23 Chiricahua National Monument / Audubon Research Ranch TodaywesayfarewelltoPortalandretraceourrouteupandoverthemountainstotherockwonderlandoftheChiricahuaNationalMonument.Inthisareaofspectacularrockpillars,formedbyvolcanicactivityanderosion,famousApacheleadersCochiseandGeronimoandtheirfollowersoncehidfromAmericantroops.Today,Zone-tailedHawkandPeregrineFalconpatroltheruggedrocklandscape.Learnmoreaboutthegeologicalprocessesthatformedtheparkandwalkthetrailsbetweentherockformations,lookingforRockandCanyonWrens,PaintedRedstart,Blue-grayGnatcatcher,Red-facedWarbler,andMexicanJay.Withluck,wemayspotaninquisitiveCoatimundi,arelativeoftheraccoon.Claret-cupCactiandYuccashouldbeinbloomandweenjoyapicniclunch.ThenweheadwestacrossextensivegrasslandsundertheshadowoftheDosCabezasMountains,watchingforraptorsandLarkBunting.VisitthefamousoldwesttownofTombstoneforastretch,somephotos,andanice-cream.BylateafternoonwestopforabriefvisitattheAppleton-WhittellResearchRanchatElgin.The
Afterafulldayoflearningandexploring,wesettleintoourlodgingsattheSonoitaInn,aone-of-a-kindwesterncountrylodgefeaturinglocalflavorandhistory.DinnertonightisjuststepsawayattheSonoitaSteakhouse.AccommodationsatSonoitaInn,Sonoita(B,D)Mon., April 24 Florida & Madera Canyons / Kino Springs / Patagonia Lake TodaywemakeabiglooptovisitseveralfamousSoutheastArizonabirdinglocations.Fromourlodgings,wetakeabackroadthroughahistoricminingareaoftheSantaRitaMountains,emergingintoextensivegrasslandsdottedwithwide-spreadingoaks,alandscapereminiscentofCaliforniawinecountry.HerewemayfindCassin’sKingbird,Botteri’sSparrow,ChihuahuanRaven,andlate-winteringlarksorsparrows.BothFloridaandMaderaCanyonsarecarvedoutoftheSantaRitaMountains.FloridaCanyongivesusthechancetolookforRufous-cappedWarbleralongwith
AvisittothefamousPatagoniaRoadsideRestshowsoffsomestunninggeology,andcanrewarduswithviewsofThick-billedKingbird,BlackVulture,andYellow-breastedChatflittingamongash,walnut,andcottonweedtrees.WereturntoSonoitaafterafulldayfordinneratanearbyrestaurant.AccommodationsatSonoitaInn,Sonoita(B,L,D)Tues., April 25 Patagonia / Sonoita Grasslands / Sierra Vista Afterbreakfast,wereturntothelittlehamletofPatagonia,siteofoneofTheNatureConservancy’sveryfirstpreserves.AsweenterPatagonia,westopatthemunicipalbutterflygarden―closeenoughtotheMexicanbordertohostanunusualstray.Learnmoreaboutnativeplantsthatfrequentthearea'sbutterflygardens.NextwevisithummingbirdfeedersattheTucsonAudubonSociety’sPatonCenterforHummingbirds.TheformerhomeofthelateWallyandMarionPaton,whoinvitedvisitorstotheirbackyardfeeders,thepropertywaspurchasedin2015bytheChaptertoprotectitforposterity.InadditiontotheirusuallyreliableViolet-crownedHummingbird,211otherspecieshavebeenrecordedonsite.
Wed., April 26 Carr Canyon/ Ramsey Canyon / Casa de San Pedro Afteradelicious(somesayoutrageous!)breakfastatCasadeSanPedro,weheadouttoupperCarrCanyon,drivingswitchbacksupamountainroadtosearchforthebirdsofthehighpineforest.HerewemayfindSteller’sJay,HairyWoodpecker,GreaterPewee,Buff-breastedFlycatcher(extremelylocalintheU.S.),Hutton’sVireo,Black-throatedGray,OliveandGrace’sWarblers,Yellow-eyedJunco,and—withluck—aNorthernGoshawk.BeautifulPonderosaPinesdominateourtrail,whichispunctuatedbyexhibitsaboutthesilverminesrunhereover100yearsagoonageologicallydramaticcliffknownas“TheReef.”DescendingCarrCanyon,wecontinueontofeedersattheAshCanyonBed&Breakfast,adelightfulspotwhere(fromcomfortablechairs)wehopetoseeLuciferHummingbird,aswellasmoreregularAnna’s,Black-chinned,andpossiblymigrantRufousHummingbirds.Acorn,Ladder-backed,andArizonaWoodpeckers,MexicanJay,White-wingedDove,anduptothreespeciesoforioles(includingScott’sOriole)areallexpectedatthefeeders.WeheadbacktoCasadeSanPedroforlunchandamid-daybreaktorest,takeadipinthepool,orwatchbirdsatthemanyfeeders.Mid-afternoon,wevisitTheNatureConservancyPreserveatRamseyCanyon—oneofthefirstwell-knownbirdingsitesinSoutheastArizona.Here,RamseyCreekdescendsthroughoakwoodlands,itsbankslinedwithmassiveArizonaSycamores,thefavorednestingtreesof
Thurs., April 27 San Pedro River / Whitewater Draw / Bisbee Afteranearlybreakfast,wedrivenorthabittotheSanPedroHouse,avisitorcentermaintainedbyafriendsgroupoftheBureauofLandManagement’sSanPedroNationalRiparianConservationArea,wherewecanwalkalongtheSanPedroRiverandanadjacentpond.TheNatureConservancyhasbeeninvolvedinmanyaspectsofmanagingwaterflowandotheraspectsofthisimportantripariancorridor,establishedin1988.ThisstretchoftheSanPedrohasstrongflowsinArizona’smonsoonseason,enoughtosupportAmericanBeaverand14speciesoffish.Awalkalongtheriverrevealsmanyofitscolorfulbreedingbirds—over100specieshavebeenrecorded,alongwithanother250migratoryspecies.Over80speciesofmammalsoccurhere,too,asdofabulousandcolorfulbutterflies,ahostofreptiles,andarchaeologicalsitesofnote.BirdsofinteresthereincludeSwainson’sandGrayHawks,BlackPhoebe,Cassin’sKingbird,Abert’sTowhee,SummerTanager,BlueGrosbeak,Bell’sVireo,Lucy’sWarbler,Yellow-breastedChat,andseveralspeciesofgrassland
Weendagreatweektogetheratoneoftheregion’sbestrestaurants,CaféRocainBisbee.AccommodationsatCasadeSanPedro,Hereford(B,L,D)Fri., April 28 Departures from Tucson WeofferanoptionalbirdwalkalongtheSanPedroRiverearlyinthemorning,orachancetovisitaveryspeciallocalfeedersitethathasanexcellentpollinationgarden.WethenpackupanddrivetoTucsonforflightsoutafter12:00PM.(B)
Plan Ahead! ProtectyourselfwithAllianzTravelInsurance.Offsetyourcarbonfootprintononeofthemanyonlineprogramsavailable.Showusthereceiptandwe'lltake50%-upto$50.00-ofyourcarbonoffsetfeeoffyourfinalpayment. Cost of the Journey Costofthetour:$2390,DBL/$2895SGL,basedondoubleoccupancyfromTucson,AZ.INCLUDED:Eightnights’accommodations,allmealsasnotedintheitinerary,airporttransfers,groundtransportationinvans,professionalguideservices,parkandotherentrancefees,andmiscellaneousprogramexpenses.NOTINCLUDED:Round-tripairfaretoandfromTucson,personalexpensessuchaslaundry,telephone,drinksfromthebar,andgratuitiesforluggagehandlingorotherservices.Guidegratuitiesareatyourdiscretion.Tour Notes & Pace PACE:Moderate,withfulldaysofbirdingandwalksonquietroadsandtrails.Atypicalwalkislessthantwomilesandoftenwehaveaseriesofwalksatdifferentspotsthatareahalf-mileeach,severaltimesaday.DINING:Casual,amixoflocalrestaurantsandbothrestaurantandpicniclunches.