BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:bd63b3b7b46e2c782e5979f52f32af43 CATEGORIES:North America CREATED:20170801T160233 SUMMARY:Arizona: Owling Run & Tucson Pre-Tour DESCRIPTION:
A s sunset wraps the stupendous cliffs and monoliths of the canyo ns with purple, we'll sample the most incredible nocturnal birding availabl e in all the United States. Great Horned Owls, Barn Owls, and Burrowi ng Owls live in the unspoiled desert at the mountain’s base where literally miles separate the lights of isolated ranch buildings. In the canyon sycamore strands that mark the course of subterranean water, we'll make th e acquaintance of the world's smallest owl. Elf Owls—weighing in at l ittle more than an ounce—and also Western Screech-Owls are common and usual ly easily seen in the newly-leafed trees. Working our way upstream in to oaks, junipers, and Chihuahua pines derived from the Sierra Madre of Mex ico, the Morse code-like tooting of Whiskered Screech-Owls is the most char acteristic night-time sound. Here, too, live both Northern Pygmy- and Flammulated Owls. Naturally we'll investigate reports of Northern Sa w-whet or Long-eared Owls, should any be around, and encounters with Common Poorwills, Mexican Whip-poor-wills, and Lesser Nighthawks are probable on our evening forays. Even the rare Buff-collared Nightjar is a real po ssibility. Most years we actually see a handful of our owls, su ch as “Mexican” Spotted Owl, snoozing on their days roosts. While we’ ll place a premium on night birding, we'll not overlook Arizona's fabulous diurnal bird community. This is the best time of year to see Elegant Trogons, period. Hummingbirds are numerous, and handsome Mexican warb lers like Grace's, Olive, Red-faced, and Painted Redstarts are in full tune . The pre-tour features a visit to the Atascosa Highlands where Mexican spe cialties such as Montezuma Quail, Gray Hawk, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Five-striped Sparrow, and Varied Bunting are likely, and the high Catalina Mountains where Magnificent Hummingbird, Arizona Woodpecker, Greater Pewee , Cordilleran Flycatcher, Mountain Chickadee, Virginia’s Warbler, Yellow-ey ed Junco, and even the rare Short-tailed Hawk are all possible. Throughout the trip, transiting between the border ranges, we may see strikingly patte rned Zone-tailed Hawks, as well as Peregrine Falcons, Swainson’s Hawks, and majestic Golden Eagles—just more reaffirmation of Arizona's reputation as a birder's paradise.
We are pleased to offer both a condensed and an
unabridged option for our popular spring southeastern Arizona tour. The
Leaders: John Yerger
Cost of an "Arizona Owling R
un" (May 16-20, 2018) includes all meals, accommodations, ent
rance fees, and transportation beginning and ending in Tucson, Arizona—
Cos t of an "Arizon a Owling Run with Tucson Pre-Tour" (May 13-20, 2017) includes all meals, accommodations, entr ance fees, and transportation beginning and ending in Tucson, Arizona—$2395.
TO REGISTER: Print out a <
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See also: Arizona Humingbird Run (August 1-5&nbs p;and August 12-16, 2018)
Photo: Barn Owl
Photo by: Rick Taylor