Buntings of the Snow

[Lake St. Clair Metropark, Michigan, December 2012]

... or shall we say, the "Snow Bunting": this denizen of the high arctic is found in all circumpolar regions of the world (as well as in a small isolated population in Scotland):

I picked what was possibly the worst day to bird for snow bunting in 2012, low light, howling winds, and freezing temperatures that all conspired to make a miserable day in to a painfully fruitless one as well. Having given up all hope, a final desperate foray to the shores of Lake St. Clair Metropark, however, rekindled man's hope in Birding.

A small flock of perhaps a half-dozen buntings were enjoying, what was probably to them, a balmy winter day. This species is known to have one of the most Northern wintering ranges for passerines.

Snow Bunting (male) in basic plumage (above).

Snow buntings are one of the early migrants in Spring; arriving at their arctic breeding grounds in April when temperatures can easily be negative 30 degrees. Because they nest on the cold ground, the female bunting is confined to 7x24 incubation duty and requires feeding by the male for nourishment.

Other birds in the vicinity were American Tree Sparrow Black-capped Chickadee and Downy Woodpecker.

 American Tree Sparrow is another cold-weather specialist.

The chickadee:

And the woody:

Overall, a satisfactory outing thanks to the buntings.

Phainopepla, Pyrrhuloxia and a Shorebird to Boot

[Tucson, Arizona, December 2012]

This post will cover Phainopepla and Pyrrhuloxia -- no, these are not the names of some dangerous tropical affliction -- they are specialty birds of the Desert Southwest.

But first, let's start with a mimid: with a range restricted roughly to a swathe parallel to the Mexico border (excepting California), the curve-billed thrasher is an unmistakeable bird with a prominent curve to its bill and bright orange eyes.

A common sight at Sabino Canyon, it is a wary creature that stays low, scurries away by hopping on the ground and is seldom photographed perched.

Of course, seldom doesn't mean never -- I was fortunate to grab a few shots of the curve-billed on this cactus.

Where it was feeding on the flowers before flying off to its next perch:

Early morning, and most readily seen (and heard), are the phainopeplas that are conspicuously perched on the tops of assorted shrubbery all along the trails. This oddly named bird (unless you know Greek -- 'phain pepla' means 'shiny robe'; in which case it all makes sense) surely merits a distinctive name given that this glossy black 'silky flycatcher' is the sole representative of its Central American family in the US.

Adding to our list of Arizona 'specialty birds', a Pyrrhuloxia appears in the distance. This 'desert cardinal' is indeed related to the much commoner Northern Cardinal but differs in color, bill shape, and preferred habitat. Its weird name comes from compounding the words pyrrhos and loxos -- Greek for 'flame-colored' (pyr == fire) and 'oblique'.

Thus, the word combination refers to two prominent visual characteristics to aid the novice birder in identifying this bird (assuming they know Greek): the reddish coloration of the Desert Cardinal's plumage; and, the strongly angled bill.

Much more commonly seen at Sabino, is the Northern Mockingbird. Also favoring the apex perching point on a given bush or cactus, it was observed quarreling with the Phainopepla for rights to be "king of the hill".

In riparian habitat near Sabino Dam, the woods provide perfect cover for a stealthy Cooper's Hawk.

This accipter is a bird-eating specialist. Luckily, I was not around when it chose its next meal.

Walking back from Sabino Dam, a Greater Roadrunner appears. This 2-ft ground cuckoo has been clocked running up to 20+ mph but is not too proud to fly when the need arises.

Impossible to miss in Spring, Cactus Wren are much more infrequently seen in the Winter. This is our largest wren.

Finally, the 2 thrushes that were discussed in the earlier post: Hermit and Rufous-backed:

Hermit thrush (above); and Rufous-backed thrush (below):

And, lastly the shorebird; but first, a Harris's Hawk. Known as the only hawks to hunt in packs (like wolves), a family is reliably observed at Roger Rd, Tucson.

Finally the shorebird surprise: A solitary sandpiper seen at Sweetwater Wetlands:

Initially carelessly identified as a spotted sandpiper, closer observation reveals the spots on its back and somewhat larger dimensions. This is a rather late migrant on its way to the tropics for some well deserved warm weather.

Sabino Canyon in December

[Tucson, December 2012]

A quick trip to Tucson afforded an opportunity to see the typical birds of Southeast Arizona that can be found at the fabled hotspot that is Sabino Canyon.

Perhaps our most handsome sparrow, the black-throated or dessert sparrow is a 5 inch marvel of the West and Southwest US (also Mexico). With its numbers declining, it is reassuring to know that this photogenic gem is still commonly found at Sabino Canyon.

Hued in delicate greys and browns and adorned with white facial stripes and a bold black throat, this sparrow is a picture of distinctive elegance. In contrast, the Verdin [below], is a much plainer (dare we say dull) grey bird but with a bright yellow face and smart red-brown shoulder specks.

Nevertheless, the Verdin has one claim to fame that our handsome sparrow lacks -- it is the sole representative of its family (i.e., the penduline tit family) in the New World.

Vocal and hyperactive, the Verdin is a little dynamo that demands attention and its restricted range in the Southwest makes it a specialty bird that recalls the desert.
 

The Black-throated Grey Warbler is a wood warbler of the West that overwinters in Mexico and the South-West US while its breeding range extends across the Western US all the way up to Oregon.

Another specialty warbler is the painted redstart. Usually found at higher elevations, such as Madera Canyon, it was a pleasant surprise to see it at Sabino.

Not related to the American Redstart, it has deliberate and methodical foraging habits as it hops from one branch to the next.

This warbler has a bright red breast, black body with white wing patches and a half eye-ring in white. This dazzler is the only member of the Whitestart family found in the US.

Another SE Arizona specialty is the Rufous-winged Sparrow [above]. This uncommon sparrow has a small, restricted range confined to the Sonoran desert. Considered "extinct" in Arizona in the late 1800's, it was "rediscovered" in 1936.

Another sparrow found in the area is Abert's Towhee. This is a near-endemic of Arizona and thus has a highly restricted range largely consisting of Southern part of the state. It was named by Baird to commemorate the American Ornithologist James Abert.

The black-tailed gnatcatcher is similar to the blue-grey; however, predictably, it has a black tail, edged with white (when viewed from above or below) and, in the breeding season, it sports a black cap. In winter, it shows a greyish cap and black brow (see below).

Black-tailed gnatcatcher in flight:

Sabino Canyon offers desert scrub and riparian habitat thereby attracting a wide variety of species. It merits inclusion on every birder's itinerary when in Southeast Arizona.

Rush for the Thrush: One Rare and One Not

[SE Arizona, December 2012]

A chance encounter with Robert B. who is doing a big year (http://my2012bigyear.blogspot.com/) led to a determined search for the Mexican endemic, but annual casual visitor to the US, the Rufous-backed Robin (also more correctly known as the Rufous-backed Thrush). I first met Robert in June 2012 at Estero Llano Grande in the RGV area of Texas where Huck Hutchens, a very knowledgeable and friendly guide at the Park, had kindly shown us many of the area specialties including rose-throated becard and clay-colored robin. Thus, it was quite a surprise to run into Robert again at Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ -- 6 months later, both of us on the same trail at the same time -- and ultimately, the same quest: to find the Rufous-backed Robin.

Thanks to the Arizona Rare Bird Alert (RBA), Robert had "precise" directions to the spot where the robin could be found and in the fading light of the evening, we proceeded to seek the elusive thrush. The dimmer the light, the more optimistic our sightings -- a curve-billed thrasher or a fleeting Towhee -- all became perfect impersonations of the rufous-backed. After several desperate attempts, darkness descended and disheartened but not discouraged, we vowed to reconvene the next morning.

The next day, Robert, who is diligently chasing 600 species for the year, was due to fly out of Phoenix in the late morning and therefore had a hard stop at 8 am; any longer, and both the peach-faced lovebirds in Phoenix [Robert's next target species] and his flight back to Toronto would be at risk.

When the following morning arrived, the temperature was in the 30's and we braved the unseasonal cold to continue the quest for the rufous-backed. Robert looked above the Sabino Dam area while I looked just below it. Ultimately, Robert saw (and photographed) the robin and proceeded to his appointment with the peach-faced lovebirds in Phoenix; giving me "precise" directions before he left: that the rufous-backed could be found under the "big willow" above the dam. It was then up to me, to reconstruct the sighting for my benefit -- but would this thrush extraordinaire cooperate? After several hours of fruitless searching under the big willow, a party of birders lent many more pairs of eyes to the quest. And the resulting accumulation of "good birder's karma" led to the rufous-backed being spotted perched high up in the tree:

Wishing it would come closer, the robin suddenly flew down, and, as if having read my mind, proceeded to drink from a pool of water no more than 20 feet away. It was now very close to me but the light was decidedly contre-jour:

This photo, though poor, highlights the main identification features of this thrush: grey head, white but streaked throat, grey rump and tail, yellow bill, and, of course, rufous back and breast.

Not satisfied with the photographic quality, I made further attempts -- and in doing so, came across a much more familiar turdid -- the Hermit Thrush:

Of course, as a general rule, I've found that the birds you are not desperately seeking tend to photograph a lot better than the ones you are; and, the Hermit Thrush proved no exception as it cooperatively posed for several "killer" shots.

However, ultimately, the Rufous-backed Thrush relented and gave some good views:

A shy bird, it was always two hops ahead of me and constantly aware of the need to be visually obstructed from the photographer. Its preference for dimly lit places, scurrying about in the leaf-litter didn't help either. But, finally, some decent shots:

And, the final shot in the series that shows the rufous-back:

A chance encounter with a birder on a big year -- first Texas and now Arizona -- Robert's news about the Rufous-backed Robin and a satisfying attempt to document this elusive species in the US -- all made this an unforgettable quest for a rare thrush.