| species | date | number | region | county | location | observer | context | details |
| Black Vulture | 1/22/2012 | 100 | South Central | Maricopa | Buckeye | Melanie Herring | One hundred is a large number for this species based on most reports. | Photos obtained of this large kettle. I first noted 20 in the air, when all of a sudden another 80 came up off the desert floor (multiple dairies and cement pits in this general area). They are distinct by white on the tips of their wings, shorter tail, characteristic "flap-flap-flap..gluide". I looked through them all and only found Black Vultures. No Turkey Vultures in the mix. The area I saw this kettle in is just north of Pecos and west of Tuthill. However, where I normally see this large of a group is south of Beloat near Dean rd. On a map, these two areas are not that far apart. |
| Varied Thrush | 1/21/2012 | 1 | | Maricopa | Hassayampa River Preserve | Sydney and Chrissy Smith | not common to this area | Viewing conditions were perfect (view, lighting, etc). We were along an area where we have a net lane for the bird banding we do at the Hassayampa River Preserve - next to the lake where a spring feeds in and very thick with cottonwood, cattails and brush. We we watching a Marsh Wren and just about 30 feet in front of us is the Varied Thrush. Sydney Smith first spotted it and pointed it out. An adult male, All markings visible. This bird was in good condition. Traveling alone. Although there were 30 plus Robins and Cedar Waxwings nearby. It was definitely a Varied Thrush. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a picture before it flew back deeper into that area toward a very thick area of brush and trees. |
| Brown Pelican (immature) | 1/8/2012 | 1 | | Maricopa | South Chandler | Kevin Fairhurst | Rare but apparently not unusual. Seen at a pond on a golf course near intersection of Lindsey and Riggs in SE Chandler. | Perfect viewing conditions. Perched on ground. Observed at ~20 meters. Unmistakable juvenile plumage (dark back/wings/head and light front). |
| Western Tanager | 1/5/2012 | 1 | South Central | Maricopa | Hassayampa River Preserve | Christina Smith, et al. | Casual in winter in the region and state. | Photographed by Chrissy, feeding on fan palm fruit. |
| Eastern Phoebe | 12/27/2011 | 1 | Yavapai | Yavapai | Sycamore Canyon | David Moll | continue to track increased sightings of this species rare to central AZ. | Located at the pool below the FSR 131 trailhead.
Poor photographs. |
| Orchard Oriole | 12/23/2011 | 1 | South Central | Maricopa | Phoenix - Ahwatukee yard | Paul and Gloria Halesworth | Typically a casual winter visitor to Arizona but has recently become almost annual in the state during the winter. | An adult male and this will be its third winter in a row at this residence. |
| Swamp Sparrow | 12/17/2011 | 1 | South Central | Pinal | 1 east of sr347 @ Peters & Nall | Nancy Lange | Rare winter visitor in Pinal county. Also saw a Swamp Sparrow in the exact same spot on 06 Dec. 2010. | Small Sparrow with rufous wings, bold gray eyebrow, striped breast and whitish belly.
About 11am, partly cloudy, 60F. |
| White-throated Sparrow | 12/14/2011 | 1 | Gila | Gila | Pine yard | Jeff Estis | uncommon fall/winter visitor in Gila Co. | the bird was eating seed on ground in backyard, a white-striped morph. First seen at about 11:00 a.m. in light rain/snow. Photos obtained. |
| Violet-green Swallow | 12/11/2011 | 1 | Southeast | Pinal | Mammoth sewage ponds | Doug Jenness | Violet-green Swallow is casual in December in southeastern Arizona. | Bird was perched on a wire in full sunlight. Good scope view. Showed clearly the white sides to face and the white side patches on rump. Also varied coloration of back was apparent. These characteristics differentiate it from the similar Tree Swallow. |
| American Redstart | 12/7/2011 | 2 | South Central | Maricopa | Glendale Recharge Ponds | Chrissy Kondrat-Smith and Melanie Hoffman | Rare fall and casual winter visitor | cloudy day, 58 degrees, 2 AMRE, one male and female, found foraging, singing, good condition, and very active in the cottonwood trees in the riparian area just west of the recharge ponds (proximity - go to end of 107th and park at the bridge and the cottonwoods are to the west). Photos available
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| Barn Swallow | 12/4/2011 | 1 | Southeast | Pima | Tucson, Kennedy Park | Molly Pollock, Mark Stevenson | Barn Swallow is casual in December in SE AZ. | Distinctive tail well seen and photographed. This is likely the same bird reported the previous day. |
| Cave Swallow | 12/4/2011 | 1 | Southeast | Pima | Tucson, Kennedy Park | Molly Pollock, Mark Stevenson | Cave Swallow is an accidental visitant to SE Arizona and a casual to accidental visitant anywhere in the state. | On this cold, foggy morning two swallows were foraging over the lake at Kennedy Park, not the best of viewing conditions for constantly moving birds. One was readily identifiable as a (late) Barn Swallow and on the other we were able to see a pale buffy rump and cinnamon colored throat and forehead, separating it from Cliff Swallow. Eventually it perched on a wire and MS was able to photograph it.
It was also photographed by Dave Stejskal, Andrew Core and Chris Benesh and seen by additional observers before it flew off with the Barn Swallow.
It was last reported on 27 December 2011. |
| White-throated Sparrow | 12/3/2011 | 1 | | Pinal | Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Marceline VandeWater | Irregular winter visitor at BTA. | Mixed in with a small flock of White-crowned Sparrows. White Throat, thick tan stripe over the eye. Photo obtained. |
| Indigo Bunting | 11/29/2011 | 1 | South Central | Maricopa | Needle Rock Rec. Area | Marceline VandeWater | There are very few November records for Maricopa Co. | Overall buffy bunting with light throat, some streaks on the breast, indistinct wingbars |
| Hooded Warbler | 11/26/2011 | 1 | South Central | Maricopa | Gila River, upstream of Estrella Mountain Reg. Park property | Troy Corman | Casual fall migrant, with few November records in Maricopa Co. | Male-plumaged individual with black crown, side of neck and throat, bright yellow face, black eyes. |
| Pacific Wren | 11/24/2011 | 4 | Gila | Gila | Pine Cr. Canyon/Pine | Brian Ison | Four seen is a high number. Pacific Wren is a Sketch Details species. Winter distribution of western Pacific Wren and eastern Winter Wren is unclear in AZ. | dark brownish overall- head-bobbing behavior- small, thin bill and chip notes sounding like Wilson's Warbler chip notes |
| Harris's Sparrow | 11/24/2011 | 1 | White Mountains | Apache | Petrified Forest National Forest | Kenneth Bader | Casual to rare transient in the region. | |
| Bridled Titmouse | 11/23/2011 | 6 | White Mountains | Navajo | Rt. 61 along Diamond Creek southeast of Alchesay Fish Hatchery | Eric and Elaine Hough | Probably uncommon resident below the Mogollon Rim, but since no Atlas surveys were conducted on the White Mountain Apache tribal lands their distribution is not well known there. | |
| Bald Eagle | 11/23/2011 | 1 | White Mountains | Navajo | Rt. 61 along Diamond Creek southeast of Alchesay Fish Hatchery | Eric and Elaine Hough | Probably an uncommon winter visitor here, but unknown distribution on the White Mtn. Apache reservation since Atlas surveys could not be conducted on these lands. | |
| Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler | 11/23/2011 | 1 | White Mountains | Navajo | Rd. to Alchesay Hatchery, White Mtn. Apache Reservation | Eric and Elaine Hough | Probably an uncommon migrant there, but distribution is unknown on the White Mtn. Apache tribal lands since Atlas surveys were not conducted there. | |
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