Table: Sightings View  species number date region county context location observer details Tropical Kingbird 2 8/16/2008 Southeast Santa Cruz These birds do not often get reported from this location. Lochiel Molly Pollock, Brigid Pollock The birds called. We viewed the birds from about 30 - 50 feet. They were kingbirds, with large bills, forked tails, without white outer tail feathers, and green backs. The call is distinctive. Short-billed Dowitcher 1 8/4/2008 South Central Maricopa Short-billed Dow is a sketch details species Arlington Valley, slop pond Kurt Radamaker A juvenile plumaged bird was noted amongst 5 adult dow sp., the adults were probably short-billed dowitchers as well, but the voice was not heard and plumage characters are difficult to distinguish. I concentrated on the juv, which clearly showed the intricate notches on the tertials. Besides the diagnostic tertials it is doubtful a juv Long-billed would show up this early in Arizona. Juv Long-billed do not occur until late August. Brown Pelican 1 8/2/2008 South Central Maricopa Juv. Brown Pelican present for at least first few days of reporting period. Tempe Town Lake Magill Weber Bird observed at close range on numerous occasions. Gray Hawk 1 7/31/2008 South Central Maricopa At least one calling Gray Hawk was heard, (one bird observed soaring) at TNC's Hassaymapa River Preserve on July 31. I was with a TNC colleague during 'closed' hours at the Preserve and we heard the diagnostic calls of one, possibly two individuals. At one point a Red Tail Hawk interacted with the Gray Hawk soaring over. Preserve staff has seen/heard these birds around frequently during the summer season, though there is no confirmation of nesting or known offspring that I am aware of. Volunteer staff and hours are severely restricted, and preserve staff has not gone out of the way to publicize this nest (if there is one). They have requested that I not report to the listserv, but are fine with AZFO reporting. Hassayampa River Preserve Magill Weber Heard calling bird(s); one indiividual soaring over for several minutes. Brown Pelican 1 7/31/2008 South Central Maricopa Juv. Brown Pelican present for more than one week during at least the last week or so of reporting period. Tempe Town Lake Magill Weber Bird observed at close range on numerous occasions Black-headed Grosbeak 1 7/31/2008 South Central Maricopa Early female-type migrant. Hassaympa River Preserve Magill Weber Heard and seen well in understory near the Hassaympa River 'River Ramble' trail. Northern Harrier 1 7/30/2008 Southeast Pinal Northern Harrier is rare in region in July and August. May be an early migrant or a summering individual. Santa Cruz Flats Doug Jenness Observed 1 being harassed by two Common Ravens over farm fields north of Harmon Rd. between Picacho Hwy and Sunshine Blvd. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 7/28/2008 Coconino Coconino Rare and irregular summer visitor to Arizona San Francisco Peaks, Inner Basin Ken Murphy Ken described the bird: "nice pink triangle on white breast, black head and wings with white spots." Peach-faced Lovebird 9 7/28/2008 South Central Maricopa A few weeks ago I started seeing a bunch of these peach faced lovebirds in my backyard. I have seen up to nine together in my water feature that leads into the pool. I am sure there are many more as I can hear them in the trees. I don't know much about birds, so I hope I haven't wasted anyone's time. Mesa, AZ Power Rd. and Thomas Jennifer Gifford They are green with peach faces sometimes going as dark as bright red. They have bright blue under feathers. They tend to sit together on branches with as many as five or six on a branch. Although, they will also sit alone. They have a loud screeching sound but they get quieter as they sit longer. They prefer to sit close to larger trunks getting right into the crook between an outlying branch and the thicker one. I saw a couple last year very early in the morning, but only once or twice. This year I have a whole flock of them. They become more noisy around 11am up to 4pm when they usually stop flying around for the night. I don't see them until the next day. They are quite beautiful and have this magnificent pattern on the bottom of their tail feathers that can only been seen when in flight. I have yet to photograph it - they are very quick. Cedar Waxwing 1 7/28/2008 Yavapai Yavapai Extremely unusual in summer anywhere in AZ after the first week or so of June Cottonwood Cody Burkett Found dead near the Verde River in very fresh condition (not in breeding condition) American Three-toed Woodpecker 1 7/23/2008 Coconino Coconino Regular on the South Rim in small numbers in winter but unknown in summer Brian noted that he could find no published reports of ATTW in summer on the South Rim. He also noted that a recent increase in prescribed burns and wildfires may have created habitat for the species. Grand Canyon, South Rim, Hearst Tanks Brian Gatlin   Sandhill Crane 1 7/19/2008 White Mountains Apache Out of typical area Editor Note: A lone Sandhill Crane has summered at Luna Lake since at least 1999. The species is not known to nest in Arizona. An attempt was made to create a nesting flock of Sandhill Cranes in N AZ in the 80s or 90s. I'm told that this bird is not one of the birds from that project. Luna Lake Kathryn Pensinger Feeding in grass at side of lake near 12 Great Blue Heron at approximately 1:00 pm, partly cloudy day. Others present at siting included Pat Yovonovitz of White Mtn. Audubon Society. Swainson's Hawk 300 7/19/2008 South Central Maricopa Swainson's Hawk is out of season in July especially a count of 300. A large concentration of 220 in one field was a sight to see. A photo showing as many as 175 birds was sent to the NAB Editor Gila Bend Kurt Radamaker   Brown-crested Flycatcher 1 7/19/2008 South Central Maricopa Brown-crested Flycathers are rarely seen in migration. This bird was in atypical habitat and seemed most likely to be a migrant. Paloma Ranch Kurt Radamaker Bird was heard calling several times, to firmly establish the ID Marbled Godwit 1 7/19/2008 South Central Maricopa Marbled Godwit is uncommon Arlington Valley Kurt Radamaker   Sandhill Crane 1 7/17/2008 White Mountains Apache Unusual location, unusual time of year Luna Lake, Alpine, AZ Richard D. Palmer A single bird was observed across the lake in the shallow water where cattails were growing. The bird was a large bird about the size of a Great Blue Heron. Thinking about the bird it seemed to be a juvenile or immature or perhaps a stained adult as it had a lot of brown feathers on the back. Long pointed bill, long neck, fluffy tail feathers, black legs. I did not see any red on the crown but must admit I did not look too hard for this feature. The bird was also seen by Reid Freeman. We were using a Leitz 22X scope. Common Merganser 1 7/17/2008 South Central Maricopa Casual summer visitor with few July records for Maricopa Co. Verde River, just n. of Needle Rock Tice Supplee Female plumaged individual Black-throated Sparrow 1 7/17/2008 White Mountains Apache Noted at very high elevation Big Lake, East of. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Richard D. Palmer A single bird was seen well at 33 degrees, 51.40 minutes North; 109 degrees, 20.34 minutes West at an elevation of 8,460 feet as noted on my GPS. This area was along Forest Road 285 some 2 miles northeast of the intersection with Forest road 249 going toward Crosby Crossing. The bird was in riparian habitat next to the gravel road, a mix of mostly short trees and bushes growing along a flowing stream next to a pasture and former burned over area. The first thing noted were the prominant white eye lines, one over the eye and one under the eye. The head and back were grey. When the bird turned it showed off it's beautiful black throat and bib. The belly and vent were a very light gray. The bill was black and sparrow shaped. Other species in the area included Red-faced Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, House Wren and two Three-toed Woodpeckers. Zone-tailed Hawk 2 7/17/2008 Coconino Coconino Rare but increasingly regular above the Mogollon Rim. Mormon Lake Elaine Morrall Adult and immature seen soaring at the overlook Painted Redstart 1 7/14/2008 Coconino Coconino Painted Redstart is rare north of the Mogollon Rim with few records from the Grand Canyon region. (see Annotated Checklist of Birds of AZ 1981 and Grand Canyon Birds by Brown et al) Jacob Lake Inn Jonathon DeBalko The bird was photographed near a water feature at the Inn. Photos of an adult PARE posted on the N AZ Audubon sightngs board.