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have been only three previous county records, this was the first for January. A Zone-tailed Hawk, a rare winter visitor to the lowlands, was observed at the Gilbert Neely Ranch Feb. 21 (JM).

Six Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over downtown Phoenix Dec. 3 (TG) and a large group (160) were counted at Arlington Dec. 25 (TC). Thirty-five Mountain Plovers were discovered on the Paloma Ranch Dec. 21 and that number had increased to 60 by Feb. 7 (BG); more than 30 were counted in that area Feb. 17 (RD). Mountain Plovers were first found wintering in this area in 1967 and they continued to be found there through the 70s and 80s, but had not seen there since the winter of ’91 –’92, after which they seemed to prefer fields south of Maricopa County. So it is nice to have them back in the county again.

A larger than usual group of 335 Black-necked Stilts were counted at El Mirage Pond Jan. 18 (TC). American Avocet is usually considered to be a rare winter visitor, so  the 20 counted at the Gilbert Rd. south of Ocotillo Rd. Pond Jan. 12 (CR) was most unusual; four were also seen at the Cobble Ponds Dec. 13 (TC), one was seen at Gillespie Dam Feb. 17 (MK) and four were reported at the Gilbert Neely Ranch Pond Feb. 21 (JM). Wintering Long-billed Curlews were found at Palo Verde – 12 on Jan. 8 (MM), at Paloma Ranch – 80+ on Feb. 8 (JC), and s. of Maricopa – 13 on Feb. 22 (C&SW); more than 300 were counted in a field in the Yuma area Jan. 3 (HD).

Two first winter Herring Gulls were observed in Bill Williams Delta Dec. 6 (CB,SS) and an immature was seen on San Carlos Lake Feb. 5 (JE). The Glaucous-winged Gull, found n. of Palo Verde in November, remained at least until Jan. 2 (TC,BG). Eurasian Collared-Doves were found in several areas of the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 18 and a high number of 53 were recorded on the Gila River CBC Dec. 30 (TC). Individual White-winged Doves were found on the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 18 (TC), in Encanto Park in December (TG), and in Papago Park Feb. 15 (TG). A male Ruddy Ground-Dove was found n. of the Palo Verde Cemetery Jan. 24 and two were seen at the Cemetery Jan. 25 (PM). Burrowing Owls can still be seen near Painted Rock Dam; two were observed in that area along Sisson Rd. Feb. 17 (RD). A Chaetura sp. Swift was reported flying over downtown Phoenix Dec. 9 (TG); there were no previous December records for either Chimmney or Vaux’s Swift.

A male Broad-tailed Hummingbird was seen at the Gilbert Water Ranch on the early date of Feb. 16 (GR). A Rufous Hummingbird was found at BTA on the very late date of January 4 (SG). A Lewis’s Woodpecker was observed at Whitlow Dam Dec. 7 (ME). Individual Acorn Woodpeckers were found at two lowland areas – one on the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 18 (fide TC) and one on the campus of ASU Jan. 1 at least to Jan. 18 (JB,JN). Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were reported on the Salt/Verde CBC Dec. 16 (TC,KR) and two were found on the Yuma/Martinez Lake CBC Dec. 20 (fide HD). A Red-breasted Sapsucker was discovered at Oak Flat Campground near Superior Jan. 4 (SG) and remained at least until Feb. 11 (m.ob.). A male N. “Yellow-shafted” Flicker, a rare winter visitor, was found at the Cobble Ponds Dec. 17 (TC).

A N. Beardless Tyrranulet was an unusual find on the Superior CBC Jan. 4 (SG). A Hammond’s Flycatcher, a rare winter visitor, was discovered on the Salt/Verde CBC Dec. 16 (KR). Individual “Western” type Flycatchers were reported on the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 18 and on the Gila River CBC Dec. 30 (TC). The Tropical Kingbird, at the Gilbert Water Ranch since early November, was heard vocalizing Dec. 2 (BI), ruling out Couch’s Kingbird; it remained until Dec. 8 (SG,RJ,WR). The Thick-billed Kingbird returned for the second winter to Yuma where it was found Feb. 19 – Mar. 9 (JC,HD).

A Cassin’s Vireo (an uncommon winter visitor) was observed at BTA Dec. 27 (PD) and a second one was seen there Jan. 9 – 17 (PD et al.); one was also found at HRP Jan. 14 (BD,AV,RWd). Larger than usual numbers of Steller’s Jays were found wintering in the lowlands: one was recorded on the Gila River CBC Dec. 30 (TC), several seen along Camp Creek Jan.1 (TC), were included in the18 that were counted on the Carefree CBC the following day (fide WT), and a flock of more than a dozen were reported at HRP Jan. 4 at least to Feb. 7 (L&KB,EL). Many W. Scrub Jays were also recorded along Camp Creek, at BTA, and at HRP during January (TC,SG,L&KB); one was also reported at Morgan City Wash riparian area below Lake Pleasant Jan. 29 (HM).

One of the Mt. Chickadees at BTA remained there through the winter (m.ob.). A lowland Red-breasted Nuthatch was recorded on the Gila River CBC Dec. 30 (TC). A Winter Wren was found along Camp Creek Jan. 1 & 2 (TC). Two Golden-crowned Kinglets were observed at Whitlow Dam Dec. 4 (JB), one was seen at Morgan City Wash Jan. 29 (HM), and one was found at BTA Feb. 8 – 22 (RD).

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A female Varied Trush joined the male at BTA Dec. 7; the pair was seen at least through January and the male remained through February (m.ob.). A third Varied Thrush was recorded on the Superior CBC Jan. 4 (SG). The Brown Thrasher at BTA also remained at least through January (m.ob.).

An Olive Warbler was discovered along Camp Creek Jan. 1 & 2 (TC), representing the first record for the county away from the species’ usual habitat in higher elevation pines. Surprisingly, a second Olive Warbler was found Jan. 4 in another lowland location at BTA (SG), where it remained through the period (m.ob.). A Nashville Warbler, only a casual winter visitor, was discovered on the Gila River CBC Dec. 30 (TC). A N. Parula, a casual winter visitor, was reported at Tres Rios Jan. 9 (MK). Individual Yellow Warblers were observed at Indian Bend Wash, Scottsdale Jan. 11 (TC) and at Scottsdale Pavilions Feb. 8 (PM,CD). The Yellow Warbler seen at the Cobble Ponds through the fall, remained at least to Mar. 1 (TH).

A Scarlet Tanager, discovered at the Parker Oasis on the Lower Colorado River Dec. 6 (CB,SS), provided only the third winter record for the state; there have been about two dozen state records overall. The late-staying male Summer Tanager, seen at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale Nov. 29, remained until Dec. 14 (WT).

A Clay-colored Sparrow was discovered at the Rousseau Sod Farm Jan. 1 (RJ); there have been seven previous county records. A “Sooty” form of Fox Sparrow was found on the Carefree CBC Jan. 2 (fide WT) and a “Slate-colored” form of Fox Sparrow was observed at Oak Flat Campground Jan. 4 (PM), Five Swamp Sparrows were found at 115^th Ave. and the Gila River Dec. 13 (TC) and these, plus a few more, were recorded on the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 18 (fide TC); one was found on the Salt/Verde CBC Dec. 16 (KR). The White-throated Sparrow that was reported at BTA in November remained there at least to Jan. 24 (m.ob.); one was observed along Camp Creek Jan. 1 & 2 (TC); and one was found at Watson Lake in Prescott Jan. 21 (BD,AV,RWd). A group of about a dozen Chestnut-collared Longspurs, seen and heard calling s. of Arlington Dec. 25 & 27 (TC), were the first to be recorded in s.w. Phoenix since 1988. A Pyrrhuloxia, found on the Carefree CBC Jan. 2, was the first for that Count (WT) and at a slightly higher elevation than usual. Another Pyrrhuloxia was observed near BTA Jan. 4 (KR).

A female Orchard Oriole was discovered along the Gila River, n.w. of Robbins Butte Dec. 29 (TC). A female Orchard Oriole returned to an Ahwatukee yard in December and remained for the fourth consecutive winter (SB). An injured female Hooded Oriole (a casual winter visitor) was picked up in a yard in w. Phoenix Jan. 23 (JK). A Bullock’s Oriole (rare in winter) was observed at BTA Jan. 9 – 14 (MK,DStj,MS). The only Lawrence’s Goldfinch reported during the winter was one found along Camp Creek Jan. 1 (TC).

A few highlights from s.e. Arizona during the winter: A female Green Kingfisher was found along the Santa Cruz River near Tubac (a new area for this species) Feb. 1 (DP) and remained at least until Feb. 12 (m.ob.). A male Rose-throated Becard was discovered along the Santa Cruz River near the Tumacacori Mission Jan. 27 (GB) and was still present there Feb. 27 (m.ob.); also a new area for this species and provided only the third winter record for the state. Pairs of Black-capped Gnatcatchers were found in three new areas: in Montosa Canyon in the Santa Ritas Jan. 24, at Rock Corral in the Tumacacori Mts. Feb. 1, and in Madera Canyon Feb. 18; the pair at Patagonia Lake continued to be seen through February (m.ob.). The Rufous-backed Robin at Patagonia Lake also continued to be seen through February (m.ob.).

Abbreviations: Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), Christmas Bird Count (CBC), Hassayampa River Preserve (HRP), many observers (m.ob.).