FIELD OBSERVATIONS - MARCH, APRIL, MAY 2002
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  By  Janet Witzeman

 were found at Paloma May 19 (TC).  One Eurasian Collared-Dove was observed at Nutrioso in the White Mts. May 27 (SBa).  A male Ruddy Ground-Dove was seen in s.w. Phoenix May 26 (BG) and the male at El Mirage Pond was relocated May 27 (TC).

A Black-billed Cuckoo was discovered at Cow Springs Lake in n.e. Arizona May 15 (CL,DDit); there have been only five previous state records.  Flammulated Owls are sometimes seen at lower than usual elevations during migration; one was reported near 40th St. and McDonald Dr. May 2 (LB).  A Burrowing Owl was seen at a new location - at the Maricopa Agricultural Center May 2 (RD).  A Whip-poor-will, a rare summer resident above Slate-creek Divide, was heard there May 11 (TC).

A Broad-billed hummingbird, a rare visitor to Maricopa County was seen in Carefree Apr. 13 (NS,WT) and a female was discovered incubating eggs, in the same nest as last year, at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (hereafter BTA) Apr, 14 (TC).  An Anna's Hummingbird was seen at the spring on Mt. Ord May 11 (TC)  a higher than usual elevation, although there have been two previous records at this location and nearby Slate Creek Divide.  An adult male Calliope Hummingbird, discovered on Mt. Ord May 11 (TC), provided the fourth spring record for Maricopa County.  Two Rufous Hummingbirds, uncommon in spring, were observed at the HRP Mar 11 (JBo).  A late Red-naped Sapsucker was observed at Mesquite Wash Apr. 22 (R&JWz).

A singing N. Beardless Tyrranulet was observed Apr. 14 at BTA where the species is seldom recorded (TC).  A Greater Pewee, and uncommon transient, was herd calling on Mt. Ord May 11 (TC).  A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was discovered at Cow Springs Lay May 16 (CL,DDit); there have been only two previous state records, both from s.e. Arizona.  A pair of Tropical Kingbirds returned May 4 to HRP where they nested for the first time a year ago (JWo).

A White-eyed Vireo was discovered at Page Springs Fish Hatchery May 2 (JE); there have been 17 previous state records.  Individual singing male Yellow-throated Vireos were discovered at Tonto National Monument Apr 18 (GM) and at Cow Springs Lake May 15 - 24 (CL,DDit).  A Cassin's Vireo was observed at Rio Verde Apr, 17 (HF).  A Hutton's Vireo was seen collecting nest material on the early date of Mar. 9 and at a lower than usual elevation at the HRP (TC,TM).

A group of Mexican Jays, irregular wanderers to Maricopa County, were seen above Slate Creek Divide Apr. 30 (SG) and three from that group were still present there May 11 (TC).  A pair of Com. Ravens were found nesting at a lower than usual elevation, at the top Hayden Library at ASU in Tempe, Apr, 9; five eggs were counted May 3 and three or four chicks were observed May 21 (DStu).

A Winter Wren (a rare winter visitor) and an Am. Dipper (an uncommon resident) were observed in Oak Creek Canyon Mar. 16 (TC,TM).  Large numbers of Cedar Waxwings were reported in many areas during the period:  several at Seven Springs Mar. 3 (MR), 100 at the HRP Mar. 9 (TC,TM), 20 at Bushnell Tanks May 6 (PH,R&JWz), 12 at Whitlow Dam May 24 (JBa), 50 along Sycamore Creek May 25 (MAS field trip), as well as in the Chiricahuas and Patagonia in s.e. Arizona in May (m.ob.). 

A Tennessee Warbler was discovered in Dreamy Draw May 5 (MP).  A female N. Parula was found at BTA Apr. 14 (TC).  The Yellow Warbler, that was wintering at the Cobble Ponds, remained at least until Mar. 10 (HS).  A Black-and-white Warbler was found at the Desert Botanical Garden May 13 (SaBa et aL).  A Worm-eating Warbler, discovered at the Phoenix Zoo Apr. 17 (RJ), provided the sixth record for Maricopa County and the first in April.  An Ovenbird was discovered near 115th Ave. and Southern May 26 (BG) and another individual was reported near Big Lake Lookout in the White Mts. May 27 (StBa).  Individual N. Waterthrushes were observed at Whitlow Dam May 2 (JBa) and at Cameron Seep in n. AZ May 14 (CL,DStj,MS).

A red-faced Warbler was seen carrying nest material above Slate Creek Divide May 11 (TC), adding more information about the nesting status of that species in the County.  Although the species has been observed in that area in May and summer since 1998, nesting was not confirmed until a year ago when an adult was seen feeding a juvenile there June 10 (SG).  A Painted Redstart, seen along Cave Creek Rd., s.e. of Spur Cross Mar. 25 (WrT), probably represented an individual that was wintering in that area.  A Yellow-breasted Chat was found in an unusual location - in a Tempe yard May 15 (KG).

A Clay-colored Sparrow was discovered in a Scottsdale yard May 16-18 (JBa); there have been five previous county records.  Another individual was found at the golf course in Page in n. AZ May 14 (MS,CL,DStj).

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FIELD OBSERVATIONS - MARCH, APRIL, MAY 2002
(Continued from Page 13)

By  Janet Witzeman

 ^{Brewer's and White-crowned Sparrows were still present in s.w. Phoenix on May 27 (TC), about a week later than usual.  A Grasshopper Sparrow was mist netted at the HRP May 11 (fide TC); there have been eight previous County records.  One of the White-throated Sparrow that wintered at BTA was still present Apr. 14 (TC).  Another individual was observed in a n. Scottsdale yard Apr. 7 (WT).  A Yellow- eyed Junco was discovered just below the summit of Mt. Ord May 12 (StBa); there have been only two previous County records.}

^{The Pyrruhuloxia, that wintered at the Desert Botanical Garden remained until Apr. 8 (SaBa, R&KK,m.ob.).  There were more Rose-Breasted Brosbeaks reported than usual:  a male at the Cameron Trading Post May 14 (DStj,MS,CL), a make in New River (CaC), a female and a singing male at Paloma May 19 (TC), a male near Springerville, Wt. Mts. May 20 (BG), a male at Whitlow Dam May 30 (JBa), as well as several in s.e. AZ.  A Lazuli Bunting, seen along the Verde River, n. of Rio Verde Apr. 7 (TC), was a week earlier than usual.  More Indigo Buntings than usual ere reported:  a male at Mesquite Wash Apr. 24 (LH), two at Paloma May 19 (TC), one in New River May 20 (CaC), and a male at BTA May 24 (JBa).}

A Com. Grackle was found s.e. of Nutrioso in the Hite Mts. May 27 (StBa).  A female Orchard Oriole was present in a yard in Ahwatukee from January to mid-March, as well as the same period the year before (Sa&GBa).  Another individual, a first year male, was discovered at the Cameron Trading Post May 14 (MS,DStj,CL).  A Red Crossbill, an irregular visitor, was seen in Papago Park Apr. 24 (MP).

Highlights from s.e. Arizona:  An adult Least Grebe was discovered at Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson May 8 (K&BZ) and was still present in early June.  A female Surf Scoter was found at Reay Lane Sewage 

A female Tropical Parula was reported along the San Pedro River May 20 (fide MS); there has been only one previous state record.  A Magnolia Warbler was found at the Patagonia Roadside Rest May 23 (MS).  A Pine Warbler was found at Marana Mar. 8-11 (RHo et al.).  The pair of Rufous-capped Warblers in French Joe Canyon were found nesting Apr. 13 and were seen feeding young May (m.ob.).  An adult male Scarlet Tanager was discovered in the Patton's yard in Patagonia May 20-23 (RB et al.).  A male Flame-colored Tanager was found in Miller Canyon Apr. 11 and was still present in early June (m.ob.).  A Snow Bunting, discovered at the Reay Lane Sewage ponds in Thatcher Apr. 11-20 (JWI et al.), provided only the second record for Arizona.  Three individual male Baltimore Orioles were found in separate areas in s.e. Arizona during May (fide MS).

ABBREVIATIONS:
Boyce Thomson Arboretum (BTA) Hassayampa River Preserve (HRP), many observers (m.ob.)

OBSERVERS:
Steve Barlow, Sally & Gordon Barnes, Jack Bartley, Robin Baxter, Ken Bielek, Jerry Bock, Scott Burge, Jim Burns, Loreen Bustardi, Carol Caldwell, Cliff Cathers, Troy Corman, Bix Demaree, Henry Detwiler, Rich Ditch, Dean DiTommaso, Margaret Dyekman, Jeff Estis, Herb Fibel, Steve Ganley, Kathy Groschupf, Bill Grossi, Liz Hatcher, Peter Herkenrath, Rich Hoyer, Ron Huettner, Roy Jones, Richard & Karen Kaiser, Melody Kehl, Chuck LaRue, Gabe Martinez, Tracy McCarthy, Mike Plagens, Mike Rupp, Norm Shrout, Andy Spencer, Dave Stejskal, Mark Stevenson, Diane Stuart, Rick Taylor, Walter Thurber, Dick Todd, Anita Van Auken, Russ Widner, John Williams, Robert Witzeman, Joe Woodley, Kevin & Barry Zimmer

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