|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 1.50 Miles |
50 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.50 Miles | | | |
| 50 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | There are several rare birds worth chasing right now along the Santa Cruz between Tubac and Tumacacori, so after spending the night in Marana I headed way south on the 19.
Stopped at the Green Valley Water Treatment Plant to try and see the Fulvous Whistling Duck - very rare for AZ - that has been seen there for the past week or so. While signing in at the plant office, I ran into the same nice lady I met a few weeks ago on my first visit to Whitewater Draw ... we both dipped on (missed) the GBAN there, but this chase would be a different story. As soon as we parked and got out of our cars, the FWDU was just right there, exactly where he was supposed to be, hanging out with his Mexican Mallard and Ruddy Duck buddies! After 20 minutes of chatting and photographing him, we were like ok - CHECK - that was almost too easy! 
Continued south to the Santa Gertrudis Lane TH of the de Anza trail and walked along the river to the spot where some other birders were looking for the Yellow-green Vireo - alas, it hadn't been seen or even heard all morning.
My first time along the Santa Cruz - despite being poo water from Mexico, it's nice enough ... so lush and green it doesn't feel like borderlands. Might have seen a Thick-billed Kingbird, but photo not good enough to say for sure.
Hopped in the car and drove past both Tumacacori NHP and Tubac SHP - probably should have stopped for quick visits, but they don't have birds so I drove right past. 
Parked near the Tubac bridge, next to the lady from earlier at the water treatment plant - didn't actually run into her this time, and her car was gone when I got back.
Hiked north on the de Anza to where I thought the Rose-throated Becards were supposed to be nesting. By this time my phone was almost dead so I couldn't look up exact directions, or even listen to Becards call on my app - I was pretty clueless. I was also getting very hot, hungry, thirtsy, and a little bug-bit. I did see a nice juvenile Cooper's Hawk, a male Summer Tanager, and a pomegranate tree.
Really neat area - I will be back when it's not so warm!
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
and had no takers 
. I started the hike around 6AM. This is just a sample size of a trail that went all the way to San Francisco at one time. This section is between Tumacacori National Historical park and Tubac Presidio State historic Park.
