By Shelia Hargis
Featured photo by Shelia Hargis

Last month, James Giroux and I co-led a field trip to the Chiricahua Mountains for a group of six Travis Audubon members.

Everyone camped at Rustler Park. Participants arrived on August 20, and we started our birding that afternoon with a walk around Rustler Park and an owling outing that evening.

Calliope Hummingbird by James Giroux

On August 21, we continued birding Rustler Park. We then visited Barfoot Park, but a thunderstorm sidelined our birding efforts for the afternoon and evening.

On August 22, we went down the mountain and birded Cave Creek Canyon – South Fork trail and the Southwestern Research Station and then had lunch at John Hands Campground and saw the cool waterfall there. We then drove toward Paradise and birded at the George Walker House. The day ended with another owling outing at Rustler Park.

Photo by James Giroux

On August 23, we returned to Barfoot Park. We sat at a large water puddle in the road hoping to have birds come down to drink and bathe. The birds weren’t cooperative. We then walked the park and had a great show at another water puddle where multiple birds drank and bathed. Sightings included Grace’s Warbler, Hermit warbler, Hepatic tanager, Pygmy nuthatch,  Mexican chickadee and a bathing Brown creeper among others.”  We ended our time at the park with another sit at the large water puddle which was not very productive.

After returning to Rustler Park, we very briefly played vocalizations of Phainopepla and Rock Wren from Shelia’s campsite in hopes of drawing the birds in for a look. No luck. Some of the group then walked the trail to the Barfoot Park Overlook.

Rufous Hummingbird by James GIroux

We ended our trip with dinner together at James’ campsite. Luckily, we were covered by a metal roof as the rain and hail commenced. Later, as another wave of thunderstorms came through, a complete double rainbow appeared.

We saw and/or heard 60 species. Thank you to all participants for joining us on this adventure and for raising money for Travis Audubon!

To see the full list of Species Observed, click here for their eBird report.