Peña Blanca Lake and Canyon with Jeremy Dominguez

Difficulty: Moderate. Some steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails, but mostly walking on gravel road with little incline for about 1.5 miles round-trip. Bathroom near trailhead. Drive time to location approximately 90 minutes, including some gravel road.

Walking the old road up Peña Blanca Canyon is a good location for Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Hutton’s Vireo and Hepatic Tanager, with Coppery-tailed Trogon as a remote possibility. Montezuma Quail favor the hillsides surrounding the lake, but are notoriously hard to see or hear, but we’ll be on the lookout. Other interesting species could include Gray Hawk, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Varied Bunting to name a few. After walking the road we’ll check out Peña Blanca Lake which makes a great water source and stopover for migrants and nesting birds. Expect to walk on groomed trails around the lake and a gravel/loose rock forest service road through the canyon. We’ll have lunch at the lake which is provided. Limited to 9 participants.

Gray Hawk by bryanjsmith

Ramsey & Ash Canyons with Kristy Gallo, David Simpson, & Andrew Lydeard

Difficulty: Moderate. Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails at Ramsey Canyon, for about one mile total. Drive time to locations approximately 2 hours on mostly paved road. Bathroom on-site at Ramsey.

We’ll get an early start from Tucson to explore the east flank of the Huachuca Mountains. We’ll start by visiting the Nature Conservancy’s beautiful Ramsey Canyon and walk underneath the towering sycamores which offers a wide variety of Arizona specialty birds such as Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and Hepatic Tanager, along with many hummingbirds. After our picnic lunch we’ll head over to nearby Ash Canyon, where a bank of hummingbird feeders at the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary should be buzzing with activity, including perhaps the range-restricted and very attractive Lucifer Hummingbird. Fees for the Nature Preserve and Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary included as well as lunch. Limited to 15 participants.

Lucifer Hummingbird by Peter Hawrylyshyn

Birds & Wine Tour in the Sonoita Area with Melissa Fratello and Rob Ripma of Sabrewing Nature Tours

Difficulty: Moderate. Some walking on mild slopes, and possibly rocky/uneven surfaces at the ranch, but no more than one mile at a stretch. Bathrooms available. Drive time to locations approximately an hour.

We’ll combine birding, wine, and good food during this tour of the grasslands south of Sonoita at the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch. We’ll look for grassland breeders such as Cassin’s, Botteri’s, and Grasshopper Sparrows, Chihuahuan Meadowlark, and Loggerhead Shrike, as well as riparian-associated species including Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, and Summer Tanager. We’ll have a lunch at Pronghorn Pizza (a favorite of the locals!) and then we’ll visit Charron Vineyards, a long-time festival partner, for a wine tasting. Time-permitting we’ll make a stop in Las Cienegas for some more birding. Led by Tucson Bird Alliance’s Executive Director, Melissa Fratello, and Rob Ripma of Sabrewing Nature Tours. Limited to 8 participants.

Loggerhead Shrike by Mick Thompson

Birding at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Michael Sadat

Difficulty: Easy. Paved pathways with benches but there is some steeper incline. Bathrooms/water on-site.

Join docent and bird guide, Michael Sadat, for a guided bird walk around the beautiful grounds of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The Desert Museum is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the Top 10 Museums in the country and also is home to many Sonoran desert specialties such as Costa’s Hummingbird, Gilded Flicker, and Pyrrhuloxia. Entry fee of $29.95 not included. Limited to 10 participants.

Pyrrhuloxia by Michael Sadat

Sycamore Canyon with Ethan Beasley

Elegant Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Difficulty: Hard. Round-trip hiking distance of about 2.5 hot miles, over very uneven tread and multiple, wet stream crossings. About two hour drive on some rough road. No bathroom on-site, prepare for backcountry experience; restroom stop before and after about 25 minutes from location. Plan to carry at least 2 liters of water. We will be away from the vehicle for at least 4 hours.

Rugged, remote Sycamore Canyon is legendary among birders for the rarities it has harbored over the years, as well as for its scenic terrain.  This steep-sided canyon is in the Pajarito Wilderness Area of Coronado National Forest.  It drains southward into Mexico, crossing the international border 5.6 miles from the trailhead off Ruby Road, west of Nogales.  Along the way we’ll encounter species typical of Oak-Juniper and Riparian habitats such as Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Mexican Jay, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Hepatic, Western, and Summer Tanagers. We also have the potential to see rarities like Coppery-tailed Trogon, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Montezuma Quail. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Coppery-tailed Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve with Nature Conservancy Volunteer John Hughes

Difficulty: Moderate. Mostly flat walking trails on some uneven and rocky terrain, about 2 miles total. Bring 1 to 2 liters water. Bathroom on-site.

One of the best known U.S. birding hotspots with tall cottonwoods and willows lining a perennial stream. Open fields, mesquite bosque and a cienega compound the habitat diversity that make it a birding paradise. Listen for the Gray Hawk’s whistle in the cottonwoods while looking for Common Ground Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Thick-billed Kingbird, and more. Please bring $8 per person for Nature Conservancy fees. Be prepared to wear chigger protection. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 70 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Martin Molina

Lakeside Park with Donito Burgess

Difficulty: Easy. About one mile walking on concrete, paved surfaces and some grassy lawn. Restrooms are available.

Lakeside Park in southeast Tucson is a great place to get to know your urban birds. We’ll be at the front end of the possibility of migrating shorebirds, wading birds, gulls or terns, so while unlikely, we’ll be sure to keep our eyes peeled for unusual birds as well. Osprey is a possibility. We’ll explore the lake and the adjacent lawns and ball fields. Likely sightings include Black-crowned Night-heron, hummingbirds (Anna’s, Black-chinned, & Broad-billed), Cassin’s Kingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cooper’s Hawk, swallows, Abert’s Towhee, and more! Drive time to park and meeting location is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

Vermilion Flycatcher, Greg Lavaty

Sabino Canyon with Sabino Canyon Naturalists Jean & Mark Hengesbaugh

Difficulty: Moderate. Mostly well groomed walking trails but may have some incline and may be on some uneven and rocky terrain for about 2.5 miles roundtrip. Bathrooms on-site. Bring 2 liters of water.

We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation Area walking a loop that includes both Sonoran desert upland and Sabino Creek riparian area. Gila Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, and Cactus Wrens should be readily seen with other desert and riparian birds. Meet at the ramada by the Visitor’s Center at 5700 N Sabino Canyon Road. $8 parking fee. Return to car by 9am. Sunhat, water and walking shoes always recommended. Leaders are Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Purple Martins, Henry T McLin

Empire Ranch and Area with Ken Blankenship of East West Birding Tours

Difficulty: Moderate. Mostly flat walking trails but there is some uneven and rocky terrain, and possibly muddy. Bring 2 liters of water. Bathrooms on-site.

Las Cienegas is a 45,000-acre national conservation area with high desert grasslands, riparian strips and perennial streams, marshes, and juniper-oak woodlands. You will meet at Empire Ranch and bird the significant riparian areas along Cienega Creek. Here we can find riparian-associated species including Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, and Summer Tanager. Join Ken Blankenship of East West Birding Tours to explore this beautiful area. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 50 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 8 participants.

Zone-tailed Hawk, Ned Harris

Sweetwater Wetlands with Luke Safford

Difficulty: Easy. About one mile walking on easy dirt (and some concrete) walking paths. Bathroom and water on-site.

This artificial wetland is the premier birding hotspot in the Tucson Valley, offering a stunning variety of species that can be found here at any time during the season. Green Heron, Common Gallinule, Tropical Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Abert’s Towhees are some of our prime targets. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 15 participants.

Abert’s Towhee, Greg Lavaty