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

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

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

Danny Lopez Park with Gerry Hodge

Difficulty: Moderate. Flat walking surfaces, mostly packed dirt around the lake, with less than two miles covered. Fairly exposed so wear sun protection and bring 1-2 liters of water. Bathroom on-site.

This city park on the west side of town hosts two lakes, Silverbell and Archer Lakes, that provide habitat for herons, Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants, a resident Snow Goose, hummingbirds, kingbirds, Lazuli Buntings, and more. Vermilion Flycatchers are all over the place and the water resources bring a variety of other bird species to the park. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Vermilion Flycatcher, Greg Lavaty

Kingbirds and Myiarchus Flycatchers with Chris Benesh sponsored by Field Guides

Difficulty: Moderate. Fairly flat dirt walking trails that may be muddy, for 1 – 2 miles roundtrip under mostly shaded areas. Bathroom nearby at Ron Morriss Park. Drive time to location approximately one hour.

Southeast Arizona is rich in flycatcher diversity, and some of the more common and conspicuous ones include Tyrannus kingbirds and Myiarchus flycatchers. Birders often struggle with the subtle features that differentiate them, but you’ll have an opportunity to work this out in the field with expert Chris Benesh of Field Guides. A stroll through this lush riparian corridor along the Santa Cruz provides many opportunities for flycatchers, including Dusky-capped and Brown-crested Flycatchers and Tropical, Western, Cassin’s, and Thick-billed Kingbirds. Monsoon rains will dictate the portions of the trail we walk. Limited to 9 participants.

Brown-crested Flycatcher, Lois Manowitz

High Elevation in the Catalinas with Troy Corman

Steller's Jay by Shawn Cooper

Difficulty: Moderate. Some walking on slopes/inclines at elevation. Bathroom will be available at different times. Drive time to location about 50 minutes on paved roads.

Enjoy birding where Tucson residents escape the summer heat in the small mountain hamlet of Summerhaven.  We’ll look for mixed warbler flocks which may include Red-faced, Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, Townsend’s, Hermit, Wilson’s, and Grace’s Warblers. Birding in the conifer forests of Mt. Lemmon can also produce species like Hairy Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and Western Flycatcher. Limited to 9 participants.

Steller’s Jay, Shawn Cooper

Tanque Verde Wash at Wentworth Road with Ragan Sutterfield

Difficulty: Moderate. Around two miles roundtrip on soft sand surface. No restrooms or drinking water available.  If there has been recent rain the wash may have standing, or flowing water and we may change our location.

This major wash flows west from creeks that drain from the northern side of the Rincon Mountains and provides diverse riparian vegetation for a variety of bird species. We will head downstream along the north side of the wash, first checking the brush for Lark Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, Lazuli Bunting and more, then continuing to the large cottonwoods for Gray Hawk, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and warblers. Sunhat, water and good walking shoes are recommended. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Gray Hawk, bryanjsmith