ARIZONA 
Casual in the state, this Yellow-throated Warbler was present at Arizona City, Arizona 8- 
1 6 (here 8) November 2008. Photograph by Brendon Grice. 
(EH), one at Red Tank Draw, Yavapai 26 Oct 
(EH), one in Chandler 18 Nov (M. Petrillo), 
and one (returning?) to G.W.R. 20 Nov-i- 
(MMo; ph. DVR LHa). A Yellow-throated 
Vireo was along Sonoita Cr. near Patagonia, at 
the same location as one during 2007, 25 
Aug-27 Sep (IDS; ph., v.r. GHR, CDB), and 
one was at Granite Basin 16-17 Sep (CST); 
this species is still considered casual in the 
state. Also casual, individual Red-eyed Vireos 
were reported at Madera Canyon 2-17 Aug 
(JY, WR, C. Goodrich), at Tuinacacori 8 Sep 
(tKK), and at Spur Cross, Maricopa 14 Sep 
(tB. Ison, M. Evans, A. Evans, K. Smith); 
these reports will be evaluated by the A.B.C. 
A Cave Swallow reported from Kino 
Springs near Nogales 8 Aug (tTC, D. Yellan) 
will be evaluated by the A.B.C. ; there are still 
fewer than 10 accepted records from Arizona, 
and imm. Cliff Swallow needs to be ruled out 
in all reports. A minor irruption of Red-breast- 
ed Nuthatches was detected at scattered loca- 
tions statewide during late Sep and Oct. With- 
out a doubt, the most exciting bird of the sea- 
son, if not year, was a singing male Sinaloa 
Wren in the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve 
25 Aug-r (ph., tMB; v.r. tR. Baxter; ph. CDB, 
GHR, B. Carlson). This represents the first 
documented record n. of Mexico, the details of 
which will be published elsewhere. A calling 
Winter Wren at Wellton 23 Oct (PEL) was 
thought to be an eastern bird based on call; al- 
though casual in the state, there appear to be 
no previous records of this subspecies (poten- 
tial species) from the nearby L.C.R.V Black- 
capped Gnatcatchers were reported from sev- 
eral locations where “known” pairs have oc- 
curred, including Proctor Rd., Tuinacacori, 
Sonoita Cr., Florida Canyon, Chino Canyon, 
California Gulch, and Montosa Canyon; this 
species appears to be well established as a res- 
ident in se. Arizona, at least for now. 
Late Swainson’s Thrushes were reported in 
the Pinal Mts. 25 Sep 
(PD), at Tucson 29-30 
Oct (NC), and from 
Granite Basin 31 Oct (D. 
Moll). A Wood Thrush, 
casual in the state, was at 
the Arizona-Sonora 
Desert Museum 3 Nov 
(ph. PK). A Rufous- 
backed Robin at Agua 
Caliente ne. of Yuma 30 
Oct (RH; ph. S. Schuette) 
was rather early, as most 
Arizona reports come 
from winter. Seven Varied 
Thrushes, an above-aver- 
age number, were report- 
ed in s. Arizona this fall. 
Similarly, 8 Gray Catbirds were reported 
statewide; although this species breeds in ne. 
Arizona (White Mts.), it is a rare to casual as a 
migrant elsewhere in the state. A very early 
Sage Thrasher was in Tucson 6 Sep (MMS, 
MPo). A Brown Thrasher, rare in the state as a 
fall and winter visitor, was in Scottsdale 8 Oct 
(ph. L. & R. Stephenson). A Sprague’s Pipit 
was flushed from tall grass at Gilbert 25 Nov 
(MMo); this species is casual in the state away 
from known wintering areas in the se. portion. 
WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES 
The only documented Tennessee Warbler this 
fall was one at Sweetwater 30 Oct-12 Nov QB; 
tMMS; ph. T. Loomis); this species is still ca- 
sual in the state and remains an A.B.C. review 
species. Late Lucy’s Warblers were reported in 
the Santa Cruz Flats 26 Oct (DJ) and in Patag- 
onia 30 Oct (MB); most have migrated south 
by early Oct. No fewer than 13 Northern Paru- 
las were reported this fall, an above-average 
number for one season. Chestnut-sided War- 
blers were also found in greater numbers; sin- 
gles were at the South Rim of the Grand 
Canyon 7-9 Sep (ph. S. Mull), at Granite Basin 
26-27 Sep (tD. Moll, M. Nicosia), banded at 
Cibola N.WR. 1 Oct (C. Dodge, fide], Kahl), 
at B.T.A. 9 Nov (SG), in Mesa 14 Nov 0 - 
Miller), and in Sabino Canyon 25 Nov-r (WR). 
More casual in the state. Magnolia Warblers 
were at Cameron Seep 7 Oct (ph., tBG) and in 
Stump Canyon, Huachuca Mts. 15 Nov (tP. 
Sockness). Only 2 Black-throated Blue War- 
blers were reported, one in Yuma 10 Oct (ph. 
K. Bedard) and one male at Charleston along 
the San Pedro R. 15 Oct (R Walsh). Scarcely re- 
ported in recent years, male Black-throated 
Green Warblers were in Madera Canyon 7 Nov 
(M. Kudrav; ph. S. Pipkin) and at Sweetwater 
29 Nov (WR; ph. P Watson, J. Ulreich). A 
greater-than-normal number of Townsend’s 
Warblers lingered late into Nov in mountain 
134 
areas across se. Arizona. Hermit Warblers also 
lingered late, with 2 in upper Madera Canyon | 
12-18 Nov (LH) and another individual in I 
lower Madera 16 Nov (WR). A Blackburnian ! 
Warbler at San Bernardino N.W.R. 8 Sep 
(TREW), a Yellow-throated Warbler at Arizona 
City 8-16 Nov (ph. KR, BG, GHR), a Prairie 
Warbler at Lyman L. 2 Nov (tJY), and a Black- 
poll Warbler at G.W.R. 11 Nov (tMMo) were 
all species that are considered casual in the 
state. In the rare-but-regular category, 11 
Black-and-whites, 11 American Redstarts, and 
17 Northern Waterthrushes — but only 3 
Ovenbirds — were reported. Slightly rarer in * 
the state, Prothonotary Warblers were reported f 
at G.W.R. 21 Sep (ph. R. Catero) and at i 
Slaughter Ranch 15 Oct (ph. REW). Similarly, j 
2 Worm-eating Warblers were found, one at 
Dateland 15 Oct (vt., tPEL) and one banded 
near the upper San Pedro R. at the San Pedro 
House 9 Nov Q- Whetstone; ph. A. Willcox). 
The pattern of occurrence of Louisiana Wa- 
terthrush in Arizona is generally a peak during j. 
the late summer followed by a lull and then 
another peak during winter; therefore, individ- j 
uats at Marshall Gulch 12 Aug (WR), at Sonoi- li 
ta Cr. above Patagonia L. 24 Aug (MA, MB, J. I 
McCabe), and at Tubac 26 Aug (MA) fit the j 
late-summer pattern, while one near Tubac 26 [ 
Oct OB) was early (if indeed it was a different | 
individual than the Aug bird). Kentucky War- 
bler is casual in the state during fall, thus one i 
at G.W.R. 5 Oct (K. & L. Bielek) and one along ll 
Dinnebito Wash (near Little Colorado R. 
downstream from Grand Falls) 7 Nov (CL, tj. 
Coons) were of note. Five Hooded Warblers, i 
about average for a fall, were found between 8 
Aug and 9 Oct. A few Wilson’s Warblers lin- ; 
gered into Nov, the latest being one at Page 
Springs 23 Nov (ph. G. Botello). |' 
Hepatic Tanagers appeared to be lingering ' 
at canyon locations late into the fall in high- 
er-than-usual numbers. At least 7 different ■ 
Summer Tanagers were also found late into | 
the fall at several lowland locations. Casual in ( 
fall, a Scarlet Tanager was at Dateland 15 Oct i! 
(PEL) . A very late Western Tanager was along ■ 
Tanque Verde Wash 23 Oct (DS). Rufous- ij 
winged Sparrows appeared to have nested 
very late in the season, with ads. feeding | 
young in Oro Valley around 20 Oct (NC). J 
During what was an above-average monsoon 
rain season, Cassin’s Sparrows were found at ji. 
several locations in the Prescott region. It was J 
also an above-average season for Clay-colored i| 
Sparrow, with no fewer than 14 individuals |j 
seen, mostly during Sep. An early Brewer’s | 
Sparrow was at Las Cienegas 8 Aug (R. Behr- I 
stock). Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have become 
much more regular as transients (in both 
spring and fall) in recent years; this season, ' 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
