Elegant Trogon, Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve
April 25th to May 8th 2022
This trip was quite an experience. My friend Jason and I drove from New Jersey to Arizona, about 2000 miles one way. I'm so glad to have had the chance to experience my first western birding trip. We traveled to Southeast Arizona in search of the local specialties. I will outline our trip and put up a few statistics as well as give my thoughts on: the places we stayed, the places we birded, and some changes I would make for next time. We did not hire any guides or join any other birding groups while we were there. We relied on information found in Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona Rev. 8th ed. by the Tucson Audubon Society, A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona authored by Richard Cachor Taylor and published by the American Birding Association, and data found on eBird to plan all of the locations we visited.
This trip was quite an experience. My friend Jason and I drove from New Jersey to Arizona, about 2000 miles one way. I'm so glad to have had the chance to experience my first western birding trip. We traveled to Southeast Arizona in search of the local specialties. I will outline our trip and put up a few statistics as well as give my thoughts on: the places we stayed, the places we birded, and some changes I would make for next time. We did not hire any guides or join any other birding groups while we were there. We relied on information found in Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona Rev. 8th ed. by the Tucson Audubon Society, A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona authored by Richard Cachor Taylor and published by the American Birding Association, and data found on eBird to plan all of the locations we visited.
Click here for the link to our eBird Trip Report
14 Days
256 Species seen on the trip
109 Lifers for each of us, not the same for each of us though
108 Shared Checklists between us
5730 miles driven
$61.54 Paid in Tolls
$597.84 Spent on Gas
$613.16 for accommodations (mostly camping)
14 Days
256 Species seen on the trip
109 Lifers for each of us, not the same for each of us though
108 Shared Checklists between us
5730 miles driven
$61.54 Paid in Tolls
$597.84 Spent on Gas
$613.16 for accommodations (mostly camping)
Monday April 25th – Sunday May 8th
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25th
Drove to Meramec State Park just outside St. Louis. (15 hrs, 4:00 am- 7:00 pm) Camped at Meramec State Park. 26th Drove to Bottomless Lakes State Park close to Roswell, New Mexico. (13.5 hrs, 5am- 6:30pm) Camped at Bottomless Lakes State Park. 27th Drove to Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. We birded Deerhead Campground and other local areas earlier in the morning, then drove to the Chiricahua Desert Museum. After the museum we birded around the local Portal area. We stayed at the Portal Peak Lodge that night. 28th Started the day with a hike at South Fork trailhead. (Trogons were very active) Birded Cave Creek Visitor Center and other local Portal spots including yards. Finished day with Owling on FR 42 and S Fork Rd. Stayed at Portal CCC House. 29th Hiked the trail between Stewart and Sunnyflat Campgrounds. Began driving across the Chiricahuas on FR 42. Prepped our Campsite at Herb Martyr Campground. Drove to Barfoot Park and birded at the hotspots along the route. Camped at Herb Martyr Campground. 30th Began our drive out of the Chiricahuas hitting hotspots along the way out. Drove to Wilcox to bird Lake Cochise and the Twinlakes Golf Course. Visited wastewater ponds in Benson. Ended our day and camped at Gilbert Ray Campground. 1st Birded our way around Tucson's local birding hotspots. (congested) Drove to Madera Canyon and got a spot at a local campsite. Visited the local birding spots. Camped at Bog Springs Campground. (fairly busy) 2nd Began our trip to Patagonia Lakes State Park. Birded on the De Anza Trail in Tubac and Rio Rico.* *Missed Rose-throated Becard but got Green Kingfisher. Made our way to Patagonia Lakes State Park and prepped our campsites. Explored the Bird Trail at the State Park. Camped at Patagonia Lakes SP. 3rd Birded the local spots in and around the town of Patagonia. went back to Tubac for Rose-throated Becard.* *Missed it again. Drove to Ramanote Canyon (4X4 or AWD advised, stop at Toruno Tank) Found Rufous-capped Warblers. Camped at Patagonia Lake State Park. 4th Continued birding and revisited some spots in Patagonia. Birded in the Mountains just west of Sierra Vista. Drove to a local Air B&B in Sierra Vista and prepped our sleeping arrangements. Evening outing for last chance at high elevation birds. Stayed at Air B&B. (finally a comfortable bed) 5th Ramsey Canyon to end our time in Arizona. Drove to Bosque Del Apache NWR* (5.5 hrs) *This spot is amazing and should be given at least a half day, possibly on travel out. Drove to Valley of Fires Recreation Area to Camp (1 hr) 6th Birded Carizozo Park Drove to Palo Duro Canyon State Park (5 hrs) Drove to Gentry Creek Campground and camped there. (5 hrs) 7th Drove to Holla Bend NWR (3 hrs) Stayed at an econolodge in Lenoir City, TN (9 hrs) 8th Drove through Shenandoah National Park on our way back to New Jersey. Birded at a few spots in Shenandoah NP. Made it Back to NJ and finished the trip! |