Costa’s Hummingbird
Day 1
Arrival in Tucson. Transfer to hotel and welcome dinner. Night in Tucson.
Day 2
We will begin our Arizona birding adventure in the Sonoran Desert landscape around Tucson. This is a ruggedly beautiful landscape dominated by the charismatic Saguaro Cactus along with a host of other hardy desert plants, many of which will be in full bloom. We will spend the morning here searching for Arizona desert specialties such as Gilded Flicker, Gila Woodpecker, Harris’s Hawk, Costa’s and Anna’s Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, and many more. Once we’ve had our fill of the desert we will travel south to Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains. Here we will have our first taste of Madrean woodland and get a true sense of why they call these majestic mountains Sky Islands. We will enjoy a host of Southeast Arizona specialties such as Acorn Woodpecker,Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse, Red-faced Warbler and Painted Redstart. Night in Green Valley.
Day 3
The day will start off with a visit to Montosa Canyon on the west side of the Santa Rita Mountains for species like Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, Bell’s Vireo, Varied Bunting, and Yellow-breasted Chat. The thorny hillsides of the canyon can be a great place to hear Five-striped Sparrows early in the morning. If we are lucky we may get a glimpse of these skulky sparrows as they move through the dense understory. We will then head south stopping at a few different places depending on what birds are being seen in the area. In past years this general area has hosted such rarities as Rose-throated Becard, Green Kingfisher, and Tropical Kingbird. You never know what might show up! The afternoon and evening will be spent in the Atascosa Mountains west of Nogales and Pena Blanca Lake. This small lake and the surrounding area are home to a number of interesting birds like Least Grebes, Montezuma Quail, Hutton’s Vireo, Gray Hawk and Dusky-capped Flycatcher. Night in Nogales.
Day 4
White-eared Hummingbird
We will spend the day in the Sonoita Creek Valley. The dry desert provides a beautiful backdrop for the lush riparian areas here! We hope to find lowland specialties like Abert’s Towhee, Lucy’s Warbler, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Thick-billed Kingbird, Violet-crowned and Common Ground-Dove. Continuing further north we will leave the creek bed behind as we enter into the beautiful Chihuahuan Desert grasslands above. We will meander through some of these grasslands in hopes of finding Grasshopper, Cassin’s, and Botteri’s Sparrows along with Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite, Scaled Quail and Eastern “Lillian’s” Meadowlark. In evening we will look for Burrowing and Elf Owls, along with Lesser Nighthawk and Common Poorwill. Night in Sierra Vista.
Day 5
From Sierra Vista we will visit Ramsey, Miller, and Carr Canyons. Miller and Ramsey Canyons likely have the highest hummingbird diversity of any place in the country! Elegant Trogon, Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart are all possible as is the resident pair of Spotted Owls. Ash Canyon is a bit dryer and our main goal here will be Lucifer Hummingbird. And last, but certainly not least, Carr canyon will take us higher up in the mountain to look for Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Greater Pewee, and Olive Warbler! The rest of the evening will be spent traveling to the Chiricahua Mountains where we will spend the night.
Day 6
Daybreak in the Chiricahua Mountains is always a breathtaking experience! The calls of Mexican Jays, Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Elegant Trogons, Scott’s Orioles, Crissal Thrasher, and Arizona Woodpeckers will echo against the steep canyon walls as we slowly make our way up the cool, dark bottom of Cave Creek Canyon. We will slowly venture to the very top of the mountain where we will find a different habitat dominated by tall pines. These Chiricahua Mountain pine parks are home to one of Arizona’s cutest specialties, the Mexican Chickadee! Olive Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, Steller’s Jay, and migrants such as Hermit Warbler are also likely to be encountered in this same zone. After dinner we will have the option of some late night owling. Cave Creek Canyon contains one of the highest diversities of night birds anywhere in the country! On a good night we may be able to hear and see Northern “Mountain” Pygmy-Owl, Western and Whiskered Screech-Owl, Elf Owl, Spotted Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Long-eared, Flammulated, Northern Saw-Whet Owls, Lesser and Common Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, and Mexican Whip-Poor-Will. We’ve also found many interesting mammals on these night time excursions, and if we’re lucky we could get a look at a Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Coyote, White-nosed Coati, Ringtail, Javelina and many more! Night in Portal.
Montezuma Quail
Day 7
After some early morning birding around the lodge, we will venture out to the dryer foothills and surrounding deserts on the east side of the Chihuahuas. We will look for species such as Chihuahuan Raven, Black-throated Sparrow, Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Bendire’s, Curve-billed and Crissal Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. After our morning birding concludes we will load in the van and start the drive back to Tucson. Luckily there are some great birding spots along the way to break up the drive like Willcox Playa, Arizona’s premier shorebirding location. We will have a farewell dinner in Tucson. Night in Tucson.
Day 8
The tour concludes this morning in Tucson.
Although we will typically adhere to the above itinerary, the exact schedule of the tour is liable to change depending on local conditions and of course the birds!
Trip Reports
August 2013 – Arizona: Sky Islands in Fall Priavte Tour Trip Report by Michael Hilchey & Raymond VanBuskirk, BRANT Guides
Photos
Click a photo for a better view and scroll through photos using the arrow keys
(The checklist can also be viewed and printed as a PDF file by clicking this link: Coming soon…)
Bold species will most likely be seen on this tour Non-bold species are only sometimes seen on this tour Starred* species have occurred at least once, but are very unlikely on this tour
Ducks, Geese, & Swans
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- Gadwall
- American Wigeon
- Mallard
- “Mexican” Mallard
- Blue-winged Teal
- Cinnamon Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Redhead*
- Common Merganser*
- Ruddy Duck
Quails
- Scaled Quail
- Gambel’s Quail
- Montezuma Quail
Pheasants & Turkeys
- Ring-necked Pheasant (I)
- Wild Turkey
Grebes
- Least Grebe*
- Pied-billed Grebe
Cormorants
- Neotropic Cormorant*
- Double-crested Cormorant
Herons & Bitterns
- Least Bittern*
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
- Cattle Egret
- Green Heron
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
Ibis
Opsreys
Kites, Eagles, & Hawks
- White-tailed Kite
- Northern Harrier
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Northern Goshawk
- Common Black-Hawk
- Harris’s Hawk
- Gray Hawk
- Short-tailed Hawk*
- Swainson’s Hawk
- Zone-tailed Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Golden Eagle
Rails, Gallinules, & Coots
- Virginia Rail
- Sora
- Common Gallinule (Moorhen)
- American Coot
Plovers
- Snowy Plover*
- Semipalmated plover
- Killdeer
Stilts & Avocets
- Black-necked Stilt
- American Avocet
Sandpipers
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Willet
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Long-billed Curlew
- Marbled Godwit
- Western Sandpiper
- Least Sandpiper
- Baird’s Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper*
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Short-billed Dowitcher*
- Long-billed Dowitcher
- Wilson’s Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope*
Gulls & Terns
- Ring-billed Gull
- Black Tern*
- Forester’s Tern*
Pigeons & Doves
- Rock Pigeon (I)
- Band-tailed Pigeon
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (I)
- White-winged Dove
- Mourning Dove
- Inca Dove
- Common Ground-Dove
- Ruddy Ground-Dove*
Cuckoos & Roadrunners
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Greater Roadrunner
Barn Owls
Typical Owls
- Flammulated Owl
- Western Screech-Owl
- Whiskered Screech-Owl
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern “Mountain” Pygmy-Owl
- Elf Owl
- Burrowing Owl
- Spotted Owl
- Northern Saw-whet Owl*
Nightjars
- Lesser Nighthawk
- Common Nighthawk
- Common Poorwill
- Buff-collared Nightjar*
- Mexican Whip-poor-will
Swifts
Hummingbirds
- Broad-billed Hummingbird
- White-eared Hummingbird
- Beryline Hummingbird*
- Violet-crowned Hummingbird
- Blue-throated Hummingbird
- Magnificent Hummingbird
- Plain-capped Starthroat*
- Lucifer Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird*
Trogons
Kingfishers
- Belted Kingfisher
- Green Kingfisher*
Woodpeckers
- Acorn Woodpecker
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Arizona Woodpecker
- Northern “Red-shafted” Flicker
- Gilded Flicker
Falcons
- Crested Caracara*
- American Kestrel
- Peregrine Falcon
- Prairie Falcon
Tyrant Flycatchers
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Greater Pewee
- Western Wood-Pewee
- Willow Flycatcher
- Hammond’s Flycatcher
- Gray Flycatcher
- Dusky Flycatcher
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher
- Cordilleran Flycatcher
- Buff-breasted Flycatcher
- Black Phoebe
- Say’s Phoebe
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
- Brown-crested Flycatcher
- Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
- Tropical Kingbird
- Cassin’s Kingbird
- Thick-billed Kingbird
- Western Kingbird
Becards
Shrikes
Vireos
- Bell’s Vireo
- Gray Vireo
- Plumbeous Vireo
- Cassin’s Vireo
- Hutton’s Vireo
- Warbling Vireo
Jays & Crows
- Steller’s Jay
- Western Scrub-Jay
- Mexican Jay
- Common Raven
- Chihuahuan Raven
Larks
Swallows
- Purple Martin
- Tree Swallow
- Violet-green Swallow
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Bank Swallow
- Cliff Swallow
- Barn Swallow
Chickadees & Titmice
- Mountain Chickadee
- Mexican Chickadee
- Bridled Titmouse
- Juniper Titmouse
Verdins
Bushtits
Nuthatches
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Pygmy Nuthatch
Creepers
Wrens
- Cactus Wren
- Rock Wren
- Canyon Wren
- Sinaloa Wren*
- Bewick’s Wren
- House Wren
Gnatcatchers
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
- Black-capped Gnatcatcher*
Kinglets
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Thrushes
- Eastern Bluebird
- Western Bluebird
- Brown-backed Solitaire *
- Hermit Thrush
- American Robin
- Aztec Thrush*
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
- Northern Mockingbird
- Bendire’s Thrasher
- Curve-billed Thrasher
- Crissal Thrasher
Starlings
Silky-Flycatchers
Olive Warblers
Wood Warblers
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Virginia’s Warbler
- Lucy’s Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Yellow-rumped “Audubon’s” Warbler
- Black-throated Gray Warbler
- Townsend’s Warbler
- Hermit Warbler
- Grace’s Warbler
- MacGillivray’s Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Wilson’s Warbler
- Red-faced Warbler
- Painted Redstart
- Rufous-capped Warbler*
- Yellow-breasted Chat
Towhees & Sparrows
- Green-tailed Towhee
- Spotted Towhee
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow
- Canyon Towhee
- Abert’s Towhee
- Rufous-winged Sparrow
- Cassin’s Sparrow
- Botteri’s Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Black-chinned Sparrow
- Lark Sparrow
- Five-striped Sparrow*
- Black-throated Sparrow
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Yellow-eyed Junco
Tanagers, Cardinals, & Grosbeaks
- Hepatic Tanager
- Summer Tanager
- Western Tanager
- Flame-colored Tanager*
- Northern Cardinal
- Pyrrhuloxia
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Blue Grosbeak
- Lazuli Bunting
- Indigo Bunting
- Varied Bunting
- Painted Bunting*
Meadowlarks, Blackbirds & Orioles
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Eastern “Lillian’s” Meadowlark
- Western Meadowlark*
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
- Great-tailed Grackle
- Bronzed Cowbird
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Hooded Oriole
- Bullock’s Oriole
- Scott’s Oriole
Finches
- House Finch
- Red Crossbill
- Pine Siskin*
- Lesser Goldfinch
- Evening Grosbeak*
Old World Sparrows
Health Considerations
Arizona presents no major health hazards, however high temperatures and intense sunlight should be taken into consideration. It is important the participants on this tour bring and use appropriate sun protection whether in the form of UV protective clothing and hats and/or sunscreen. It is also vital that participants bring their own water bottles on all hikes and outings. BRANT will provide ample fresh, cool water but we cannot provide everyone with a water bottle. It is also important to note that many of the birding locations on this tour will be at moderately high elevation. While we do not plan on any strenuous hiking at high altitude, it is important to consult your doctor before signing up for this tour if you have any known cardiac or respiratory problems
Climate
Temperatures in Arizona can be notoriously variable. On this tour,we will be spending the majority of our time at middle elevations where daytime highs are typically in the low 90’s and lows are in the low to mid 60’s. However, we will spend some time at lower elevations where the high may approach or exceed 100 degrees. Late summer and early fall is known as Monsoon season in this region. We can expect to have short bursts of moderate to heavy rainfall in the afternoons and evenings throughout the tour. While a slight inconvenience to birding, these afternoon showers are the life blood of this region and provide for the most exciting bird and wildlife activity of the year!
Dress
Informal throughout. Good hiking boots area a must. Lightweight rain gear is also recommended in case of afternoon storms.
Group Size
Maximum group size is 12 participants, although 8 to 10 is typical. We usually have 2 guides for this tour.
Tour Pace
As with all birding tours, this trip will have early mornings and relatively full days of birding. During the hottest, least productive part of the day we will usually have a chance to rest and/or transfer to a new location. This tour will include several moderate hikes up to 3 or 4 miles in total length. While most hikes will be easy, a few hikes may be slightly more rugged and/or steep. These hikes will be rather difficult to complete for those who may have difficulty walking. Participants are free to “sit one out” at anytime during the trip.
Food
Meals will be taken at local restaurants throughout trip. Some breakfasts may be “to go” or may be simple continental breakfasts served at the hotel. We try to focus on local, Mexican style cuisine wherever possible.
Transportation
Our transportation will depend on how many participants we have. In any case we will have a comfortable rental vehicle appropriately sized for our group. We’re not sardines and we don’t expect you to be either.
Accommodations
Accommodations are in standard, 3-star hotels throughout the trip. Single occupancy is available throughout the tour for an additional charge.
Non-US Citizens
Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa to enter the United States. You can locate the nearest U.S.Embassy or Consulate here.
Before deciding to register for this tour, please read over the the following information as well as the “What To Expect” tab on this page. After you have read and understood the all important tour information please fill out the Registration Form at the bottom of this page and complete you payment under the “Payment” tab. Please note that your spot on the tour is not reserved until we have received your deposit in full. If you need help or have questions at any time feel free to contact us via email or phone.
What’s Included
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Tucson International Airport, Tucson, AZ), all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included. Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate. Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Travel to Point of Departure
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Gratuities
At BRANT we value our guides experience expertise and do everything we can to compensate them appropriately. We do not expect you to tip them, and they do not expect a tip (seriously, we are not offended), however if you feel as though they have gone above and beyond to help make your trip exceptional and wish to tip your guides, they would be more than happy to accept. At the end of the tour please present your tip to the lead guide at the appropriate time and he/she will make sure to distribute the tips fairly to all the guides.
Tips for hotel staff, servers, kitchen staff, local guides, drivers, and anyone else are included in the cost of the tour. We hope to eliminate any confusion for our participants by covering all tips in the cost of the tour. However, if you wish to tip above and beyond that you are more than welcome to do so.
Restrictions On Participation
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour. Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet limitations, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour Confirmation
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour will be confirmed no later than May 18, 2015.
Tour Cancellations
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Price Increase
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to 10% increases of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdraw from the tour without penalty.
Refunds, Transfers, and Cancellations
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable. BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place at least 45 days prior to tour departure date. Once a transfer has been made you will no longer be eligible for a transfer or refund of any amount at any time should you cancel again. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Registration Form
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime. If you would prefer to fax or mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our fax number and mailing address can be found here.
Arizona – Sky Islands in Fall Registration From
Cost
The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
August 18th, 2015
$2,175 (+ 7% Tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – $400 ($2,575 Total) (+7% Tax)
Deposit Due at Registration – $500
August 20th, 2016
Price TBA
Payment
Deposits can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a significant discount, applied at the time of invoicing.
Make checks payable to BRANT Tours and mail them to the following address:
7522 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87113
To pay the deposit online, select your departure date below and click “Buy Now”
August 18th, 2015
August 20th, 2016
Payment not yet available 
Trip Material
After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information packet that will include:
- Detailed tour itinerary
- Bird (or wildlife) checklist
- Study/reference sheet
- What to bring sheet
- Receipt for deposit and invoice for remaining balance owed
- Information regarding travel to and from tour departure location
- Liability Waiver
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
Liability Waiver
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR! You can return the liability waiver to us via post or fax at anytime prior to your trip. Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health Preparations
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trip Insurance
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours.
