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Bird Watching at the Circle Z Ranch

 

The Circle Z Ranch offers excellent birding opportunities, thanks to its direct access to more than two miles of Sonoita Creek, which is perhaps the most famous birding creek in Arizona. Water is the only essential requirement for first class birding in the southwest desert, and with Sonoita Creek meandering through the ranch property, it is specially situated for birding opportunities. Furthermore, the richness of the birding experience is enhanced by the huge sycamore trees, providing natural cavities for dozens of hole-nesting birds and excellent shade for those who prefer outside accommodations. Fourteen species of flycatcher have nested on the ranch, a total unmatched by any other similarly sized bit in all of North America. Birding in the winter is, as expected, less productive, but there are still a good number of resident and wintering birds along the creek, including an occasional Green Kingfisher and Elegant Trogon. And truly a winterís delight for the very serious birder is the large number of Empidonax flycatchers that winter along the creek.

While the creek area draws the most attention, the upland areas of the ranch are excellent for typical southwestern birds such as Canyon Wren and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. There are also beautiful side canyons on the ranch property and surrounding lands that are easily accessed.

We should say a word about how easy it is to bird on the Circle Z property. There are an abundance of trails along the creek and an old railroad right of way which harbors huge hackberry trees whose fruit is favored by winter thrushes. The ranch maintains several small foot bridges, allowing birders and hikers to cross Sonoita Creek dry shod.

(Article by Will Rusell - Wings Birding Tours Worldwide)


Winter Birding

During the winter months, you will mostly find sparrows, longspurs, finches, raptors, empids, and ducks.

Birds which occur annually include: Mountain Plover, Ruddy Ground-dove, Arizona Woodpecker, Hammond's & Dusky Flycatchers, Sprague's Pipit, Baird's Sparrow, McCown's and Chestnut-collared Longspurs.

Spring Birding

The perfect temperatures in the spring time bring out migrant hummingbirds, warblers, vireos, flycatchers, orioles, & tanagers.

Birds occurring annually include: Black-bellied Whistling-duck, Gray & Zone-tailed hawks, Whiskered Screech-owl, Magnificent Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Crissal Thrasher, Lucy's Warbler and Abert's Towhee.

Summer Birding

During the summer months we see the resident breeders, hummers and Mexican strays.

Birds occurring annually include the Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, N. Beardless-tyrannulet, Tropical & Thick-billed Kingbirds, Rose-throated Becard, Red-faced & Rufous-capped Warblers, Rufous-crowned, Botteri's, & Five-striped Sparrows, and Varied Bunting.

Fall Birding

In the Fall season, you will find migrant songbirds, raptors, & shorebirds.

Birds which occur annually include the Montezuma Quail, Lucifer Hummingbird, Olive-sided & Gray Flycatchers, Chihuahuan Raven, Mexican Chickadee, Olive, Townsend's, & Hermit Warblers and the Yellow-eyed Junco.

For the serious Birder here's a link for more information about Birding!
 

Guest Comments

"Thanks so much for the photo, it was so fun to see it right when we came home. The girls had such a great time, they kept saying how nice everyone was!! They even had the withdrawals that I always have when I have to come home. Thanks so much for the photo, it was so fun to see it right when we came home. The girls had such a great time, they kept saying how nice everyone was!! They even had the withdrawals that I always have when I have to come home."Kim and the Girls

"Thanks so much for the photo, it was so fun to see it right when we came home. The girls had such a great time, they kept saying how nice everyone was!! They even had the withdrawals that I always have when I have to come home." Kim and the Girls

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