Birding Field Trips

NEW!!! Oak Creek Canyon(1)

We will visit 2 NEW destinations on this trip along the scenic route up Highway 89a north of Sedona.  Both locations are closed to the public–the owners have given us permission to visit on our Festival field trips. There is a good chance you will see our Festival bird, the Rivoli’s hummingbird,  and higher elevation birds such as Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Tanager, and Cordilleran Flycatcher. Note: This is a mostly shaded, higher-elevation trip, so bring a light jacket.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:30am
$40 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Returning Favorite: Cave Springs Campground (2)

Cave Springs Campground, high up in Oak Creek Canyon along 89a, offers your best chance to see our Festival bird, the Rivoli’s hummingbird, and best chance to see Broad-tailed Hummingbird. There is also a good chance to see charming, colorful warblers such as Painted Redstart, Red-faced, Grace’s, and Yellow. You should also see higher elevation birds such as Acorn Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Tanager, and Cordilleran Flycatcher, and riparian favorites such as the Great Blue Heron. This will be a mile or so walk on level roads. Note: This is a mostly shaded, higher elevation trip, so bring a light jacket.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:30am
$40 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Sedona Wetlands and Hummingbird Banding (1)

After a 5-minute drive from SPAC we arrive at Sedona Wetlands, where we take a walk around the ponds to look for over-summering ducks, nesting Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Song Sparrows. Other possibilities include Yellow Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat. Then we’ll drive 15 minutes to our Friday Hummingbird Banding location (entry is included with this field trip). You will see banding in action at this Hummingbird Hotspot that also hosts nesting Summer Tanagers, Gila and Ladderback Woodpeckers, Hooded Orioles, Bridled Titmouse, and more.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am (option to stay later at banding site)
$45 (Friday)

Jail Trail along the Verde River (3)

We’ll drive to Cottonwood and take a shaded hike (some uneven footing and sandy soil) alongside the Verde River to see a variety of riparian birds including Summer Tanager and Yellow-breasted Chat. There is a good chance of seeing Anna’s hummingbirds among the Desert Willow trees. You may also be treated to sightings of Verdin, Lucy’s Warbler, Bridled Titmouse and Abert’s Towhee. Also in the area are river-loving waterfowl such as Common Mergansers as well as Common Black Hawks and Great-horned Owls.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am
$30 (Friday)

Chuckwalla Drive and Bates Road (1)

We start this trip by driving about 20 minutes to Chuckwalla Drive in Cottonwood. This road abuts an open high desert landscape featuring cactus, scrub brush and Juniper trees. We take a short walk along the road where you are sure to see southwest specialties such as Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Gambel’s Quail. Other likely birds are Canyon Towhee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Northern Cardinal, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, and Phainopepla. On the way back to Sedona, we stop at Bates Road to look for Vermilion Flycatchers.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am
$30 (Friday)

Hummingbirds, Hikes, and History (2)

On this trip you’ll visit the area where the town of Sedona began. Originally known as Red Rock, Arizona Territory, Sedona is steeped in pioneer history and famous for its red rocks. But Sedona is also a town within the Verde Valley, which has more flowing waterways than any other region in Arizona — a draw for abundant bird life. You’ll visit the Armstrong yard which boasts over 150 avian species and take a coffee/muffin break. We’ll take a short half mile round trip hike to see the pools of water on Secret Slick Rock Mesa which overlooks Red Rock Crossing at Oak Creek—the quintessential photo spot for the view of Cathedral Rock. Also some quick stops at the pioneer cemetery and homestead cabin. Trip leader Nanette Armstrong promises she will talk non-stop history and birds. Bring your camera.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am
$30 (Saturday)

Page Springs Fish Hatchery and Bubbling Ponds (2)

This trip will probably net you the greatest variety of species of any of our trips. Some of the birds you should see are the Common Black Hawk, Lucy’s Warbler, Bridled Titmouse, Abert’s Towhee, Verdin, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Killdeer, Gila and Ladderback Woodpeckers, Great Blue Heron and Wood Duck. Also, chances are good for Bald Eagle, Zone-tailed Hawk, Blue Grosbeak, Osprey, Black-crowned Night Heron, and a variety of waterfowl.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am
$30 (Saturday)

NEW!! Ranger Station/Woods Canyon/Hummingbird Banding (3)

After meeting in the parking lot at the Red Rock Ranger station, you will visit the onsite feeders to see hummingbirds and 3 Orioles, and hike Woods Canyon to look for a wide range of birds including 5 sparrows, 3 towhees, 2 kingbirds, Phainopepla, Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers, Bell’s and Gray Vireos, Northern Mockingbirds, Crissal Thrasher, Summer and Western Tanagers, Juniper Titmouse, Canyon and Bewick’s Wrens, and many more. There is not much shade on this hike, so dress for sun. Then you will drive a short distance to our Saturday Hummingbird Banding station in the Village of Oak Creek. (Entry is included with this field trip).

NOTE: Do not meet at SPAC. Meet at the Red Rock Ranger Station and Visitor Center, 8375 Hwy 179, (one mile south of the Village of Oak Creek) at 6:30am. Trip concludes at 9:30am (option to stay later at banding site)
$45 (Saturday)

Sedona Wetlands and Hummingbird Hotspot (1)

After a 5-minute drive from SPAC we arrive at Sedona Wetlands, where we take a walk around the ponds to look for over-summering ducks, nesting Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, Lucy’s Warblers, and Song Sparrows. Other possibilities include Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Common Yellowthroat. Then we’ll drive over to the Armstrong yard, a Hummingbird Hotspot that also hosts nesting Summer Tanagers, Gila and Ladderback Woodpeckers, Hooded Orioles, Bridled Titmouse, and more.

Depart/return SPAC: 6:30-9:15am
$30 (Sunday)

NEW!! Butterfly Bubbling Ponds (2)

This trip leaves later because butterflies sleep in! As cold-blooded creatures they need to wait for the earth to warm before they start moving. Butterfly expert Becky Hardy will lead this trip at Bubbling Ponds and help you identify a variety of butterflies and butterfly plants. You will gain new insights into butterflies, their behavior, and their biology — and have a lovely morning enjoying their beauty!

Depart/return SPAC: 8:30-11am
$30 (Sunday)

NEW!! Mingus Mountain Monday (4)

A 45-minute drive through and beyond Jerome takes you to our trailhead at Butterfly Springs on Mingus Mountain. We will take a fairly steep hike to see Red-faced Warblers and seek as many as six other species of colorful mountain warbler, including Grace’s Warbler and Painted Redstart. We’ll also seek Cordilleran Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, House Wren, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Red Crossbill, and three species of nuthatch: Pygmy, Red-breasted, and White-breasted. Depending on flowers, we may see good numbers of hummingbirds. This trip may also include a walk at a small mountain lake where we may see a Bald Eagle, as well as short stops at mountain meadows to look for western bluebirds and lookout points to check for high-elevation birds such as Rufous-crowned Sparrows and Hepatic Tanagers. This is a mostly shaded, higher elevation trip, so bring a light jacket. Make sure to bring water and snack, too, as this is our longest and most physically challenging trip.
Note 6am departure time and 11am return time

Depart/return SPAC: 6-11am
$50 (Our only Monday field trip)