[apbarr]

My wife and I are planning a trip in late April early May next year and we're looking for some advice.
At the moment we're thinking of overnight in Phoenix when we arrive then pick up the hire car and on to Tucson for 2/3 nights followed by 7 nights in Sierra Vista, then back to Phoenix overnight dropping off the hire car followed by a minibus/coach tour up to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley which is 4 nights prior to flying home from Phoenix.
We were thinking of hiring a guide for 2 or 3 days while based in Sierra Vista to try and ensure that we pick up as much as possible since this is likely to be our only trip to the area.

Any thoughts or alternative suggestions appreciated as are recommendations for mid range accommodation

[Richard Fray]

Sounds like a very good plan to me. You should have a fantastic time. The extra Grand Canyon/Monument Valley trip will be amazing! I did it late last year:

http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/...-grand-canyon/

http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/...nument-valley/

http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/...yon-de-chelly/

As for birding in SE Arizona, as long as you have one of the peviously mentioned 'finding birds in SE Arizona' guides, a decent field guide (my preference is for Sibley) and maybe the new Birds of SE Arizona photographic guide by Rick Taylor (http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/nature-...dingbooks.html) you should be OK. If it's your first visit to the SW it might be a bit daunting at first.

I moved here eight years ago from Britain. The hardest part about birding in Arizona, compared to Britain at least, is getting used to the wide variety of habitats. Only when you've got the hang of that does the birding become easier, as you start to know what to expect, where. Rick's new photographic guide has really nice little graphs of habitat for each species.

I am obviously biased but hiring a guide will give you the best chance of getting the most out of your birding (and I might be available ). If you do it for a couple of days, do it early in your trip and make sure you get full use out of your guide by asking where to go and what to look for in future days. It also makes sense to concentrate on the tricky stuff with your guide so you can do things like visit Ash Canyon B&B on your own.

Have a great time

[Mark Harper]

You can see a report I did on SE Arizona in early May at http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=142287

[apbarr]

Originally Posted by Mark Harper

You can see a report I did on SE Arizona in early May at http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=142287

Mark,

Just had another read and you had 116 lifers for me on your visit which is in line with what I'm expecting for my first visit to the west, 100+ new species

[apbarr]

Richard,

My thoughts were to use the early days of the trip to pick up as much as we could then hire a guide to try and fill in the gaps, I will be in contact with you nearer the time to discuss options

[skink1978]

There's a little bit of Arizona info on my website that you may find useful, although it only covers a little of your planned itinerary.

http://wildlifewanderer.co.uk/2009Arizona.aspx

While in Phoenix I would strongly recommend you visit the bird reserve in the suburb of Gilbert. It’s an ideal place to spend a morning or afternoon.

http://www.riparianinstitute.org/birding.cfm

The Desert Botanical Gardens near Phoenix Airport is an ideal place to spend a couple of hours before you fly home (see very bottom of my web page).

Have a good trip.

[Lisa W]

I think you will have a great time, and you are definitely coming at the right time of year. Lots of migrants moving through at that time and the hummingbirds should be in full strength. If you are in Sierra Vista over a weekend I'd be happy to help show some of the local sites.
Lisa

[cassowary]

Alex I am birding SE Arizona next week - not the best time of the year at the moment though.
Anyway I find using calls helpful for many of the harder species in this area

Also this site should help you with your research

http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?src=c...tinue=Continue

[apbarr]

Thanks for all the info, can't wait to firm things up, sounds as good or better than my first trip to North America - Point Pelee

[Richard Fray]

Originally Posted by apbarr

Richard,

My thoughts were to use the early days of the trip to pick up as much as we could then hire a guide to try and fill in the gaps, I will be in contact with you nearer the time to discuss options

Sounds good to me.

You'll never guess the big rarity I found here yesterday... loads of people going to see it...

Yep, a Eurasian Wigeon!