Multiple new warbler species for the year in southeast Arizona -April 12-15

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Virginia's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Virginia's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Painted Redstart, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Painted Redstart, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Sunrise, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Apr 12, 2026

Sunday would be the last day of making long drives and I was up well before dawn again (an advantage to keeping my body on east coast time). My final destination would be an Airbnb in Green Valley where I would be spending three nights. I had a few ideas on what to do with my day before arriving at my lodging and I settled on driving directly to Mount Lemmon with the goal of potentially tracking down the last three warbler targets for the trip (Grace’s Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler and Red faced Warbler). The three and a quarter hour drive occurred almost completely in the dark. The weather was not as cooperative as I would have liked as the wind was obvious as I started up Mount Lemmon. On the plus side it was fairly sunny so it certainly could have been worse. I arrived at Incinerator Ridge and started walking up to the ridge from the main road. I had a Grace’s Warbler singing right away although seeing it was not in the cards right away. I made it to the top of the ridge and the wind was really strong and it was cold (air temps in the upper 40’s with a wind chill). I was really surprised to see many people camping out along the road…must have been a cold and uncomfortable night with all the wind. I then ran across a Virginia’s Warbler and got some distant photos as it got buffeted around in the wind. I tried walking some trails and although I heard a distant Red faced Warbler it was really tough to see any movement in the constantly swaying trees so I headed down the road back toward the car to get out of the worst of the wind and this proved to be a good idea as I got much better looks at both Grace’s Warblers and Red faced Warblers as well as a mixed species flock not far from the main road. Other warblers at the location included Audubon’s subspecies of Yellow rumped Warbler (the most numerous species at the location), Black throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler and Painted Redstart. I then had to decide where to go next and decided to descend a little in elevation instead of going up higher on the mountain as there seemed to be lots traffic heading up. I picked a dirt road known as Soller's Road and yet again was happy with my choice as I immediately had warblers as I walked down the road with all the the species seen early (except Red faced Warbler) plus a male MacGillivray’s Warbler (not cooperative at all but it did add another new warbler species for the year) and an Orange crowned Warbler. I hit a few other spots on my way down without finding any other new warblers so ended the morning with nine species (including my three remaining targets for the trip). The stop at Mount Lemmon produced warbler species # 32-35 for the year. 

Grace's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Grace's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Hermit Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Hermit Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 13, 2026

Monday was forecast to be just as windy as the day before and I knew this would make birding a bit tough to say the least. Nonetheless I had hopes that I could find some sheltered spots and turn up some warblers. I was up way before dawn and after doing a little nocturnal birding I headed up to Madera Canyon. I had a few singing Lucy’s Warblers at a dry wash on my way up the road before arriving at the top to take a hike up the Old Baldy Trail. Seeing a few Painted Redstarts before leaving the parking lot was a good omen. Although breezy at times it was not as bad as I feared it would be initially. As I continued to gain elevation I started hearing Grace’s Warblers, more Painted Redstarts, Black throated Gray Warblers and a Yellow rumped Warbler. There was also a silent Orange crowned Warbler moving through and best of all was a male Hermit Warbler working through a pine tree and showing well enough to ID. I had this species as a possibility for the trip and was very happy to see it thus adding another new warbler for the year. The Hermit Warbler became species #36 on my quest. I will certainly catch up with more of them when we visit Oregon this summer on the way home from Alaska. I then tried the Santa Rita Lodge to see if any warblers were coming into the water feature (they were not) and took a walk near the Whitehouse Picnic Area where I had a few Lucy’s Warblers and a Black throated Gray Warbler. I called it quits by midday given the ever increasing wind. By the end of the morning I had seen seven species of warbler for the day with one new one for the year…not bad given the weather. 

Lucy's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Lucy's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Lucy's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Lucy's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Apr 14, 2026

On my last full day of the trip I took advantage of less windy weather to start my day way before sunrise in Madera Canyon listening for nocturnal species and had great luck including my only lifer of the trip with a Spotted Owl. I hiked up the Old Baldy Trail in the dark and once it was light enough to see and the warblers started waking up I started my journey back down. Along the way I had decent numbers of warblers with the most numerous being Painted Redstarts and Grace’s Warblers with lesser numbers of Black throated Gray Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers. I finally made it to the parking lot at bit after 7:30AM (I started the walk a little before 4AM) and then headed to the Whitehouse Picnic Area trails and had three species of warblers including my first Lucy’s Warblers of the day. A brief stop at Santa Rita Lodge for a mid morning break produced a few Painted Redstarts moving through. I then tried my luck a bit further down the canyon in the area of Proctor Road and had some good luck there with a new warbler species with multiple Wilson’s Warblers. I finally left the canyon a little after noon after finding seven species of warblers for the morning. 

For the Arizona portion of this trip I found a lucky 13 species of warblers with five new ones for the year. 

Overall for the entire trip from Texas, through New Mexico and then Arizona I found all my targets as well as a couple of bonus western warblers to add to my US year total. The eight new species found on this trip in order of finding them were as follows: Golden cheeked Warbler, Colima Warbler, Lucy’s Warbler, Grace’s Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler, Red faced Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler and Hermit Warbler. I reached all my goals and more on the trip so it was worth the effort with lots of hiking and driving (1700 miles of driving overall was not fun at all). I now stand at 36 warbler species for the year and with May rapidly approaching I should be adding more to that total soon with the arrival of peak warbler migration at home.

Short get away to Texas for Tropical Parula and Mangrove Yellow Warbler

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

I just made a brief down to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas starting on Wednesday and continuing through early Saturday.  I made the trip mainly to try to track down a couple warbler species with the main one being a Tropical Parula for me in the US (I have seen the species many times in the tropics) and the other being a Mangrove Yellow Warbler.  I arrived into Harlingen in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday and then made the drive down to my Airbnb in Brownsville.  The weather was very windy and warm when I arrived and these conditions unfortunately continued every day.  By the time I drove down, did some shopping and dropped off my stuff at my Airbnb it was late afternoon.  Although I didn’t think I would have much luck so late in the day with the wind I made a trip down to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to try to locate one of two male Tropical Parula known to be at the site.  As expected the wind was just too strong and there was little activity during my stop.  At least I was able to recon the area a bit so I would know how to get around on the following morning.

Tropical Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Yellow throated Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Northern Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Northern Parula, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

American Redstart, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Black and White Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Nashville Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Queen Isabella Causeway east, South Padre Island, TX, Feb 19, 2026

On Thursday the 19th I was out before dawn and headed back down to the UTRGV campus. The wind was still strong before the sun came up and continued for my entire time there. Once it brightened a bit I started getting some warblers with the first being Common Yellowthroats and then Yellow rumped Warblers (mainly Myrtle’s with one Audubon’s) plus some Orange crowned Warblers and a Yellow throated Warbler.  I then caught sight of a male Tropical Parula and then a Yellow rumped chased it away and I got just a few poor photos.  One target down and my 51st warbler species ever in the US.  I then spent the next two plus hours trying to relocate the bird with no luck with that.  However I did keep finding warblers and eventually had a dozen species including other notables for the area like American Redstart and Tennessee Warbler as well as a female Tropical Parula x Northern Parula hybrid.  The small area was really great for warblers with a dozen species and I can only imagine how much better it would be when there is no wind.  With my target Tropical Parula seen and not reappearing for photos, I decided to make the 45 minute drive out to South Padre Island and try my luck in finding a Mangrove Yellow Warbler. Once again I had some great tips from Aidan on where to try for the bird and most importantly where to park.  Once I crossed over the causeway to the island I quickly found multiple Mangrove Yellow Warblers and got some photos of this recently split species.  There were at least three present with a couple singing occasionally and I got some crappy recordings.  I have seen the species extensively in the tropics but only once before in the US and that was in Florida where the species does not have the full rusty head like the subspecies in far south Texas.  I also added a Northern Waterthrush for the day in the mangroves and my total number of warblers for the day finished at 14 with four of those new for the year for me….my best warbler day for the year so far.  I considered heading back down to the campus to try to get photos of the Tropical Parula late in the afternoon once I was back at my Airbnb but honestly I did not relish dealing with the absolutely shitty roads of Brownsville. The roads in Brownsville are a mess with poor conditions and signage and reminded me more of driving in a third world country than the US.

Orange crowned Warbler, Estero Llano Grande SP, Westlaco, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Nashville Warbler, UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UTRGV, Brownsville, TX, Feb 20, 2026

For my last full day in Texas on Friday I headed west to visit a few spots away from Brownsville.  There had been a female Tropical Parula seen at Estero Llano Grande SP so that gave me a good excuse to head there.  During previous trips to the valley I found the park to be very productive and it once again produced some good stuff.  I arrived before dawn and was able to start exploring the park right away.  I walked a variety of trails before making it to the area where the Tropical Parula had been seen.  It was overcast with fairly light winds early on and was a nice break from the winds…the mosquitoes unfortunately loved the conditions too and they were a bit of a bother.  The parula had been reported coming into a water drip set up so that is where I waited for it.  After about 15 minutes a group of birds were moving through the dense vegetation near the drip and included two Orange crowned Warblers, a Nashville Warbler and the Tropical Parula.  I got brief looks at it and I hoped it would come down to the drip but that was not to be.  Eventually the Orange crowned Warblers came down and enjoyed the water.  I waited for over 45 minutes and then checked some nearby areas without every seeing the parula again.  The park produced five species of warblers during my time there.  The sun was breaking through as I was leaving to make a stop at Santa Anna NWR and the temps jumped into the 80’s quickly and the damn wind picked up.  The refuge was very quiet so I left to work my way back toward my Airbnb.  With the slightly less windy conditions present I decided to drive directly back to the UTRGV campus to try to relocate the Tropical Parulas there.  Despite spending three hot hours looking and listening I never did see the Parula for certain…I had a brief view of a warbler getting chased by a Yellow throated Warbler and Black throated Gray Warbler that may have been the parula.  It was still worth the stop even without getting the parula as I had eleven species of warblers including a couple unusual species including American Redstart and Tennessee Warbler.  By the end of the day I found a dozen species of warblers.

Orange crowned Warbler, Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen, TX, Feb 21, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen, TX, Feb 21, 2026

I had a late morning flight out of Harlingen on my way to Arizona on Saturday and I was only able to get a little birding in before heading to the airport.  I decided to try my luck at Hugh Ramsey Park which is not too far from the airport.  I arrived there before dawn and during my two and a half hours there I found four species of warblers.  

Overall for the trip I found a total of 15  species of warblers with five of them new for me in Texas (Yellow throated Warbler, Tropical Parula, Black throated Green Warbler, Mangrove Yellow Warbler and Northern Waterthrush).  The short trip produced four new warbler species for the year for me and brought that total up to 25 species and put me on a good course for a warbler big year in the states.