Date: 3/13/26 7:39 am From: p c (via aznmbirds Mailing List) <aznmbirds...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SEAZ: Tubac Hawk Watch - Ron Morriss Park, Tubac, AZ 02/27/26
SEAZ: Tubac Hawk Watch - Ron Morriss Park, Tubac, AZ 02/27/26
Season 14: Episode 0215-0227 - “I Want to Take You Higher"
TL;DR (2/27)
Migrating Raptors
Turkey Vulture 8
Red-Tailed Hawk 6
Peregrine Falcon 1
Common Black Hawk 1
Other Raptors
Black Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
In early February something stirred in the hearts of hibernating raptor fans. They crammed field guides, binoculars and scopes into cars, pickups and vans. Two hawk counters coaxed old vehicles south out of Washington State, one determined to see another season’s worth of Black Hawks, the other dubious of my claims of Black Hawks filling the sky over Tubac.
Their routes south this year would be through western California, avoiding massive snowfalls and avalanches in the Sierras.
Hawk Watch International prepositioned a 3 person site setup team at an undisclosed location in Tucson. The Tubac Nature Center’s Hawk Watch team continued their diligent preparations for the mid-March Hawk Watch Festival. In Vail, I sorted through a pile of folding chairs, filling the bed of my pickup with the least worn specimens. I ignored unfathomable reports of closed airspaces, Buck Rogers lasers and disappearing balloons in Texas and New Mexico.
All converged at Tubac’s Ron Morriss Park on February 15. The impatient counters arrived first, rigorously adhering to the standard 8:30 AM opening schedule. They began scanning a perfect hawk watching sky with scattered bright white clouds across a deep blue background.
The HWI setup crew rolled in at 9:30. Counting protocols were reviewed. A new tent was quickly assembled and fastened to the chained linked fence fortified against high winds and dust devils.
We continued scanning, documenting a sparse migration of Vultures and Redtails. Curious birders checked in to see if we were on site as part of their search for rarities along the Anza Trail. The park dogs sniffed the counter’s chairs for treats as their owners stopped to peruse our data board, finding only 10 year and long term averages .
Opening day ended with a Raven harassing a Golden Eagle and a Peregrine slipping north under our first Northern Harrier.
That was weeks ago, February is almost over. A week and a half of cold weather and occasional rain has suddenly turned ridiculously hot. Redtails again impressed us with a solid February migration. They are the surprise observation of our earlier start date.
But Black Hawks? Only rumors. The first was on February 20 with a report from the mysterious Transect 2 somewhere in Las Cienegas. Usually it’s Patagonia Lake that annoys me with the first sighting east of us. Additional solid reports of Black Hawks followed. A bird at Santa Gertrudis Lane should come our way. Nope. Last reported heading south west. A Green Valley observation - How? Then Phoenix - ugh.
Late yesterday I thought we had one. Counter #2 was tracking a Turkey Vulture north of the park. I turned to see his bird but was distracted by a lower, trailing dark raptor. We dropped the Vulture. The dark raptor refused to turn, refused to give us any definitive looks.
Today’s flight started shortly after 10am with a Peregrine hurrying north along the river trees. It was all Redtails and Turkey Vultures from then until 3 when Lead Counter #1, methodically scanning overhead and south, calmly mentioned there was an “interesting” bird approaching, I might want to take a look. Everyone strained to locate the bird. Scopes swung into action. I heard the words “dot” and “high” and focused my binoculars at infinity. Nothing but blue sky for me.
The veterinarian kindly offer a view through her scope. I fumbled and missed the bird. Miraculously Counter #2 managed a photo of the season’s and his first ever Common Black Hawk. I looked at the photo and understood. This veteran Black Hawk was maintaining the FAA prescribed 18,000ft minimum altitude, taking no chances of being confused for a party balloon or Border Patrol drone and being lasered out of the sky!
Configured for a high speed, high altitude glide north, it had its wings set back and tail clamped tight giving us a rarely observed silhouette.
I’ll have to wait another day my first live Black Hawk view of 2026.
