Field Trip: Patagonia Lake SP
Field Trip: Patagonia Lake SP
Meet at 8:00am at the “Birding Trail” information sign, found at the NE end of the campground; spaces here are limited (5), so please be flexible as some participants may need to park at the marina/store and walk from there. Difficulty: Easy; 1-2 miles round-trip; flat riparian corridor; hiking on well-maintained dirt trails Patagonia Lake SP is among the most productive and well-birded hotspots in SE Arizona, and for good reason! An array of habitats merge, each rich with its own community of birds: semi-desert grassland slopes, open water, and a dense riparian corridor with year-round flowing water. Winter species totals over 65 are not unusual, and often include: ducks, cormorants, and grebes on the lake itself; Verdin, Gray Flycatcher, Pyrrhuloxia, Rufous-winged Sparrow, and more on the surrounding slopes; and winter flocks along Sonoita Creek with birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson’s Warbler, Dusky Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Abert’s Towhee, etc. The park is also home to several pairs of Black-capped Gnatcatchers, and has hosted several winter rarities recently: Green Kingfisher, Winter Wren, Cattle Egret, and California Gull. You just never know what will turn up next!
Patagonia Lake State Park: 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Nogales, AZ 85621, USA