This trip will take us into prime flycatcher country led by Homer Hansen of “Wings Over Willcox” fame. Species that might be seen include gray flycatcher and other “Empids;” black phoebe, Say’s phoebe, vermilion flycatcher, brown-crested flycatcher, ash-throated flycatcher, western kingbird, and Cassin’s kingbird.

Rating: 3

Transportation: Vans

Meal: Bring your own lunch

Cost: $110

Trip Guide: Homer Hansen President, Wings Over Willcox

Homer Hansen, the author of the G.I.S.S. Series bird identification guides, has been bird watching in the southwest since 1995. He especially enjoys the challenges and learning posed by the difficult groups of birds and continues to learn about the secrets to bird identification. Homer is a native of Willcox, Arizona. He feels fortunate to have grown up surrounded by Sandhill Cranes in winter and Cassin’s sparrows in summer. Homer has presented numerous workshops on sparrows, raptors, flycatchers, warblers, and bird ecology and is the course instructor for the Tucson Audubon Society’s Moving to Mastery birding workshops. He is also a regular presenter and trip leader for other Arizona birding festivals. Homer earned his B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona and now is the president and owner of Aplomado Environmental LLC, providing services to characterize and remove contaminants from soil and groundwater.

Part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival