Lower Salt River [Granite Reef & Coon Bluff Recreation Areas] Maricopa County, AZ

Sunday, September 15, 2019
Arrived in the pale light of dawn at 5:45 a.m. at Granite Reef with Lois Lorenz. Few birds were stirring but seven wild horses were still there munching in the picnic area on grass and low limbs of mesquite trees. When I usually arrive around 6:30 a.m., the horses have already departed for parts unknown. Since a Roseate Spoonbill had been reported seen flying east there around 6 a.m. earlier this week, at the very least, I wanted to be present at that hour. No such rare bird showed itself today.

Salt River was running high and strong with some of its usual low spots covered. As the river widens approaching Granite Reef Dam, the water slows. A GREAT BLUE HERON was the only standing water bird we spotted.

GREAT BLUE HERON

Birding for about an hour there, Lois and I came up with 25 species without breaking a sweat. The mature BALD EAGLE flew downstream and circled its earlier nest area before flying off.  A male BELTED KINGFISHER surprised me; the species must be back from its nesting area. Walking the western end of the river trail, we flushed up a COOPER'S HAWK which might have been lying in wait for the ORANGE-CROWNED or NASHVILLE WARBLER we spotted.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59828898

Having decided earlier that we'd spend about an hour at each location, Lois spotted a  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW as we drove into Coon Bluff Recreation Area. With temperatures in the 80s under partly cloudy sky, we hung close to the bluff for a fair number of birds. Downstream we spotted a large band of wild horses.

Note the very pregnant-looking white horse on the left. More wild horses farther downstream.

Birds don't always sit out and perch for photos as seen below with this ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.

Patience paid off.  It moved to a more open perch.

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER  [2 above photos]

One of my favorite birds is the ROCK WREN. What a show it put on for us when it landed on the crusty pocked surface of the bluff!  Flying from one spot to another, higher and higher on the cliffside, it eventually went beyond my camera range. See four photos below.

A few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD from a small flock overhead dropped down for a drink.

As always, however, it was the VERMILLION FLYCATCHER who insisted on repeated poses.

Would you know a VERMILLION FLYCATCHER (VEFC) if you caught it perched with its  back to you? Totally black up to its nape.  But then the flash of red from its head and flanks let you know which bird is really there.

Preening, the VEFC head is very visible.

You want a profile in this direction?  Fine, just fine!

OR, maybe this direction?

I go weak in the knees with this small lively show-off!

With that finale, Lois and I headed off for a second breakfast to catch up with one another as with our respective work and play, it's been months since we've birded together.

24 species at Coon Bluff almost matched those spotted at Granite Reef Rec area; altogether, reaching a total of 38 species for our 2.5 hours of birding. Certainly didn't break any records, but totally enjoyed it.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59829786