Monday, September 11, 2017
An early-morning birding trip to TIMBER CAMP CAMPGROUND about 25 miles north of Globe on Route 60 was close enough to home to not drive a great distance to enjoy 5700’ elevation for some good cool-weather birding.
An early-morning birding trip to TIMBER CAMP CAMPGROUND about 25 miles north of Globe on Route 60 was close enough to home to not drive a great distance to enjoy 5700’ elevation for some good cool-weather birding.
Kathe Anderson had gathered a group together (7 of us) to head east of Phoenix with our first stop being at the grounds of Besh-Ba-Gowah in Globe so the group from Tempe could stretch their legs. They had swung by our meeting place so Hinde, with three of us in her car, could follow. Besh-Ba-Gowah is an archeological site and museum where we wandered around on our birding treasure hunt.
In thirty minutes, our eyes and ears picked up a total of 19 species, including 59 TURKEY VULTUREs still roosting at the top of two cottonwood trees on some bare limbs in the distance. A PURPLE MARTIN was one of two swallows flying overhead; its size way larger and darker than the only other swallow, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED.
Two WESTERN TANAGERs, a WILSON’S WARBLER, a NORTHERN CARDINAL and seven GAMBEL’S QUAIL kept us on our toes for proper identification. My favorite bird out there is easy to spot as it lives up to its name: VERMILION FLYCATCHER.
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| VERMILION FLYCATCHER |
About a half hour later our two cars pulled in and parked at the Timber Camp Day Use Area and began birding…which we did for the next three hours. How nice to have it shady and cool under juniper and ponderosa pine trees compared to the open desert heat at home.
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| Maria, Kathe, Hinde, Lois, Cathy and Carlota |
Together, we collected a list of thirty (30) very nice species, ones seldom seen in our low-lying dry hot desert area. Because I’ve seen very few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHes this season, that bright male we saw was a great sighting for me but that place in my heart would have to be shared with the HEPATIC TANAGER, a male in all its red-orange color.
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| RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (from 2012 photo file) |
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| HEPATIC TANAGER (from photo file) |
BUSHTITS barely outnumbered the MEXICAN JAYs (25-24). Woodpeckers included: LEWIS’S (1), ACORN (9), HAIRY (2) and NORTHERN FLICKER, RED-SHAFTED (5).
Three vireos: HUTTON’S (3), PLUMBEOUS (1) AND WARBLING (1); and four warbler species added to our adventure: GRACE’S (2), HERMIT(1), WILSON’S (1) and PAINTED REDSTART (3).
The least expected bird was one that flew over but didn't land close enough to us to pursue -- a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER. A few of us were very familiar with the markings of the Nutcracker (in the Jay family) and called it almost simultaneously.
The least expected bird was one that flew over but didn't land close enough to us to pursue -- a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER. A few of us were very familiar with the markings of the Nutcracker (in the Jay family) and called it almost simultaneously.
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| CLARK'S NUTCRACKER with very clearly defined gray, black & white pattern (internet photo) |
With 43 species for the day, we wrapped up after 11 a.m. With a stop in Globe at a hole-in-the-wall excellent Mexican restaurant, I was home by 2:30 p.m., knowing that the veil of heat had been lifted, yet again, by the wings of birds.
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View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39132416
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39132895
Very nice find! The Clark's Nutcracker is one I need for this year. I just haven't been up to the north to explore this year!
ReplyDeleteI can't recommend Timber Camp to get it - I think it was a fly-over only. Just got really lucky. It's such a gorgeous bird in flight! You're waiting for the snow up north?? Just kidding; you and Gordon had an awesome trip to CR.
ReplyDelete