Catch-up Blog from Recent Birding Areas (Gila & Maricopa Counties, AZ)

A few photos from two of my recent birding trips:
#1
From Pinal Mountains, Globe, Gila County, Az with Dave Pearson and Jennifer Werrell on Saturday, October 21st, when my list reached a total of 68 species. We birded Russell Road, Kellner Canyon and Pioneer Pass. Photos in the mountains don’t always work out well for me but here are two from which the birds can be identified.

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
Red-naped Sapsucker. Female has a small patch of white just below the base of its bill followed by red feathering, all outlined with thin line of black feathers. She also has just a few red feathers on the back of her neck (nape) while the male has full red there as well as on its throat.

OLIVE WARBLER - MALE
This late in October, it doesn’t seem to be too much of a stretch to call the male’s head, throat and upper chest, pumpkin colored. Add its mask— and, voila!
Halloween Bird.
Due to the scientists not knowing its full relationship to the other wood warblers, the Olive Warbler is sometimes listed separately from the other warblers in field guides and/or on checklists.

OLIVE WARBLER - MALE

#2
From Salt River-Granite Reef Recreation Center, Mesa, Maricopa County, Az with Ann Rhodes and Lindsay Schonberger on Monday, October 23rd, we spotted a total of 45 species.

Our first bird really got us going. It’s not everyday a Red-breasted Nuthatch shows up at the river!  Too dark for decent photos, I’m posting one I took in the Pinal Mountains just a few days’ previous since the bird and its behavior look the same.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Small short-tailed bird; reddish-orange below; bluish gray above; wide black eyeline, white eyebrow.
Just as we were preparing to leave, Ann asked, “What’s that bird?” 

Do you see the bird?
Very difficult to see, this BROWN CREEPER with its brown/white narrow coloring on its back blends in with tree trunks so well, it must be the most overlooked bird by many of us. It's spotted most easily if you see it move or if you have a good ear and hear its very high-pitched calls or song. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen that bird along the river.

BROWN CREEPER
Before we got in the car in the parking lot, this back-yard bird (for people who maintain desert habitat), romped around one of the trees for a while.

CACTUS WREN  (looking more black than brown in the late morning sun)

With somewhat cooler weather arriving (we’re still in the 90s every afternoon), birding hours are longer in the morning and I’m taking full advantage. Thus, fewer blogs. If you check on the links below, my eBird lists may show more photos along with species seen in each location.

* * *
Pinal Mts:
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40052736
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40052744

Salt River:


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