Although Lois Lorenz and I hadn't planned to bird Mt. Ord (road fairly rough for my low-clearance car), when we arrived at Bushnell Tanks along State Highway 87, a short distance beyond Sunflower, we were greeted with a NO TRESPASSING sign from the US Forest Service for this beautiful area along Sycamore Creek. Just a bit after 5:30 a.m. when we pulled into that area, our minds were trying to determine if the sign was new or had always been there. It didn't look terribly brand new, but I wanted my brain to be focused on birds, not on our permission to perhaps not be there.
Mt. Ord, a couple miles north on Rt. 87 became our default. Starting our list at 5:55 a.m. we were taken aback by a recent fire that decimated much of the lower elevation. Although it was blackened and bereft of leafy shrubs on the west, we heard clearly the "bouncing ball" song of two BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWs on the eastern slope. A few of them had found safety on the north-side of the main Mt. Ord road across from the corral. Also near the corral, we spotted two PURPLE MARTIN, flying a big circle overhead before going out of sight. These swallows are not a common sighting for either of us, yet we see them frequently enough to know their ID markings-including their large size and color.
Under hazy sky, but very cool 70°F temperature we bounced along the very worn road (fire trucks?) without hitting the underplate of my car. With no one in sight at FR1688, I backed into the hidden "parking" opening of the forest (room for 2 cars) so we could get out to check the birds on this big loop.
Were we too early for birds on the mountain? Were the majority nesting and/or raising families? It was amazingly quiet -- something I cherish until I'm listening - and not hearing - bird song! In almost two hours of hike-birding on rough road followed by bushwhacking along the washes to circle back to our starting spot, we identified ten (10) species. The WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was the most common and the only one to perch up (as is its habit) and sing, over and over again: "peee-aa", "peee-aa", "peee-aa".
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| WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (distant) |
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| BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER This was the first time Lois had walked the loop. Having not prepared for being on the mountain, we found walking sticks of broken limbs that helped us down the slope by the wash to our starting place. A very dark blue WESTERN BLUEBIRD was our best sighting along that trail. |
Photo above is from my file: WESTERN BLUEBIRD, Mt. Ord, 2016.
Believe it or not, it wasn't until we were preparing to go farther uphill that the first ACORN WOODPECKER appeared quietly on a tree trunk not far from the car. Usually, their raucous call reverberates through the forest. Our second sighting was a truck with a flat tire coming down the mountain. It stopped beyond our little hidden spot to call for assistance, so, with a bit more trepidation, I headed upward toward the peak parking area. I've heard that local birder Magill has been jinxed on this road way too often for my comfort, so I pushed that out of mind, too, as I drove as safely as possible around pointy or high rocks in the dirt road.
We had tallied ten (10) species along FR1688 followed by nine (9) to and at the top parking area. Still enjoying very cool temperatures at approximately 7,000' elevation.
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| A portion of Roosevelt Lake visible across the haze of mountain ridges from our parking area |
Along the South branch of the creek, driving on the Old Beeline Highway Rt. 87 into the residential ranch area, we found the highest variety of species of the morning: SUMMER TANAGER, female HOODED ORIOLE and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER among them -- with photos of none. They were quick and mostly hidden behind the large leaves of Arizona Sycamore and/or Fremont Cottonwoods. Outside temps had risen considerably; time to head home.
An adventure, definitely -- to be followed up with a call to the Tonto Forest Ranger Station about the restricted status of Bushnell Tanks. We learned that the end of July is BIRD TIME, i.e., birders may not be given the privilege of seeing the usual number of birds (without disturbing nesting areas) on Mt. Ord while the birds nest, feed and encourage fledging activities to take place.
We were also surprised to find a good handful of birds even where the North branch of Sycamore Creek ran dry.
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Links to eBird data reports of our sightings:
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47505792
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47506142
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47506372
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47506607
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47506777
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