DAY #1, Saturday, July 13, 2019
Departed the Phoenix Valley’s summer “oven” on Saturday at 6 a.m. Muriel Neddermeyer had invited Gordon Karre and I to join her for a weekend trip to the White Mountains if, for nothing else, a respite from the heat.
We both agreed but were also quite focused on the birding! By 9 a.m., Gordon had started our first digital eBird list at the McNary Ponds. To start out with a list of 26 species there felt great! And I was quickly back in the birding groove! Weather was clear and cool.
Many of the birds were either in flight or too distant for my camera (Muriel and Gordon carry large-lens cameras). But I stretched mine a bit to get this one photo of an AMERICAN COOT on what appeared to be a floating flattened-reed nest.
 |
| Red-shielded AMERICAN COOT |
With no specific agenda (for birds or spots to visit), we decided Sheep Crossing would be our next stop to look for birds that we knew might be found there. Neither Canada Jays nor Red Crossbills showed up, but fisherman and hikers were in abundance. We got the last parking spot.
Immediately, we checked the Little Colorado River for AMERICAN DIPPER that thrive there. Would the many fisherman and children have spooked them off to more distance places on the river? We saw lots of white-wash on the rocks as we followed the trail to the bridge where Gordon pointed out the AM DIPPER nesting spots up high under the bridge. But no birds.
On our way back, we heard them and then caught a glimpse of two Dippers. When they flew upstream from where we were, Muriel and Gordon followed them. I stayed put. Glad I did! Not only photos but lots of behavioral observations! (One was a young bird with yellow, not dark bill.)
 |
| Juvenile AMERICAN DIPPER above photos |
As shown, note the short tail and long legs. Amazingly, the bird swims underwater. Its white eyelid slides over its eye to protect it when it dips below the surface. Sometimes the eyelid shows when its above water making one wonder what's wrong with it -- nothing. Just needs to blink it back.
Stopping at Mt. Baldy Trailhead immediately after leaving Sheep Crossing, we spotted several mountain birds close to the parking lot but distant for the camera.
 |
| MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE |
 |
| DARK-EYED JUNCO |
After checking out Winn Campground for potential CANADA JAY, we settled for a different "find" - a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE up in a tree. I couldn't ID it as my mind didn't even go to that usual ground-bird. So, thanks Gordon & Muriel for your quick sharp eyes!
Using the well-graded road over to Greer just because we all like to check out that area while we're up there, we collected 17 species in and around town, including the Rendevouz Restaurant with its many hummingbird feeders (and cobbler with ice cream for Muriel and Gordon!).
 |
| Experimenting with my new camera, I managed a so-so pic of a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD |
It was a little rain shower that had us seek shelter at the Rendevouz, but when the rain let up we drove over to the Butler Canyon Nature Trail hoping for the Three-toed Woodpecker.
 |
| PYGMY NUTHATCH |
The PYGMY HUTHATCH were abundant in some pines at the trailhead. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER also showed (no photo) just as we left the parking area to hit the trail.
 |
| Muriel and Gordon hearing a bird |
 |
| Drab brownish/tan HOUSE WREN (2 above photos) |
 |
| Mule Deer - above and below [big ears, black spot on rump, black tip to white tail-unlike White-tailed Deer] |
Although we spotted 14 species, THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was not among them!
Stopping at Greer Lakes on our way back to Hwy 260, we found many many visitors but few birds on the lakes. The nesting birds were more interesting to me. Much harder to capture good photos at a distance, the ones below give you just a general idea of nest sizes and shapes.
 |
| OSPREY |
 |
| GREAT BLUE HERON - they seemed to have a small rockery there |
Continuing east then on 260, we stopped off at South Fork of the Little Colorado River to see if late afternoon under dark clouds would provide some birds. Among the 14 species we spotted there, I took few photos. Here's one that was close by:
 |
| BREWER'S BLACKBIRD with light eye (male) |
Closing in on Springerville, we checked into Reed's Lodge prior to a quick check of Becker Lake nearby. There, a BALD EAGLE and BLUE GROSBEAK were the best birds (for me) of ten species we spotted there. I scrambled up a bank to check for a possible Goldeneye, but came away with a photo of a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD instead.
 |
| YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD |
Next stop: dinner and then to the lodge.
Birding from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. gave us about a ten-hour birding day which always includes the driving from spot to spot.
Intermittent thunder showers predicted for all day tomorrow (Sunday).
DAY #2, Sunday, July 14, 2019
Wakening to cool weather and a clear sky, we headed over to Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area after breakfast and checkout.
Watching birds wake up out in the meadow along the 5-mile smooth dirt road entrance road was fun.
 |
| HORNED LARK (two above photos) |
WESTERN and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD were too distant for my camera but I could see them well with my bins.
Turning into Sipe Wildlife Visitor's Center area, our first bird was a BLUE GROSBEAK - a deep blue bird with red/brown wings.
After parking, we wandered to different areas for awhile during which Gordon spotted a GRAY CATBIRD. Muriel and I checked out the front porch of the house (Visitor Center) discovering that the CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD showed up only about every 20 minutes or so.
Wanting to check out the reservoir, I asked if they were for up for that. Rarely more than a marsh or just plain dry, the McKay's Reservoir was fairly full of waterfowl, including:
CANADA GOOSE (5), CINNAMON TEAL (8), GADWALL (4), RUDDY DUCK (6) MALLARD (4); and AMERICAN COOT (8). At water's edge we saw a single KILLDEER and SPOTTED SANDPIPER while up on some pipes next to the reservoir stood a juvenile GREAT BLUE HERON.
 |
| GREAT BLUE HERON (juvie) |
Mature trees fill the property close to the Visitor's Center (house). Of course, birds were active there as well. But, after walking back from the reservoir, we found ourselves camping out at the hummingbird feeders again for quite some time.
 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON perched in a snag not far from the house |
Many SAY'S PHOEBE flew around in the adjacent mowed field and around the house. Below is a photo of a young SAY'S PHOEBE staying close to the Visitor's Center.
 |
| SAY'S PHOEBE (juvenile) |
I found it interesting that an adult SAY'S PHOEBE would choose to perch in the same snag as a PRAIRIE FALCON!
Gordon was first to hear the BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Was glad it perched briefly in a nearby tree before taking off.
At the feeders, hummers were in and out and over to a nearby juniper and pine. It's rare to see a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD share a feeder but this female came in and stayed.
 |
| RUFOUS HUMMMINGBIRD (female - left); BLACK-CHINNED HB (male -right) |
Meanwhile, the PRAIRIE FALCON took off and returned several times.
 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON |
As far as I know, Gordon was the only one of us to actually get a crisp photo of the CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD.
The CALLIOPE is the smallest hummingbird in the USA and Canada. Mountain environments from 4,000 to 11,000 feet provide its habitat for insects and nectar. It nests in pines, fir and red cedar trees with its nest often on the base of a missing pine cone so that it looks like a pine cone on the limb.
Needless to say, the CALLIOPE is not a frequently observed hummingbird in central and southeast Arizona. I saw it each time it came to the feeder but my photos were dark making it look more like a bumblebee than a bird with such thrilling streak-throated magenta feathering.
 |
| CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD - male [Photo by Gordon Karre] |
Took enough photos to show the differences between males, females and sub-adults of the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD below:
 |
| Sub-adult males: both above photos |
 |
| Male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD |
 |
| Female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD |
 |
| BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (male) |
And, back again before we decided to pull out and head for home, the PRAIRIE FALCON returned.
In about three hours, I saw 48 species at Sipe Wildlife Area. It has shady area and wide open sunny areas for hiking and/or sitting. The temps did warm up in the sun, but the sky was clear all morning.
Was really glad Muriel got the ball rolling on this trip to the White Mountains. We talked about returning in the fall for migrating birds - before the hummingbirds take off.
For the weekend, I observed 80 species from ten different sites. Although the numbers are a reflection of how many birds we were able to identify (most all of them, I think), the real joy is in seeing/hearing birds I may not have been around for awhile.
* * *
