Babs' Birding Experiences : Local Light Birding, Prospector Park, Apache Junction, AZ

July 6, 2019
Yesterday, I woke up feeling like I had fully returned from my wonderful family visit to Spain.
What better way to get back into the "local birds" than to start nearby!

With a rather late start of 7:30 a.m., I stayed only about an hour and a half but took time with each bird that presented itself. Was greeted by a very vocal NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, hidden deep in a pine tree beside the parking area. Usually, they sit out to sing. Finally, I uncovered it sufficiently to aim the camera ... making it fly to another perch -- out in the open!

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in early sunlight

Three CACTUS WREN appeared to be playing together as they flew in under the ramada to a picnic table, out to the grass, over to the playground, and then to the fence.

CACTUS WREN

Although I seldom take photos of the very common HOUSE FINCH, this is the first one I saw.

HOUSE FINCH

ABERT'S TOWHEE, that are scarce in my community, were out doing their double-scratch in the grass. Mostly ground dwellers who favor thick shrubs or hedges to hide beneath, it was rare for me to see them on grass. At Gilbert Water Ranch, they sometimes scratch right in the wide pathways, but can quickly go to cover on either side of the path.

Brown bird with black face: ABERT'S TOWHEE

Three species of doves were present (as they are in our community right now): MOURNING DOVE, WHITE-WINGED DOVE and EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE.

MOURNING DOVE (Warm brown and gray with spots on wings)
Slender Dove with long pointed tail helps to ID it sitting on utility wires.
Voice is known to many as being a mournful cooo coo coo sound.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Lighter color than MODO, with gray head and thin black strip across nape)
Perching, the tail is squared off; in flight more fan like with white outer tips to tail.
Voice is a 3-syllable hooting: coo COOOO cup..repeatededly.

The WHITE-WINGED DOVE is a spring/summer visitor. It pollinates the flowers on the saguaro cactus.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (red or pink iris; also a square tail when perched; fanned in flight with white tail tips)
If you hear "who cooks for you" over and over again, look for this dove.
[Unless you're in a forest: then it could be a Barred or Spotted Owl]

Then, I seem to have had a little love fest with my all-time favorite desert bird: VERMILION FLYCATCHER.