Higley & Ocotillo Ponds, Maricopa County, AZ

Sunday, December 22, 2019
Disappointment was my first reaction when I pulled up to the settlement ponds on the east side of Higley Road, a bit north of Ocotillo Rd.
Both front basins had no water, thus no waterfowl.  
Under the overcast sky and "still" day with no breeze, I scanned for whatever might be wandering through the damp muddy "ponds".  Nada.  No doves; no roadrunners, no blackbirds. 

This put me on the trail heading east into the morning sun making an effort to shine through the clouds - directly into my eyes. Listening, then, to the birds now making sounds around me, I came upon ABERT'S TOWHEE, BLACK PHOEBE and AMERICAN PIPIT.  Zeroing in, I actually got to see each of them, too.

Several NORTHERN SHOVELER were in the canal that runs north/south along the rear Pond #4. Large flocks of waterfowl foraged out on that pond but turned their backs to me as I walked the trail.  One of my favorites, the NORTHERN PINTAIL were the most abundant but were back-lit as I looked eastward, so I didn't take many photos.

Obviously, I was not going to have as many ponds to cover as I thought, so I started experimenting with aerial photos, some of which actually worked!  

So, from here, I'll just drop in photos taken during my two hours at the ponds, starting with NORTHERN PINTAIL that I found in the rear west-side pond.

Hen NORTHERN PINTAIL above
Pair below:

Drake (R) and Hen (L) NORTHERN PINTAIL

Two Drake NORTHERN PINTAIL (note the yellow patch on hip and bluish bill)

Here you can see the tail extending beyond its legs

One of the better photos I managed of the Drake Northern Pintail

Walking out on the pebbly trail were several AMERICAN PIPIT.

KILLDEER were also up on the walkway

This LEAST SANDPIPER was below the trail close to the water

Swimming in the canal were several NORTHERN SHOVELER (Drakes & Hens):

NORTHERN SHOVELER Drake

Note the blue patch on front edge of top left wing of this Drake

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - many present but few close by

Two photos above show LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER

Mallards were scattered throughout the two large ponds with water, but as usual, too distant, or put their backs to me so I tried when they flew:

Poor photo of a pair of MALLARD

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD  (male)

BLACK PHOEBE hovering

Enjoying a calm quiet morning with the birds seemed just what I needed today.

Full list of sightings (some flocks numbered in the hundreds) below.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S62529867