Birding for the 2020 Christmas Bird Count, Maricopa & Yavapai Counties, AZ

 Wednesday, December 16, 2020

To participate in an Audubon event that began on Christmas Day in 1900 is a privilege not taken lightly by me. Most years, I participate in several such citizen science counts of types and numbers of birds seen and heard over the course of one day throughout the 20-days assigned to the Count. But with Covid-19 on the rise in Arizona, I limited myself to just one Christmas Bird Count (CBC) event that was totally outdoors with masked and distanced participants.  

For purposes of the Christmas Bird Count, Lake Pleasant Regional Park is divided into various areas. This was my second Count on the Lake itself. Boarding Pontoon Boat #2 at 9:30 a.m., three birders, a Fish & Wildlife pilot and a co-pilot (learning how to guide a bird count on the lake) enabled us to maintain Covid protective protocols on a boat that holds 20 people. Three birders plus Mary Mc, pilot and birder in Pontoon Boat #1 with three additional birders covered the west side of the Lake in the morning as we covered the dam and east side.

While our group did not tally a really high number of species, the birds were ones I rarely see in my day-to-day birding at local areas. After docking for lunch around 1 a.m. (carried lunch and ate outside the restaurant on dock), we set out for our turn at the west side while Boat #1 covered the east side. 

Marceline V. and I were in the front of the boat; Louis H. took the captain's chair enabling him to swivel from side to side. While he maintained the official CBC list for our group, his sharp eyes helped pull out individuals in flocks.  

Photos from my day at Scorpion Bay follow with brief comments:

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW observed early in the parking lot above Scorpion Bay.

We came upon repeated flocks of COMMON GOLDENEYE comparing the count in each group to be certain we weren't counting a flock that flew off and landed ahead of us. Spooked easily by the quiet boat, it was difficult to get decent photos with my point-and-shoot camera. All remaining photos were taken from the boat but calm waters helped get pictures.

Compared to the flighty Common Goldeneye, the WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBE large flotillas just dived as we approached and moved as we coasted among them. At least 500 and above in count, we floated through them, catching individuals as they surfaced and swam about.

1. WESTERN GREBE; 2. CLARK'S GREBE; 3. CLARK'S & WESTERN GREBE    

Lake Pleasant is full of rocky islands containing shrubs, cacti and trees. So, we had a few passerines as well as waterfowl as we cruised around many miles of lake.  The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE remained high in its tree to observe us.  Although I missed a photo of the ROCK WREN and the SAY'S PHOEBE, I managed to catch the CANYON WREN on a flat rock watching us pass by. 

Multiple sightings of GREAT BLUE HERON were mostly too distant for my camera, but finally one remained on a rock as we floated past...before taking off.

Also on shore, we spotted four burro that are common around the regional park.

Perched on top of a saguaro, a large RED-TAILED HAWK surveyed its area.

Back on the lake, a COMMON LOON was diving....hiding...leaving us to keep seeking! Gotcha!

Surprised that we had not yet seen any Eared or Horned Grebe, I was about to call a Horned Grebe because of a nice white cheek, but when I looked at its bill, I was stumped. Louis called it: RED-THROATED LOON! My most recent sighting of that species had been in Anchorage a few years back when it was in breeding plumage that blew my mind and stayed in my mind. So, I didn't recognize it now in its winter feathering, although I used to see it on Canyon Lake when I knew its winter plumage! RED-THROATED LOON above in non-breeding plumage without its neck extended; and below in Anchorage, AK in May, 2018. What a difference!!

Terry, our pilot who works for Fish & Wildlife knew of a BALD EAGLE NEST in a saguaro. Having never seen what must be a giant nest in a saguaro before, I kept looking for it. Finally, we reached it; Terry pointed it out. It didn't appear occupied this year, but as we pulled away, a BALD EAGLE flew above the rocks in that direction. Whether because we were on the water below it or it had no intention of stopping, we don't know but it moved on past.

To be out on the water all day was the personification of the lake's name, pleasant. During multiple crises in our daily lives, this was a cherished feeling. 

Back at the parking lot at 4:30 p,m. I was dreading traffic on the 101. Marceline happened to mention she exited at Shea. That's a good idea for me, too, I thought. Go home the back way. And, I did: directly through Fountain Hills with its Christmas Lights, to Highway 87, to Bush Highway past my favorite Salt River birding sites almost hidden by dusk turning dark. So little traffic on that entire route once past the developed area, I must do it again. It was only about ten minutes longer than my morning drive to the Lake and, it would have taken much longer in the traffic I had avoided. So, my day ended up with no erasure of the pleasant tone of this limited social Christmas Bird Count 2020. 

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77573514

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77573515

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77573516

Chasing Two Good Species - Close to Home, Lower Salt River, Maricopa County, AZ

 Thursday, December 3, 2020

Having come to a break in my morning project at home, I decided to scroll through emails prior to lunch. Well!!  Thank you, Lindsay Story, for broadcasting on the rare bird alert about the TRUMPETER SWAN you saw near the dam at Granite Reef Rec Area this morning along the Salt River. Skipping lunch for the moment, I grabbed my gear, headed out the door and took the "quick" way to Granite Reef.

Once there, I hoofed it quickly to the spot from which to view it, although I checked at most clearings out to the water to be sure I wasn't passing it by.

Sure enough! At the access to view the dam, a birder with a scope allowed me a good look at it enabling me to find some location markers for photographs. With a bird that big, you would think that was no problem but since I use the view finder, it can be problematic for me. The camera found the large swan easily.  Although it breeds in s.e.Alaska and the s. Yukon, the Trumpeter can be seen in our most northern states this time of year. There is an introduced species in the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest populations that will move south in winter to Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois...and sometimes farther south. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. 

Local top-notch birders are giving all our photos of this handsome swan a scientific once-over to be sure it is not a hybrid. If they decide it is (I don't think so), I'll add more to this post later.

TRUMPETER SWAN prefers freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers in marshland and forests. It's often among other ducks and, interestingly enough, habitually accompanied by AMERICAN COOT. Although it's GADWALL in my photos, the AMERICAN COOT was nearby.  I first saw a Trumpeter at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on a circle around the country in my RV in 2002. It was early summer when we reached the famous birding Marsh but then, I didn't know it was such a hot spot. I pulled off because it was marshy wildlife area!  I was looking out on many empty areas when a Ranger stopped by to tell me about the Trumpeter and proceeded to get it in the spotting scope for us to look at. Very distant photo that time; not sure I saved it. But I got a great view of it. Because Whistling Swan (now Tundra Swan) came by the hundreds and thousands into Virginia's Back Bay Wildlife Area about an hour's drive from home, I was very familiar with it and could easily see the differences in this much larger swan.

Considering my unusual time constraints, I was out and back with photos (without a long time watching the big bird) in just over an hour!  Not my preferred manner of birding anymore, but so it goes.

Easily recalled the birds I saw along the way to the TRUMPETER SWAN to create a list, but took only one other photo at the picnic area close to the parking lot.  A GREATER ROADRUNNER stood there like, "You're not going to take MY picture?"  Of course, I am.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77022177

Friday, December 4, 2020

As I was leaving the TRUMPETER SWAN yesterday, I passed a birder coming toward me. I assured him the Swan was still at the dam. He quickly mentioned that two LONG-TAILED DUCK had been seen at Coon Bluff.  Couldn't do it then, but got away early this morning...no rush.

Arriving at 7:15 or so, I was surprised to see the temperature had dropped from 40 (at home) to   24°F at the Salt River!! (Usually 10° cooler)  Dressed in layers and with no wind, I again took off at a faster-than-birding stroll toward the known location for the two ducks, 0.5 miles from the end of the fencing along the recreation area. Going fast would keep me warm and, besides few birds were out and about. Farther out into Tonto National Forest, I got waylaid with reddish birds that were not house finch. OMG! Nine or ten WESTERN BLUEBIRD were flitting around a willow and tamarisk and finding snags to perch up in the morning sun. The male is in the middle photo; a female above and below it, very fluffed against the cold.

Thank goodness my camera was working at this temperature!  As I turned away from the bluebirds, two men came toward me at a fast clip. I just said, "I got waylaid!" And, fell in step behind them because they had a GPS location for our hunted bird, LONG-TAILED DUCK. They were going very fast; I didn't need to keep up with them; didn't want to. But did easily find them when I arrived at an opening farther up river.  The young man had an awesome camera and even laid down in the damp mud to get some good pics. Wow!  Not me, today. I was hoping to hold the camera still in the cold. Not shivering, but my hands, in fingerless gloves, were icy cold. Below are two photos I took of the female LONG-TAILED DUCK as each dove and surfaced, sometimes close together; sometime far apart, but always at least half-way or farther across the Salt River.

Photos for eBird must be good enough for identification and these are fine for that, although they are not great. The female has a dark cheek patch on its white face and that is the ID going for it in the photos above, plus size, shape, etc.  My first sighting of this species was at my favorite birding spot near home (in Hampton, Virginia) -- Grandview!  It was a great place to walk on a curve of land that revealed Scoter out in the Chesapeake Bay and "Old Squaw" (now Long-tailed Duck) when I walked all the way to the tip of the curve where a water channel flowed out into the bay. 

On this cold morning, it was easy to remember what birds I had seen or heard on my trek out and back from the rare LONG-TAILED DUCK. Temperature had warmed to 35°F by the time I was back in the car after a little over an hour of walking and taking pictures and watching the ducks.  Nice pre-holiday rarities were a delightful gift!

Enjoy!!

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77047565

Birding in "Fall" proves to be much better than Summer at this familiar local spot, Maricopa County, AZ

Here is reference to two eBird Lists for the end of November for those of you who like to follow the lists;

THANKSGIVING Morning 11/26/20: - Salt River-Granite Reef Recreation Area where Lois Lorenz, Hinde S and I saw 44 species of some nifty birds. View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76712894

Saturday, November 28, 2020: Hinde and I birded Salt River - Foxtail/Sheeps Crossing Recreation Area for a couple hours. This was Hinde’s first time there and I prefer going with someone because there is a lot of walking on river rock and, no matter how careful we are, one never knows what might happen…away from cell signal.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76802602

On to....today's Blog:

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Took my time getting to The Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch, Maricopa County, AZ, as temps had dropped into the 40s. Wearing my Covid mask and eye glasses did not work well; breathing fogged up the glasses until I couldn’t see. Preferring to breathe, I stuck my eyeglasses in my pocket and made out just fine for the next 2.5 hours.

Cooler weather gave me a chance to walk almost the whole area around its 7 basins. (I often skip the public fishing pond, although it brings in some very good birds, too.). It had been months since I had walked that much of the riparian area. (hot summer)  Far from speed walking, I popped into each cut of the now-tall shrubs surrounding most basins to discover what birds might be foraging on the water. 

From the free parking area in front, I started on the east sidewalk where, immediately I started listing species seen and heard in the saguaro garden on the left side of the walkway.  Leaving the sidewalk that turns right past the restrooms, I walked directly forward to an opening onto the edge of Pond 7 that still held some CANADA GOOSE close to the shore where I usually stand. Discovered they were not spooked by me; on shore, one stood right next to me. Kind of eerie for short me to stand next to one as if I could carry on a conversation.

Not all basins were filled with water, but most had at least some water where the wintering ducks have returned. Half the time, they're sleeping but, nonetheless, it's fun to see them in a variety of poses. I'm going to drop in a few birds that appeared early on before I settle into the special ones of the day. Can you identify these?

In order from top to bottom, the photos are:AMERICAN KESTREL, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, PIED-BILLED GREBE, GREAT EGRET and SNOWY EGRET.

The best passerine was the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE playing around a downed limb that had fallen into the west edge of Pond 1. (Trail goes between Pond 7 & Pond 1)

Photographers lined the northeast corner of Pond 5 and, no wonder! I counted more than a dozen SNOWY EGRET, other ducks, but especially two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, preening on center stage.

I left Pond 5 to take a look at the ROSEATE SPOONBILL on Pond 2 that has remained here since the end of September. It's out of its normal territory. I've seen it previously in Florida and Texas. But, I believe we've had at least seven (7) sightings of this species in Arizona this season.

My favorite "duck" photo for the day was this NORTHERN SHOVELER trying to rest but the wind had picked up and it kept floating in against the shore.

Altogether, I recall listing 47 species. You can view the entire list on eBird referenced below. I didn't realize how empty the ponds seemed during the summer months. But it was too blazing  hot to walk more than a couple trails; a couple ponds.

Till next time - Take care; Be Safe.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76979382

Local Birding with Jannie Blok, Superior, Pinal County, AZ

November 19, 2020 

Was it the Arboretum's new opening hour of 8:00 a.m. (Nov.-April) that made my prediction moot? I had promised Jannie lots of good songbirds in the Chinese Pistachio trees throughout the Gardens, but particularly in the picnic area. Guess again! Had the birds feasted since dawn and now they're full????  There was not a single bird in that first tree, nor did we find any in subsequent such trees!  Win some; Lose some!

Not yet knowing it, we would have a winning day!  Turning away from the picnic area, we turned back to the trails taking us east up toward Ayer Lake. Bird-wise it was very quiet. Knowing lots of little nooks and crannies, we checked out many such places and picked up a bird or two here and there until our list started growing.

When I heard an unfamiliar "pip" sound, I wondered aloud about the identity of the bird. But when I saw a Phainopepla, I surmised I had heard a part of its soft "Pew" call. More likely, it was the next bird we would see - the GREATER PEWEE, normally a high-elevation bird.

Eventually, we stuck to the main dirt trail leading up to Ayer Lake, I saw a flycatcher perch up on a single snag. It was distant and I couldn't identify it for certain, so I started snapping photos on different settings. That's one thing I really like about flycatchers; they sally out to catch an insect and return to the same perch. When they find another morsel, out they go again. Out and back - frequently to the very same perch as this one did.  Having not birded regularly for months, I was pondering the possibilities but did not ponder the unlikely species. We saw it at two different locations, not far removed from each other. 

GREATER PEWEE (above and below)

Usually, the GREATER PEWEE is seen up on Pinal Mountain ore down in Tucson on Mt. Lemmon.  I was certain I had never seen one at Boyce Thompson Arboretum before. So, I began to explore eBird's species lists. If you plug in a name of a bird and where you've seen it, the species list in eBird comes up with a chart extending out from that species with a column for each month. The month's you might see a bird at this location is marked with a green block - the thinner the green block, the fewer have been reported. There was NO green block for Boyce Thompson--just a gray block that indicated insufficient data. So, I contacted Doug Jenness who keeps the bird records for Pinal County and asked for his input. See below:

This is an accidental species in Pinal County. The Boyce Thompson bird is only the third known record of Greater Pewee in the county.. The first was 17 May 1980 in Aravaipa Canyon. The second report was earlier this year--21 April-- at Oracle State Park. The first sighting at Boyce Thompson was November 1st and several other birders have reported it since.

What a find! Glad it perched up for me as I didn't know it had been observed there (eBird had been down for two days of upgrading prior to today).  I usually take a glance at a few recent lists to see what I might expect. 

The other bird that had us scratching our heads - NORTHERN CARDINAL.  So very, very many of them. When I tried to list 21 on my eBird report, it indicated the count was high for this time of year.  Rather than defend my number, I just reduced the number to an accepted level and went on. But to have seven NORTHERN CARDINAL (male and female) on each side of us in an opening between the herb garden and Queen Creek was simply amazing. There were multiples at each location we found them -- including the picnic area. For those of you who say you never see Cardinals in the desert - go east!  It's still desert but so much more. 

This male was sipping water from a hose connection.

Two female NORTHERN CARDINAL below:

Another male NORTHERN CARDINAL

I can't finish up without posting the bird I'm always looking for out at the Arboretum. In its natural habitat, I missed seeing it the past few times I birded there.

ROCK WREN is proportionately balanced bird that calls attention to itself, curtsies a couple times, then flits over some rocks out of sight. Just when you think, it's "gone" - out it pops at another very nearby spot. I've seen it in dirt parking lots foraging on insects from parked cars! It moves fast but also gives just enough pause for a photo.

It might be another week or two before I go out again. So good birding to you if you're out and about.

Click on the link below for eBird report:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S76410016