North Tucson, Birding with Hinde Silver, Pima County, AZ PART 1

 Sunday, November 8, 2020

    Leaving AJ at 6 a.m., we were out of the car ready to bird at 8:00. Thanks to previous birders reporting on a parking spot and where to find the bird, we followed the directions to the south-facing side of Ina Road Bridge over the Santa Cruz River. 

    As we viewed the flowing stream from the sidewalk on the bridge, Hinde spotted it first. Why was I looking to the east when reports said it favored the west side? Still, the bird was a distance out and we had protective fencing above the guard rail. Despite the sun, the air seemed hazy. Our Arizona summer had gone immediately into winter, or so it seemed, as the temp at 8 a.m. was 45°F - much colder than we've been experiencing for months on end.

    But there it was: a  NORTHERN JACANA walking through and somewhat on top of the small-leaf vegetation. This was a first sighting of this bird for each of us - a Life Bird, or "Lifer". The Jacana is a Mexican and Central American species. It's yellow bill made it obvious and easy to find. Above the bill is a yellow frontal shield being distorted in my photos by the rising sun. 

NORTHERN JACANA heading back toward the reeds - photo below.

If you thought American Coots had large feet and even larger toes, take a look at this:

Internet Photo

    The above photo also shows the NORTHERN JACANA'S true coloring: black head, neck and breast; chestnut brown on back and beneath with long yellow legs supported on four very long yellow-green toes with claws at the end.

    This tropical bird has been here for weeks. I was amazed that when I had time to work in a visit south, this gem was still hanging out so close to the bridge on Ina Road.

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Click the link below to view our eBird Report that includes one of Hinde's photos.

 https://ebird.org/checklist/S76004911