Sunday, January 31, 2021
Having birded Santa Cruz Flats between here and Tucson once a week for the past four weeks, I’ve come up with a plan that gives me a sense of how much territory I can cover in specific periods of time.
Just a reminder that the Flats cover 300 square miles with a nice grid of paved and unpaved roads some of which connect with other roads and some that don’t. Be sure to stay on named streets and avoid agricultural roads around the fields where farmers work. We don’t want birders to be kicked off property within this very interesting source of various bird species, from raptors to waterfowl (irrigated fields). An overall map of the place can be found online.
I picked up Jannie Blok at 6:45 a.m. in AJ, and returned by 4:30 p.m. Round trip from AJ and back was 172 miles, with 59 of them within the Flats where we birded from the car as well as getting out and walking the edges of pecan trees lining the roads.
Weather was beautifully clear with moderate temperatures (from 41-69°F) and calm wind. Great for photos if we were quick enough!
A great place for raptors, we spotted 18 RED-TAILED HAWK (2 photos below); 1 NORTHERN HARRIER and 1 FERRUGINOUS HAWK that was later flagged as a RED-TAILED HAWK - not Ferruginous.…photos below:
While I thought this yellow-eyed species was a Ferruginous Hawk, it has been reviewed by experts and has been identified as a juvenile LIGHT-MORPH RED-TAILED HAWK. It does not have the large headed-large-billed look of the Ferruginous - that I haven't seen for more than two years and thought I had one with all that white!
Finding birds on the wing with my camera is a challenge I love. Caught this female NORTHERN HARRIER over an agricultural field.
Same with this kettle of BLACK VULTURES:
Other sightings included:
Beyond camera reach, we spotted four (4) CRESTED CARACARA in the Pearce-Aries//Sunland Gin Area. When we were viewing something else, one of them lifted and flew toward us. By the time we spotted the Caracara it was upon us, lifting just above our heads, giving us a sight we won't soon forget!!
With 43 total species, you can check the eBird lists from the links below.
Another wonderful day in the Flats!
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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80187386
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80197482
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80204430
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80211797
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80217436
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