Birded Three Sections of Mt. Ord, Maricopa County, Arizona

 THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

1. Lower Mt. Ord

    Arriving at the entrance road to the mountain at 5:50 a.m. with a cool 57°, Lois Lorenz and I lowered our windows and listened.  First bird was CASSIN’S KINGBIRD (2). One had perched up to take a look at us; the other CASSIN'S flew in, picked up its cohort, then flew off together.

Oh, my!  Music to my ears: the chirp chirp chirp descending trillllllllllllll of the BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW!  In past years, Mt. Ord’s lower area had been a reliable place to find this species but I wondered how the fire may have affected them.  And, so they continue!  Wonderful!  When we later stopped at the corral, the bird showed itself, too.

                                                                                        File Photo by Babs at Mt. Ord. 6/2/20

    

    Driving up toward the corral, we heard the “where where where” of GAMBEL’S QUAIL on the heavily burned field that slopes to the highway. New growth was poking up and there were a few shrubs where the quail could find cover.

    Heading farther up the road toward our next stop, I spotted a RED-TAILED HAWK perched up. That was good news, too. With more open areas, it probably had ready access to squirrels, chipmunks, lizards.  The photo below was taken from a distance so as not to flush the hawk, and was also taken through the windshield!

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88619793

    2.  Forest Road (FR) 1688

    First birds here were singing a song I didn't recognize. It consisted of five (5) loud quick chips one after the other, repeated consistently with no subsequent trill. So these two SPOTTED TOWHEEs introduced this chip-phrasing to me for my first listen!!  On iBird, it indicates it's used in Colorado.

    Unhappy that I had forgotten to bring my walking stick for this dirt and stony/rocky road, I just walked slowly and surely with each step.  We hadn't gone terribly far when we were surrounded by the most amazing morning chorus by a variety of warblers. We stayed in that one spot for at least 45 minutes, if not longer before we felt that we had connected all the sounds to its respective bird. What a treasure! Six warblers (OLIVE, VIRGINIA'S, GRACE'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSEND'S, and WILSON'S.) 

    Additionally, we located MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, WHITE-BREASTED and PYGMY NUTHATCH, BEWICK'S WREN, WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGER. Such a thrill with each identification!!

    But photos; nada. Binoculars were dashing this way and that to "get" the bird so there was little chance I'd get a photo.

    But the PAINTED REDSTART sang non-stop for the duration of our visit. 

                                                                                                               Babs file photo

    Continuing our hike up the rough road, we saw fewer and fewer birds but added a few to our list. Upon reaching the farthest campsite, we returned to our starting place through the forest that was not burned badly. The 2.1-mile walk felt good, too; the weather was great!

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88622538

    3.  Mt. Ord (Maricopa County) - includes the Peak at a little over 7,000 feet

  

 When we reached the gate closing access to cars to the array of antennas and the "lookout" at the top, we parked, ate some food, and started walking toward the top.

    Most sightings occurred as we walked. The only bird at the top was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Finally, I got a photo!

 Also at the top was a hedgehog cactus bearing bright red blossoms.

   Our best sightings along the way were a ZONE-TAILED HAWK flying over but not circling or I might have snagged a photo. Both ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKER were present; a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE called out, and there were more warblers including HERMIT WARBLER soon after we started out.  A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was a rare treat!

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88625204

    The round trip totaled 2.4 miles before we returned to our car at noontime. 

    In addition to birds, there were views from the top and flowers along the roadside as we walked to the top.

 Left is green and blooming agave; right is one that was singed in the fire but putting out a bud.

Roosevelt Lake from Mt. Ord 

    

    At the parking area, Lois spotted some white-tailed deer and as we drove slowly down the mountain, another group of three deer crossed the road. One stayed in the woods to take a look at us.  Mule Deer (the ears give it away!)

    A solid six-hour day of birding fixes me up just fine!  

    Savoring this higher elevation, there will be more of them as the heat progresses.

    Maybe I'll see you in the field.

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Birded at two Lower Salt River Birding Hot Spots, Maricopa County, AZ

Friday, May 14, 2021

55°F when we arrived at Butcher Jones Beach, we felt almost cold after a week of much higher temps in the Phoenix Valley. Stimulated to get moving, Lois Lorenz and I moved toward the beach, not yet filled with water-sport folks with kayaks and paddleboards. The first birds on the beach were totally unexpected. Not wading birds nor beach runners, but two TURKEY VULTURE claimed their choice spot next to the water. 

TURKEY VULTURE

 

 In the sky, these birds are big enough to be mistaken for eagles, but their flight pattern of riding the thermals with little wing flapping and holding their wings in a lightly inverted V position gives 

a clue to their identification.

    A TURKEY VULTURE's naked red face and head and short white legs are bare of feathers because of their diet.  It feeds on carrion on the ground. There have been just two times I came upon a really stinky area within a birding hot spot wondering what might have died. As I got closer to walking past each of these particular hidden areas, a full flock of 25 to 45 TURKEY VULTURE begrudgingly lifted off and perched on trees until I was out of sight before returning to finish the carcass down to the bone.

    

    With no feathers on their face or feet, they can more easily clean up after enjoying such a meal. We should thank them for cleaning up roadkill and dead things throughout our environment that otherwise would decompose much more slowly, potentially spreading disease at the same time.

    Both of us marveled at hearing the whichity-whichity-wichity of the COMMON YELLOWTHROAT coming from reeds on both sides of the beach.  Notoriously difficult to photograph (for me, anyway), I decided to use playback to see if I could manage a decent photo.  

The male was darting and perching (briefly) throughout the reeds. Finally, it stopped at an opening where I caught it in profile. (above)

    At the edge of the cove just beyond the reeds, a male NORTHERN CARDINAL had come in for a drink. (giving me the side-eye)

    Higher up the hillside, all the ironwood trees were in bloom. 

        DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT took turns perching on a buoy.

        Rare to find the long-necked grebes in the cove at the Beach, I was able to get photos of the WESTERN GREBE but not the CLARK'S GREBE that was farther out.

    After leaving the water area that was now filling up with watercraft sportsmen and women, we walked thoroughly the trees and grasses on the west side of the parking lot. Again, with leaves and sticks in the background, photos were minimal. The sparrows working the grasses were the best I managed.  LARK SPARROW below:

    After 2.5 hours there, walking 1.6 miles, we decided to visit one more Hot Spot before the temperature rose much higher.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88075920

 __________

    Heading to Granite Reef Recreation Area to finish out our morning, we birded the east trail that still provided lots of birds at 77°F. The sky was still clear and the wind calm.

    ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (5) were out and about; BELL'S and WARBLING VIREO each made themselves known vocally.  An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was busy flying out and back to a snag perch.  Both NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and VIOLET GREEN SWALLOW swooped through the air. Then, three WHITE-THROATED SWIFT flew overhead. I can always tell before she says anything when Lois doubts or wants to know more about an ID that I make. This time she wanted to know and I quickly told her to watch the wings and how stiff they appear compared to other birds. She saw it immediately.

     The WHITE-THROATED SWIFT is boldly patterned black and white. The white stripe running from the throat to the belly makes the ID easy to discern from Vaux's Swift, the other one seen here in Arizona. But, when lighting is bad, you may not see the white so it's important to note and rely on its stream-lined body, stiff slender-wings and needle-tailed fast flight.

    Walking to the river's edge, we spotted two SPOTTED SANDPIPER flying upstream. Blooming along that trail closer to the water were several bunches of SACRED DATURA (Jimson Weed).

    Fascinated by a lizard with a zebra tail that curled up spectacularly, I discovered that was its name:  Zebra-tailed Lizard. 

    A CURVE-BILLED THRASHER was feasting at an open ripe flower on top of one of the many budding saguaros.

    As usual when I walk, I'm looking up at snags and trees. So by the time Lois, called, "Babs!" I had already stepped around or over a nice long sinuous snake crossing our path, never even seeing it. Looking it up at home, I believe it is a Gopher Snake of the southwest, but am open to any comments that are more knowledgeable than mine on the subject.

    Lois had recently learned about snakes and human behaviors and told me we should always cross in front of its path so it doesn't feel threatened. It was easy to determine that this one was not poisonous by head shape and lack of rattles on its tail. She walked in front of it to join me a few steps farther down the trail. The snake then proceeded to finish its journey to the other side.

    Favorite "bird of the day" for me was the WESTERN WOOD PE-WEE. At least that's what I think it is. Its profile perched high on a snag was definitely that. And, I believe its details added up to the same. But when I checked it out at home vs. Olive-sided Flycatcher, it became a problem because its vest was open all the way down the belly that doesn't usually occur with the WWPE. To date, I haven't heard from a reviewer that It is misidentified, so I'll post it here as WESTERN WOOD PE-WEE for its smaller size of body and bill, yellow on the belly and its frequent habit of sallying out for an insect and back to a different location on the same snag. Unfortunately, it was not vocal. Take a look below.

    Having walked another 2.6 miles at this location with the temperature rising steadily, we opted to return to our meeting place on Power Road where we cooled off with a cool drink and air conditioning before heading to our respective homes.

    If you're out early, maybe I'll see you in the field.

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   View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88111633 

Title: Global Big Day of Birding, Pinal County, Arizona

Saturday, May 8, 2021

    On Friday evening (5/7/21) I heard from Kathe Anderson, well known local bird leader telling me that she had a family matter that would keep her from doing her planned Team exploration of Oak Flat and Superior for the Global Big Day. Knowing that I’ve been phasing out my group participation in favor of solo explorations at various places, she asked if I was locked in for the Migratory Birding Day in Arizona.

    As luck would have it, “No.”  And, Oak Flat is one of my favorite birding spots. So, I said, “Sure.”  I would step in and help her out. Arrangements were then made with the two participants on her team. Thus, the three of us headed east to Oak Flat Campground located about 4.5 miles beyond Superior.

    With Covid restrictions, I hadn’t birded Oak Flat for more than a year and was eager to see what we might find during this spring migration.

    Jane B. and Linda H., competent birders that have been going out for quite a number of years themselves, were enjoyable company and contributed a good portion of verified species to our count.

    Starting at 6:00 a.m., Oak Flat Camp Ground in the Tonto National Forest, provided us with a chorus of birds. We followed sparrows foraging in tall grasses and short manzanita bushes in the chilly morning.

    Covering the open areas beyond the awakening campers, we came up with GRAY, VERMILLION, and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER and one CASSIN’S KINGBIRD.  We first heard a JUNIPER TITMOUSE and then saw the tiny bird flit from one bush to another. A male WESTERN BLUEBIRD with its rounded head and bright color was a treat standing on a pile of brush on the ground.  

    By the time we wrapped up 3 hours and 20 minutes later, we had observed 5 Sparrow species (Black-chinned, Black-throated, Lark, White-crowned, and Vesper); 5 Warbler species (Lucy’s, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Townsend’s, and Wilson’s) as well as some expected Canyon and Spotted Towhee, Hooded and Bullock’s Oriole. More surprising to me were the number of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (6) and one BLUE GROSBEAK.  

    A pair of BRONZED COWBIRD in one of the emory oaks was one of my best surprises of the morning.

    The oak trees there reminded me of what was called “Live Oak” in Virginia. Well, good reason for that; they are the same species. The glossy yellow/green leaves on these oaks drop and are replaced so indiscriminately one by one, that there is no noticeable time that the tree is not full of leaves.  Leaves and photographs are difficult challenges for me especially when “counting” is our purpose.

    Below I’ve posted a few of the good and the poor photos. And, as usual, the eBird list is available for viewing when you click the link at the end of this Oak Flat CG report.

LARK SPARROW

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER

SPOTTED TOWHEE (it's red-eye doesn't show well)

This is why silhouettes of birds are important!  BLUE GROSBEAK

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER-- above & below

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S87512625

    Two ancillary birding sites were included on this portion of the Superior Bird Count for Global Big Day: Superior Community Park and the "Jungle".  

    From Oak Flat CG we returned to the center of town along Route 60 where the Superior Community Park is located. Its big red train caboose marks the spot. 

    With still more shade trees and picnic tables above a dog run, birds were in and out and everywhere as we paused to relax and eat a bite. It seems arrangements had been made to get together with the Birding Team of Green Valley for lunch but I was unaware of that and carried my own. With an early start to birding, it's not unusual for us to pull out lunch around 9 to 10 a.m.  I knew Lois and Julie were counting at Green Valley so I gave Lois a call. I had a bit of signal but she may not have had. [Later, Lois told me the call rolled right to voice mail and she didn't get it on the spot. They, however, didn't finish until after 1 p.m., so we were off-schedule for the planned lunch anyway.] 

    For the 35 minutes we relaxed and birded there, we collected 14 species, with several new ones to add to our overall list. But more than that, it's just fun to see a pair of VERMILLION FLYCATCHER flitting about;  an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER doing its "catching"; a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and BREWER'S SPARROW occupied, each with its own agenda.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S87518042

    The Jungle.  I had no clue what was meant by that but Jane had plugged it into her GPS so we headed for Apache Tear Road, still within Superior.  It's likely we didn't find a way into the "jungle" if, indeed it was the stretch of willow/cottonwood trees along Queen Creek. 

    Continuing to drive and stop when we heard a bird here or there was not nearly as productive as it would have been earlier in the day. But we found a great spot.  Linda had located a number of birds going to and from what appeared to be a spring and a nice muddy area,  Wow! 

Jackpot!  With a RED-TAILED HAWK, the first of the day overhead, we also spotted both a SUMMER and WESTERN TANAGER in the spring area along with a few other species. Maybe THIS WAS the jungle!! It was a dense forest with a little muddy clearing. For me, it will be The Jungle from now on!

    Considering that Jane and Linda had left home an hour before reaching me, we all agreed the species we had just observed were "icing on the cake!"  It had been a great day of birding together. With a total of 53 species total from these three locations, it was a very respectable report to submit and if it was as birdy all over the state as it had been for us, it should have contributed to a great Pinal County Report.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S87520047

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SEVEN SPRINGS RECREATION AREA, north of Cave Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona

Having missed the winter months at a good birding spot north of Cave Creek in Maricopa County, Lois Lorenz joined me for an exploration of the Seven Springs Recreation Area on Thursday, April 29, 2021. It was too late in the year to see many of the birds I enjoy finding there (Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Bluebirds, and  Cedar Waxwings). Not even an American Robin around to greet us!

At an elevation 1700’ higher than the Phoenix Valley, it felt cool to be among junipers as we rose from Hackensack Canyon, curve by curve, off and on by dirt or paved road. 

Amazingly, we located only one GILA WOODPECKER, but did much better with flycatchers as we continued upward.

Empidomax flycatchers, GRAY, HAMMOND’S, and DUSKY thrilled me since I’ve learned their diagnostics.

ASH-THROATED and BROWN-CRESTED Tyrant Flycatchers were present as were CASSIN’S and WESTERN KINGBIRDs.

A few WOODHOUSE’S SCRUB JAY showed up along the road as we stopped to listen here and there.

Although I missed a photo of the COOPER’S HAWK, I managed to catch one of the RED-TAILED HAWK overhead and a COMMON BLACK HAWK after it perched.

We joke about stopping for birds so often but there was little traffic early in the morning. So when I saw a mammal, I stopped immediately.  A MULE DEER (doe) was looking superb as she looked at us and we looked back.

A small band of five wild horses surprised me. I didn't recall ever having seen them there before. They looked good and healthy and may belong to someone up that way. But they were foraging by a small stream and were not at all interested in us. Just off the road, I took a photo of the horse I liked the best! Perhaps a pinto.

Fire(s) of previous years have marked this area, but greenery keeps popping up here and there.

After reaching the farthest point, the picnic area just prior to the Seven Springs Road becoming a wilderness road, we found a spot to eat lunch (that comes anytime we're hungry) in the shade of a tree.  

Having saved the Lower Camp Creek hot spot for our trip down the rolling hills, we found another GILA WOODPECKER, CANYON TOWHEE, BEWICK'S WREN, LUCY'S WARBLER, and COOPER'S HAWK at that location.

Best of all was an empidomax (empid) flycatcher that managed to convince me that it was a PACIFIC- SLOPE FLYCATCHER. So many of these birds look so similar, I think I was swayed by the amount of green it was showing. Color is a no-no in ID, but it didn't seem gray enough to be a Hammond's and I was fairly certain it wasn't a Dusky because of its long wings. It's rare for me to come up with one of these flycatchers, but from what I was looking at as the bird gave me ample time to view it, it seemed to best fit the PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER.

We wrapped up our time at Lower Camp Creek at almost noontime, having spent a good five hours on the roads, walking a trail here or there, and just stopping for birds. Another good day in the field!

* * *

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S86669614

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S86673743

Lower Salt River, Maricopa County, Arizona

With enough recreation areas along the Lower Salt River as it flows along Bush Highway to provide a varied species of birds, it has endured as a nearby birding spot during the worst of the Covid-19 endemic and beyond.

From a solo trip to Granite Reef Recreation Area on Tuesday, 4/20/21, I post the following birds that I don’t see every day:

GRAY FLYCATCHER

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD

GREATER ROADRUNNER 

NORTHERN CARDINAL

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (male)

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S85966550

Four days later, 4/24/21, Hinde Silver and I checked out Goldfield Rec Area, hoping perhaps for a lingering Peregrine Falcon. That was not to be, but it turned out to be a rich birding day. 

Although we did not stick to the river-rock trail along the Salt River, we spotted one BLACK-NECKED STILT flying fast overhead, two MALLARD, one SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and five NEOTROPIC CORMORANT.  

Hinde caught sight of a rail ducking into some reeds on the North shore below the sandstone cliffs. On the opposite shore, we stood and listened. I had suspected Virginia's Rail, but no!  Whoop! Whoop! We heard the "kek-kek-kek" of RIDGWAY'S RAIL.

Between our starting place and the end at the sandstone cliffs, we had walked the sandy trail on a raised area above the river -- a mesquite bosque. There we spotted a WESTERN KINGBIRD, photo below:

Many other birds posed or acknowledged our presence, including this CURVE-BILLED THRASHER, below:

A male PHAINOPEPLA, below, was, perhaps, carrying food to a nest.

Beyond the birds above, we had to agree that the BALD EAGLE was the thrill of the morning for each of us. With two black young still standing in the nest, and two mature eagles out foraging for them, it was a FOUR BALD EAGLE DAY!  The nest was located way beyond my camera's range. The adults were more accommodating.

Sticks are shadowing its head.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S86247000

Yesterday proved to be a very birdy day at Coon Bluff Recreation Area, a first-time visit for Karen Martin and Judy Carrier. Karen was interested in the many small and not-so-small lizards we saw. Not an expert on lizards, I contacted a friend that thinks the photo below shows a Clark's Spiny Lizard.

When good birds are hopping all over the trees in pursuit of insects, photographs are hard to come by.  We saw many but photographed only a few.

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER

Can you find 1) Neotropic Cormorant; 2) Snowy Egret; 3) Three Mallard

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT preening

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER

GREEN HERON

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S86726320

I consider myself fortunate to have access to these normally quiet spots along the river with fishermen, kayakers, paddle-boarders enjoying the water beside us.

Happy Birding!