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:
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.
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.
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!
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