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.
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
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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
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