Thursday, June 3, 2021
Having rounded up a couple birding friends to check out two eBird Hot Spots along the Beeline Highway (SR 87) between Mesa and Payson, Arizona, we started birding at 5:45 a.m. The small unincorporated community of Sunflower stretches out along a cut-off portion of the original two-lane Beeline Highway. At an elevation of about 3,400 feet, it was refreshingly cooler at 60°F. here than in the Phoenix Valley’s fast-rising morning temperatures.
With the sun just reaching into the tall Arizona sycamores, Lois L., Jane B., and I were able to criss-cross the little-used highway as our trail. Finding singing birds in the thick green foliage of the sycamores was a challenge. Juniper trees were thick enough to hide the songbirds that dived into them, too.
Fortunately, the birds were active early, flitting from limb to limb within a tree; chasing one another from one side of the road to the other or just working a limb for insects until they came into open view.
The easiest bird sightings to photograph were on open snags. I couldn't believe the one-frame photo provided by the male SUMMER TANAGER that flew into an open branch above an already preening male HOODED ORIOLE! (below)
Being more accustomed to desert birding than this high-canopy challenge, Jane found the overall experience a worthy one. Collecting at least two Life Birds, she was thrilled with the adult COMMON BLACK HAWK she saw as it flew above us. And, I believe the perched INCA DOVE may have been her other "Lifer."
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK flew high overhead but did not circle back to get its picture taken.
And, a COOPER'S HAWK flew around and perched throughout the trees several times while we were there.
Blooms along the old highway caught my attention.
As usual with fast-moving songbirds, good photographs are few. CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (4) was active but usually far out, as shown below.
Both ASH-THROATED and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERs were moving about throughout our 1.2-mile walk to the blockade.
Having seen many more birds than photographed, we had birded slowly and as thoroughly as possible for almost three hours before moving on to our next stop, less than a mile farther along the modern 4-lane highway of SR87.
Click on the eBird link below to view our entire list:
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S89541964
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BUSHNELL TANKS: One hour (9:13-10:13 a.m.). 84°F., gathering clouds, light breeze.
For being located so close to Sunflower, the trail and cottonwood trees along the Sycamore Creek provided some different bird sightings.
Among them were LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, WILSON'S WARBLER, HEPATIC TANAGER, and WESTERN TANAGER.
And, "warbler neck" from our continual looking high into the canopy of more trees!
Getting warm, we didn't stay long even though the cottonwoods along the creek provided some respite from the sun on the open trail.
Since Lois has retired, her birding skills have sharpened. She contributed many of our sightings but each of us spotted more than a few birds to add to our lists.
May our paths cross in our next birding adventure!
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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S89547020
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