Recent Local Birding in Maricopa County, Arizona

 Wednesday, October 14 & 19, 2021  

Bird photos below were taken at the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch off of Guadalupe Road.

SNOWY EGRET

                                                                            Canada goose

CATTLE EGRET

GREEN HERON

COMMON GALLINULE

GREEN-WINGED TEAL

GREATER ROADRUNNER

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

MORE AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

On Thursday, October 23rd, Hinde S. and I spotted a CRISSAL THRASHER in some of the good habitat at VETERANS OASIS PARK, Chandler, AZ.

CRISSAL THRASHER

It felt great to see birds returning to one of the best birding spots in the East Valley of Phoenix.

Also nice was running into fellow birders again!

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S96118903

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S96431485

Late - but in time - to catch quite a Rarity in Pinal County, Arizona

 Sunday, October 17, 2021

    After early birding, I asked Lois L. if she had ever seen a RUFF.  No. Neither had I, so we headed off to Caballero Dairy in Pinal County.  We were late, both in the number of days that had elapsed since this very rare bird was first reported (3) and in time. It was late morning when we headed out.

    Delighted to find a few cars parked in the area designated for birding at that location, I was then thrilled to discover the RUFF had just flown in from the middle of the odiferous slop pond to its edge near where we bird.

    Lucking out that quickly for a rarity made my day. When I returned home, I needed to look up the word, ruff, to understand why the bird was so-named.  In older times, women wore fancy neckwear, often of feathers, around their necks.

Lace Ruff

The RUFF bird we saw was not in breeding plumage when its "ruff" is full and fancy to encourage mating with a female. Today's bird, below,  was in its basic plumage, having, in all likelihood, blown way off course during recent very turbulent winds. Its breeding territory is in the planet's largest ecozone: the Palearctic. (Think Siberia).

We had lucked out. The raised feathers are a "cowlick" not a ruff.  The feather pattern was awesome.

Now, imagine this bird with a RUFF.

Thank you, RUFF, for coming into our general neighborhood!

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S96293123

Bird Photos from Two Local Visits to Hot Spots, Maricopa County, AZ

 October 10, 2021

It's hard to believe I haven't posted since mid-September! But when family comes to visit, I need to first clean and organize my cozy little house that seldom draws my first attention. Then, enjoy myself entirely with my son, Andy, and his wife, Carmen, which I did.

When Andy and Carmen arrived the last week of September, we took off for the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, a good view of the Painted Desert, and Wupatki Ruins. (My favorite Tribal preserved ruin. )

Although I carried my binoculars and camera during our excursion, few birds grabbed my attention.  

Now that our temperatures are dropping into a civilized range, I've been heading out locally and will drop below some photos from the Lower Salt River and from the higher elevation of Oak Flat.

GREAT BLUE HERON with fish; Granite Reef Rec Area at Salt River 10/07/21

Also at Granite Reef that day was a BALD EAGLE foraging on the ground (rare to see)

Usually perched high on limbs, the BALD EAGLE today, was at river's edge

If I see it, I take a picture. Love this bright little VERMILLION FLYCATCHER  10/7/21

LESSER GOLDFINCH observed today at Oak Flat with Hinde Silver (10/10/21)

    

Oak Flat is at a slightly higher elevation, providing a different variety of birds. 

So, until next time, check out the birdies in your spare time!  

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S95718839

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S95928060