Recent Birding in Pinal and Maricopa Counties, Arizona

 Monday, December 20, 2021

Birding at Prospector Park in Apache Junction on December 20th with Glenda Jones proved interesting. Some birds I counted on observing evaded us. On the other hand, the PLUMBEOUS VIREO was likely my first sighting of that species at our local city park. The variety of species we did see was overwhelmingly favorable.

PLUMBEOUS VIREO - has a thicker bill than a warbler

Another of our best finds was a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. When it flared its violet gorget, we couldn't believe it. Glenda got a photo and it was listed as a rarity on the local birding site. The photo below is from my file as it shows the gorget in its flaming violet color. (often shows as black if light is not good)

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW - a good desert bird

GILDED FLICKER differs from Red or Yellow-shafted Flicker with copper cap - not gray.

Red-shafted is our western flicker with red beneath its wings. Gilded has yellow underwing.

Its red whisker indicates it is a male.

ABERT'S TOWHEE is common here in the Sonoran Desert. They thrive in underbrush and have an unusual double-footed scratch in the dirt looking for snacks. 

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S99186992

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Our Community Birders checked out Granite Reef Recreation Area along the Lower Salt River where N. Power Road turns into Bush Highway starting at 8 a.m., 43°F, cloudy sky, but calm wind. 

With this location having been closed for a couple months, I was curious as to what changes had occurred. Immediately, I saw that the reeds usually lining the bank along the picnic area were completely gone. Not cut; not burned, but removed. Apparently, this was needed to add rip rap (small rocks) along the edge of the river to prevent erosion. I’m short, so to look out over or to peek through the reeds had always agitated me. The fully open river in front of us was great!   The reeds will regrow.

First thing we spotted was a large flotilla of ducks to the east. Our feet followed. With much rain the previous day, the trail proved firm in its wetness. Shrubs left their water drops on our waterproof jackets/coats.

Far overhead, flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD had lifted from more eastern marshland and were heading west. 90 may be a conservative count!

GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK AND BUFFLEHEAD were way too distant for photos. 

Heading west, then, we came upon four (4) adult CANVASBACK (not a usual sighting) with only one female to the three drakes. They were quite far across the Salt River from where we stood, so I was happy to get a half-decent photo of them.

A BELTED KINGFISHER went flying past, much too fast for my slow camera movement.  Dang.

A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, below, was among the birds in the mesquite bosque. That's the way I like my birds: busy and staying in place!

Six GILA and a single LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER, below, comprised our total woodpecker count. The photo below is from my files, taken in SE AZ with no clouds around. Note the distinctive facial pattern.

A small falcon flew overhead, bigger than a Kestrel, smaller than a Peregrine, we agreed it was a MERLIN (Taiga form).  Missed that quick flyby with my camera, too.

Managing to reach the most western point of the trail near the dam, we came upon a couple LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER foraging at the edges of the mudflat we occupied.  A SONG-SPARROW flew out from there at our approach.  

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE adapted to our presence and returned to forage at the edges of the mudflat while we enjoyed many distant ducks. 

BLACK PHOEBE were abundant this morning (14). Also from my files due to the cloudy sky above us, the bird is a flycatcher. This makes it easier to photograph because it flies out for an insect and returns to its same or another nearby perch.  

All in all, another good day in the field.  It warmed up to 52°F which began to feel warm beneath our many layers of clothes.

To view our full list, check the link below.

 

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S9963607

Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch, Maricopa County, AZ

 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

    The ROSEATE SPOONBILL was the target bird for our community birders this week. It is uncommon with limited distribution in the U.S., mostly along Florida and Gulf Coast areas plus a few to southwestern Arizona in the Yuma area. For this species to show up in the desert in October 2020 during our Covid Pandemic at the Water Ranch was a gift!  Amazingly, it stayed around for almost a year before moving elsewhere and back. Believed to have blown here off course during a hurricane, the Spoonbill has returned again this season to Gilbert's ponds (that are mostly dry in summer). Most of us had already observed this species in its normal US territory, but few had seen it at Gilbert ponds.

    Six of us took off from the Preserve parking lot at 8 a.m. (46°F) to wander the trails. First stop was Pond 7, then farther east to Pond 1, where we noted and enjoyed a fair number of wintering ducks, geese, egrets, herons and peeps. Continuing farther along the 1-7 trail to the Restroom, and then east again on the trail between Ponds 1 and 2, we checked the ponds through various cut-outs of the reeds. From the overnight camping spot, we could view Pond 2 birds quite well.

    Returning on that same trail, I knew one of the Spoonbill's favorite resting spots, so we checked that out. Sure enough!  On the NW of Pond 2, the ROSEATE SPOONBILL, below, was catching some rest out in the sun -- with an eye on us. Very pale feathering this morning, it may be hiding its rosier colors.

        Heading south on the trail between Ponds 2 and 5, we spotted two LESSER SCAUP on #5, along with RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN COOT and two CANADA GOOSE before continuing southward. Along the trails, all six of us were pointing out birds: SPOTTED TOWHEE, VERDIN, CACTUS WREN, HOUSE FINCH, SONG SPARROW, ABERT'S TOWHEE, ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.  It wasn't until we were almost finished three hours later, that a pair of NORTHERN CARDINAL showed up.

       Mostly, we were thrilled with all the waterfowl on each of the ponds. Of all of them, my favorite was the WILSON'S SNIPE that were foraging in the open wetlands. Either Judy or Karen spotted them in their camouflaged presence among the dry sticks. Counting seven (7) altogether out in the open was amazing to me. With long bills they find lots of morsels.

Three WILSON'S SNIPE above

Photos of some of our other sightings are below:       AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN RING-NECKED DUCK

Pleased to photograph the "ring" on the duck above, it is rarely apparent when the duck is swimming around. Many birders learn this duck from the markings on its bill, but it is the scientists who stretch out bird skins that name our species. The LESSER SCAUP (below) is similar in appearance but lacks the black saddle on the back and the bill markings of the Ring-necked.

AMERICAN WIGEON (Drake)

MALLARD (Drake)

CANADA GOOSE

GREAT EGRET

    Ringing up a total of 56 species was quite the adventure. Many thanks to all the good spotters including Judy, Karen, Gloria, Georgie and Julie for such a great experience.  

Until next time....and maybe seeing some of you other birders in the field again, this is it.

Check out the list below for full eBird report.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S99280329

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Butcher Jones Beach-Saguaro Lake, Maricopa County, AZ

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 

    Greeted by mist rising off the cove water of Saguaro Lake, we watched as flocks of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE with a lone RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD among them landed on the shoreline just beyond us.

Basic (non-breeding) plumaged RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on shoreline foraging for breakfast.

    Slowly, we identified the waterfowl in the corner below the mountain of rock rising above it.  With the mist, I was unable to get photos of the LESSER SCAUP (7), a pair of BUFFLEHEAD, a small flock of RUDDY DUCK as well as a couple AMERICAN COOT.

    Beside the marsh grasses reaching out from the beach on the other side of the cove, more AMERICAN COOT foraged as a small group. 

    It wasn't until we walked the trail toward Peregrine Point that we were able to see the waterfowl more clearly.  A PIED-BILLED GREBE kept diving just below us near the grasses.

    Perched out on the buoy, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT took a couple dives, then returned to the closest buoy to shore, to finish its meal. After preening, it spread its wings. Otherwise, air pockets can get trapped in their feathers preventing them from diving deeper. Essentially, they are drying their wings to prevent air pockets. (Lesser Scaup in background)

    In front of the marsh grasses, two RING-NECKED DUCK and one female RUDDY DUCK were checking out the morning scene. Photo below.

    Overhead, two RING-BILLED GULLs, circled, then skimmed the water for tidbits before rising again and continuing with their wide circles above the cove. 

       At Peregrine Point, we were able to scope a flotilla of mixed-waterfowl containing over One Hundred (100) WESTERN GREBE and more of those species we had seen closer to shore. Luckily, two WEGR were reasonably nearby for photos.

With its red eye well within its black cap and the bill more olive than bright yellow, we were able to detect the WESTERN GREBE from any Clark's Grebes. There were no Clark's in the large flotilla either. Their bills would have shone brightly in the morning sunlight.

    Although we scoured the trails and land within the driving circle, birds were scarce this morning. Having started at 8 a.m., we hadn't counted on the 41° temperature at that hour. So, until the sun warmed things up enough for insects to come out, we settled for a pair of NORTHERN CARDINAL, a BLACK PHOEBE, and a GRAY FLYCATCHER. 

No matter how much I cajoled the male to move away from limbs, it stubbornly refused. The female, not far from it, allowed me a bit more space to show it off with a photo.

BLACK PHOEBE

    For me, our best sighting was the GRAY FLYCATCHER. We know that it is the only flycatcher that dips its tail downward when perched, like the Black Phoebe. Another key ID marker is its mandible (bill) that's yellow below and black above. The yellow on the lower mandible is marked with a small dark tip that then seems to just flow up and over the top black mandible. 

        After enjoying 17 species at Butcher Jones, we stopped briefly at Saguaro Lake. 
The only new species was a VERDIN. File photo below shows one at the Riparian Preserve earlier this year; we also have this species in the Pueblo. Very small (4.5") with pointy bill.

    Until next time, keep your eye on these birds. Joyce K. had the good fortune of seeing a murmuration of Starlings twice last week when out early to walk her dog. 

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S98920243

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S98921525

    

    

Coon Bluff Recreation Area, Lower Salt River, Maricopa County, AZ

 Wednesday, December 8, 2021

    Never knowing precisely what birds might show up when our community birders head out, we looked forward to exploring the Coon Bluff area that had been closed for a couple weeks for parking lot replacement.

    Arriving a tad early and under an overcast sky, we walked slowly, listening carefully.

   The clear chip of a VERDIN here, the "peek" of a LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER there. Suddenly too many sounds at once! 

    Down at the base of the marsh grasses at river's edge, a SONG SPARROW was flitting around. Across the low water, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER foraged on a pebbly spit. LARK SPARROW and female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT drank from the river before flying off.

SONG SPARROW

    Returning to the sandy trail behind the rail fence, we continued to find birds waking up and flying about. PHAINOPEPLA became plentiful during our walk, but we spotted only one AMERICAN ROBIN, below. 

    A couple BLACK PHOEBE were actively fly-catching over the river when not perched to zoom out again.

    WESTERN BLUEBIRDs were all around us, but backlit. Photos, not so good.

    Hearing the drumming of two different woodpeckers, we sighted both a GILA and, better yet, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. The back of the sapsucker is very different from that of a Gila, shown below.

With partial sun warming the temperature from 51°F at our start time, flocks of songbirds began filling the snags to grab some heat.HOUSE FINCH

Down in the river, we finally spotted some waders. Photos below of a GREAT BLUE HERON and a very distant GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

Always surprised and delighted when we find a bird out of its normal higher elevation territory, the WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH working the trunks of the mesquite trees made me think it might be migrating.

River's high summer water

Fed by its dams

Has shrunk to scattered

Mudflats this cold morning

From where a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN

Drinks.

    Not able to snag a photo of that distant but well-viewed bird, I'm posting one of my better pics of a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN from my files. (taken in 2012 in Anthem) Its long white throat has thin stripes running through it. And, obviously, a rufous-colored back.

Not an expected bird, the RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN is a rare visitor from Mexico to lowland riparian habitat. From December to March it can be found occasionally in several nearby locations such as Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Gilbert Riparian Preserve, and more distantly, in SE Arizona. A LIFE BIRD for Judy and Karen, we all thrilled at being able to watch it before it flew downstream.

    Such a good day at the Salt River!

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    View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S98625758