The monsoon season has kept our temperatures low enough to get out and enjoy some of our preserved spaces. Beginning at 6:15 a.m., I began walking the trails at Granite Reef Rec Area along the Lower Salt River.
A VERMILLION FLYCATCHER and a BLACK PHOEBE were both vocal and busy fly-catching close to the river. They were the early birds; many others were not yet up and about. 
River Otters could be seen swimming, sometimes with the westward flowing current; other times swimming upstream. That seemed a good omen to me that they inhabited those waters.
At one of the trail-side clearings that enabled a good view of the river, I walked in but smelled a very strong odor of javalina. I saw none. So, I made quick work of scanning the river. I didn't want to have the river as my only escape route if a herd of javelina came upon me from the rear.
Not to fear; none came. So I headed to and reached the very muddy spit near the dam. Taking my time identifying waterfowl, I found nothing new to report of migrating birds out on the water but did have a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE in the mesquite bosque.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S119705822
Thursday, October 7, 2022
On winter hours, Jannie and I couldn't enter BTA until 8:00. A much later start for birding than usual for me, the temperature was a cool 72 degrees under a clear sky. Occasionally kissed by a light breeze, the day was perfect.
So much more than the birds captivated our attention: the blooms, the butterflies, the fragrances of more species than I could name.
Salvia in background
Desert Spiny Lizard - perhaps
Among the birds were a distant ROCK WREN; a juvenile BLACK-THROATED SPARROW; a female RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and a male and female NORTHERN CARDINAL, all shown below in order.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S120081930
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Hinde Silver and I explored Coon Bluff Recreation Area along the Lower Salt River on Thursday, 10/13.
Beginning at 6:30 a.m., we managed to spot 25 species over a two-and-one-half-hour walk along the river and through the mesquite bosque. River Otter swam out in the river.
My favorite bird of the morning was the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, a bird I expected to have moved on from Coon Bluff by now. Or, was it a migrating bird? Very possible. As one of my favored birds, I made certain I got a photo, below.
A stealthy GREAT BLUE HERON moved toward a catch.
Approximately forty (40) feral horses stood in the river along the north shore of the Salt River pulling up river grass for breakfast. Several mares were obviously reaching their birthing time.
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