Babs' Birding Experiences : A Really Hot Birding Hot Spot This Morning, Maricopa County, AZ

Local Birding Hot Spot: 10/28/22

Having allowed two months to slip by since I last visited one of the best wintering grounds for waterfowl, I was gobsmacked with the number of ducks, wading birds, and passerines feasting at Gilbert Water Ranch.

One of my favorite ducks was back: GREEN-WINGED TEAL. This American short-bodied, stocky duck, is considered our smallest duck. Foraging from the surface (not a diving duck), the handsome male's feathers appeared worn and bedraggled. Can you imagine flying from the northern reaches of North America to Arizona without a windshield?

AMERICAN AVOCET, below, generally winters here. A rather quiet wading bird, they work as a flock in moving through shallow water moving their long beaks back and forth to stir up tasty morsels.

Two Juvenile PIED-BILL GREBEs were on their own at this same Basin #7 at this water recharge facility. No adult in sight; perhaps diving nearby and I missed it.

Photographers were gathered at this same spot for the superb and unannounced attraction: about two dozen AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. This is a BIG bird with a 9-foot wingspan. Scooping up pouches of water filled with whatever fishy morsels it contained, the pelicans were not shy. Working the pond close to its open edges, I was thrilled to get some close-up pictures.

All of the above photos were taken at that one Pond.

Walking on, there were birds everywhere I turned. Some were on the ground; some in the air; a few perched, and many more were foraging in the basins filled with water.