Address for the Birds in this post: Riggs & Price Road, Maricopa County, AZ

 Wednesday, November 20, 2021

Having not visited this spot for several years, I wanted to share it with birding friends, Hinde S., Judy C., and Karen M.  Nice to have good birders living nearby who are still active and enjoy going out in the field. 

Found a parking lot in Sun Lakes near one of the two ponds along Price Road. Most of our attention focused on the dried agricultural fields across that road. The best ingredient in birding places like this is the unknown. Will there be any special birds at the ponds? Any special birds in the fields?

SNOWY EGRET. (4)

With the pond water deep up to its edge, the birds lined up there to eye the water for their next meal. This juvenile Great Blue was a good find. Not yet with white feathers on its head and a bi-colored bill instead of fully yellow one, it looked comfortable fending for itself.

GREAT BLUE HERON

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (52 total), in addition to flying overhead and diving within the pond, also lined up along its edges. The one on the left is a Juvenile but still has the pointed-not the Double-crested Cormorant rounded-border of bare skin at the base of its bill.

Although we estimated 1,000 MOURNING DOVE and EUROPEAN STARLINGs, the filter on eBird disallowed that high a count, so we backed it off a bit. 

Showing just one of many many starlings along the overhead wires, I wanted to show the beautiful iridescence of this common bird in its basic (non-breeding) plumage.

Birds seem to adapt to civilization. If not a tree, a power pole will do for this male GILA WOODPECKER.

An OSPREY appeared to be keeping its eye on both the pond and the field.

AMERICAN KESTREL favor utility lines/cables for their perches.

Female AMERICAN KESTREL above; Male AMERICAN KESTREL below. (Note blue wing)

While I didn't catch the "Gray Ghost" in flight, a male Northern Harrier worked the fields from one side to the other, pausing finally relatively close to us to perch in the field. Still distant, the photo below.

The joy of my day was the appearance of the FERRIGINOUS HAWK. It's been several years since I've crossed paths with one of these beautiful creatures. Not common, but still found in agricultural areas in the Phoenix valley, it's our largest buteo. 

A picture-perfect day at 52-64°F, calm wind and clear blue sky, it was a delightful visit to this unusual spot.

Until I get out and about again, check our full list for the day, at the link below.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S97393935

Goldfield Recreation Area along the Lower Salt River, Maricopa County, AZ

 Wednesday, November 3, 2021

With Hinde S., Judy C. and Karen M., we set out early for Coon Bluff only to discover a gate closing off the area right at the turn into the entrance area. A man standing nearby told us it had been and continues to be closed for repaving the parking lot.  Oh, well.  

Neither Judy nor Karen had visited Goldfield. That was the closest and best site next to Coon Bluff.  We ended up spending a good three hours there, starting at 7:10.  

From the rocky shoreline, a GREAT EGRET perched high above the river and scrub desert of the area.

Foraging at the edge of the river was a GREAT BLUE HERON.

In the shrubs behind us, we heard a HOUSE WREN. Searching for it, though, left us without having found it. It probably snuck out while we snuck up on it.

High in another snag tree on the north side of the Salt, a NORTHERN FLICKER was checking out the bushes, trees and shrubs. Possibly, it was snagging big insects that flew past.

Normally, I don't photograph the very common birds like the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE below, but this is not a normal bird for everyone. It differs from the Common and Boat-tailed Grackle in size and feather color.

Standing in awe as a BALD EAGLE flew downstream, I missed catching a photo. But, we would see another later, perched not far from our trail.

Within a tangle of branches lying high on the ground, we spied the BEEP-BEEP! Bird.        GREATER ROADRUNNER

With our eyes scouring the ground, river and sky, I caught a GREAT EGRET flying downstream.

Then, right next to us flitting around between limbs and nearby trees were two BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS. Love those little gray birds.

Unable to get enough definition from my temporary and cheaper binoculars (others getting repaired) of some birds out from shore on extended "beach", I think it was Karen who finally called it. AMERICAN PIPIT.  First I've seen for the season. Grabbed one distant photo but the other was closer to shore. So, two pipits to add to the ongoing list of sightings.

Not finished birding, I turned the camera on our team.

Hinde, Judy, Karen (L-R)

NORTHERN CARDINALs can show up at the strangest places. Not necessarily expected along the river, one perched high in a snag giving us a great view.

Surprising me out on the sandstone bluffs across the river from us was a PEREGRINE FALCON.  Peregrines are more likely found there during nesting season. Today, one stayed just inside a slot in the rocks. I always look for whitewash (bird poop) to search those areas first. Again, it was either Karen or Judy that spotted our bird first along that long stretch of sandstone.

 The PEREGRINE may have heard the squirrel we spotted high above it, as it turned its head.

Feeling great in the cooler weather and having found so many good birds, I even snapped a quick pic of some COMMON RAVENs overhead.

What a way to start the day! 

Not finished? 

Ah, feral horses, not birds on our return walk.

eBird list is below.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S97071916

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

Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch, Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ

 Monday, September 20, 2021

    Finally, the temperatures are dropping into the 70s at nighttime and lasting into the early hours of the morning. Cooling temps gives me a bit more incentive to head out to see what birds might be hanging out or migrating through.    

    Driving west for about fifteen minutes along with the 5:30 a.m.early commuter traffic, I am struck by the very full orange-colored moon setting in front of me. How can I get a photo? Can't do it from here; I'll need to wait until I reach the Water Ranch to see if it is still hanging above the horizon. 

    Lois pulls into the parking lot immediately after I do, so we head toward the fishing pond reeds to see if any of the LEAST BITTERNs are still there and coming out into the open a bit.  First, we find birder friend, Lindsay, already at the location. She points out where one of the young bitterns is well camouflaged behind reeds. I take photos but have needed to open up the lens for so much light to come into the still dark reeds, that pictures were a bust.

   Habitat is water-treatment ponds for final sewage filtration.  Birds arrive in good numbers almost every month except the hottest ones of June, July, August. 

    Of the forty species we spotted in all the ponds, my photos were limited to ones that stood still!

    On the fishing pond, along with domestic mallard interbreeds were some domestic MUSCOVEY DUCKS (Black & White; Brown; and perhaps young ones that stayed together)

We heard before seeing GREATER YELLOWLEGS

The one LESSER YELLOWEG was associating with but staying separate from the four GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

    In the early-morning sun, the GREAT BLUE HERON appeared to be a bit washed out.

    For some reason, BLACK PHOEBEs were calling from each and every pond. Normally, I see more of them at the river sites, but today, they were loving the Water Ranch.

       Our best sighting was a WHITE-FACED IBIS, a fairly large wader at 27". Its long decurved bill finds crustaceans and other tasty tidbits in marsh waters. Because the "face" is marked with white feathers only in the breeding season, I called this bird a Glossy Ibis for a couple years when I first arrived in Arizona. As I would then find out, a Glossy Ibis is a big "find" here, as it is an east coast bird--the only one I knew at that time. Note its red eye.

The SNOWY EGRETs were feisty today. When they discovered the WHITE-FACED IBIS in their "territory" they began to have some "words."

Another SNOWY EGRET (note its "golden slippers") goes after a Mallard. The pond was crowded. I can relate; I like my space, too

    Walking three miles at a leisurely pace looking for birds, coming upon other birders who shared their sightings, and having amazing numbers of birds already returning to the ponds, it was a delightful day.

For full list, check link below:

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S94930985

    

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