Room for Two?

This week is AIMS week, the week in which my students take lots of standardized tests to tell us and them how they compare to other students and schools across the state and country. These tests are woefully inadequate and fraught with analytical problems, but I'm still not complaining because this means I have very little work to do this week in terms of lesson preparation. That dull anecdote was necessary only to say: I had some time to go birding Sunday afternoon.

I decided to try for a rare double-whammy, first stopping by the Glendale recharge ponds to chase a few unusual birds before quickly heading south to the Tres Rios site. The recharge ponds were a total flop last week, but in the twenty minutes I spent circumventing and surveying the first basin, they more than made up for their previous vacancies. The miniature lake was mostly populated with Black-Necked Stilts and Mallards, while Least Sandpipers lined the shoreline. Amidst these larger and darker birds, it was pretty easy to pick out the Red-Necked Phalarope and Bonaparte's Gull.

While scanning the wide, reflective water basin, the Gull was the first unusual sighting. As is always the case at the GRP, the bird was very far out on the water. Not too far away from the Gull there floated a much smaller bird with just a hint of red on the neck. 

Even at a distance, seeing a new bird is always greatly satisfying, and in this case it was a pretty rare bird too! It wasn't the soul-satisfying view that comes from a close encounter, but I'll take it! The Phalarope seemed to be buddies with this Black-Necked Stilt. It is also possible that the Phalarope was just using the taller bird as a mobile shade.

The Bonaparte's Gull took off pretty soon and, for once, I got my best look of the bird while it was passing overhead. There was a Franklin's Gull also reported in the area, but this bird seems much too light on the wings and there was no discernible red on the beak.

Two new birds is not bad for the first stop on a two-part birding adventure!

Great Birding at Gloomy Granite Reef

The Granite Reef Dam and recreations site is one of the western-most structures on the salt river as it flows into the city. None of that really matters. More importantly, it's another great birding spot that's within a thirty minute drive of Central Phoenix, and until Saturday was one of the few Maricopa County birding hotspots I had not investigated. Pops and I headed out early. It was a chilly, overcast morning, and the clouds stayed put all through our hike. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, Granite Reef was indeed a great site. We saw 67 confirmed species of birds, including two more Lifers for me, and sustained only minimal bodily damage in the process!

We parked about a half mile east of the recreation site, in part to avoid parking fees and to explore more of the terrain. There is a slightly overgrown but manageable path running parallel to the river, and soon after getting to the water's edge from the car we witnessed our first Granite Reef birds. Like any good rainy day of birding, this one started with some Common Gallinule.



We continued along the river, eyes darting back and forth between the water and the bustling tree canopies above us. There were lots of handsome Yellow-Rumped Warblers darting around, but Swallows provided the real action. There were hundreds of them swooping, soaring, and diving above the river, and they maintained their relentless extermination of all airborne insects for the duration of our trip. The Rough-Winged Swallows and Bank Swallows made up the majority, but Tree Swallows, Cliff Swallows, and even a few Barn Swallows were also visible in the feeding frenzy. I could not take any presentable Swallow pictures, so this pair of nice, easy-going Mallards provided the consolation prize.

As the Salt River approached the Granite Reef dam, it becomes much wider and deeper. The number and diversity of the waterfowl really picks up, although American Coots are still the largest constituency. We had some nice looks at Cinnamon Teal, Redheads, Ring-Necks, and Canvasback.

Across the lake, this sole Eared Grebe, fully decked-out in his naval uniform/breeding regalia, patrolled the final stretch of accessible water, making sure that if anybody crossed the buoys, they'd do it by swimming.

"Abandon All Boats, Ye Who Enter Here"

We started to run out of room along the waterfront and found another path leading through the thick undergrowth, now looking for Warblers, Flycatchers, and whatever made its home in the gloomy woods.   Along with your standard dose of Abert's Towhees, there were a lot of Phainopeplas in the area. I was surprised to see them not only adorning the treetops, but also foraging deep into the undergrowth and near the ground--not really the sort of behavior to expect from silky Flycatchers. This was also the first time I've been able to observe Phainopepla nests. Perhaps the added demands of parenthood abolished the birds' normal scruples with low-level feeding.

Here a female sits atop her stately teacup nest.

The woods were very thick at times, and unfortunately the willow trees and cottonwoods often intermingled with thorny mesquite and ironwood trees to make navigation a slow and painstaking process. But the dense foliage served its purpose, even as it blocked out what little sunlight there was. There were Cardinals, Brewer's Sparrows, White-Crowns, tons of Yellow-Rumped Warblers, and even some Wilson's Warblers.

(I said great looks not great photos)

Throughout the day we found two pairs of calling Bullock's Orioles, whose fiery orange, yellow, and white couldn't be suppressed even by the thoroughly overcast sky.

The Yellow-Rumped Warblers like to form ferocious gangs. They roamed around terrorizing tree canopies with no consideration or restraint. If you're small, invertebrate, and have more than four legs...don't let these gangs catch you. They would move through areas with astonishing numbers and quickness, cleaning out the local insect populations and chattering all the while. It was hard not to get caught up in the momentum at times, both for ourselves and for other birds. This Hermit Warbler gave up his life of isolation and was recruited into the cartel, where he did his share of the work in decimating the insect population.

The Hermit Warbler was a first for Pops and me. Even though they do migrate through the area, it was a totally unexpected sighting. When the yellow head catches the light, it's a very striking bird.

As we approached the dam, the woodlands became more and more thin. The trees were shorter and the bird species again shifted. Along the woody margin we saw Chipping Sparrows, White-Winged Doves, and a Northern Harrier. Some Lazuli Buntings provided another great surprise, though the subsequent photographic pursuit was in vain. At least I photographed some Javelina. That's just as good right..?

Pedestrians are barred access to the dam itself, and a large worksite on the south side of the river forced us to take an additional detour to get around to the west side. We followed a canal for part of the way and got to observe the chaparral and its inhabitants, including some exceedingly red House Finches, just as the sun finally started to break through the clouds.

After having a nice reunion with an Ash-Throated Flycatcher at Tres Rios last week, it was a delight to find a very active couple in a large, flowering mesquite tree along the man-made waterway. I can't exactly explain why I think these birds are so cool. Maybe it's just that they're more sizable but without sacrificing any color. Maybe it's that they don't turn into chickens when I try to take their picture.  Even considering the most excellent Hermit Warbler, the Ash-Throated Flycatcher was my favorite sighting of the day.



We continued to walk along the chaparral, keeping our eyes and ears peeled (ouch!) for any bird signs. With our concentration on the marginal trees and shrubs, it was a great bit of fortune that I happened to look down just in time to avoid stepping on this coiled Glossy Snake. Upon close inspection, it appeared that this snake was dead already. Maybe it was just feeling super sluggish with the lack of warm light, or maybe it's better at playing dead than Elvis. Either way, we moved it off the road and continued in our loop back to the parking lot.

We decided to retrace our steps to where we had last seen the Lazuli Buntings, hoping they'd make another appearance. There was no more luck on that account, but it was a felicitous decision, for in the Buntings' place we encountered a brazen Olive-Sided Flycatcher. Of course, he was perched atop the tallest tree he could find, but a break in the clouds allowed for some quick shots, and we were treated to some dexterous in-flight displays as he charged from perch to perch.

It was a great trek, and Granite Reef definitely deserves its fine reputation as one of the premier birding areas in Maricopa County. With Granite Reef on the east side, Tres Rios on the west side, Glendale Recharge Ponds to the north and the Gilbert Water Ranch to the south, Phoenix-area birders can go in any direction and find great birds.

Killdeer Jr.

By fun coincidence, there have been some excellent posts and photos of young Killdeer this last week in the bird Blog-o-sphere. I'd never seen the young before, and but from the pictures they looked pretty adorable. It was another case of birding synchronicity when I went to the Glendale Recharge Ponds on Friday evening and saw my first Killdeer chicks.

The ponds were pretty full and there was a lot of cloud cover. Even so, the bio-diversity was pretty poor. There were reports of Buffleheads and Curlews just the day before, but when I got there it was only Coots, Mallards, tons of Least Sandpipers, and a few Avocets, all of which stayed very far from the basin perimeters. It was a pretty disappointing outing until I headed back to the car, at which point the scurrying little puff balls caught my eye. 

They were running around in one of the few dry basins while their parents screeched encouragement/criticism. One of the chicks must have been a little bit sleepy, or maybe it was just in time-out. At any rate it decided to huddle down next to a rock, using the thick full tall green grass as  impenetrable protection.

It didn't seem like a very good spot to settle, especially while a potential predator (me) was watching. As Greg Gillson pointed out in his recent BirdingIsFun article, Killdeer do pick rather odd places to nest and rest at times. All the same, this little guy felt pretty comfortable, and soon closed his eyes.

I like the chicks much better than the parents. They're quiet.

Plan B Birding

I was all set to visit the Desert Botanical Gardens for some evening birding and photography on Wednesday. The plan was to leave work and head over while I still had a couple hours of daylight. But, just as I arrived at work in the morning, I realized I had made the most heinous, egregious, frustrating and teeth-gnashing error of all...I had forgotten my birding gear at home!!!

So, with much self-deprecation, I headed back to the west side of town after work. I got the equipment and resigned myself to some local park birding. I wish I could say there was some special sighting, some serendipitous occurrence whereby I was left thinking, "Wow! What great luck that I forgot my stuff earlier and was forced to come here, otherwise I never would have seen this interesting and beautiful rare bird (yes, that IS how I talk to myself)."

Encanto has been a great local patch, and does produce its share of surprises from time to time, including a Lewis's Woodpecker and Townsend's Warblers. But today was just a normal day, and there were just normal birds (life can be so so hard for birders). Now, I know I promised last week that I'd be one and done with duckling photos, but promises mean nothing to the birds! Encanto was overflowing with ducklings. I counted over 8 distinct Mallard families, each with 6 or more ducklings.

The Ducks weren't the only ones with young out and about. The Lovebird population at Encanto has always been pretty loud and large. Their numbers and noises were swelled by the numerous adolescents. The young Lovebirds have much less red on their face, have much darker coloration on their beaks, and they're noticeably smaller.

There were also some young Neotropic Cormorants hanging around. They were more petite than their older counterparts, and a little less shy. I'm assuming they're Neotropics from all of the brown, though to me the beaks actually look more Double-Crested. Any ideas?

This young un' looked to have a soggy diaper...

Birding at Encanto wasn't the original plan, but it was a nice evening. Their were lots of young birds and the weather dropped into the 70s for the first time this week. It's always good to have a Plan B.

Transfixed at Tres Rios

 For once I decided to be a really dedicated birder and actually try to be at my destination at sunrise. I was successful in that enterprise, but was regretting the choice of wardrobe as the temperature did not rise above 40 degrees for an hour, and I was in shorts. But it was another fantastic morning of birding at the Wetlands nonetheless. Pops met up with me a little later and between the two of us we saw sixty-six species and each got two lifers.

The day started off in an oddly presidential fashion. One of the last streets one crosses while heading down to Tres Rios is Van Buren. While heading south past Van Buren I was driving behind someone with a Washington license plate, and when I parked and exited the vehicle, I was greeted by my first Tres Rios bird, a Lincoln's Sparrow.

Pretty auspicious beginning eh? Well, things only got better. Roosting Great Blue Herons and American White Pelicans maintained constant air traffic up and down the pedestrian stretch, while the handsome Yellow-rumped Warblers and Orange-Crowned Warblers abounded in the low-canopy trees. There were still some wintering ducks on display, including a pair of Buffleheads, six Cinnamon Teal, and this single male Blue-Winged Teal--a species which I don't see enough.

Certainly the most conspicuous residents at Tres Rios were the Red-Winged Blackbirds. There were some Yellow-Headed too, but this time the Red-Wings stole the show. Their numbers continue to increase by the week, and the males are growing steadily more boisterous and belligerent. Of course, this means great viewing for the non-partisan bystander. From 6:30am to about 11am there was a constant cacophony of caterwauling Blackbirds. It was lovely at times, annoying at others, but unfalteringly impressive. Maybe the females felt the same way?

The males would only pause to catch their breath, maybe shift their weight, and then begin the chorus once more. Bulkiness and Braggadocio: the key to a Blackbird's success.



It wasn't just the loud birds out and about either. Of course, Sparrows and Finches abounded in the more arid regions of the trail. The Common Yellowthroats still taunted me with their ephemeral presence, and Common Gallinules slipped in and out of the reedy bank with deliberate silence.

If one really wants to see everything offered at the Tres Rios habitat, one must zig-zag between the river bank on the north side of the path and the woody margin on the south side. While the Red-Winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows dominated the north side, more muted birds like this Ash-Throated Flycatcher quietly went about their morning routine across the trail.

It was great to reacquaint myself with this confident and composed myiarchus flycatcher. They're often described as a common bird, but I do not see them very frequently. And seeing this bird up close, especially since I had never photographed it before, gave me the same sense of jubilation as when I first discovered it years ago.

But the Ash-Throated was just an appetizer for the awesome flycatcher to come. After rendezvousing with Pops and chasing after some Yellow-Rumped Warblers, we saw a Kingbird perched on the retaining fence across the water.

At first glance, it looked like a Western Kingbird--a cool but fairly common sighting once the weather warms. But, there were also lingering reports of a Tropical Kingbird in the area, and that alone merited a second look. The Kingbird alighted from the fence and treated us to a fine show of airmanship, capturing and subduing a large grasshopper for its brunch. As it resettled and we were able to a closer look...Sure enough! The darker yellow breast extended almost to the chin, and the tail was noticeably notched, whereas the Western Kingbird tail is squared at the end.

"So...come here often?"

New Bird! Very cool. Unfortunately, not all of the new birds for the day were so lively. I still have not seen a wild Barn Owl (nor, more embarrassingly, a Screech Owl). About 3/4 of a mile down the Tres Rios waterway I stumbled upon this once-mighty specimen, deceased for some time. A terrible shame.

Despite that morbid moment, there was still some great birding to be done. Pops and I had earlier been treated to fly-by sightings of Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks (new bird) and White-Faced Ibis. The birds were flying low over the water and disappeared into one of the occasional holding ponds. When we caught up, there was a representative of each species standing vigil on the cement walkway. 

With American Coots and Black-Necked Stilts also present, it made for a very cosmopolitan gathering.   The Whistling Ducks had been on the must-see/should-have-seen list for a while. They were far more beautiful than I expected, with their neatly colored and cropped plumage complemented by perfect posture.

It was a little bit unfortunate to be photographing perpendicular to the sun, but our view of the birds was most excellent. It was great to finally wet our Whistle. Oh and the Ibis? Yeah they're pretty great too. I'd never personally gotten such a good look at the glossy sheen, like mother-of-pearl.

But I think the award for best bird of the day goes to the Whistling Duck, even if the Tropical Kingbird is the rare one. It's unusual for me to see a new bird and get some presentable photos in the same instance. Additionally, the duck was totally stunning, and judging from that oozing-with-self-respect-posture, I'd say he knows it. Also, I guess the Grackle is cool...

With the afternoon getting underway, it was time to eject ourselves from the bird world and make our way back to the cars. Of course, we were birding on the way back, but perhaps the most interesting find was this antique television. It only had one channel, but it was a good one.

We'll have to return to Tres Rios soon for some more outstanding, commercial-free bird watching. I daresay the birding show at Tres Rios is an excellent program, viewable every day.

He Who Wears The Crown

White-Crowned Sparrows are mighty handsome birds. They suffer a bit from over-exposure here during the winter months as they descend on the Valley of the Sun in massive flocks. Even so, I really appreciate that they're a species consistently brave enough to stand their ground when the cameras come out. I had a great time photographing some foraging White-Crowns at the DBG a few evenings ago. Watching birds feed...does it make you pine for the good ol' hunter-gatherer days?

With the DBG in full bloom, it was a colorful all-you-can-eat-buffet, and the White-Crowns were loving every minute of it. I'm not sure they always knew what exactly they were eating, but hey, when you look this good, you don't need to know anything.

For some reason, I'd never taken a picture of the back of a White-Crowns head. Usually a bird's backside is a throw-away shot. But whenever I see the back of the White-Crown's cap I'm always reminded how cool it is. I hope my hair goes white in such a pattern.



The sulking juvenile still seemed a bit reticent to join in the feast, as if his parents were embarrassing him or he just thought the whole thing was, like, totally lame. He perched on the rusty garden fence and sullenly observed the dine-n-dash. Eventually he joined in too, as the juveniles always do.



Pretty birds. I'll miss them when they're gone.

The Whole Bloomin' Garden!

The Desert Botanical Gardens have long been a birding staple of Butlers Birds and Things. It's nearby, has a good variety of species, and brings the birds in close. But into the winter months, they often prune heavily and remove lots of the flowering vegetation. As such, the number of species and sightings drops off dramatically and birders are forced to look elsewhere. Well, the spring planting is now well established, the Gardens are in full bloom, and the birds are coming back. It was a great pleasure to return to these familiar grounds and have another great birding experience, as I had so often last year.

Not all of the winter birds have left yet, and the first to greet me was this confident White-Crowned Sparrow--a bird with a kingly bravery to match its kingly name.

And of course, there were Verdins. There are always Verdins, lots and lots of Verdins. I've never not seen a Verdin at the DBG. I've never gotten tired of seeing Verdins at the DBG : )

The Verdins and White-Crowned Sparrows had no problem being out in the open, nor did the multitude of Anna's and Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds that have descended on the flowering Gardens en masse. There were also some skulkers, some shy birds keeping to the shadows hoping the spastic camera man would pass them by. Wishful thinking birdies!

This Orange-Crowned Warbler was one such wallflower, the first of many I will see this spring.

This male Gambel's Quail was also being a bit mopey. Maybe he was just feeling a little bit trapped. Oh sigh, Mr. Quail, the grass is always greener on the other side...

Speaking of green, this frog was in a very bullish mood, and he filled the small swampy circle at the DBG with his boisterous boasting. This would be all well and good if I were not trying to 'pish' a Common Yellowthroat out of the reeds. Alas, the bullfrog won that singing contest.

This young male Anna's Hummingbird made for some particularly fun observations. He did not seem to like feeding while in flight, and would instead try to perch near or on his desired flower. When he found a nice perch on a fairy duster plant, he blended in very nicely.

When he turned his head and revealed his developing gorget, it was very complementary, his green back and spot of red fitting the color palette perfectly. Soon he'll have his full, manly gorget, and he'll terrorize the flower gardens and try to chase all the other birds away. Of course, this will attract all the more attention from us birders.