Part 2 of an Awesome Week of Birding

On February 7th I went on a rarity ramble across the East Valley with Mr. Gordon Karre. We met at the Rio Salado Audubon Center early in the morning to head over to Coon Bluff. I had gone to Coon Bluff three days before, with Mr. Tommy and missed a beautiful adult Harris's Sparrow that has been hanging out with a small flock of White-crowned Sparrows. Mr. Gordon saw this bird about a week ago and crushed it, so I guess Mr. Gordon seems to be a HASP magnet. We arrived at Coon Bluff before the sun rose, so we birded around the the river for a bit before heading towards the sparrow spot. Coon Bluff is one of the best spots in the state to see Phainopepla. Everywhere we looked there was a Phainopepla or two on top of a mesquite! Here are some photos of the abundant species seen around the mesquite bosque areas.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Gila Woodpecker

I present to you "The Phainopepla!"

Phainopepla--Male

Phainopepla--Female

Gila Woodpecker with a Phainopepla in the background

Once the sun rose we drove over to the spot where the Harris's has been seen.We then hiked through the area for a good hour before walking onto the other side of the road. After coming up empty on the other side of the road Mr. Gordon asked me "So what do you want to do now Caleb?" I then told him "Maybe we could check the area one more time, really quick" So we searched the area where the sparrow has been seen most of the time. Mr. Gordon and I then split up a little ways when I saw a sparrow right in front of me, when I lifted my binocs this is what I saw.

A few things stood out with this bird: it had a bright bill and legs, it had whitish flanks, and its face was plain. That was when I knew it was the Harris's Sparrow!!! The bird then perched on the ground in the shade of the tree (which I guess it does a LOT!) 

Harris's Sparrow

After the bird flew away I then got Mr. Gordon and told him I had the bird. His excitement all of a sudden rose and we found our selves getting great shaded looks at the Hansom Harris's!

Harris's Sparrow

After watching the bird for a while it even came out into the light!

Harris's Sparrow

We then told Harris goodbye and drove over to our next stop at ASU, where a Chestnut-sided Warbler had been seen. As soon as we arrived I started pishing and the bird responded very well!

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Then we drove over to Arrowhead to look for a Eurasian Wigeon that has been seen over the winter. When Mr. Gordon parked the car he quickly saw it from across the pond. Once we walked around the lake we were rewarded with amazing views, and at one time I could have picked up the bird! Hey, that's not a bad idea, I could kidnap the bird and drop it off at one of the ponds on my Patch and count it for my patch list! Nah, I guess I have to find my own.

Eurasian Wigeon

After watching the wigeon for a while we returned to Rio Salado to do a little birding before a class, that was at the Audubon Center. We didn't see anything out of the ordinary but I saw I super strange back lit Gadwall, that made me think of a Red-necked Grebe! I had a fun day of birding and got two more lifers, once again (HASP and EUWI). Thanks Mr. Gordon for the enjoyable day of lifering!

Hitting a Big Speed-Bump!

As written in the title I have hit a speed-bump in my blogging. Luckily I have finally gotten past the bump, but I am now catching up on my past birding posts. So I am putting my highlight photos from January and late December (out of my patch)  in this post.

 

On December 23rd I did a Christmas Bird Count with Mr. Troy Corman at Tres Rios. Out of the many highlights, I photographed these two awesome birds.

 

Chestnut-sided Warbler--Lifer!

White-throated Sparrow --one of two

 

On New Years Day I had an awesome morning of birding at Lake Pleasant with Mr. John Kafel. I got three lifers that morning, they were Common Loon, Black Scoter (2), and a White-winged Scoter.

 

I wonder which one's the White-winged?

Male Black Scoter--note the orange is starting to appear on the bill

Female left, male right

White-winged Scoter

 

My next amazing day of birding was on the 21st when Mr. Tommy Debardeleben and I joined forces to bird at the world renowned Thrasher Spot  as well as the Arlington area and my Patch. Here are some of the photos from the trip.

 

Bell's Sparrow--note that the maler is darker than its face

 

Sagebrush Sparrow--note that its maler is the same color as its face

 

 

LeConte's Thrasher

 

 

Bendire's Thrasher

 

Crissal Thrasher

 

 Sage Thrasher

 

 On January 31st I was supposed to lead a birdwalk to the Arlington and Buckeye areas, but due to a possibility of rain that day no one wanted to come. That all changed when I got an E-mail from Mr. Gordon Karre, that he would still like to do the walk, and so would Ms. Susan Fishburn, Ms. Babs Buck, and Ms. Barbara Meding. Once I got this E-mail I was pumped! So on the 31st I went birding with some fun people and had a fun time. Although the lighting wasn't good I was able to snap a couple of decent shots.

 

Burrowing Owl

 

Peregrine Falcon

 

You can expect some more old posts in the near future, but hopefully I will be caught up soon.