Lake Havasu - (Arizona's west coast)

Most people with any knowledge of Geography, will say 'How can there be a West Coast in Arizona?'  That would be a very valid question, but to many birders in Arizona, the Lower Colorado River Valley is oftentimes referred to as Arizona's West Coast.  The border with Nevada and California is basically water in the form of the Colorado River and the various lakes and dams that are found here.  This is a place where a huge variety of birds can be found in Arizona, but hardly no where else in the state.  It is a bit of a drive from the urban setting of Phoenix, but well worth the drive to add birds to a personal list.  A scope is a very important necessity if one wants to really benefit from the addition of new species.  I was contacted by a couple of excellent birders that very kindly invited me to join them on a 1 day trip to the Lake Havasu area, Tommy DeBardeleben and Mark Ochs.  It is always a pleasure to join both of these birders as I seem to gain a wealth of knowledge and get some new life birds. 

 

One of our first stops was the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge Overlook where I picked up 3 new life birds, Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, and White-winged Scoter.  The Scoter was too far out for photos, but thanks to both Tommy and Mark and their scopes, I was able to still get a good look of this bird, which completed my list for all 3 species of Scoters in the United States and also in Arizona.  The Barrow's Goldeneye is a bird I have long had on my want list.  The Common Goldeneye is much more common and can be found in other parts of Arizona in the winter and on Lake Havasu, it was easily the most common of the 2 species.  But with careful observation, a few Barrow's Goldeneyes were in the mix and the drakes of both of these species are stunning.

 

Barrow's Goldeneye

 



 Barrow's Goldeneye on top & Common Goldeneye below

 

The Greater Scaup is a bit more of a challenge.  Lesser Scaup are also very common in much of Arizona in the winter, but the Greater Scaup is not easy to find and to identify as both species are very similar to the untrained eye. 

 

Greater Scaup-female

 

Most of the Western Grebes were far out in the lake, but eventually, one of them decided to trust these 3 humans on land and sailed close enough for a better look, maybe to check out our crowns. (That can be seen at the end of this post!)

 

Western Grebe

 

While we were checking out all the waterfowl, we were treated to a fly-over of the rare Blue-footed Booby that has been there for some time and also a couple Bald Eagles including this adult. 

 

 Bald Eagle

 

The next stop was a place called Mosquito Flats over a rough and rocky road about 2 miles off the highway.  We had one bird in mind when we came visiting this spot.  A couple of years ago a bird that is usually found only in southern Mexico, was found by 2 excellent birders in the Lake Havasu area, Lauren Harter and David Vander Pluym. This bird is the Nutting's Flycatcher and they have been monitoring this bird now for over 2 years and they discovered that a 2nd one had joined the first.  Then just this last spring they discovered that this pair had bred and raised a couple more in this same area.  This is a remarkable find and even more remarkable to find and document the first breeding of this species in Arizona.  This bird belongs to the family of Myiarchus flycatchers and many of these birds are similar in appearance, but their calls set them apart from each other along with some variations in size and other visual differences.  We spent a great deal of time looking and listening for this bird and finally heard it give out 3 very distinct call notes on the north side of the road, so we knew it was there somewhere in the dense vegetation.  We spent time going in and looking and finally came back out on the road and waited and watched some more.  We were spread out a bit and I happened to hear a flutter back behind me on the south side nearer to the high cliff and looked around and there it was.  It did not take long for all 3 of us to get great views of it and we observed it as it moved from one tree to another.  Unfortunate part for me was that I had left my camera in the car, so by the time I got it and back, the photo opportunities were not that great, but I did manage to get at least one fairly decent photo of this 4th new life bird.  It was just exciting watching this bird's behavior.

 

Nutting's Flycatcher

 

At another stop along the eastern shoreline of the lake where we made a brief stop, we found a Common Loon fairly close to the dock.  Not a life bird by any means, but always a nice find in Arizona and then to have one fairly close to the shore is a big plus.

 

 Common Loon

 

Finally we come to the gulls of Havasu.  Once a person sees the amount of gulls in this area, it does remind a person of being on a coastline somewhere.  Of course the most common gull found here is the Ring-billed Gull.  They are usually seen at various lakes within the state of Arizona, but at this location they probably number in the hundreds or maybe even the thousands. 

 

Ring-billed Gull

 

But along with the regular gulls, this location at times gets some rarities and this time we had two 1st year Herring Gulls which is a hard bird to find in Arizona.

 

Herring Gull, 1st year

 

On this day we also discovered an unusual 1st year gull, which Tommy decided was probably a Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid.  After consulting other experts we think the general consensus is this rare hybrid. 

 

 Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid

 

 Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid

 

Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid

 

What a great day of birding and the 3 Phoenician Kingbirds finally left Lake Havasu with a lot of memories and photos.  (Obviously, we received a lot of strange looks from others while we were wearing our crowns!  Might as well have some fun while we are birding!)

 

 Mark and Tommy

 

Tommy and yours truly

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hackberry Springs Loop Trail

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for a new trail to hike and a FB and birder friend suggested I try the Hackberry Springs Loop Trail.  (Thank you Pam Barnhart.)  So I took off after reading a link about this trail and I discovered that it is not marked with any kind of markers and I got to a point that I was not sure which fork I should take and I used my GPS app to direct me back to the trailhead parking lot.  When I researched it again, I discovered where I went wrong and today I decided to go back and give it another shot.  All I can say is WOW!  I missed a lot on the first trip and today I discovered how great this place really is.  It is beautiful and scenic and has a variety of habitats.  And the best part, almost no other hikers.  I never met one person on the first trip, and today I only met 2 other hikers.  Great solitude and lots of time to check out birds and other critters.

 

My hike around this loop was 5.8 miles in length with an accumulative elevation gain of 700' which tells you that it is not the easiest trail to hike on, but definitely not one of the most difficult.  There are some areas of scrambling over some boulders, but nothing too difficult.  I tallied 25 species of birds today which is not earthshattering, but found a really good mix and I am excited to check this place out during spring or fall migration as it appears to maybe be a good migrant trap.  If taking the trail counterclockwise, it starts out in typical desert terrain of canyons and dry washes.  It was along this stretch of trail that I got my first photos of the day and it happens to be a very handsome bird, the Spotted Towhee.  This species at one time, along with the Eastern Towhee, was lumped into one species, the Rufous-sided Towhee.  Some years ago, they were split into 2 distinct species with different ranges. Usually a somewhat shy and elusive bird, they do not always pose for photos, but spend a great deal of time like most towhees, scratching in leaf litter under shrubs and bushes.

 

Spotted Towhee

 

Eventually the trail ascended to a flat plain and along that uphill walk a Black-throated Sparrow posed for me.  This bird was the second most common bird for me on the hike today and I heard their tinkling call notes at many places along the trail and got to see many of them flying from one grassy-shrubby area to another. 

 

Black-throated Sparrow

 

At the top of this climb is a flat grassy plain interspersed with Mesquites, Cholla and Saguaro Cactus.  I was finding a lot of Northern and Gilded Flickers, Gambel's Quail, Curve-billed Thrashers, Cactus Wrens, and the most abundant species today, the White-crowned Sparrow.  Nothing rare, but it is always a delight when one can find Northern and Gilded Flickers in the same habitat. The Cactus Wrens were very vocal throughout the hike, but not too many actually made themselves visible.  Also had a lone Vesper Sparrow kind of hanging out with the White-crowned Sparrows.

 

Cactus Wren

 

Vesper Sparrow

 

This is where the trail can get a bit tricky as the trail to Hackberry Springs is not marked and one has to know where to head west.  This area being flat is very easy walking and eventually one comes to a huge canyon where the trail leads down and around.  The views are outstanding and the trail, which is rocky where you really need to watch your footing, eventually leads down to the bottom of the wash area and into the dry streambed itself.  Here is a photo of the landscape just before descending down into the wash area.  What a view!

 

View looking NE from the top of the flat plateau area just before decending

 

Once in the bottom area, a few old Cottonwood Trees were found which only adds to the great habitat for birds and other critters.  This is also where the trail starts heading south along the bed of the wash and the canyons start closing in to a narrow gorge and channel which is strewn with boulders.

 

 Entering the riparian stream bed area

 

This is the beginning of entering the narrow gorge

 

Walking through this gorge was awesome and upon emerging on the other side I discovered small pools of water in the stream bed which really adds to the flora and fauna of this area amid the dry desert landscape.  Of course water means life for more animals and birds and one of the first birds I found in this area was Rufous-crowned Sparrows.  Guess I was a bit surprised at first as this is a species that I have found only in 2 other locations in Maricopa county and both of those locations are higher altitudes.  But this is another reason that this place appears to be something special with a lot of potential.  Within 10 yards of the Rufous-crowned Sparrows a group of 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets were also foraging in the trees and just another 20 yards down the wash I came upon the first of 2 Canyon Wrens.  This is perfect habitat for these most colorful of the North American wrens.  And with the narrow walls in this area they were fairly easy to see and photograph. 

 

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

 

 Canyon Wren Number 1

 

Canyon Wren Number 2

 

 Some of the small pools of water

 

This is a view of the narrow gorge looking back from where I walked

 

As I was making my way back to the trailhead a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher made an appearance and since it is one of my favorite birds I could not help trying to capture a couple of photos even though I have dozens of photos of this species already.  And in the process of shooting multiple shots, it decided to take flight.  Usually when that happens I end up with a photo with nothing but a branch or twig.  Well this time that split second captured the take-off flight and the underside of the tail really shows why this bird is called 'Black-tailed' Gnatcatcher.

 

 Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

 

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

 

Of course my avian friends were not the only creatures I saw, so will leave with a few photos of these other wonderful creatures.

 

 Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly (open for corrections)

 

 Dragonfly Nymph, this was new to me, had never seen one before, under about an inch of water in one of the pools of water.

 

Red-spotted Toad

 

 Unknown Butterfly (open for identification)

 

 Orange Sulphur Butterfly

 

Arizona Desert Tarantula

 

This has to have been one of my favorite hikes with the gorgeous scenery and then to top it off all the great avian and other wildlife that I encountered.  I will be visiting this place a bit more often, especially in bird migration season to see what it might hold.  If one is a fairly experienced hiker, it is not too difficult; I would rate it as a moderate hike.  But since it is very isolated and very few people are seen, if you are unsure of yourself or getting lost, then tackle it with a bit of caution.  Now that I know the trail, I am no longer apprehensive of how to get there and get around.  (Would not want to get caught in the narrow gorge during a heavy monsoon downpour of rain!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Butcher Jones Beach & Saguaro Lake

Saturday October 26th and where should I go?  Since my last trip to the lower Salt River Area was shortened, I decided to go out and start at the far end at Butcher Jones Beach Recreation Area of Saguaro Lake.  A Tonto Forest permit is required to go to all the places along the Salt River and this is no exception.  Passes can be purchased in Mesa before heading out to any of these locations. 

 

I arrived early as usual when the birds are beginning to wake from the night. It was chilly being near the water and as usual, I began my trek by taking the hiking trail that follows the north and eastern shore of the lake and shortly I came across a Cactus Wren in the process of building a nest.  I doubt if this was a nest for breeding purposes at this time of the year, but perhaps more of a roosting nest to be used during the winter months.  I had witnessed the same behavior by another pair but in a different location the weekend before.  It is amazing how much nesting material they can accumulate in their beak at each trip in returning to the nest.

 

 Cactus Wren

 

Cactus Wren

 

Throughout the edges of the lake and in the cattails, the Marsh Wrens were being their typical self in announcing they had returned for the winter and were claiming their piece of turf.  Always readily heard but very elusive in being seen, this bird has always been one of my favorite winter birds in Arizona.  Finally along the trail that follows a finger of the lake that reaches up into one of the canyons a couple were being very vocal and since the cattails were in a narrow strip in the lake, and the trail was right along the edge where it abruptly had steep sides that were filled with mesquite, these birds were foraging not only in the reeds, but the mesquites as well and were a bit easier to see. 

 

Marsh Wren

 

Marsh Wren

 

Across this finger of the lake a female Belted Kingfisher found a tree that it preferred over the one that I flushed it from on my side of the water.  This species is notoriously skittish and definitely like to keep their distance from humans.  Once in a while they will allow a closer approach, but not often.  Even at a distance, I still enjoy shooting a couple of photos just to document my sighting of them.  This is another bird that visits us in winter and is admired by almost all birders.

 

Belted Kingfisher - Female

 

On the trail when returning to the beach area a few White-crowned Sparrows were found foraging on or near the ground.  There are about 5 subspecies of this bird and only recently have I tried to start learning the differences in the 2 subspecies most often seen in Arizona, oriantha and gambelli.  This bird in the photo is gambelli which has an orangish/yellow bill and a whitish/light gray supraloral. 

 

White-crowned Sparrow (gambelli)

 

Once I returned to the beach area and was preparing to move on to another spot, a very vocal pair of Black Phoebes decided to be very cooperative with me.  This is a bird seen all year in Arizona just about anywhere near some kind of water.  By now the sun had risen and was really highlighting their dynamic pattern.

 

 Black Phoebe

 

Black Phoebe

 

After leaving Butcher Jones Beach, I decided to stop by the marina area to see what I might find.  It was quickly filling up with people so I did not stay long.  But I did manage to find a trio of Pied-billed Grebes, which are common but so likable and with the sun behind me while I was trying to capture a photo or two, one of them decided it was time for a stretch and I got a nice sequence of photos of it during that short time frame.

 

 Pied-billed Grebe

 

 

And finally, one more photo of one of these cuties that swam right up near to where I was standing which created a nice reflection off the blue sky.

 

Pied-billed Grebe

 

Definitely a great morning with some great common birds and watching and observing them in their natural habitats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pima Canyon Wash - 19 Oct 2013

On Saturday October 19, I took to Pima Canyon Wash again, but this time with someone new that had never been birding before.  Fellow worker, James Tryon joined me in my hike over my familiar trail and showed a keen interest in birds.  He has been in this same area before, but like most hikers on these trails, was not aware of the bird life that abounds in this dry desert wash.  I did not find anything new or unusual on this trip, but it was very rewarding in the fact that James was quite interested in what I was finding and pointing out to him.  These are birds that are very common for me as I have seen them countless times, but it is always an eye-opener when someone new to birding gets their first look at some of these birds and seeing and hearing their reactions.  It quickly reminds me of how unique and wonderful all these birds are and why I still enjoy them like I do. 

 

I arrived at the parking lot before the sun came up and was treated to a magnificent full moon setting in the western sky.  So of course a photo of the moon was in order.   

 

 

Since it was dawn and still fairly dark, some of the first birds were not that readily seen with any clarity.  But the first bird that made itself presentable and that James got to look at and observe was a Black-throated Sparrow.  This is one of those birds that often go unnoticed since they are a sparrow and do not exhibit any bright and bold colors.   They are also most generally ground feeders that frequent the areas below small bushes and in the grasses.  Their overall brown and gray colors often blend in with their surroundings making them difficult to see.  But they are very common and if one has the patience to look for them and listen for them, they can be found.  Once you see one up close and see that stunning black throat and those bold black and white markings on the head, then one can truly appreciate the beauty of these 'little brown birds'.

 

Black-throated Sparrow

 

A couple of Cactus Wrens were very active in gathering nesting material and building a nest in the forks of a Saguaro Cactus.  Not their normal choice for a nest when breeding as they prefer to nest and raise young in various cholla cacti.  This nest in a large Saguaro will most likely be used as a roosting nest for the winter months.  This one appeared to be gathering as much as it could fit within the confines of its beak.

 

Cactus Wren

 

Rock Wrens were calling from all sides of the canyons and were not being very cooperative until on our trip back down the wash to the parking area, when I spotted a movement in the dead brush and rocks.  A minute or two later this one popped out into view and allowed great looks for us as well as showing off its behavioral habit of bobbing up and down.

 

Rock Wren

 

The Loggerhead Shrike is a bird that I can count on finding at almost every visit to this place.  There is a resident pair that has successfully bred for the last 3 years.  A very striking bird in its gray, black and white outfit.  James mentioned that they remind him of an Air Force Cadet, and I thought that was a pretty good description for these birds. 

 

Loggerhead Shrike

 

Another common bird to be found in this location is the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, but it is another one that is often overlooked by hikers, bikers and others walking the trails.  Many of the hikers and runners are too busy listening to their electronic devices with their ear buds, so they would not hear this tiny bird.  They are actually a bit larger than the various hummingbirds, but as they go about foraging for insects in the low bushes and trees, they are easily missed.

 

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

 

The Curve-billed Thrasher is a bird that is common in a lot of habitats in Arizona.  They can be found in urban settings as well as these dry canyon wash areas.  Many times I will hear them before actually seeing them with their loud 'wit-a-weet' call that is very familiar.  They are another one of those plain brown birds and are much larger than sparrows and gnatcatchers, but that brilliant orange eye and that thick curved bill set them apart and really give them a magical look. 

Curve-billed Thrasher

 

The only mammal that I was able to photograph was a 'wild' canine (alright the adjective 'wild' is really out of line as this one was about as cute and friendly as it could be).  Near the apex of our hike we happened upon a very nice man who was getting his very behaved dog, Dominick, to pose for photos on the rocks.  What a friendly little guy he was and Neil Liszt was kind enough to allow me to shoot a couple photos of his very photogenic canine companion.  So much for the wildlife of Pima Canyon that day! 

 

Dominick

 

Even though this was a familiar hike for me, seeing all the regular birds that I usually encounter in this spot, it is always gratifying to open up the wonderful aspects of the avian world to new people.  Who knows, but we might have another future birder!