Blackpoll Warbler at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson

Blackpoll Warbler.  Found by Justin Jones on November 14th, 2009.  At Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson.

A Vagrant Shorebird!

August 7th, 2009:  Gilbert Water Ranch and Glendale Recharge Ponds-a Red Knot

Hey everyone,

Tonight at about 7:30 I refound the Red Knot earlier seen by Charles Babbit.  The bird was in the middle south pond at the southern edge. This basin is full of water. It flew back and fourth to the other side of the
pond several times when I was watching it, it seemed pretty skittish. I got to a point where I was able to film it good. When I got really close to the bird, unfortunetely my battery died, but I'm thankful with what I
got!  The juvenille Least Tern was still present, and I had at least 5 Semipalmated Plovers.

This morning, I birded at Gilbert Water Ranch.  Highlights among 51 species included a Black Tern who perched on a mud flat on Pond 5 and then flew around Pond 7 in pursuit of prey, a Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Wilson's Phalaropes, and Peach-faced Lovebirds.

Red Knot

Black Tern

Least Terns and more at Glendale Recharge Ponds

Hello Everybody,

I've birded at the Glendale Recharge Ponds the last three days and its been amazing.  Today I birded with Melanie Herring and Gary Nunn (fun birding with you guys; thanks again for giving me looks through the scopes!).  Please remember to keep in mind full consideration that SRP owns these ponds as Melanie and Troy noted earlier.  They have been extremely nice and cooperative to us birders, so lets give that back to
them in return by not interfering when they are really busy, and by listening and cooperating with anything they ask us to do.  This place is incredible and it would be awesome if we could have this place to bird at
now and in the future!

Today I found a Snowy Plover which was a lifer for me, which made up for not seeing the recent Red Egret or Black-bellied Plover. But the main highlight is always the Least Terns out here, especially seeing the young juvenille and getting to experience the first ever nesting record of Least Terns in Arizona.  This year in AZ has had MANY great finds and sightings, and this is one of the best for sure in my opinion.  The juvenille Tern is amazing to see and watch.  Other than the Terns the last three days, other birds of note that I have enjoyed includes Snowy Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bank Swallow, Peregrine Falcon, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Barn Owl, Wilson's Phalaropes, and literally tons of Stilts.

Least Terns

Snowy Plover

Bank Swallow

Western Tanager

On Mount Ord on June 27th, 2009.

There are many Great Blues in Arizona, but not many Little Blues

May 16th, 2009: Gilbert Water Ranch Little Blue Heron

Hey everyone,

I went to Gilbert Water Ranch yesterday afternoon and I was able to find
the Little Blue Heron still present in pond 1, who walked in a pattern
back and forth while feeding continuously.  He was feeding with other
Herons and Egrets.  I watched him and filmed from 3 to 4, in which the
heat was terrible, but I sat under a big tree along the water line where
the heron was closeby, and the tree offered good shade.  The heron at one
time walked literally 15 feet away from me.  He even walked about 200 feet
out in the middle of pond 1 to join a White faced Ibis who was feeding as
well.  By sitting still, most of the other herons and egrets didn't see,
to mind my presence either and came very close, and it was fun to watch
them. 

Little Blue Heron

Here is the link to my video of the Little Blue Heron on youtube, and it 
has a high quality button at the bottom right corner of the video screen 
if you wish to view in high quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAvMz1Yc4M

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

An Eastern Warbler in Arizona?! COOL!!!

April 16th, 2009: Tres Rios Wetlands and Gilbert Water Ranch

Hey Everyone,

I spent the day today birding Tres Rios from 6 Am to noon and Gilbert
Water Ranch from 2 PM to 7 PM.  I recorded 81 species all together at both
locations, plus a BURROWING OWL at Chandler Airport.

Main Highlight: AMERICAN REDSTART-female at Gilbert Water Ranch close to
the South Restrooms by pond 1, in the trees just to the left of the bench
that is dedicated to Ruth Gussio.

Other Highlights at Gilbert Water Ranch among 61 species:
WHITE FACED IBIS flock of 20
COOPER'S HAWK
PEREGRINE FALCON
GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS
BANK SWALLOW
PHAINOPEPLA
WILSON'S WARBLER
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE
BREWER'S SPARROW
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS

American Redstart

Highlights at Tres Rios among 51 species:
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS
OSPREY
4 ROADRUNNERS
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER
many BLACK VULTURES
VESPER and LARK SPARROWS
and also, 3 RACCOONS!!


Good Birding,
Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

Rare-in-Arizona Tennessee Warbler at Gilbert Water Ranch

March 31st, 2009.  A chase after this rarity after work.

My First Trip to Southeastern Arizona! Trogon included!

March 1st, 2009:  Birding at Patagonia Lake State Park-my first Elegant Trogon

Went birding and camping at Patagonia Lake State Park.  I didn't have alot of luck with a variety of different birds, but there were a few great sightings that I saw with my brother.

1. ELEGANT TROGON-The male trogan was along the mesquites this morning around 10 am on the birding trail, close to where the trail goes down by the stairs along close to the cattail marshes. Saw him where the creek runs into the lake as well.  About 10 other birders eventually came to
look at him as well, he was very tame and didn't mind human presence, everybody got right under him, literally.

2. BARN OWL-Saw him around 7 am on the Birding Trail as well where the Soniota Creek starts to run along the trail.  Would fly back and fourth in the cottonwoods when i'd try to get better looks.  Very awesome bird to see!  Keep an eye out for that as well.

Barn Owl

3. AMERICAN BITTERN-saw him yesterday at 2.30 PM on the birding trail, along the cattail march, close to where the stairs go down.  He stood out in the open, almost motionless, another birder showed him to me, and he was hard to pick out at first.

American Bittern

VERMILION FLYCATHERS in good numbers as well.

For those interested, I shot video of the male Elegant Trogon at Patagonia Lake State Park on Monday.  I have it on Youtube now, here is the link if you wish to view it:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3PF0HwOUOQ

And also, here is my video of the Barn Owl I found at Patagonia Lake State Park along the Birding Trail.  Click on the link once again to view it. Also, to view the videos in higher quality, click the "HQ" button in thebottom right-hand corner of the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h8pY5IZEaE

Good Birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben  (Glendale, Arizona)