April 28-29th, 2012: Birding Mount Ord, Morgan City Wash, and Glendale Recharge Ponds (my first Whimbrel)
Hi everyone,
This weekend of April 28th and 29th of 2012 was filled with some awesome
birding. It included a lifer, a strikeout on a potential lifer, many year
birds, some awesome birds I don't see enough of, plus an overnight camping
trip (a classic birding weekend). Three locations-Mount Ord, Glendale
Recharge Ponds, and Morgan City Wash provided this story. All in two
days!
The weekend really started on Friday, April 27th. That took place on what
was planned as a weekend long camping trip to Mount Ord, where I was
joined by my brother Tyler and my cousins T.J. and Trevor Knupp, who
aren't birders. They did help me out with owling at night, where none of
my forest hopefuls responded or called during the night. T.J. was
extremely sick the following Saturday morning, and we had to head for
home. I did get four good hours of birding in however near the top of Ord
and it's upper slopes before we went home..
We were camping right by the locked gate where the road continues to the
summit of Mount Ord (where authorized vehicles are only permitted). Our
campsite was almost right on the Maricopa/Gila County line, as we were
slightly in Gila County. I woke up on Saturday to an amazing abundance of
forest birdlife. Both WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGERS sang in our campsite,
and were right over my head as I first walked outside. A few PINE SISKINS
were also around and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS graced the sky in high numbers
from the start. Walking near the summit and around the upper slopes gave
me a good variety of warblers. I noted 1 OLIVE, 10+ VIRGINIA'S, 40+
YELLOW-RUMPED, about 10 GRACE'S, about 20-30 BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and 3
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, as well as 4 PAINTED REDSTARTS. Continuing to the
summit area of Ord, I was happy to find a single BAND-TAILED PIGEON, a
species I don't see often in Maricopa County. During the walk up the
mountain, I observed about 10 CHIPPING SPARROWS, some in full song.
Several WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were also nearby. Both Chipping Sparrows and
Western Bluebirds nest in this summit area, as both of them are very local
breeders in the county. As I was near the top, I could hear several
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS below me. I decided to walk down the forested slopes
on the Maricopa County side of the mountain that were more level to where
we camped, to try and get a visual of the owls. Tyler joined me, and the
owl called again and we were able to track the bird down. We both got
great visuals of the owl for over 30 minutes, who was actively mobbed by a
parade of different songbirds. As we went back to camp, an hour or so
later could hear the owl (or maybe a different owl), calling close to
camp. It was right near the road (on the Maricopa side), and I was able
to show T.J., Trevor, and Tyler the bird, which they all enjoyed. At one
time, the owl flew into Gila County, giving me a Gila bird. The Northern
Pygmy-Owl was by far my favorite bird of the morning. Other highlights
among the 36 species I recorded near the top of Mount Ord were ZONE-TAILED
HAWK, ANNA'S and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKERS,
PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON'S VIREOS, JUNIPER TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
CANYON and HOUSE WRENS, BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (in open and shrubby part of
one of the slopes), BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and SCOTT'S
ORIOLE.
This weekend of April 28th and 29th of 2012 was filled with some awesome
birding. It included a lifer, a strikeout on a potential lifer, many year
birds, some awesome birds I don't see enough of, plus an overnight camping
trip (a classic birding weekend). Three locations-Mount Ord, Glendale
Recharge Ponds, and Morgan City Wash provided this story. All in two
days!
The weekend really started on Friday, April 27th. That took place on what
was planned as a weekend long camping trip to Mount Ord, where I was
joined by my brother Tyler and my cousins T.J. and Trevor Knupp, who
aren't birders. They did help me out with owling at night, where none of
my forest hopefuls responded or called during the night. T.J. was
extremely sick the following Saturday morning, and we had to head for
home. I did get four good hours of birding in however near the top of Ord
and it's upper slopes before we went home..
We were camping right by the locked gate where the road continues to the
summit of Mount Ord (where authorized vehicles are only permitted). Our
campsite was almost right on the Maricopa/Gila County line, as we were
slightly in Gila County. I woke up on Saturday to an amazing abundance of
forest birdlife. Both WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGERS sang in our campsite,
and were right over my head as I first walked outside. A few PINE SISKINS
were also around and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS graced the sky in high numbers
from the start. Walking near the summit and around the upper slopes gave
me a good variety of warblers. I noted 1 OLIVE, 10+ VIRGINIA'S, 40+
YELLOW-RUMPED, about 10 GRACE'S, about 20-30 BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and 3
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, as well as 4 PAINTED REDSTARTS. Continuing to the
summit area of Ord, I was happy to find a single BAND-TAILED PIGEON, a
species I don't see often in Maricopa County. During the walk up the
mountain, I observed about 10 CHIPPING SPARROWS, some in full song.
Several WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were also nearby. Both Chipping Sparrows and
Western Bluebirds nest in this summit area, as both of them are very local
breeders in the county. As I was near the top, I could hear several
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS below me. I decided to walk down the forested slopes
on the Maricopa County side of the mountain that were more level to where
we camped, to try and get a visual of the owls. Tyler joined me, and the
owl called again and we were able to track the bird down. We both got
great visuals of the owl for over 30 minutes, who was actively mobbed by a
parade of different songbirds. As we went back to camp, an hour or so
later could hear the owl (or maybe a different owl), calling close to
camp. It was right near the road (on the Maricopa side), and I was able
to show T.J., Trevor, and Tyler the bird, which they all enjoyed. At one
time, the owl flew into Gila County, giving me a Gila bird. The Northern
Pygmy-Owl was by far my favorite bird of the morning. Other highlights
among the 36 species I recorded near the top of Mount Ord were ZONE-TAILED
HAWK, ANNA'S and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKERS,
PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON'S VIREOS, JUNIPER TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
CANYON and HOUSE WRENS, BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (in open and shrubby part of
one of the slopes), BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and SCOTT'S
ORIOLE.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
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Once I got back home on Saturday afternoon, I decided to go to the
Glendale Recharge Ponds in the evening, mainly to see Tracy McCarthey's
CASPIAN TERNS. I got to the basins and was able to see the nice flock of
six, who were very active during my visit. Thanks Tracy! Another
highlight at the ponds was my first SEMIPALMATED PLOVER of the year.
My plans for today, Sunday morning, were based on trying to relocate Troy
Corman's Blue-headed Vireo at Morgan City Wash. I met up with Tracy
McCarthey, Brendon Grice, and Steve Hosmer. The four of us spent the
morning searching for the vireo, who never appeared. We searched and
searched, but could only come up with BELL'S and WARBLING VIREOS. The
search was still fun and hopefully this bird will be the next addition to
the Maricopa County list, another amazing find by Troy. Besides missing
the vireo, we did have a good morning with a lot of migrants to look
through. Our best highlight was refinding Troy's female BROAD-BILLED
HUMMINGBIRD. This bird was cooperative for us, and a new county bird for
Tracy, Steve, and Brendon. The morning was filled with warblers, as we
encountered 10 different species. Highlighting this family were at least
10 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and a single HERMIT WARBLER. WILSON'S WARBLERS
were everywhere, and there were also a few BLACK-THROATED GRAY and
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS have returned, one of the
songs that is always great to hear for the first time after their return.
Another interesting sighting came of a pair of ZONE-TAILED HAWKS. These
hawks seemed to be scouting nesting areas, and circled around us for some
time before leaving the area. Other highlights at Morgan City Wash among
52 species included a flyover flock of WHITE-FACED IBIS, a calling WESTERN
SCREECH-OWL, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, BROWN-CRESTED
FLYCATCHER (many in the area), several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, LAZULI
BUNTINGS and a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.
After I got home, I saw the report from the Glendale Recharge Ponds from
Nathan Williams and I immediately headed for the ponds. I met up with
Tracy McCarthey for the second time today, and we enjoyed the rarities
once again at these productive ponds. My main highlight was the
continuing 2 WHIMBRELS. This bird was a lifer for me, and one I've been
looking for for several years in Arizona. These two Whimbrels never took
flight from basin 1 while we were there, and even vocalized several
times. It was a perfect way to get a lifer! Tracy's main highlight was
the continuing LEAST TERN, which was a year bird for her (as well as
me!). This small bird sat in the middle of basin one, and actively fed at
times. The Least Tern commonly sat among other larger birds, dwarfing in
comparison. We didn't see the California Gull. Other highlights included
AMERICAN WIGEON, WHITE-FACED IBIS, OSPREY, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a few
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, a single WILLET, and an increase in WILSON'S
PHALAROPES. Thanks to Nathan and the Kansas birders for finding and
reporting these awesome birds!
Whimbrels (my lifebirds!)
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Willet
these three locations (which are all very different!). 18 year birds and
1 lifer, making it a great weekend.
Good Birding,
Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)
