The epic Prescott!! My fifth visit.

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the late post.  After nearly a month after my last visit to Prescott, I made it back up to this awesome area again on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013.  It was birdy as usual, and I spent my time at Willow, Watson, and Lynx Lakes, as well as the southern stretch of Walker Road.

My first stop was at Willow Lake for over two hours.  My main target here was a WHITE-TAILED KITE, which an individual has been observed here for nearly the last month on a regular basis.  After 1.5 hours, I spotted my target, who was perched on an island in the reservoir.  The Kite stayed perched here for some time before hunting along the northwestern section of the lake briefly before returning to it's perch.  Based on the reports I have read, this bird has tended to stay more on the southern shore of the lake, where I was scanning from rather than the northwestern section of the lake.  This bird was a treat to see, rare in the Prescott area, and one I don't see too often in general.  Scanning Willow Lake, most of the abundance of waterfowl has departed, although there are still some lingering species, including a few REDHEADS.  Two NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS were found in midst of the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.  A nice surprise for me was a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN lazily floating on the lake.  I was hoping for a few terns and gulls, but the only one present was a single RING-BILLED GULL.  When I was walking to the lake upon my arrival, a male BLUE GROSBEAK was nice to see.  I recorded 40 species in the stop at Willow Lake.

Up next was a 1.2 hour visit to Watson Lake and the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.  It was a productive visit to this location, which produced 48 different species.  The best highlight was encountering 3 WOOD DUCKS (2 drakes, 1 hen) up close at a pond in the Watson Woods Preserve.  On the lake, a pair of lingering BUFFLEHEADS were also noteworthy.  I didn't have much in the way of migrants, but a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was very nice as well as 5 WARBLING VIREOS.  One of the Warbling Vireos was being mobbed by an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD and it was very irritated.

Up next I visited Lynx Lake for almost two hours.  The bird activity was rather quiet here overall as it was later in the morning.  30 species of birds included highlights of 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER, numerous LUCY'S WARBLERS (the highest in elevation you'll see this species), PAINTED REDSTARTS, 2 singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS on chaparral hillsides near the lake, and 2 HEPATIC TANAGERS.

Up next I continued driving south on Walker Road past Lynx Lake until the road turned into a dirt road after about 8 miles.  Here I got out of my truck and walked up the dirt road for a few miles starting in the Walker Community.  It is private property on both sides of the road through most of this stretch, so the birding has to be done from the road.  The forest birding here is incredible and it's one of my favorite spots in Prescott.  The habitat here are shady forests with Douglas fir stands, oaks, white fir, some aspen, and ponderosa pine with elevations ranging from 6300' to 7000'.  This location is excellent for seeing our southwestern forest warblers.  After parking along the road at a convenient pull off just after mile 8, I hiked over two miles south down this road (past mile marker 10) which rises gradually in elevation.  RED-FACED WARBLERS were abundant and seemed to be singing everywhere.  I counted at least 10-12 birds singing while I walked the two miles, and I only saw a few of them while searching the dense forest from the road.  PAINTED REDSTARTS were very numerous also, and the count numbered 8 of them.  About 5 of each of GRACE'S and VIRGINIA'S WARBLERS were also singing throughout the hike.  Further down the trail, I found a few OLIVE WARBLERS where a nice stand of ponderosa pines came in touch with the road.  These mountain forest warblers alone are worth a visit to this location.  Other birds along this route included ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, NORTHERN FLICKER, 4 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, 12-15 CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS, PLUMBEOUS and WARBLING VIREOS, a single STELLER'S JAY, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, all three NUTHATCHES, 3 BROWN CREEPERS, 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, singing HERMIT THRUSHES, 1 HEPATIC TANAGER, and numerous WESTERN TANAGERS and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS.  I also had a brief look at a young ACCIPITER that was rather large that very well could've been a Northern Goshawk.  This route is a very pleasant walk that gives excellent forest birding opportunities and is good exercise as well with the climb in elevation at places.  I highly recommend it!

On another note, after my Walker Road walk, I was reminded of an excellent article about our special Arizona warblers called "Arizona's Super Six" published in the Birdwatching Magazine by Charlie Babbit.  This article is awesome and it highlights 6 warblers that are pretty much only Arizona warblers:  Lucy's, Grace's, Virginia's, Red-faced, and Olive Warblers, and the Painted Redstart.  These 6 warblers are always popular for visitors and the route I did is excellent for seeing all 6 of them with the Lucy's at Lynx Lake and the lower elevations of Watson and Willow Lakes and the other 5 along Walker Road.  The Super Six are awesome to see in one day, and I haven't seen all six in one day very often, that was one of my main highlights from the day.  Check out Charlie's awesome and fun-to-read article at the link below, it's great reading:
http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/Getting%20Started/Featured%20Stories/2012/04/Arizonas%20Super%20Six.aspx

After Walker Road, I closed my day out by going for one more quick stop at Willow Lake.  Conditions can change here quick, and I scanned the lake one more time for anything noteworthy, which everything stayed similar for the most part as compared to my first visit.  2 drake WOOD DUCKS perched on an island, and I also added AMERICAN WIGEON and LESSER SCAUP to my daylist.  A PEREGRINE FALCON swooped in quickly and made a pass at the waterfowl before flying off.  The falcon was my 200th bird for Yavapai County, which is only the second county I've reached 200 species or more in.  I finished my day with a total of 95 species.

It was another great day of birding in the Prescott area.  It often takes me less than 1.5 hours to get to Prescott from Phoenix, and it's a very close and convenient way to escape the horrible and long-lasting heat that is approaching us quickly.

Picture Highlights:

The sexy White-tailed Kite...distant and still sexy

Blue Grosbeak

Wood Duck

Yellow Warbler

Black-headed Grosbeak

Birding the Prescott Area for the 3rd recent time..

Hi everyone,

I made another visit to bird the awesome Prescott area yesterday on April 19th, 2013.  This place is addicting to bird, and I keep on wanting to go back the second I have to go back to Glendale.  Yesterday the birding fun continued for me in this awesome area in a full 11 hour day of birding.  The birds were abundant and there was never a dull second in the four stops I made and birded during the day.  Two new stops were made for me on this route, which was the Kendall Camp Trail and Granite Basin Lake.  Those two locations were followed my another visit to both Willow and Watson Lakes.  

My first stop of the day was at the Kendall Camp Trail, which can be accessed by driving south for just over seven miles south on the Senator Highway off a dirt road.  This is a very nice birding area with good potential.  The Hassayampa River runs through this area, and creates a pleasant birding experience.  In the immediate area of the Kendall Camp Trail, the ponderosa pines are joined by both Douglas and white fir, a few aspens, and oaks.  I hiked the trail for about a mile, which was filled with birds and I was able to find my target plus many more goodies.  My target bird here was Greater Pewee, which are found reliably in this location by Prescott birders.  As I hiked up the trail and was coming close to the fences of Kendall Camp, I heard the "Jose-Maria" call of the GREATER PEWEE.  I quickly went in the direction of the song, and I eventually saw the Greater Pewee singing on top of the snag.  It was a big thrill for me, and this is a species I don't ever see often at all.  The Greater Pewee stayed high and had a few perches it flew back and fourth too a considerable distance apart where it sang frequently.  Another Greater Pewee sang below the first on a forested slope.  I have decided to name all Greater Pewee males Jose and the females Maria, at least the ones I encounter in the field!  Certainly a cool bird.  Besides Jose, I encountered plenty of other cool birds on the Kendall Camp Trail.  One was hearing a WILD TURKEY calling, which I didn't expect to hear.  A small flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew by at close distances.  BLACK-CHINNED and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS were both present.  There were also four DUSKY FLYCATCHERS in song during the course of my hike, most singing on the top of conifers.  4-5 PLUMBEOUS VIREOS were scattered throughout the trail, and a single HUTTON'S VIREO sang it's simple song a few times.  VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flew around above the trees.  All three NUTHATCHES were present: Pygmy, Red and White-breasted.  I also enjoyed hearing a few HERMIT THRUSHES in song.  This is one of my favorite birds to listen to, and it was the first time this year I have been able to do so.  VIRGINIA'S and GRACE'S WARBLERS were common on the trail, and I was able to find a one PAINTED REDSTART.  PINE SISKINS were very common, and a RED CROSSBILL flew over calling.  In over two hours of birding at the pleasant Kendall Camp, I found 34 species.  

Greater Pewee

Kendall Camp Views

Next up was my first visit to the Granite Basin Recreation Area to bird Granite Basin Lake.  I stopped here for almost two hours to explore the area, which I was impressed with.  The habitat here is high chaparral, rocky habitats, and ponderosa pine forests.  The small Granite Basin Lake has nice willow/cottonwood riparian habitat surrounding the lake.  There are many trail options to hike in this area, which makes it a popular destination throughout the year.  When I got out of the truck, the songs of CANYON WRENS and BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS were the first birds I heard.  They were 2 of the 42 species I recorded in this area.  Other highlights at Granite Basin Lake included an AMERICAN WIGEON on the small lake, BLACK-CHINNED and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER, BLACK PHOEBE, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, HUTTON'S VIREO, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BUSHTITS, JUNIPER TITMOUSE, BEWICK'S WRENS, LUCY'S, VIRGINIA'S, YELLOW-RUMPED, GRACE'S, and YELLOW WARBLERS; LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and LAZULI BUNTING.

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Granite Basin Lake

After Granite Basin, my third stop of the day was at a very birdy Willow Lake, where birded at for over three hours.  This lake birding wise is almost like the Gilbert Water Ranch or Sweetwater Wetlands of Prescott.  Things constantly change here by the day.  Right off the bat on this visit, I had a very nice highlight when I started at the north end of the lake by the boat ramp.  A flock of FRANKLIN'S GULLS floated on the water at very close distances at times.  They were a treat to see, and at one time I counted 25 Franklin's Gulls in the group at once.  From here I started to work my way around the lake.  A good diversity of waterfowl is still present, but the numbers are decreasing dramatically.  13 species of geese/ducks were represented best by two pairs of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a few CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS, and BUFFLEHEADS.  About ten EARED GREBES were on the lake, as was a single WESTERN GREBE.  One NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (possibly two) was at the lake in midst of the common DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.  A few GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS were on the lake, and a few birders also saw a rare-in-Prescott Cattle Egret.  Raptors were represented by OSPREY, COOPERS, SHARP-SHINNED, RED-TAILED, and ZONE-TAILED HAWKS.  Shorebird highlights included three WILSON'S PHALAROPES, three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and 4-5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS.  Both WESTERN and CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS were present.  A PLUMBEOUS VIREO foraged in a big stand of cottonwoods located at the western end of the lake, where a few CEDAR WAXWINGS were heard calling.  A CANYON TOWHEE was present near the north parking area.  Sparrows were found in SAVANNAH, LARK, BREWERS, CHIPPING, LINCOLN'S, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.  7-8 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in reeds around the lake was nice to see, and a male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was present in the cottonwoods.  A very productive visit at Willow Lake once again produced 77 species in the 3.5 hours.

Franklin's Gulls

Wilson's Phalarope

Blue-winged Teals

Bullock's Oriole

Yellow-headed Blackbird

My final stop of the day was at Watson Lake, which is just east of Willow Lake.  It was a very productive visit here birding wise as well.  11 ducks/geese were present here through my eyes, and I wasn't able to find the recent White-winged Scoter.  2 WESTERN GREBES found the lake.  When I walked down the Prescott Peavine Trail (which travels along the east side of Watson Lake), I came up upon a cove that held 10 more FRANKLIN'S GULLS.  Between here and Willow Lake, I had at least 35 birds.  Swallows put on a good show here, which included my first BANK SWALLOW of the year, and a single BARN SWALLOW among the 6 species.  BRIDLED and JUNIPER TITMICE were present along the trail.  A CRISSAL THRASHER also called from a nearby hill.  A sparrow highlight for me was a single RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW along the trail.  An EASTERN "LILLIAN'S" MEADOWLARK flew by and gave it's "zeet" call on my way back.  I had a total of 67 species at Willow Lake, which had a similar bird list overall to that of Willow Lake with a few differences.  Between these two neighbor lakes, I had 97 species.  Certainly an extremely productive area right in the heart of the town of Prescott.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Watson Lake

I ended the day in Prescott with a total of 119 species recorded in the four stops made, all within a rather short distance of each other.  It was a great day to be out birding in a great area.  The Prescott Audubon Society has an excellent website, which has a guide to the area's birding hotspots on it.  This guide covers the areas I have covered in my last three visits here, and it gives great directions and information about the birds and hotspots.  I have included a link to this guide from the Prescott Audubon Society at the link below:

http://prescottaudubon.org/birding/where-are-the-birds/sues-guide/

Jose Maria,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)