Seven Springs and Needle Rock

February 25th, 2010: Seven Springs Area, Needle Rock Recreation Site

Hey everyone,

Today I birded at the Seven Springs Recreation Area and on my way home I
stopped at the Needle Rock Recreation Site by Rio Verde.

It was a beautiful morning at Seven Springs where I enjoyed many of the
more high elevation species.  My trip there started good as a BOBCAT
crossed the road.  At Seven Springs I recorded 38 different species, with
the most unusual sighting being a young COMMON GOLDENEYE in Seven Springs
Wash who was swimming in the creek!  I was shocked at this, I didn't
expect it at all.  The Goldeneye dove in the deeper pools that were formed
in the creek.  When I first saw it, it flew away from me and I didn't get
the best look at it, so I walked slowly down the wash and was able to
relocate it.  This bird let me get extremely close to itself, and almost
seemed curious of me.  Walking along the main road through the recreation
site produced many AMERICAN ROBINS and CEDAR WAXWINGS.  A SAGE THRASHER,
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE where also a
great sight.  BUSHTITS, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, and JUNIPER TITMOUSE where all
present as well, at one time in a mixed flock.    Other notables included
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS (2), WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (my
first of the year), WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and HOUSE WREN.

Common Goldeneye

I then stopped at Needle Rock Recreation Site on the way back.  Much of
this area is closed off due to sensitive wildlife area at this time of
year, including the nearby Box Bar Recreation Site, which I wanted to see
the most.  I didn't see much at Needle Rock in a couple hours, but I
really enjoyed exploring the area.  A COOPER'S HAWK and HARRIS'S HAWK sat
on the same tree, which was my highlight here.  A COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was
also present.

Good birding,
Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

Tucson and Santa Cruz Flats Birding

February 16th, 2010: Tucson Birding

Hi everyone,

Well today I finally stepped foot out of Maricopa County for a half day
trip to Tucson areas.  I chased several of the local rarities and then
went to Sweetwater Wetlands and stopped by Santa Cruz Flats on my way back.

My first stop was at Ridgeway and Seneca St. to look for the SHORT-TAILED
HAWK, and right when I got there, the bird landed in the pine tree around
7.40.  He didn't stay long at all this time, and he faced a direction to
the side where his breast didn't show well, in which I couldn't get the
pictures I wanted of the bird.  But at least I got to see it!  I tried to
go to a different angle while he was perched there to get a better view,
and during that amount of time, he flew away and I missed that too!

Short-tailed Hawk

My second stop was at McCormick Park, to look for the RED-BREASTED 
SAPSUCKER, and I got extremely lucky and found this bird in more of the 
northwest corner of the park, in a medium-sized pine tree.  I heard it 
pecking lightly on the wood and I'm lucky I even heard it.  The bird then 
reveiled itself and I got amazing close up looks.  It flew around to 
several trees at near this pine tree before I lost it, and chased away 
several Gila Woodpeckers it didn't like having around.  A very vocal male 
VERMILION FLYCATCHER was also a nice treat here.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Vermilion Flycatcher

Sweetwater Wetlands was next, which was more quiet.  I recorded 47 species 
in about 2 hours, but that is probably due to the fact it was later in the 
morning.  Highlights included a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYE flying overhead, 
BUFFLEHEADS, SORA, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and most interestingly to me, 
3 LEAST SANDPIPERS in the small pond (bath) at the entrance gate.  Has 
anyone else ever seen them at this spot?  I found it unusual.

My stop at the Santa Cruz Flats was pointless on my way home.  I missed 
all my targets, and I was confused with the area because this was my first 
visit to the location, it was way more extensive than I thought.  I know 
where the Caracaras are seen most of the time, I made it there, and I 
couldn't even pull up one bird.  Maybe next time!

My first ever Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Way out of place, this Tyrannulet!  Found by Steve Ganley at the Butcher Jones Recreation Site on the Lower Salt River Recreation Area.  I got to see it on January 13th, 2010!

The Salt River is also home to many ducks, raptors, and songbirds.  The Canvasbacks are always neat to see!

My first Northern Parula

Hey everyone,

The NORTHERN PARULA in Scottsdale was still present today around 4 PM by the lake right behind Buster's Restaurant, in the place where Troy saw it yesterday, in the last cottonwood at the southeast end of the lake.  I really enjoyed watching this bird, it was a lifer for me and it's been on my wishlist for a long while!  The BROWN CREEPER was still present too, in the same tree.  That's an unusual sight to have both those to birds practically side by side in Scottsdale, I'll probably never be able to see that sequence again!  Also, the Northern Parula was my 250th bird for Maricopa County, an awesome bird for the 250 mark.  In the year of 2009, I had 246 birds for Maricopa.  Hopefully this year I'll be able to find many more.

Hopefully all of your new years are off to a great start!

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

Northern Parula

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