4/28/22
Becky had discovered that both Ringed and Green Kingfishers had been reported at Santa Ana NWR the day before (and not at Edinburg Wetlands where we had originally planned to go), so we zipped down to the refuge, only 15 minutes away, adding a flyover Caracara along Alamo Road! While Becky and Michael got their cameras ready in the parking lot, a Clay-colored Thrush sat in the top of a dead tree giving his querulous call, and a couple of White-winged Doves sat in the sun, while a Gray Hawk called in the distance. A Black-crested Titmouse incongruously perched for the longest time on an overhead wire, but by the time we all got our cameras ready he evidently became impatient with us and took off… J
I had warned them that, after the rains, their shoes would get caked with clay on the majority of the trails (except for the Chachalaca Trail and part of the Pintail Lakes Trail, which were good ADA caliche trails), but we’d give it a shot. Except for negotiating a small pond on the paved portion of the Chachalaca Trail J, that trail was in great shape, and we enjoyed singing Cardinals, another White-winged Dove, and an Eastern Kingbird in the morning light. At the first overlook we could see that the ponds were evaporating (a normal practice after the tourist season; many visitors are surprised to find out that most of the wetlands in the Valley refuges and parks have water pumped in artificially), so no kingfishers were to be had L. Across the way was another dead tree that sported a Chachalaca and an Altamira Oriole together, but way too far away for decent pictures, of course. A female Blue Grosbeak perched overhead and then took off, but the other overlooks proved to be just as sparse, so no more photo ops along here (another Altamira did appear overhead, but again, a little rough for photography)!
Michael and Becky on the Chachalaca Trail
We took the Tower Trail over to the main road,
where we enjoyed a Long-billed Thrasher thrashing and being pre-empted by a
White-tipped Dove strutting across the trail!
The Chachalacas were chorusing up a storm, and we happened to find a pair
somewhat in the open to photograph; the female was being particularly romantic
as she would cuddle with her mate after each “duet”!
Long-billed Thrasher tossing debris
The cutoff trail was a mess, so I suggested taking
the ADA trail over to the lakes. On the
way a male Bronzed Cowbird posed in a tree, which was a new bird for them (I convinced
Becky it was worth shooting – with the camera – as they’re a specialty of the
area, even though they’re also a brood parasite…)! Once out in the open area the trail turning
south was a little “cakey”, but not horribly so, but once we got to the
intersection it was really bad! There was a Greater
Yellowlegs snoozing in the closest pond, soon to be conveniently joined by two
Lesser Yellowlegs! Still no kingfishers
(although there was plenty of water in these lakes), but Becky was able to get
great shots of the feisty Least Grebes!
Michael and I opted to take the more grassy trail to the “lone tree” and a bench where he could clean his lens and I could get the rocks out of my shoes L, but on the way several shorebirds were close at hand and offered great photo ops: a handful of Least Sandpipers, a Stilt Sandpiper coming into breeding plumage, and three Long-billed Dowitchers! Becky made the circle and met up with us at the tree, where we added spoonbills, White Ibis, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks to the list (again, too far away for a decent shot), and a Ground Dove that shot across the trail. Returning to the main trail, a Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret sailed in, and Becky was able to shoot the shorebirds as well. A White-faced Ibis dropped into one of the far ponds too quick to get a good look at, much less photograph, and comedy relief was provided as Michael tried to photograph the pileup on mud on his shoes! I was particularly happy to hear my first Groove-billed Anis of the season, and then watch them flutter and sail across the open area, like a high-strung grackle! A little guy flew over to a sparse tree, and his upright position and fuzzy crown made me think it was a Beardless Tyrannulet at first (which got Becky all excited for sure), but upon closer inspection turned out to be a female Indigo Bunting… (I soothed her deflated feathers somewhat by assuring her that they’re also in Southeast Arizona, where they were headed after leaving the Valley!) When we finally made it back to the paved road, the Bronzed Cowbird was in a much better position for photography, showing off his red eyes and Darth Vader hood!
Michael and Becky under the "Lonely Tree"
Checking out the shorebirds (with the approaching un-forecast rain)
On the walk back we heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo sound off, and a Mississippi Kite false alarm turned out to be a young Swainson’s Hawk when he turned the right way! We were pretty much beat after that so decided to call it a morning with a respectable 56 species! Bird list:
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Mottled Duck
Plain Chachalaca
Least Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Inca Dove
Common Ground Dove
White-tipped Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Groove-billed Ani
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Stilt Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Neotropic Cormorant
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
White Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Turkey Vulture
Gray Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Crested Caracara
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Tropical Kingbird
Couch's Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Black-crested Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Long-billed Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Olive Sparrow
Hooded Oriole
Altamira Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
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