MARCH, APRIL, & MAY 2003

By Janet Witzeman

Individual Pacific Loons were observed at Lake Havasu Apr. 5 (CB,SS) and at Montezuma Well, n. of Camp Verde May 20 (DG) and was still present there May 28 (RWd,BD,AV). Two late-staying Eared Grebes (usually gone by the end of April) were seen at the Gila Bend sewage ponds May 24 (TC). A Clark’s Grebe, observed at Gillespie Dam Apr. 28 (DP) was later than previous records for the county. Am. White Pelicans continued to be seen: two groups of 30 each were seen east of 107^th Ave. and the Salt River and west of 115^th Ave. and the Gila River Mar. 19 (MR), Mar. 29 (TH), and Apr.  5 (L&KB). Another group of 15, observed at Gillespie Dam Apr. 20 (RWz,SBu), had dwindled to three by May 24 (TC). The three Brown Pelicans that wintered at Tempe Town Lake continued to be seen at least until Mar. 9 and at least two were reported there  until Apr. 22 (m.ob.).

One of the 22 Neotropic Cormorants at the Painted Rock Rd. heron rookery was discovered building a nest there May 10 – a new nesting record for Maricopa County (TC). Two Neotropic Cormorants, seen with Double-crested Cormorant at the base of Roosevelt Dam May 10 (JK), were in an area where the species had not been recorded previously. Six pairs of Double-crested Cormorants were found nesting at the Painted Rock Rd. henry Apr. 19 along with nesting Black-crowned Night Herons, Cattle Egrets, Great Egrets, and Snowy Egrets (MR). An adult White Ibis was discovered near Arlington May 10 (DLu,EC) and seen again May 24 at the Cobble Ponds (MP,DY). There have been only two previous county records. A large group of 22 Black Vultures were reported along El Mirage Rd., n. of Southern May 23 (TH).

Two Greater White-fronted Geese were observed on Roosevelt Lake Mar. 1 – 3 (JE). A male Wood Duck was seen Mar.1 at the Gilbert Water Ranch (DP) where a pair had been reported Feb. 17 (GR). Three late-staying N. Pintails were observed above Gillespie Dam May 24 (TC). Two male Greater Scaup were reported at Bill Williams Delta Apr. 5 (CB,SS). A late-staying male Lesser Scaup was seen at the Gila Bend sewage ponds May 24 (TC). The three White-winged Scoters that wintered below Parker Dam were still present there Apr. 5 (CB,SS). The Long-tailed Duck that wintered at Gila Farms Pond was still present there Apr. 19 (PD). A female Com. Goldeneye was reported at the Gilbert Water Ranch Mar. 1 – 9 (DP) and eight were observed at the Jaeger Pond, Paloma Ranch Mar. 14 (HD). Six very late Com. Mergansers were seen on one of the Apache Trail lakes May 10 (JK). Usually this species is not seen after the end of March; there were no previous May records for the county.

A White-tailed Kite, rare in spring, was observed near Maricopa Rd. and I-10 May 26 (RD). Individual N. Harriers were seen on the late date of May 10 at the Hassayampa River Preserve (NL) and at Arlington (DLu,EC); the species is rarely seen after mid-April. At least one of the pair of Red-shouldered Hawks at the HRP was seen there May 10 (DLu,EC).

A pair of Clapper Rails were heard calling at 115^th Ave. and the Gila River May 10 (TC). Many pairs of Black-necked Stilts and Am. Avocets were found at a new nesting location May 10 at the newly constructed wetlands in the Lewis Prison complex off of Hwy. 85 (TC). An unusually large number of 213 Whimbrels were counted in Yuma fields Apr. 14 (HD). An Hudsonian Godwit was discovered at the Lower River Rd. pond n. of Palo Verde May 26 (PM,CD), providing only the second record for Maricopa County and the sixth for Arizona. A Baird’s Sandpiper, rare in spring, was found at the new Gila Power Generating Plant in Gila Bend on the late date of May 10, providing the first May record for the county (TC). Twenty-five Red-necked Phalaropes (previously considered rare in spring) were counted on three ponds s.w. of Phoenix May 10 in the same area where the same number was counted a year ago (TC).

Two Bonaparte’s Gulls were observed at the Gilbert ponds s. of Ocotillo Rd. Apr. 20 – 25 (PD et al.). A Ring-billed Gull, seen at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (hereafter BTA) Mar. 30 (RD,SG), represented only the second record for the Arboretum (CT). On May 10, two Caspian Terns were observed on Tempe Town Lake (DS) and four were counted along the Salt River, s.w. of Phoenix (MR). Numbers of Least Terns have increased in the past six years; two individuals observed this spring brought the total in the county to eleven: one at the Gila Bend sewage ponds May 24 (TC) and one flying over a Lower River Rd. pond, n. of Palo Verde May 25 (JoB).

An unusual lowland record of a Band-tailed Pigeon was of one reported at a golf course in Mesa since at least early May and still present in early June (CS). A Eurasian Collared-Dove, found at BTA May 4 (RD), provided the first record for the Arboretum (CT). Eleven Eurasian Collared-Doves were counted between Palo Verde and Paloma Ranch May 10 (TC), numbers were reported in Yuma Apr. 20 (HD), and increasing numbers were reported in Globe where they have been recorded for the past year (BJ). A Ruddy Ground-Dove was observed in a Sun City yard Apr. 22 – 30 (DLi).

A Flammulated Owl, a Spotted Owl, and a Whip-poor-will (all rare local residents in Maricopa County) were found above Slate Creek Divide May 10 (SG). A Saw-whet Owl (a casual winter visitor at lower elevations) was found roosting in a Scottsdale yard Mar. 8 (fide DP). A male Red-naped Sapsucker was still being seen at BTA on the late date of Apr. 21 (CT) and one was seen at the HRP on the very late date of May 10 (NL).

A female “Yellow-shafted” Northern Flicker was observed in a Tempe yard Mar. 1 – 30 (KS).

At least one and possibly two Beardless Tyrranulets were seen at the northern edge of their range at BTA Mar. 9 (TC). An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen at Seven Springs May 12 (RWd,AV). A Hammond’s Flycatcher and a singing Pacific-slope Flycatcher were observed in the riparian area below Lake Pleasant May 18 (TC). The Eastern Phoebe that wintered at the Cobble Ponds was last seen there Mar. 15 (EL). Three Tropical Kingbirds returned May 10 for the third consecutive year to the same area at the HRP where they have been observed previously (NL). The Thick-billed Kingbird that wintered west of Yuma was last seen there Mar. 12 (HD).

A White-eyed Vireo was discovered on the NAU campus in Flagstaff May 14 (JP); there have been fewer than two dozen records for the state, only four of which have been in n. Arizona. The Bell’s Vireo that wintered at BTA was still present there through March when the summer birds began arriving (CT). A Steller’s Jay, observed at Camp Creek Mar. 22 (TC) was at a lower than usual elevation and may have remained from the fall. A flock of five to six Mexican Jays (irregular wanderers into the county) were seen above Slate Creek Divide Apr. 27 (CB) and May 10 (SG), about the same time of year as a small flock was seen there a year ago.

Four Western Bluebirds (rare summer residents) were observed on Mt. Ord May 10 (SG). The Rufous-backed Robin that wintered at BTA remained at least until Apr. 13 (fide CT). The Brown Thrasher that wintered at BTA was still present there Apr. 22 (CT).

The male N. Parula that wintered at the Cobble Ponds was last seen there Mar. 15 (EL); another male N. Parula was found at the Wickenburg Rest Stop Apr. 6 (MR). Grace’s Warbler is rarely seen in the lowlands during migration, so unusual were individuals seen in a Scottsdale yard Apr. 18 (JBa) and along the Agua Fria River below

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MARCH, APRIL, & MAY 2003

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Lake Pleasant Apr. 26 (TC). The male Black-and-white Warbler that wintered at the HRP was still present there Mar. 22 (RWz,SBu). A N. Waterthrush was observed at Morgan City Wash below Lake Pleasant May 18 (TC). An adult male Kentucky Warbler, discovered in Tolleson May 9 (BG) represented the fifth record for Maricopa County. A female Hooded Warbler (a casual visitor to the county) was found at the Tempe Marsh May 10 (DStu). A Painted Redstart (rare in the lowlands) was observed at Coon Bluff Mar. 30 (L&KB).

Two of the “Slate-colored” Fox Sparrows that wintered at BTA were still present there Mar. 9 (TC) and one remained at least until Mar. 31 (CT). A Golden-crowned Sparrow that was found at the Gilbert Water Ranch Apr. 12 (CD,PM,HF) was seen there again on the late date of Apr. 27 (GR).The Pyrrhuloxia that wintered at the Desert Botanical Garden was last seen there Mar. 8 (SBa). An Indigo Bunting (a rare transient in the county) was found at Paloma Ranch May 10 (TC). Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found nesting at the Paloma Ranch (including the Jaeger Pond) and at the new wetlands at the Lewis Prison complex off Hwy 85, May 10 (TC).

Following are highlights from s.e. Arizona during the spring. The Least Grebe, at the Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson since a year ago May, remained through the period, and a second individual was found at Sam Lena Park in Tucson Apr. 19 and was still present there in early June (m.ob). A White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered at Willcox May 15 (DSj) and remained until May 26 (m.ob.); there have been six previous state records. Unprecedented numbers of Least Terns (at least ten) were reported between Apr. 15 and May 26 (m.ob.). At least two Buff-collared Nightjars were seen and heard at the Oro Blanco Mine site near California Gulch May 8 into June (m.ob.). Lucifer Hummingbirds were reported in Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, and Portal during April and May, and a male White-eared Hummingbird was in Miller Canyon the last week in May (m.ob.).

A pair of Black-capped Gnatcatchers nested near Patagonia Lake in March and fledged two young in early May (m.ob.). In addition to the five Rufous-backed Robins reported in s.e. Arizona during the winter, four more were observed in different localities during the spring (m.ob.). The male Flame-colored Tanager returned to Miller Canyon Apr. 13 and a pair of Flame-colored Tanagers were observed in Madera Canyon during May (m.ob.). A male Baltimore Oriole was found along the upper San Pedro River May 7 (RJ).

Abbreviations: Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), Hassayampa River Preserve (HRP), many observers (m.ob.).

COACHWHIP CHAOS

by Ann McDermott

A female hummingbird zipped about in the bottlebrush tree. Nearby, house sparrows fluttered nervously, then fled their perches in an oleander tree. The hummingbird just wouldn’t quit. Her nervous--no, frantic--movements could not be explained. I continued to watch her mysterious behavior from my second story window overlooking the two trees which seemed to be inspiring her demented darting.  Did she have a nest nearby?  Then I saw the source of the hummer’s anxiety. A red coachwhip glided through the oleander branches, crossing effortlessly into the bottle brush tree, tree-climbing as silkily as fog flows inland from the sea. I went to the balcony for a closer look.  Reddish above, lighter, almost white below--a good four feet of snake lay across branches only two feet below me. I could easily see black spotting on its flanks, near the head. Its color was pretty solid, no striping of any sort that ran the length of its body. It did, however, have brown cross-striping, barely noticeable against the brown-pink of its dorsal scaling. Its handsome head had the apparently smiling jaw line common to many snakes. Its tail was patterned beautifully.  It seemed to be braided, thus the name coachwhip. reptilian eyes met mine and we both knew we’d been spotted.

After allowing me a good three minutes of observation time, the snake decided that between me and the hummingbird, its cover was blown; further stealth was ridiculous, so it may as well go practice its fine art of hunting elsewhere. It made a U-turn, slithered back into the oleander, down the trunk to the floor of the courtyard, then out the gate to open country.  Now the hummingbird ceased her antics. She did not have a nest in the trees, at least not that I could find, but she did not want this invader perched in her tree. While the sparrows fled the hunting grounds, little Ms. 

Hummingbird stayed to point out the danger to any newcomers and harry the snake.  Between the two of us, it was convinced to move along.  The liquid movement of the snake moving through the trees was incredible.  Once before I’d seen coachwhips in a tree. Two had climbed a mesquite and were mating. Since the process can take several hours, it seemed a little precarious to have chosen a mesquite tree for the occasion, but their entwining dance was most beautifully orchestrated in their leafy abode. They seemed as comfortable in the tree as any passerine.  With a diet of eggs and birds, the coachwhip’s ease in scaling trees is explained. While earthbound, it can also find food, as small rodents round out its meal plan. If startled, coachwhips escape down the holes of small rodents. Small rodents just can’t win.  Venomless, this graceful hunter is capable of lightning speed. Once caught, its prey is swallowed alive. Hunting is done by day. Unlike most other desert snakes, the coachwhip can tolerate higher, daytime temperatures, so it’s diurnal in lifestyle, moderating its body temperature by moving between sunny and shady spots.

Coachwhips can attain eight feet in length, but most are around four to five, making the one in my tree a typical specimen. If caught, a coachwhip makes a terrible pet. It will never stop biting the hand that feeds it, or attempts to. It just refuses to be tamed.  On the other side of the courtyard, a mourning dove incubates two eggs she’s settled into a flimsy nest of crisscrossed sticks twelve feet high in another bottlebrush tree. My grandson and I are keeping an eye on her progress. We’re marking the days until the eggs hatch. I’ll bet she was sweating bullets watching the hummingbird pester the prowling coachwhip out of the courtyard.