DECEMBER 2001,  JANUARY, & FEBRUARY 2002

By Janet Witzeman

A Yellow-Billed Loon, discovered on the Colorado River at Lake Havasu City Feb. 1 (MS, photos Rd, JiB) represented only the third record for Arizona and the second at that location.  It remained at least until Mar. 15 (m.ob.).  A Com. Loon, found at Desert Mountain in Carefree Des. 28 (DB, MLS et at.), provided a new species for the Carefree Christmas Birds Count (hereafter CBC). 

A Red-necked Grebe was discovered at a pond n.w. of Palo Verde Dec. 29 (PM, CD) and added a new species to the Maricopa County List.  There were eight previous records for the state  A high number of 350+ Western Grebes were counted on Saguaro Lake Feb. 17 (TC).  Seven Am. White Pelicans were seen flying down the Gila River during the Tres Rios CBC Dec 19 (m.ob.) and 27, observed flying over the Gila River, w. of Buckeye Dec. 26, represented a new species for the Gila River CBC (BG).  Five more were seen flying above Phoenix high rises Jan 13 (MP).  Numbers of Neotropic Cormorants continued to increase, with up to 25 observed during the period along the Salt and Gila Rivers s.w. of Phoenix (TC, SG); four were recorded on the Gila River CBC (fide TC).  Six Double- crested Cormorants were reported on Chaparral Lake in Scottsdale Dec. 16 (AF) and more than 100 continued to be seen in s.w. Phoenix along the Salt and Gila Rivers (m.ob.).

An Am. Bittern was found Dec. 26 during the Gila River CBX (CK).  More than ten Least Bitterns were recorded between 91st and 115th Avenues Dec. 19 and numbers were still present at 115th Ave. and the Gila River Jan 17 (SG).  Ten counted along the Gila River w. of Buckeye Dec. 26, was a new high number for the Gila River CBC (TC et al).  Great Blue Herons have been found nesting at McCormick Ranch Golf Course - at least six nests were observed there a year ago and at lest two nests were seen there Feb 22 (MB).

A Little Blue Heron was discovered Dec. 19 along the Gila River at El Mirage Rd. (TH) and was seen there again Dec 29-30 (EL, PM, CD).  The species is considered to be a casual transient in spring and late summer.  There were no previous December records for the county and only one previous December record for the State.  Unprecedented numbers of late-staying White-faced Ibis were observed: about 300 were counted in fields s. of Liberty, e. of Buckeye Dec. 10 (R&JW), 125+ were reported on the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 19 (fide DY) and 124 reported w. of Buckeye Dex. 26, was a new high for the Gila River CBC (fide TC).  Fifteen were still present near 91st Ave. and Southern Jan. 27 (TC).

A large flock of 95 black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were observed at the 91st Ave.  Cobble Ponds Dec. 2 and up to 60 were counted at 115th Ave. and the Gila Rive Dec. 7 & 19; large numbers were still present in early January (TC).  An adult Greater White-fronted Goose was seen at the Tempe Marsh in the Salt River e. of McClintock Dr. in Tempe Feb. 13 (ES).  Two immature Greater White-fronted Geese and up to three Snow Geese were observed at McCormick Ranch Golf Course and Pavilions Sopping Center Ponds in Scottsdale Feb. 15-22 (AS).  A small group of Snow Geese were reported at the Cobble Ponds Feb. 11 (JoB).  Larger than usual numbers of Ross's Geese were reported during the period: one was seen 

at El Mirage Pond Dec. 2 and a high number of seven were observed at Estrella Mountain Ranch Dec. 16 (TC), on was seen at the Gilbert Water Ranch Ponds Dec. 15 at least to Jan 19 (PD et al.), and up to four were observed at the McCormick Ranch Golf Course and in fields along Pima Rd. Jan 10-29 (AS).

Four adult male Greater Scaup were fount at the ASU Research Park Lake Jan 13 (TC); two were sill present there Feb. 23 (KG).  A female Long-tailed Duck was discovered below Parker Dam Jan. 10 and remained at least until Mar. 3 (B&BC, fide DS, m.ob.).  Between two and twelve Barrow's Goldeneyes were present below Parker Dam during February (m.ob.).  Numbers of wintering Hooded Mergansers were up: five were reported in Fountain Hills during December (JS), up to nine were counted at the Pavilions Shopping Center Ponds Jan 10-Feb. 17 (AS, TC), four were seen at Estrella Mountain Ranch Feb. 23 (TC), and three were seen along the Gila River at Estrella Parkway Feb. 23 (TC).  There were many more Common Mergansers tan usual:  500+ were counted at McCormick Ranch Jan. 13 and another 500 were counted on a small lake near Thunderbird Park Jan. 27 (TC).

A N. Goshawk, a rare winter visitor, was observed in Cave Creek during December (ER) and one (perhaps the same one) was reported at Seven Springs Feb. 18 (TC).  A Harris's Hawk was seen at a mid-city location near 7th St. and Thomas Jan. 11 (MP).  Two Zone-tailed Hawks were observed on the early date of Jan. 5 on Queen Creek Rd. in Chandler (RD).  Individual Merlins (more than usual) were reported along the Verde River Dec. 14 (CM, MC, JW), at the Water Ranch Ponds Dec 17 (JS, ES), at Fountain Hills Jan. 27 & Feb. 2 (JS), on the Tres Rios CBC (fide DY), on the Gila River CBC (fide TC), and all winter in Tonto Hills (ML).

Fifty-seven Sandhill Cranes were counted near Arlington during the Gila River CBC Dec. 26 (MC, JW et al.) and 25 were still present there  Jan. 20 (CB, SS).  Up to 17 Mountain Plovers were observed at the Sod Farm s. of Arizona City during January and early February (MS RT et al.).  A Lesser Yellowlegs, a rare winter visitor, was found in s.w. Phoenix, during the Tres Rios CBC Dec. 19 (MR, MF).  Twenty-five Long-billed Curlews (uncommon in winter) were observed near Palo Verde Jan. 8 (EB).  Western Sandpipers, usually considered to be rare to uncommon in winter, were more common this winter:  five were seen at the El Mirage Pond Dec. 2 and one was still present there Jan. 23 (TC), one was found at a pond w. of Hwy. 85 Dec. 23 (TC), and four were observed near Arlington Dec. 26 (BP et al.).

At least two Eurasian Collared- Doves continued to be reported at Palo Verde through the winter (m.ob.).  Two Ruddy Ground-Doves continued to be seen at El Mirage Pond at least until Jan. 12 (TC, BG et al.).  A Long-eared Owl was fount at the Water Ranch Ponds Dec. 17 (JS, ES), five were counted in Camp Creek Wash Dec. 28, and one was still present there Feb. 9 (WT, HB et al.).  A N. Saw- whet Owl, casual in winter in lower elevations. was discovered near the confluence of the Agua Fria and Gila Rivers Dec. 19 (BG) and another one was found at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (hereafter BTA) Jan. 16-23 (TG).

A Lesser Nighthawk, rare in winter, 

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was found in s.w. Phoenix Dec. (TH) and two were found s.w. of Buckeye during the Gila River CBC Dec. 26 (JBa). A common Poorwill was heard calling in Fountain Hills Feb. 14 (JS).  A male Rufous Hummingbird, uncommon in spring, was observed at a feeder in Yuma on the early date of Feb. 25 (HD).

A Gray Flycatcher was seen at Coon Fluff Jan. 17 (SG).  A Dusky Flycatcher was seen and heard along Lower Camp Creek Dec. 27 (TC).  Individual Eastern Phoebes were observed at 115th Ave. and the Gila River Dec. 16 (TC) and along Cave Creek in Desert Foothills Dec. 31 (HB, WT).  Six Ash-Throated Flycatchers (uncommon in winter) ere recorded on the Gila River CBC Dec. 26 and one was found along the effluent channel, w. of 99th Ave. Jan. 27 (TC).

A Cassin's Vireo (uncommon in winter) was observed during the Gila River CBC Dec. 26 (NS).  More than the usual number of Hutton's Vireos (at least four and possibly six) were seen at BTA Jan. 20 (PM, CD).  A Warbling Vireo, discovered along the Salt River w. of 99th Ave. Dec. 18, provided only the third winter record for Maricopa County.  Tree Swallows are not usually observed before early March, so unusual were four along the Verde River Jan. 29 (JS) two in fields s. of Arlington Feb. 19 (NM), and many at Picacho Reservoir Feb. 20 (RP). Cliff Swallows also do not usually return before early March so 50+, observed over the Estrella Parkway Bridge Feb. 23, was unusual for such a large group.

Interesting was the report of two or three Gray Catbirds wintering in the Parker area (B&BC, fide DE).  Gray Catbird is a rare visitor in winter to s.e. Arizona; there is only one previous record for a w. Arizona ant that was in September.  The Brown Thrasher at BTA since Nov. 17, continued to be seen at least until Feb. 15 (m.ob.).

Individual N.Parulas were found near the confluence of the Salt and Verde Rivers Dec. 14 (DY et al.), along the Gila River w. of Buckeye Dec. 24 (NS, TC), and at the Cobble Ponds Feb. 11 (JoB).  The Yellow Warbler that was recorded at the Cobble Ponds in the fall, remained over the winter at least until Feb. 23 (TC et al.).  An immature male Chestnutsided Warbler was found along the Salt River near 99th Ave. Dec. 8 and remained at least until Dec. 19 (TC, SG).  Five Black-throated Gray Warblers were seen along the Salt River w. of 99th Ave. Dec. 7 and one was still present Jan. 27 (TC).  A Wilson's Warbler was found during the Gila River CBC Dec. 26 (AP, CF).  A female Summer Tanager, a casual winter visitor, was discovered near 115th Ave. and the Gila River Dec. 19 (TC, SG).

Two Fox Sparrows were reported at BTA, one individual (red race) was observed Jan. 18-20 (RH, PM, CD) and one individual (slate-colored race) was seen Jan. 21-26 (TC, KK). Several Swamp Sparrows (usually rare to 

The White-throated Sparrow at BTA was joined by a second one Jan. 16 and then a third one Jan. 23 (TG); one was still present Feb. 15 (RP).  A Golden-crowned Sparrow was found near the Gila River n.w. of Robbins Butte Dec. 24-26 (TC, NS).  The McCown's Longspurs continued to be seen at the sod farm e. of Scottsdale and the numbers gradually increased to nine on Jan. 26 (JS); decreased to two on Feb. 14 (SG), and were gone by Feb. 17 (TC).

The Pyrrhuloxia, that was found at the Desert Botanical Garden in early November, remained through the winter and was still present in mid-March (SB, AT).  A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found near 115th Ave. and the Gila River Dec. 16-19 (TC); another individual was reported at a feeder in Ahwatukee Feb. 6-9 (DC).

An Orchard Oriole was discovered at the Water Ranch Ponds Dec. 25 (DP) and was seen there again Jan. 26 (PD).  There have been twelve previous county records.  Many Cassin's Finches (irregular winter visitors) were reported on Mt. Ord Feb. 14 (SG).

In southeast Arizona, an immature male Prairie Warbler was discovered at Roper Lake Sate Park in Safford Jan. 5 and remained at least to Jan. 12 BM et al.).  There have been nine previous state records.

Abbreviations:  Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), Christmas Bird Count (CBC), many observers (m.ob.).

Observers:  Charles Babbitt, June Babcock, Don Baer, Sally Barnes, Harvey Beatty, Mary Berkley, Ed Boyd, Jim Burns, Josh Burns, Matt Chew, Bill & Bet Clark, Greg Clark, Troy Corman, Dick Cocanour, Henry Detwiler, Pierre Deviche, Rich Ditch, Cynthia Donald, Al Feldman, Craig Fischer, Mike Foley, Steve Ganley, Tony Godfrey, Kathy Groschupf, Bill Grossi, Tom Hildebrandt, Rich Hoyer, Chuck Kangas, Ken Kertell, Eric Latturner, Melanie Lawrence-Skane, Cindy Marple, Bill Matheny, Norma Miller, Pete Moulton, Bruce Palmer, Richard Palmer, Dave Pearson, Anne Peyton, Michael Plagens, Tim Price, Eleanor Radke, Mike Rupp, Eyal Shochat, Norm Shrout James Smith, Andy Spencer, Sig Stangeland, Dave Stejskal, Mark Stevenson, Andre Tarby, Rick Taylor, Walter Thurber, Robert Witzeman, Daniella Yellan.

Please send reports of unusual bird sighting to me by email: jlwitzeman@aol.com or phone: 602-840-6089

Louisiana Waterthrush at Patagonia Lake State Park, March 02.  Photograph by Jim Burns