Because of the drought, fewer migrants than usual were reported at lower elevations. The most noteworthy of the migrants were found in the southeast part of the state. There were some new nesting records in the county and some winter visitors were still around.
The Common Loon and the two Western Grebes at Tempe Town Lake remained at least until Apr.1 (MR,DC). Eared Grebes were observed building nests Apr. 22 on a pond on the Gila Indian Reservation where they have nested once before (MBa). One Neotropic Cormorant was still present along the Salt River w. of 91st Ave., Apr. 5 (SA,RWz). Double-crested Cormorants were discovered nesting in a new area—at Lake Pleasant, Apr. 8 (WT,HBe); previously the only place in the county where they have nested was at Painted Rock Dam.
A Little Blue Heron was discovered along the Salt River near 43rd Ave., Apr, 24 (DG); there have been 17 previous county records. A group of Cattle Egrets were reported along the Salt River w. of 91st Ave., Apr. 15 (CF,KB).
Wood Ducks were reported on the entrance pond to the Phoenix Zoo in early April (KB) and a pair of Wood Ducks were seen along the Salt River w. of 91st Ave., Apr. 5 (SA,RWz). A Long-tailed Duck (formerly named Oldsquaw) was seen at the base of Glen Canyon Dam Mar. 27 (CL). A Long-tailed Duck, seen below Parker Dam Apr. 7, may have been the same individual reported on Lake Havasu in February (fide SG). Barrow’s Goldeneyes (2-3) were still present below Glen Canyon Dam Mar. 27 (CL) and two were below Parker Dam Apr. 15 (RH). A female Common Goldeneye was still present at the gravel pond w. of Gilbert Rd., s. of Ocotillo Rd. Apr.2 (AS) and a late-staying Common Goldeneye was observed on a pond on the Gila Indian Reservation Apr. 22 (MBa). Six Red-breasted Mergansers were seen on the gravel pond w. of Gilbert Re., Apr. 2 (AS) and eight were still present at Painted Rock Dam (hereafter PRD) Apr. 30 (RWz).
Individual White-tailed Kites were observed at Pinal Airpark Pecan Grove Apr. 29 (TP et al.), at the Sisson Rd. Marsh at PRD Apr. 30 (RWz), and at Picacho Reservoir May 14 (NB). On May 7, a pair of Harris’ Hawks with two young were discovered nesting in an Aleppo Pine in a residential neighborhood near 37th St. and Mountain View (DM, fide BD). A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, found nesting at the Hassayampa River Preserve Apr. 20 (RD et al.) provided the first nesting record of that species for Maricopa County and only the second nesting record for the state. A pair of Zone-tailed Hawks, frequenting an area near Glendale Community College in early May, were suspected of nesting there (fide SG).
Clapper Rails were detected at two areas in the county during the period: at the Sisson Rd. Marsh near PRD, one was heard Apr. 16 and a pair were found there May 10; one was heard near the confluence of the Hassayampa and Gila Rivers May 2 (DTd).
Am. Avocets were found nesting at the Greenfield/Guadalupe Ponds in Gilbert the first week in May (KB). A large concentration of 150 Spotted Sandpipers were counted at PRD Apr. 30 (RWz). Eighteen Whimbrels observed in flooded fields e. of Yuma Apr. 20 and by May 6 the number had increased to 53 (DTa). Among the shorebirds at Picacho Reservoir Apr. 29 were three Marbled Godwits (TP et al.) and at PRD Apr. 30 there were 10 Marbled Godwits (RWz).
Individual Franklin’s Gulls were at Tempe Town Lake Apr.2 (fide SG) and at Picacho Reservoir Apr. 29 at least to May 14 (TP, NB et al.). Three Caspian Terns were observed on the Castle Creek arm of Lake Pleasant in Yavapai Co., Apr. 22 (TC). A Least Tern was reported at Roper Lake State Park, Graham Co., May 9 (fide SG).
The Ruddy Ground-Dove, in a central Phoenix yard since Jan. 14, remained until May 17 (T&SM). A female Ruddy Ground-Dove was found at the Pinal Airpark Pecan Grove Apr. 10 (AS) and was still present there Apr. 29 (TP et al.). A Long-eared Owl was discovered in a wash near Moon Valley Park Mar. 28 (MP).
The immature male Rufous Hummingbird, in a northeast Phoenix, yard since Feb. 20, remained until Apr. 15 (LH). The two Lewis’ Woodpeckers and two Steller’s Jays, wintering at Oak Flat Campground, were still present there Apr. 6 (JBa). The five Acorn Woodpeckers, wintering on the ASU campus, were still present there Apr. 5 (JBa).
A pair of W. Bluebirds were seen carrying nesting material on Mt. Ord Apr. 22 (MBa); the species has been nesting in that locale since 1991. Three migrating Swainson’s Thrushes were observed at Whitlow Dam May 17 (JBa). One of the Rufous-backed Robins, wintering at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, was still present there Apr. 15 (MP). A Varied Thrush was discovered in a yard in Tolleson Apr. 8 (BG); there have been a dozen previous county records, primarily in fall and winter, but only one previous April record. The Brown Thrasher, wintering in a Scottsdale yard, remained until Apr. 5 (JBa).
A Nashville Warbler, uncommon in spring, was found in a Phoenix yard Apr. 12 (SSt). A N. Parula was observed at Whitlow Dam May 17 (JBa). Individual Hermit Warblers were seen at Boyce Thompson Arboretum Apr. 9 (CB,SB,RWz), at Granite Reef Picnic Area Apr. 16 (JBu), and at Slate Creek Divide May 11 (BD,LH,AV, RWd). A western race Palm Warbler was discovered in the Sipe Wildlife Area near Springerville Apr. 30 (fide SG). A female Am. Redstart was found in a Tempe yard May 21 (HF). A singing male Kentucky Warbler was discovered at Cave Springs Campground in Oak Creek Canyon May 11 at least to May 16 (HH et al.). Red-faced Warblers were back on territory at Slate Creek Divide May 11 (BD,LH,AV,RWd).
Individual Indigo Buntings were observed in Oak Creek Canyon May 16 (HH) and at Whitlow Dam May 17 (JBa). The White-throated Sparrow, wintering at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, was still present there Apr. 8 (JBa). The group of Lawrence’s Goldfinches at Reach 11 Recreation Area remained at least until Apr.2 (MSc).
An extraordinary number of rare species were found in southeast Arizona during this period. An Am. Golden-Plover was found at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, s. of McNeal Apr. 26 at least to May 6 (DW). A White-rumped Sandpiper, discovered at the Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds May 16 at least to May 18 (B&KZ et al.), represented only the sixth record for Arizona. Individual Heermann’s Gulls were observed at Patagonia Lake Apr. 9 (MBr) and (perhaps the same one) at the Nogales Sewage Ponds Apr. 11 (MSt, JBo).
A male White-eared Hummingbird frequented feeders in Ramsey Canyon from Apr. 6 at least until May 17 and a female visited the Beatty’s feeders in Miller Canyon from Apr. 16 at least to May 17 (TB). A Berylline Hummingbird was found in Ramsey Canyon May 16 (TB). Individual Lucifer Hummingbirds were observed at Beatty’s feeders Apr. 6 – 16 (a male) and May 8 (a female), one was at a feeder in Portal Apr. 30 (PW), and a male was found in Carr Canyon May 16 (HBr). A male Calliope Hummingbird was seen at the Beatty’s Apr. 6, a female joined it Apr. 16, and both remained until May 8 (TB).
A singing E. Wood-Pewee was discovered at Sunny Flat Campground in the Chiricahuas May 2 – 7 (PW,JBo); there have been four previous state records. A White-eyed Vireo was discovered in Portal May 6 – 7 by a visiting Florida birder (BR et al.); there have been about a dozen previous state records. A Yellow-throated Vireo was found in Portal May 1 (DJ et al.).
Individual n. Parulas were observed at Portal Apr. 30 (PW,JBo) and at Whitewater Draw May 5 (MSt,RH). A Palm Warbler was found at Whitewater Draw May 3 – 4 (TG et al.). An Ovenbird was seen in Portal May 8 (fide DJ) and a Kentucky Warbler was found in Portal May 9 (PW). Individual Prothonotary Warblers were observed at the Monastery in St. David May 5 – 6 (CdeW,DW) and in the Spofford’s yard in Portal May 10 – 11 (SSp, DJ). The Rufous-capped Warbler remained in French Joe Canyon at least until Mar. 31 (RH). A hybrid Western/Flame-colored Tanager was discovered in Sheelite Canyon in the Huachucas May 15 (B&KZ).
Observers: Sandy Anderson, Charles Babbitt, Mike Baker, Jack Bartley, Harvey Beatty, Tom Beatty, Ken Bielek, Jerry Bock, Ned Boyajian, Hank Brodkin, Matt Brown, Scott Burge, Josh Burns, Dale Clark, Troy Corman, Bix Demaree, Carol deWaard, Rich Ditch, Herb Fibel, Craig Fischer, Steve Ganley, Dan Godec, Tony Godfrey, Bill Grossi, Liz Hatcher, Hendrik Herlyn, Roger Higson, Rich Hoyer, Dave Jasper, Chuck LaRue, Turner & Sherry Martin, Dixie McMullens, Tom Partel, Mike Pollark, Brian Rapoza, Marge Ray, Myron Scott, Andy Spencer, Sally Spofford, Sig Stangeland, Mark Stevenson, Dave Taylor, Walter Thurber, Dick Todd, Anita Van Auken, Peggy Wang, David West, Russ Widner, Robert Witzeman, Barry & Kevin Zimmer.
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