Field Observations
by Janet Witzeman
A flock of 1 00 Am. White Pelicans were observed on the lake at Estrella Mountain Ranch, west of Phoenix July 4 & 5 (fide SG). Seven Black Vultures were seen at 83rd Ave. and Baseline Road May 29 (CB).
The pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, nesting at the Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg, did lay eggs but the eggs did not hatch (fide SG). An adult Broadwinged Hawk was discovered ten miles south of Tuba City June 3 (TP,GC). There were still 18 migrating Swainson's Hawks in a field near Yuma on the late date of June 1 (DTa).
A migrating Black Rail was seen and heard in cattails below Lake Pleasant Mar. 29 (LF, fide TC). In addition to the Clapper Rails found at the Sisson Rd. marsh and near the confluence of the Hassayampa and Gila Rivers in May, a third pair was found in Buckeye Valley, e. of Palo Verde May 9 (DTd).
Four Caspian Terns were observed n. of Lake Pleasant June 3 (WT,ES). The Ruddy Ground-Dove, in a central Phoenix yard from Jan. 14 to May 17, was seen there again in early July (SM). A Eurasian Collared-Dove was discovered at Canal Park in Tempe May 28 (RJ). The species has been expanding its range westward from Florida since the 1980s. A pair was found nesting near Eagar in March (BJ).
At least one Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard along Boulder Creek, n. of Lake Pleasant June 3 (WT, ES). Belted Kingfishers were found nesting along the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon June 3 (CL). At least one of the Lewis' Woodpeckers, that wintered at Oak Flat Campground, remained until Apr. 21 (JB). Three of the Acorn Woodpeckers, that wintered on the ASU Campus, remained until May 6; the other two, a pair, were discovered nesting in a date palm tree and carrying food to the nest hole May 26 (JB et al.) - very unusual at this low elevation. Another Acorn Woodpecker was present in a Tempe yard May 14 - 26 (DK).
A pair of Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers were found nesting again along West Fork, Oak Creek Canyon June 3 (CL). At least one Warbling Vireo was found back in the nesting area on Slate Creek Divide May 22 (RW,EA,JN). Two Black-capped Chickadees were discovered at Navajo National Monument in northern Arizona May 25 (RG); there have been no previous spring or summer records of this species in the state, so this date could indicate the species may be nesting or planning to nest there. The Brown Thrasher, that wintered in a Scottsdale yard, remained until Apr. 17 (JB). A Sage Thrasher, unusual in an urban area, was found in the same Scottsdale yard Apr. 3 (JB,TC,AT).
A N. Parula was found in West Fork, Oak Creek Canyon June 3 (CL). A Yellow Warbler, observed along the Gila River near Yuma June 1 0 (DTa), was significant because there have been few nesting records of this species along the Lower Colorado River in recent years. A Yellow-throated Warbler was discovered at Cameron in northern Arizona June 13 - 16 (CL,BM); there have been fewer than two dozen records of this species in the state. A male Am. Redstart was found at Little Springs in the San Francisco Peaks area June 3 (CB). An Ovenbird was discovered in an Ahwatukee yard June 5 - 6 (J&DE); there have been 21 previous records in Maricopa County, but this was only the third June record for the county.
Individual male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were found along the Gila River near Yuma June 1 0 (DTa) and near Prescott June 1 1 (RW,JM). Individual Indigo Buntings were reported in Oak Creek Canyon June 3 (CL) and at Blue Crossing Campground in the White Mountains June 4 (RB); two were found at Whitlow Dam June 8 (JB) and one was still present there July 1 (RD). A male Varied Bunting was discovered at Whitlow Dam, north of its usual breeding area, June 8 (JB). A male Bobolink was discovered in an alfalfa field near 15th Ave. and Dobbins May 28 (MC,TC); there have been four previous records in Maricopa County; this was the second in spring.
Unusual birds recorded in s.e. Arizona during this period were: a Least Grebe at the Sweetwater Ponds in Tucson June 3 until at least July 6 (fide SG), a Least Tern at Willcox May 30 (SH), a singing Yellow-green Vireo in Harshaw Canyon June 18 (CS), a male Black-capped Gnatcatcher in early July (SH), and a male Painted Bunting at Apache Flats Campground, Fort Huachuca June 7 (SH). The Rufous-capped Warbler was still being seen in French Joe Canyon at least until July 8 (SH).
Observers: Eldon Archer, Charles Babbitt, Jack Bartley, Robert Bradley, Matt Chew, Tillie Chew, Greg Clark Troy Corman, Rich Ditch, Judy & Dave Emme, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Steve Ganley, Rob Grimmond, Stuart Healy, Bud Johnson, Roy Jones, Debra Keiser, Chuck LaRue, Bryce Marshall, Sherry Martin, Jim Morgan, Jack Neis, Tim Price, Curtis Smith, Emerson Stiles, Andre Tarby, Dave Taylor, Walter Thurber, Dick Todd, Robert Witzeman.
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