Dateland
Shrimp Farm, AZ
Aug-Sep, 2003, hot & sunny
- narrated
by Henry Detwiler
Three trips to a Shrimp Farm north of Dateland during August and
September of 2003
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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Common Green Darners
24 Aug 2003
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Six miles north of Dateland is a shrimp farm with
three ponds adjacent to the highway, and another two ponds a little
farther west. These pictures are of dragonflies, damselflies, and
birds that we've seen there during three trips in August and
September.
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Familiar Bluets breeding
24 Aug 2003
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Desert Forktail, 24 Aug 2003
On the 24th of August, while out exploring with a
friend, we happened upon these ponds, and found lots of odes and
birds, including my first Yuma County Snowy Plovers.
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| We've seen the Snowy Plovers on 24 Aug, 9 Sep, and
again on 13 Sep. They were very approachable, and walked
within 15 feet of me. |
Snowy Plover, 9 Sep 2003
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Wilson's
and Red-necked Phalaropes have been there since our first visit.
They were at a peak on 9 Sep, with 100+ individuals. On the
13th there were only about a dozen individuals still present. |
Wilson's Phalarope, 9 Sep 2003 |
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Baird's Sandpiper, 9 Sep
2003
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Baird's Sandpipers were only present during my 9
Sep 2003 visit. Five individuals were very cooperative,
allowing close views of their long primaries and good comparisons
with Western Sandpipers.
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A single Semipalmated Plover was present on the
13th of September. I was happy to get several close
pictures. Also on Saturday we saw a Marbled Godwit, another
first (for me) in Yuma County!
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Semipalmated Plover, 13 Sep
03
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Marl Pennant, Desert
Forktail and Common Green Darner Exuviae, 13 Sep 03
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Among the many damselflies and dragonflies were
many Powdered Damsels, like the one below. On the
13th, we saw these Saddlebags to the left. On the same stalk
were two more Bluets and an Exuviae (shed dragonfly skin).
Powdered Dancer, 24 Aug 03
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In August and September we saw a species of Saddlebags that looked
much like a young Red Saddlebags--my first Marl Pennant!
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female Marl Pennant,
13 Sep 03
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American Avocet, 13 Sep 03
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American Avocets were present in good numbers on
Saturday the 13th, as were Black-necked Stilts. Other shorebirds we've
seen at the Shirmp Farm are: Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, and
Western, Least, Spotted, & Solitary Sandpipers. We've also
spotted: Black & Forster's Terns,
White-fronted Geese, and Peregrine Falcon. |
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