Yuma
Elderhostel Trip
Jan
21-25,
2002
-
40-68
degrees
A group of twenty-one intrepid adventurers from all parts of the country
converged on Yuma to search for birds.
128 species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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On both Thursday and
Friday we drove west to visit the birder's paradise known as the
Imperial Valley, home of such hot spots as the Salton Sea, Finney
& Ramer Lakes, and the New & Alamo Rivers. |
Irv at the Salton Sea |
American Kestrel
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Birding in this area can be a very simple
matter. Drive along the country roads and pull over to look
at the dozens of kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, and shrikes perched
on telephone poles and wires. |
Stop at flooded fields to look at flocks numbering
in the hundreds of gulls, egrets, and Long-billed Curlews.
Or drive up to the sea itself and look for shorebirds and other
water-loving birds, like this accommodating Osprey.
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Osprey at the Salton Sea
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| At the Imperial Ponds Wetlands
Project numerous Soras responded to Bob's whistles and my
tape, and we finally saw a couple of them. Even better was
the Virginia Rail that stalked out onto some matted bulrushes for
all to see. |
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One of the spots we hit both days was Obsidian Butte, known as a hangout for
the Yellow-footed Gull. This Mexican visitor never did show up, but we
got fine looks at California, Herring, Bonaparte's, and Ring-billed Gulls,
as well as many American White Pelicans. And nearby we watched a Peregrine
Falcon.
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Overlooking Obsidian Butte
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Least Sandpiper
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At the large shallow pond on the southeast side of the butte, we
were rewarded with excellent looks at Stilt, Western, and Least
Sandpipers, as well as Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Avocet, and
Black-necked Stilts.
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We ate a picnic lunch at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge headquarters on our last day of touring, and then
walked the trail out to Rock Hill. In the ponds at the end
of the trail was a huge flock of Ross Geese, as well as hundreds
of American Wigeon, Pintails, and these "tipping"
Northern Shovelers.
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Northern Shoveler |
Northern Shoveler (male
& female)
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BACK to PAGE 1
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