Phoenix Area
Feb
7-11, 2002
-
45-68
degrees
Business mixed with some birding! On the way to and from Luke AFB,
during lunch hours, and after work, I went exploring and snapped some
bird photos.
87
species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
|
White-faced Ibis
Snowy Egret
|
Southwest of Phoenix the Gila River flows across
91st Ave, El Mirage Road, and 115th Ave, all fine places to stop
and look for birds. These ibis and egrets were feeding in a
shallow pool at El Mirage Rd, and cooperated for some photos as
the sun was setting. Behind me a Belted Kingfisher rattled,
and along the river a few Gadwall and a Green-winged Teal were
bobbling along. Just north of this spot is the pond where
the Ruddy Ground-Doves like to
hang out.
|
| Friday's lunch hour found me at the Cobble Ponds and
the Gila River on 91st Ave. A pair of Neotropic Cormorants
landed on the river not far from me, so I waited patiently for
them to swim into view. |
Neotropic Cormorant
|
Red-tailed Hawk
|
After work I raced down to Estrella Mountain Park,
and found a pair of Red-tailed Hawks flying about. When this
one landed on a tall telephone pole, I was able to get close
enough to take several nice shots. Other birds hanging
around included Cardinal, Canyon Wren, and Vermilion Flycatcher. |
Curve-billed Thrasher
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Gilded Flicker
|
It was too windy to take any photos on Saturday, but I enjoyed
hiking in the White Tanks. On Sunday I headed to the golf
course at Estrella Mountain, and crept up on this Gilded
Flicker. On the way, I also watched a pretty female Hooded
Merganser from the Estrella Parkway Bridge.
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Across from the golf course this Anna's
Hummingbird perched obligingly for a number of photos. Less
cooperative were Brewer's Sparrows and Phainopeplas.
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Anna's Hummingbird
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Rock Wren
|
I had one chance at this Rock Wren, and got him
before he flew off. My digital camera shuts off after 60
seconds of inactivity, so I have to keep adjusting the focus, just
to keep it on (and ready).
|
| On the way home I stopped to look for the LeConte's
Thrasher off of Ave 45E--no luck. The
local Ferruginous Hawk didn't want me to get his photo on the
telephone pole, but he did sit patiently on this palm tree. |
Ferruginous Hawk |
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Vesper
Sparrow
|
As the sun began to set, I was happy to find big flocks of
Vesper and White-crowned Sparrows in and around the alfalfa fields
east of Tacna.
. |
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Anna's Hummingbird
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