Barn Swallow

Brian Young

On the west edge of the community of Cibola we stopped at a farmer's pond and sorted through the many Ring-necked Ducks, looking in vain for the resident Wood Ducks.

Along the Goose Loop in the refuge, the first lake bed was dry, so we moved on to the Cornfield Nature Trail, where Northern Flickers were the most visible birds. The loafing pond was also dry, but two Sandhill Cranes came in to feed on bugs. As we walked back to the car, some sweet finch-like notes caught my attention, and soon two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks went flying by. Farther along the Goose Loop we had fine looks at Burrowing Owls and scores of Sandhill Cranes.

Sandhill Cranes

Driving north of the refuge on Hwy 78 was also productive, with Merlin and Prairie Falcon, and numerous Red-tailed Hawks perched on the power lines and poles.

Rufous-backed Robin

West of Blythe we pulled into the rest stop and RV Park at Chiriaco Summit. It was a bustling place, with a big gas station, restaurant and coffee shop, and a memorial museum to General Patton. There were a number of birders there, both the two-footed kind and the furry-tailed four-footed ones. It took a while, but eventually our quarry, a tail-less Rufous-backed Robin, dropped out of a mulberry tree and started pulling up worms. The cats were everywhere, and one in particular was responsible for the robin's missing tail!

Chiriaco Summit

Ahakhav Tribal Preserve

Lawrence's Goldfinches


Ferruginous Hawk

Javalina

The ag fields north of Hwy 60 and Salome had lots of Horned Larks and American Pipits, but the best find there was a javalina.

The next day we started our birding close to Salome, along Centennial Wash. The sagebrush flats along side the wash had a number of Sage Sparrows--they seem to be common this winter. We hiked a bit in the wash and moved on to Centennial Park, which was hopping with birds: Vermilion Flycatcher, Gila Woodpecker, Black and Say's Phoebe, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, and Vesper, White-crowned, and more Sage Sparrows.

We made it to the beautiful Hassayampa River Preserve shortly before lunch and hiked the Mesquite and River Ramble Trials. Our first big flock of birds was at the edge of Palm Lake, and consisted of Yellow-Rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, scores of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a Hermit Thrush. The mesquites were quiet except for a Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Along the River Ramble activity picked up considerably and we had several House Wrens, a Bewick's Wren, a Plumbeous Vireo, Abert's Towhees, woodpeckers, and best of all, two White-throated Sparrows that Suzanne found for us. We missed the reported Winter Wren, but it was exciting to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk make several passes through the area. It flushed lots of birds from two of the cottonwoods, but soon flapped away empty-clawed.

Sharp-shinned Hawk


White-throated Sparrow

Snow Goose

Before heading home we ticked off Common Gallinule, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Canvasback, and several teal. It made a fine ending to a great weekend of birding!

On the way home we made a final stop in an agricultural area along Vicksburg Road north of I-10. A Prairie Falcon let us get nice views as it perched atop a telephone pole, but then all was quiet until we found the "slop" ponds about a mile southwest of the huge feedlot. Effluent flowing into these ponds and marsh areas wasn't too fragrant, but the birds didn't seem to mind. Marsh Wrens called from the cattails, an immature Snow Goose watched from a berm, and waterfowl swam about in the open water.