Birding Site: Tacna Most recent visit: April 2011
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 Couch's Kingbird |
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This area has a combination of wetlands (Quigley Pond & the Gila River), agricultural fields with weedy edges, desert habitat, and residential areas. It is especially interesting to visit in the winter & early spring, when you can find Prairie Falcons, Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, LeConte's Thrashers, and a variety of sparrows (White-crowned, Vesper, Savannah, Brewer's, Sage, Lincoln's, Song, and Lark). Last winter and again beginning in September 2007 a Couch's Kingbird has wintered northeast of Tacna. Migration brings passerines and shorebirds, including Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew. Occasional Tundra Swans and White-fronted Geese use Quigley Pond and the managed wetlands. Other waterfowl are easy to see before and after hunting season. The Gila River is attractive all year round, and provides great habitat for White-faced Ibis, herons, egret, Cinnamon Teal, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Blue Grosbeak. And be sure to check through any little doves for Ruddy Ground-Doves, which winter in the area. |
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Full-sized Map
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Map Key P = Parking Area Brown lines are dirt/sandy roads Blue lines are waterways Click on thumbnail below for a larger |
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Quigley Pond An oxbow of the Gila River, this large marshy lake is best viewed by driving north on Ave 40E for about 1.3 miles from old Hwy 80, and turning left onto a sandy road (before Ave 40E drops off the bluff into the Gila River Valley). Drive west about 1/2 mile on this sandy road, park, and walk to the edge of the bluff. From here you may see raptors, waterfowl, cormorants, and swallows. Depending on the time of year, grebes, moorhens, and rails call spontaneously, or respond to tapes. |
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AZ Game & Fish farm fields (Quigley Wildlife Management Area) These fields can be viewed from the bluff overlooking Quigley Pond (with a scope) or by walking in from the north (up to the No-Trespassing sign). In past winters Tundra Swans and Sandhill Cranes have made regular but brief visits; geese and waterfowl are more common. Northern Harriers are joined by other raptors as they patrol the fields. Two White-tailed Kites were here in the winter of 2005-2006, and a Zone-tailed Hawk was present during the summer of 2007. Shorebirds are regular when the fields have water, but hard to see from the bluff. A large stand of cottonwoods and willows is along the access road (just north of the farm fields). Check this for abundant migrants in the late summer and early fall, and for rarities like Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Dec 05). |
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Cottonwood Grove & Gila River Crossing |
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Agricultural Fields |
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Backwaters & Gila River Channel Here you'll find several backwater ponds at the base of teh Gila Valley bluff (even when the Gila River isn't flowing). In addition to the open water and marshy areas, there are cottonwoods, mesquite, and lots of brush that provide very nice habitat. In 2006 a Palm Warbler showed up. Bell's Vireo has been seen and heard in spring and early summer. Look for all three teal and other waterfowl in season--and look for hunters, too. |
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Eucalyptus Neighborhood This community of four homes played host to Arizona's first Couch's Kingbird, found by Paul Lehman in January 2007. As of September 2007, it was back for another season! The middle home on the north side of the road has been good for Ruddy Ground-Dove during the winter time, along with the Common Ground-Dove, Inca Dove, White-winged Dove, and Eurasian Collared-Dove. Zone-tailed Hawks have roosted in the large Eucalyptus trees in the recent past; more common are Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. Vermilion Flycatchers are always a treat to see here. |
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Saltbrush Flats - Desert During February & March this can be a relatively easy place to see singing LeConte's Thrashers. From Hwy 80, turn left (n.) onto Ave 45E. Go about 1/4 mile past the farm complex and turn right on an inconspicuous dirt/gravel road. This road had large saltbrush flats that were good for the thrashers up until 2005, when it was burned. Until they grow back, you'll need to drive to the end of this road and bird the desert to the east, where the thrashers perch in the mesquites to sing. This is private land, but barren, and as of 2001, we've been given verbal permission to look around. |
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Getting here from the intersection of 1st Street and 4th Ave in Yuma takes about 45 minutes:
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CommonNorthern Harrier (w) |
UncommonWhimbrel
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RareTundra Swan
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