Betty's Kitchen
Jan 1, 2001, 1230-1530, Sunny & Warm, 70 
Henry Detwiler & Judy Gille

Just a short trip north of town to find a few new species for the year 2001. 
35 species total

It was a beautiful Monday afternoon, the first day of the new year, 2001.  I picked up my friend Judy and we headed out to the lowlands of the Colorado River northeast of town.  

Phragmytes at Betty's Kitchen	Betty's Kitchen is a riparian area east of the river.  A short trail goes through a fine a good selection of habitat.  This afternoon we spotted Verdins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Anna's Hummingbirds.
On one section of the trail, a bridge crosses an arm of Mittry Lake.  The area has Phragmytes, Cottonwoods, and Seep Willows.	Judy at Betty's Kitchen

Mistetoe at Betty's Kitchen

Dessert Mistletoe is in many of the Mesquite trees of the riparian lowlands.  It serves as a nesting place for Phainopeplas and Northern Mockingbirds.

Great Horned Owl

In an abandoned Date Tree grove south of Mittry Lake we found a Great Horned Owl sitting in a date tree.
	Great Horned Owl as seen through my spotting scope.
Another view of the owl.  Date groves in this area serve as roosts for Barn Owls also.

Great Horned Owl