Black
Rail Hunt - Yuma Area
May 10, 2003,
and only 87 degrees!
- narrated
by Henry Detwiler
Marty & John Hirth on a Black Rail search in AZ & CA
78
species total
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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We started out at 5:30a.m. and along the way found
this owl watching over the All-American Canal. At West Pond,
three Black Rails were calling close to the road, but our best
efforts failed to lure them into sight. At the end of the road
we tried in vain for Clapper Rail, but we did hear an American
Bittern doing its "bog pumping" call.
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Great-horned Owl
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Warbling Vireo |
At Mittry Lake we tried to find the Black Rails on the
Arizona side of the Colorado River, and heard a single individual
growling in aggression. Again, we didn't see hide nor hair of
it. We did start seeing other birds, though, like this
Warbling Vireo.
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| At Betty's Kitchen we saw lots of Wilson's Warblers,
Western Wood Pewees, and more Warbling Vireos. Also, we found
the first of many Spotted Sandpipers for the day, a flock of eight. |
Marty and John Hirth |
Spotted Sandpipers
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Pacific-slope Flycatcher
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This Pacific-Slope Flycatcher was one of several
we found, and just before we left Betty's Kitchen we caught up
with a Hammond's Flycatcher, too.
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Close to Kool Corner we spied our local Harris' Hawk, and at the Gila River Grove we saw a Hermit
and a
Townsend's Warbler, and many more of those Wilson's
Warblers. The Willow Flycatchers hadn't yet returned for the
season.
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Harris' Hawk
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Bumblebee on Palo Verde
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We checked out the Burrowing Owls next to the
Marine base to see if any babies were about, but not yet! At
Hunter's Hole we resumed our search for the Willow Flycatcher, but
again we struck out. We did see two Black Phoebes, and of
course, lots more Wilson's Warblers.
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We ate at Frog's Deli in Somerton, and
then drove north to Martinez Lake & Imperial NWR in search of
terns & shorebirds--but without much luck. Back along the Gila
River we stopped at Fortuna Pond, where we found more Wilson's Warblers and a couple of
Wood Rats. Our last stop of the day
was at the Yuma Territorial Prison's "Mulberry
Tree".
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The fruits were still being gobbled up by
Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, mockingbirds, and finches. Twelve hours after we started, I dropped off
the Hirths after a fine day of birding! |
Western Tanager in Mulberry
Tree |
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