Colorado River, 23 May 2004

Yuma & Colorado River
23 May 2004
Narrated by Henry Detwiler

Bill Massey and I spent a fantastic morning north of Yuma hunting for Black Rails and other local residents.
61 species -- bird list is at the bottom of the page
Click on thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.

I picked up Bill at his motel at 5:00am, and dawn enveloped us as we drove along the California side of the Colorado River north to West Pond. A Great Horned Owl watched us from the edge of the All-American Canal, and hooted while we searched for the rails. At West Pond, we got a Black Rail to growl at us, and then we hustled over to the Arizona side of the river for another try.
Bobcat!	Our first sight was was of a nice healthy bobcat, one of two we would see that day. And then, we heard the familiar "ki-ki-kerr" call of the Black Rail for an Arizona tick!

The next stop was farther up the Gila Gravity Canal, where we found Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Gambel's Quail (nice photo!), and Verdin. A short hop west took us to Hidden Shores Golf Course, where we were alone with the birds.

Gambel's Quail

Cedar Waxwing

Two pairs of Vermillion Flycatchers, a flock of Cedar Waxwings (the one on the left just took off), two late Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warblers, and two Willow Flycatchers were among the birds enjoying the pleasant temperature and lush landscaping.

We followed the Gila Gravity Canal south along Mittry Lake, and found a large flock of Cliff Swallows collecting nesting material.

Cliff Swallows

At the Mittry Lake overlook, we encountered this Mule Deer, a fairly uncommon sight around here. Out in Mittry Lake we didn't see much, only a few American Coots.

Rough-winged Swallow

Mule Deer

Along a small canal, we got excellent looks at several Rough-winged Swallows, including this perched individual.

At Betty's Kitchen Bill heard a Summer Tanager as soon as we exited the car. It was a nice adult perched high in the Athel Tamarisks. Half a dozen Willow Flycatchers, a Western Wood Pewee, and several Pacific-slope Flycatchers were taking advantage of these trees. Along the trail, we spotted Blue Grosbeak, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Phainopepla, and heard a Bell's Vireo.

Summer Tanager

Desert Spiny Lizard

We spotted several lizards this morning, including a nice Desert Spiny. All too soon, we had to head back to Yuma, so Bill could drive back to Tucson for a 2:00 birthday party. But it had been an excellent morning of birding in Yuma County.

Cliff Swallows collecting nesting material

Lower Colorado River, 23 May 2004


#	Species	Qty
1	Pied-billed Grebe	2
2	Double-crested Cormorant	1
3	Great Blue Heron	2
4	Great Egret	3
5	Snowy Egret	3
6	Green Heron	2
7	Red-tailed Hawk	1
8	American Kestrel	1
9	Gambel's Quail	16
10	Black Rail	3
11	Virginia Rail	4
12	American Coot	6
13	Killdeer	4
14	Greater Yellowlegs	1
15	Turkey Vulture	3
16	Rock Pigeon	22
17	White-winged Dove	12
18	Mourning Dove	4
19	Common Ground-Dove	4
20	Great Horned Owl	1
21	Lesser Nighthawk	18
22	Black-chinned Hummingbird	1
23	Anna's Hummingbird	3
24	Gila Woodpecker	3
25	Ladder-backed Woodpecker	3
26	Western Wood Pewee	1
27	Willow Flycatcher	10
28	Pacific Slope Flycatcher	5
29	Black Phoebe	3
30	Vermilion Flycatcher	4
31	Ash-throated Flycatcher	1


#	Species	Qty
32	Western Kingbird	16
33	Bell's Vireo	1
34	Warbling Vireo	2
35	Horned Lark	1
36	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	44
37	Cliff Swallow	80
38	Verdin	4
39	Marsh Wren	2
40	Black-tailed Gnatcatcher	2
41	Northern Mockingbird	2
42	European Starling	18
43	Cedar Waxwing	11
44	Phainopepla	1
45	Yellow-rumped Warbler	2
46	Wilson's Warbler	2
47	Common Yellowthroat	6
48	Yellow Warbler	8
49	Summer Tanager	1
50	Western Tanager	2
51	Abert's Towhee	4
52	Song Sparrow	1
53	Blue Grosbeak	4
54	Red-winged Blackbird	22
55	Yellow-headed Blackbird	1
56	Great-tailed Grackle	18
57	Brown-headed Cowbird	8
58	Hooded Oriole	1
59	Bullock's Oriole	1
60	House Finch	8
61	House Sparrow	14

	Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
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