This past Tuesday I joined an Audubon field trip in search of waterfowl. We met at the same McDonalds but it was an entirely different crew. Once the 15 were gathered, we set off for the closest Waste Water Treatment Plant. I hitched a ride with the retired couple leading the group. On our ride over they talked about how slow birding has been and how they hoped that we'd see more than the Common Ravens along the road. I learned that Green Vally got its name from pecan groves as we drove through the tiny percentage that remained. One of the leaders commented with detest that the groves were being replaced by retirement communities as we passed suburban sprawl spread out to our right.
Our 8 car caravan pulled up to the parking area of the WWTP. We had received previous instruction not to park on the dead grass due to the high risk of fire. In case we didn't understand the new policy, a tough looking women in a cutoff flannel shirt with a smoke hanging from her lip was there to guide us. Once everyone signed the clipboard for insurance purposes, we focused on the 1st of 3 ponds. Right away someone called out Snipe! Then bird by bird the pond was conquered. I was surprised by the number of species that lay before us: A. Wigeon, N. Pintail, Green-Winged Teal, Bufflehead, Ring-Necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, N. Shoveler, Gadwall, Eared/Pied-Billed Grebes, and Coots. Until now my water birding in Arizona had been sparse.
As we moved on to the second, smaller pond I began to appreciate how close were were. I was getting some of the best looks of my life. With the aid of scopes we were seeing more detail than the I.D. books provided. This was the detail I had been longing for all those days straining out across lakes and rivers back east. Maybe I could get over the smell of the plant if the birding was always this good. Along the edge of the water I had several good looks at an American Pipit (a lifer for me). After everyone had their fill we moved on to the tough ones (sparrows). The group continued to rattled off I.D.s but not with the same confidence as before. Guide books were consulted while the sparrows seemed to morph before our eyes. After a long debate it was decided that we were looking at a Vesper Sparrow (another first for me) along with a mess of juvenile White Crowned, and a few Savannah Sparrows. Shortly after a Herring Gull captured the groups attention. I guess its all about where you see them. Before packing it back up we took a last look at the pond by the cars and were rewarded. Three Wood Ducks had flown in while our backs were turned. Absolutely beautiful in their bright fall colors.
Everyone feeling satisfied we moved down the road to Lower Madera Canyon. Our time there seemed brief but the visit didn't go unrewarded. There were several excellent looks at a Black Throated Gray Warbler, along with Hutton's Vireo, Say's Phoebe, Arizona and Acorn woodpeckers. The half dozen Acorn Woodpeckers were a thrill to watch as they stocked up on Acorns, stashing them in a nearby Alligator Juniper. We ended our morning around 11:30 and broke back for town. Most were going home for the day while one person took off up the mountain after the Eared Quetzel. Having attempted to see it over the weekend I knew what a long hike back it can be - if you're not one of the lucky few.
Location: Green Valley WWTP
Observation date: 11/6/07
Number of species: 38
Wood Duck 3
Gadwall 5
American Wigeon 10
Northern Shoveler 18
Northern Pintail 14
Green-winged Teal 13
Ring-necked Duck 39
Bufflehead 8
Ruddy Duck 10
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Eared Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
American Coot 25
Killdeer 40
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Least Sandpiper 15
Wilson's Snipe 1
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 40
Mourning Dove 1
Black Phoebe 3
Vermilion Flycatcher 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1
Common Raven 10
Horned Lark 30
European Starling 15
American Pipit 3
Vesper Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Brewer's Blackbird 25
Great-tailed Grackle 50
House Finch 1
Location: Madera Canyon, Pima Co.
Observation date: 11/6/07
Number of species: 23
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 1
Mourning Dove 15
Acorn Woodpecker 10
Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1
Arizona Woodpecker 2
Say's Phoebe 1
Hutton's Vireo 1
Mexican Jay 6
Common Raven 3
Bridled Titmouse 14
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1
Hepatic Tanager 2
Canyon Towhee 2
Brewer's Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(
http://ebird.org)
It was 11:00 pm the night before when Aaron and I finally decided to go. For all we knew this was our only chance. We had discussed the route carefully and planned our trip leaving little margin for error. By 6:00 am the next morning we were on the hwy trapped in Tucson's congestion. We needed to travel 70 miles each way, find our bird, and be back in Tucson (and working) before 10 am. The slow start made us question our schedule. But once the construction ended we were back up to 80 mph and only 5 minutes behind schedule. No big deal.
