Long-billed Dowitcher
Photo by Robert Shantz

Rural Arlington Valley southwest of Phoenix with open fields, canals, disappearing ponds and the Gila River gave 19 eager birders ample habitat to explore. Led by Joan and Dean Luehrs, the group stopped numerous times to see such specialties as a White-tailed Kite hovering close to the road, a Bendire's Thrasher singing persistently in a tree top and many a Eurasian Collared-Dove.

They scoured the site of the former Arlington elementary school, now just grass and pine trees, and found the Prairie Falcon, several Vermilion Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco, and flushed a Great Horned Owl.

One mud hole with a little open water supported Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Gadwall.

Some even caught sight of a Wilson's Snipe and a Least Bittern. Several Swainson's Hawks were seen.

Although not everyone saw every species the bird count reached 70 including those seen by the leaders in Sun City at the end of the trip. Everyone enjoyed picnicking on a hillside above Gillespie Dam golden with wildflowers.

In addition to birds mentioned the following were seen: American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Gila Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Horned Lark, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Phainopepla, Abert's Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Redwinged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, and House Sparrow.