Ferruginous Hawk
Photo by Robert Shantz

It might have rained earlier in the morning, but by 7 a.m. when we started out on this birding trip, the weather was fine. The attendees were Marshall Esty, Shirley Fackelman, Dick Fogle, Gerry Horton and George Wall (leader).

We started out by walking the park area and even though the birds were sparse we chased up a Red-naped Sapsucker. We then walked down to the river and during our sojourn; we chased up a Brown-crested Flycatcher.

After leaving the park and just down the street, we stopped at the corner of Vineyard and Estrella Parkway to check out the water birds on both sides of the bridge. The Gila River was at its highest point in a very long time and the ducks were having the time of their lives. We counted 10 different species of water fowl.

On the way home, one car went down Bullard and checked out the birds by the water there and added three more to the list.

Here's a list of the 37 species of birds seen by areas:

Estrella Park picnic areas - Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants (several flocks flew overhead), Red-tailed Hawk, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Dove, Hummingbird (unknown species), Gila Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Phainopepla, Curve-billed Thrasher, European Starling, House Finch, Horned Lark, Lark Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Great-tailed Grackle.

Walk to the Gila River - Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, American Coot, Brown-crested Flycatcher and Abert's Towhee.

At the bridge at Vineyard and Estrella Parkway - American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher and Black Phoebe.

On Bullard Avenue - Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike and a Rock Wren.