July 21, 2008
by George Wall

There were only four of us (George Drew, Vera Markham, Donna Smith and George Wall – leader), but what a good time was had by all. We traveled towards Flagstaff where we first stopped at a couple of ponds on the way to our first major stop, the Kachina Wetlands. At the wetlands, we had beautiful views of the Ruddy Duck in full mating plumage. The temperature was in the 60s and 70s as we walked the areas looking for birds. Western Bluebirds were the prevalent species on our trip as they were popping up everywhere.

At the arboretum in Flagstaff, we were treated to Western Tanagers and a Bell’s Vireo. From the arboretum, we traveled to Nancy Reed’s cabin where we enjoyed lunch on her back porch, were treated to a flock of Pygmy Nuthatches and added the Black-headed Grosbeak to our list.

Here are the 35 species seen: Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Hairy Woodpecker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Western Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, American Crow, Common Raven, Bell’s Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird.