Wilson's Snipe
Photo by Earle Robinson

The Gilbert Water Ranch is one of the Valley's better birding places - especially in winter. The ponds are full of water then, and attractive to large numbers of ducks and shore birds. The vegetation between ponds caters to the likes of most of the common permanent Valley birds, plus lots of other winter migrants, plus spring/fall transients traveling to and from wherever.

There are several miles of well-maintained, level one trails. They are even graveled so you don't get all muddy in the rain. Birders have to share space with those out for some exercise - but there is plenty space for all. And most birds are used to the human traffic. The ducks patiently wait while you adjust your binoculars and scopes.

Sonoran Audubon and Birders Anonymous combined a trip to the Water Ranch on 14 Jan 05. Twentytwo participants enjoyed a perfect day of birding. We traveled together past the fishing-lake, and on to the Burrowing Owl sites. We then split, with George Wall taking half the group.

We logged 50 species, which included ten of duck/geese, three of heron/egret, three of the hawks, and six of shorebirds. "Best Birds"? Depends on who you asked: the Burrowing Owls are always an attraction; five Wilson Snipes sunning themselves on the shore in perfect view is one rare sight; the Peach-faced Lovebird was new to several - and still a special with most.

Earle Robinson’s photo of a Wilson’s Snipe is used in this trip report. He says in his web page, that “these water's edge birds are very difficult to photograph because they weave in and out of the vegetation at the waters edge. The least bit of movement or noise and they are gone, back into the deep vegetation”. The photo is the usual way we see a Wilson’s Snipe. That’s the reason for the reeds hiding the snipe in the photo and the reason for the remark about the rare sight of the snipe sunning them selves on the shore.

We had a guest birder from New Orleans, who was in the Valley on business. She stayed over a day to go on our trip. Found us on the web. Several of our local birds were lifers for her. Her excitement added extra sparkle to the rest of us. Hooking up with a local Audubon field trip is one good way to bird in a strange place.

Here are the 50 birds seen or heard: Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Ruddy Duck, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Burrowing Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Gila Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Verdin, Song Sparrow, Whitecrowned Sparrow, Abert's Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat (heard), House Finch, House Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle and the Peach-faced Lovebird.

Participants were Dan Bohlmann, George Drew, Dick Fogle, Marge Eckman, Marshall Esty, Doris Hill, Kathy & Jerry Hobbs, Ian Jeffrey, Vera Markham, Ann McDermott, Barbara Meding, Janice Miano, Bill Muir, Chuck & Loretta Richards, Betty Roberts, Donna Smith, Jean Stimmel (visitor from New Orleans), George Wall, Jerry Weaver and Dwayne Fink - leader.