After a late start due to road construction delays, we arrived at the Water Ranch to find numerous birders and groups of birders. With the area as large as it is we had no problems and split into two groups. Temperatures were comfortable and the predicted high winds did not materialize.

The highlight of the trip, at least for one group, was the sighting on two occasions of the Streak-backed Oriole. Also, in the same area an immature humming bird was seen which Rick Hoyer of Wings initially identified as a Ruby-throated. It later moved to a Broad-tailed as predicted by Chuck Kangas. Check at www.birdingonthe.net for detailed information.

All told the two groups saw a combined total of 51 birds. They were: Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Redtailed hawk, Gambel’s Quail, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Common Snipe, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Peachfaced Lovebird, Burrowing Owl, Anna’s Hummingbird, Immature Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Swallow, Verdin, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Abert’s Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Steakbacked Oriole, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Participants were: Donna Smith, Bob Cirillo, Vera Markham, Eleanor Campbell, Chuck Richard, Dean and Joan Luehrs, Chuck Kangas, JoAnne and Dan Wertz, Ron and Loretta Kuhler, Fran Baughman, Jan Pipes, Janice Miano, John Hardison and Chuck and Loretta Richards.