Exploring Yavapai County

Hey Readers!

This last Thursday (the 26th), Laura Ellis and Caleb Strand picked me up on their way north on the I-17 for a day of birding in Yavapai County.  It was great to be with these two again.  Our first stop on the itinerary was Dead Horse Ranch State Park near the town of Cottonwood, AZ.  It was a place I had never been before.  With vast brushy areas and riparian stands along the Verde River, we were bound to find some interesting wildlife.  At 95 for life in Yavapai County, I was destined to break 100 species today.  My first three additions were Canada Geese, Common Mergansers and Canvasbacks.

I found many other Yavapai County lifers throughout the day - 33 to be exact - putting me well past 100 species!

There were many Western Bluebirds here.

An Orange-crowned Warbler.

A Eurasian Collared Dove

Say's Phoebe

An Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler

In the brushy areas of the park, we encountered a variety of sparrows; principally White-crowned, Song, Lincoln's Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos.  There was also a very clean-cut Myrtle Warbler that evaded my camera lens. 

A fallax subspecies Song Sparrow

A Lincoln's Sparrow

This colorful Spotted Towhee was exciting to see.

A juvenile Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk and American Kestrel were among the raptors we encountered. 

Of all the places I've birded in Yavapai County, Dead Horse Ranch seemed to have some of the best potential for rare sparrows and migrants because of the extensive cottonwood-lined river and dense brushy areas that dominated the park.

The ever-moving Brown Creeper

An American Robin

After birding the riparian and brushy areas quite extensively, we made the transition into more open country where we encountered American Pipits, a Vermilion Flycatcher and Oregon and Pink-sided Dark-eyed Juncos as well as good numbers of Chipping Sparrows.

An American Pipit; a plain and easily overlooked bird.

Our only Vermilion Flycatcher at Dead Horse Ranch.

One of 43 Chipping Sparrows we found.

An Oregon race Dark-eyed Junco.

This Northern Cardinal gave its typical song, but added some very odd modifications to the end...

One of two Greater Roadrunners that were in a thicket

The roads within the park all had bird names!

As we were entering the park earlier in the morning, we noticed a sizable stand of non-native pines.  I thought it looked great for something rare.  Luckily, we decided to check it out before leaving for our next stop.  Caleb located a male and female Red Crossbill feeding in one of the pines!  It is pretty amazing to see this specialized species away from its typical habitat in such a limited area.      

The female

The male

Not long after locating crossbills, we started finding Red-naped Sapsuckers; a total of three.

As we continue scrutinizing every tree, Laura pointed out a nuthatch's call; which one was it?  Laura said that it sounded like a Red-breasted, so we decided to investigate...

This Red-breasted Nuthatch was one of my favorite birds of the day; interesting to find in such a small patch of pines!

This nest box was probably put up for Western Bluebirds

I found this large owl pellet on the ground in the pine stand.  A Great-horned Owl probably coughed it up!

A frost-encrusted leaf

After our very productive stop at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, we moved on to another location nearby that was new to me: the Page Springs Fish Hatchery.  We were especially hoping to see the Louisiana Waterthrush, Greater Scaup and overwintering Common Black Hawk that had been reported here.  While driving towards the entrance, we spotted the hawk perched in a cottonwood, but failed to relocate it later.  It is quite possible that this bird was the only Common Black Hawk north of Mexico at the time.     

This Hermit Thrush greeted us at we exited the car.

Great Egret

Page Springs is one of Yavapai's premier spots for duck viewing.  We found a wide variety of waterfowl here which was exciting.  Not only was there a good variety in species, but numbers were high and we had some excellent close-up views of waterfowl that would otherwise be much further out on a larger body of water.

Ring-necked Ducks were the most common species at 176 individuals.

Mallards came in at second with 116 birds counted.

I enjoyed my best views of Cannvasbacks here; we counted 9 of these distinctive ducks at the hatchery.

One of 16 Lesser Scaups we observed.  Sadly, head color is not a reliable way to distinguish Greater from Lesser Scaup.

Our only Redhead

The continuing female Greater Scaup; one of a select few records on eBird for Yavapai.

A more typical Lesser Scaup with a smaller bill, purplish head and peaked back of the head.

Perhaps the most interesting duck of the day was this bizarre Mallard x Northern Pintail hybrid!

Its characteristics were intermediate between its two parent species.  I honestly wish there was an actual species with looks like this! 

After identifying and accurately counting all of the ducks in the front row of ponds, we moved on to a couple ponds which were set farther back towards the riparian area.  We encountered three nmorespecies for the location; Green-winged Teal, a Northern Shoveler and Killdeer.  Also, in the peripheral marshy areas, we heard Soras and Virginia Rails calling!

A Green-winged Teal drake

A female Green-winged Teal

The odd-looking female Northern Shoveler

The distinctive Killdeer; a common and widespread plover.

After counting the birds in these last two ponds, we traveled past some brushy areas towards a cottonwood-lined stream.  We found American Robins, Dark-eyed Juncos and roosting Great Blue Herons here.

Species typical of riparian areas became more pervelant once we were on the path that bordered the stream.  Gila Woodpeckers, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Black Phoebes, Bewick's Wrens, Bridled Titmice, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Song and Lincoln's Sparrows and Abert's Towhees were present in good numbers.  A lone Plumbeous Vireo was also observed.

The unique Bridled Titmouse is like a cross between chickadees and typical titmice.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing a tiny bit of its crown.

While searching for the previously reported Louisiana Waterthrush, we heard a phoebe-like call coming from across the stream.  We figured out that it was an Eastern Phoebe which another birder observed later in the day (in the same area) - cool county lifer!    

Ahhh.  These Mallards must enjoy paddling in this cold stream's water.

Hey look!  There's a Common Black Hawk on the hatchery's sign

After searching for the waterthrush to no avail, we decided to make our way back home... but not before making a pit stop for some pinyon/juniper species along the way!  A large flock of bluebirds enticed us to make a detour... I was hoping for my county lifer Mountain Blueird whereas Caleb was interested in finding his county lifer Juniper titmouse.  Guess what?  We got both - and more!  

A Juniper Titmouse; virtually identical to the Oak Titmouse on the Pacific Coast.

An inquisitive  Sage Thrasher

Another Sage Thrasher in a very thrush-like pose.

This wary Crissal Thrasher also made a brief appearance.

Upon concluding our little 5 minute stop, we had a bite to eat and then finished our journey back to New River (where I live).  Because it was so close, we made a quick stop at the Anthem Community Park where we hoped to find some interesting waterfowl including a continuing Snow x Ross's Goose hybrid.  Well, we found the goose... being fed by park visitors!  What a pet.  

As expected, Mallards were common with 190 counted.

A lot of ducks here are domestics; mostly of Mallard origins, but some are also derived from the Muscovy Duck (like this one).

A Ring-necked Duck

One of 11 Lesser Scaups we counted.

An American Wigeon

22 Buffleheads cruised around in the ponds.

A Double-crested Cormorant with four smaller Neotropic Cormorants. 

Caleb pointed out this male Vermilion Flycatcher; I've only seen it once here.

As the sun was beginning to set, Laura, Caleb and I decided to call it a day and head back to our respective homes.  I really enjoyed getting to know a couple new spots in Yavapai County as well as add over 30 species to my list there.  As always, I learned a lot of new things about birds as well as the places where they are found.  I definitely sense more birding on the horizon...

Godspeed and good birding,

- Joshua