Winter Birding in Northernmost Maricopa County

Hey Readers!

On the 6th of January, I carpooled with Caleb Strand, Laura Ellis and Susan Fishburn for a day trip to the Seven Springs area which is north of Cave Creek, AZ.  In addition to searching for a few previously reported rarities (namely Hooded Warbler and Pacific Wren), we wanted to check out the semidesert grasslands north of Seven Springs on both the Maricopa and Yavapai county sides.  We were hoping to find wintering Grasshopper Sparrows.  After enjoying some donuts early in the morning, we drove east and north into the higher country.

One of our first birds of the day were American Robins at Seven Springs Recreation Area

   

Heading north past Seven Springs Recreation Area, we entered some fairly healthy semidesert grasslands which boasted good numbers of Western Meadowlarks and sparrows (mainly Chipping, Black-throated, White-crowned and Vesper Sparrows along with some Dark-eyed Juncos).

One of many young White-crowned Sparrows we encountered.

A Vesper Sparrow.  Note the white eyering and white outer tail feathers.

These grasslands in Maricopa County just south of the Yavapai County line are quite extensive...

In addition to sparrows and meadowlarks, the grasslands contained many species that are typical of both Sonoran Desert and mid-elevation shrublands including Gambel's Quail, a Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrikes, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay, Bushtits, Rock, Bewick's and Cactus Wrens, Western Bluebirds and a calling Crissal Thrasher.  From here, we headed back to the Seven Springs area in order to find our main targets of the trip.  We made a few quick stops along the way which yielded some very nice birds...

Our only Sage Thrasher of the day.  They can be very photogenic!

Interestingly, Gila Woodpeckers were common here.

Other species of interest here included a Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, a Hutton's Vireo, a flock of Cedar Waxwings and Rufous-crowned Sparrows.  Further down the road, we made a stop and were surprised to find a Black-chinned Sparrow which is an uncommon wintering bird in Maricopa County.  Also, I had two Maricopa County life birds at this stop; Mountain Bluebirds and a Townsend's Solitaire!

The Townsend's Solitaire; an odd thrush.

Once at Seven Springs Wash (which is where the Pacific Wren and Hooded Warbler were reported), we geared up for a 3 hour search...  Once in the wash, there wasn't a lot of bird activity apart from some Gila Woodpeckers and Bridled titmice that were calling from the trees.  We searched long and hard for the warbler and wren without success for nearly 2 hours.  Then we started hearing an unusual call coming from upstream.  In came the Hooded Warbler!  In a flurry of yellow, it whizzed past into some cattails at the stream's edge.  Then, it briefly landed in some grass but flew just as I was about to take its picture.  What a cool lifer!

The Hooded Warbler... 

A Lincoln's Sparrow

Another Townsend's Solitaire

I bet that Caleb wishes birding could be this comfortable all the time!

After failing to relocate the Hooded warbler after searching for a while, we decided to move on to our next stop.  Traveling north into Yavapai County's grasslands, we noted some interesting species.  A distant Sharp-shinned Hawk, flock of Bushtits, good numbers of Canyon Towhees and a Northern Cardinal were the best species apart from one very interesting bird...

A possible "Timberline" Brewer's Sparrow; a subspecies which nests in the far north but could potentially winter here.

The distinct gray nape and contrasty features are good field marks for the subspecies although we are not entirely positive of its ID.

A Yavapai County Cactus Wren

Some potential Native American petroglyphs on a rock where we were birding...

A Western Meadowlark

While birding these grasslands, meadowlarks started passing through from the Maricopa County side.  Two of these were confirmed by voice to be Eastern Meadowlarks!  What a great Yavapai County addition.  Oh wait...  Both of them were observed as they flew in from Maricopa County!  Score for Maricopa!

After enjoying the grasslands, we headed back into Maricopa County to Lower Camp Creek: a mid-elevation riparian area where a Rufous-backed Robin had been reported a week prior.  One of the first I saw was yet another Black-chinned Sparrow!  This area must be good for them in winter...  Soon after, we picked out a Hutton's Vireo and Bridled Titmouse in the trees in the canyon below our trail.

The Hutton's Vireo; differentiated from Ruby-crowned Kinglet by its broken eyering and thicker, hooked bill.     

A male Ruby-crowned Kinglet flaring its crown!

One of nearly a dozen Hermit Thrsuhes we encountered.

A Northern Mockingbird

An odd place for a shrine if you ask me...

Although bird activity was dying because of how late it was getting, we did have some good species.  A Black Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Canyon Wrens and Orange-crowned Warbler were good birds.

My last photo of the day; a Rock Wren in appropriate habitat.

Overall, our day had been great fun.  We enjoyed an assortment of birds that we don't usual see everyday; the birds of the mid-elevations and semi-desert grasslands.  I had one life bird: the Hooded Warbler as well as three Maricopa County life birds: Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire and Eastern Meadowlark!  

Before I end this post, I want to share something that really meant a lot to me: Caleb decided to give me his Nikon D3000 with its 55-300 mm lens at the beginning of the trip.  I was absolutely blown away and at first and tried to ask him to sell it to me instead, but he insisted on giving it to me.  All of the photos in this post were taken by me using Caleb's camera with the exception of the photo of the camera which was taken by my phone!  I am so appreciative of this gift and I will have to start taking some good shots!  I gave Caleb my old Fujifilm point-and-shoot so he could at least be able to document rarities while he's saving up for a new DSLR.

Godspeed and good birding to you all,

- Joshua

Ferret Spotlighting In The Aubrey Valley Part 2

Hey Readers!

Here is Part 2 of my Black-footed Ferret spotlighting journey.  Enjoy!

Last time on Adam's Command:

My Dad and I joined up with the AZGFD to attend a Black-footed Ferret Spotlighting Event in Seligman, AZ.  We found an Ord's Kangaroo Rat, two rabbit species, and a possible American Badger but no ferrets!  We did get to see the only ferret that had been captured, anesthetized, and vaccinated.  After a long night's morning, we retreated into our motel room not to wake until 2 pm...


                                                                         - Day 2 -

Feeling slightly refreshed, we decided to return to the Aubrey Valley to check it out during the day.  We especially wanted to see Gunnison's Prairie Dogs, the Black-footed Ferrets' primary prey.  Take a look at these photos of the valley...

This long stretch of cliffside outlines the northern border of the Aubrey Valley.   

We were in the valley no more than 5 minutes until we spotted our first Gunnison's Prairie Dog!  It was standing in its hind feet to scan the area for predators such as Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles.

We saw multitudes of these glorified ground squirrels scattered along the road.

The iconic pose of the Gunnison's Prairie Dog

We also found a small herd of Pronghorn - all of whom were female.  I recently learned that Pronghorn mothers eat their young's feces!  I was very confused as to the reasoning behind this behavior until my geography teacher explained why.  Towards the end of the ice age, Pronghorn were the American Cheetah's primary prey.  These cats had an excellent sense of smell, and guess what?  They could smell junior antelope's poo from afar!  Thus, Momma Pronghorn thought it would be safer to eliminate the odor altogether!  Also, Pronghorns are very flighty and can run up to 60 mph.  Nothing else in North America can run nearly that fast, oh, except for the now-extinct American Cheetah!              

Bird wise, Horned Larks were abundant as were Common Ravens and Western Meadowlarks.  I also encountered Loggerhead Shrikes, one my all-time favorite birds.  The most interesting species present, however, were the Sage Thrashers.  Seven of them to be exact!  It was pretty interesting to see so many at once.  I didn't realize how gregarious they could be during migration.  The Aubrey Valley has been designated as an IBA (Important Bird Area). It is home to a significant route for migrating raptors.  Jennifer Cordova mentioned that a kettle of over 150 migrating Turkey Vultures had been seen recently.

These Horned Lark tracks were abundant in the soft sandy soil

I also found this interesting Darkling Beetle.  These are the classic "stink bugs" from our early years.  I almost always stop for non-bird animals unless there's a potential lifer nearby!

The deadly "headstand' of foulness

Darkling Beetles have fused elytra - they can't fly

The main road to Pica Camp - the grand cliffside in the background

One of many prairie dog burrows

After our productive stop in the Aubrey Valley, my Dad and I decided to get a few more hours of sleep before resuming the nightly grind.  After our nap, it was 8pm and we headed west to the AZGFD processing trailer to receive info on our new route and also to get a map and observation form.  We were there earlier than most of the other volunteers.  We kept awake by drinking soda and snacking.  We encountered nothing unusual until about 11pm when we reached an area with sparse junipers.  I heard a faint clicking sound in the sky above us.  It was a bat!  My Dad also got to hear it.  I never tire of hearing or seeing bats.  They are difficult to study and not frequently seen.  Later, I asked Jen Cordova what if could have been; she said that the typical vocalizing bat here is the Big Brown Bat.

We traveled far and wide in our search for the elusive Black-footed Ferret and decided to call it quits at 4am.  Little did I know that no one else had seen any ferrets whatsoever that night also.  As we were leaving, I kept spotlighting the roadside and I saw a strikingly patterned pocket mouse run into a  burrow!  I left the car with my cordless spotlight and checked out the holes it could have entered.

One of several burrow entrances that the pocket mouse uses

According to habitat, location, and the pattern of the animal, Silky Pocket Mouse would be the only eligible candidate.  This was the last animal of the trip.  The total counts for ferrets were devastatingly low, but is mostly due to the fact that numbers are down in the spring typically.  I could do this again in the summer or fall when its warmer.  I full-heartedly hope that the species is doing well here and in the other states and I fully intend to capture one next time!!!

Godspeed and good birding,

- Joshua