Phoenix Pseudo-RBA 22 June 2006
Phoenix hasn't had a Rare Bird Alert since about 1997 or so -- Steve Ganley used to run it back then. So I'll be posting an RBA-format post of rare birds on this LiveJournal, mostly for my personal benefit, covering Maricopa and northern Pinal Counties (including the Mazatzals and other areas within easy reach of Phoenix).
Do keep in mind that June and July are the slowest months for bird sightings, not just here in Phoenix, but throughout the state of Arizona.
This inaugural report covers June 16-22, 2006. Reports are weekly unless otherwise stated.
An asterisk * preceding a species name below indicates that the species
warrants careful documentation. Pound sign # indicates that brief
corroborative details are warranted. Please send details to the Arizona Bird
Committee at: P.O. Box 91856 Tucson, AZ 85752-1856
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
AMERICAN WIGEON (Scottsdale Pavilions)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Gilbert Water Ranch)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Scottsdale Pavilions)
*LITTLE BLUE HERON (Rio Salado Wetlands)
CLAPPER RAIL (Sisson Road)
RING-BILLED GULL (Gilbert Water Ranch)
"WESTERN" FLYCATCHER (Rio Salado Wetlands)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Encanto Park)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Rio Salado Wetlands)
#KENTUCKY WARBLER (Tolleson)
*AMERICAN REDSTART (Tolleson)
PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA
The *LITTLE BLUE HERON continues at Rio Salado Wetlands as of the 18th (Eric Lattumer), when it was seen at the demonstration wetland at Central Avenue. Late migrants seen here on the 18th included a silent "WESTERN" FLYCATCHER and a female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Eric Lattumer).
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a first summer RING-BILLED GULL were late migrants at Gilbert Water Ranch on the 18th (Eric Lattumer).
An AMERICAN ROBIN was seen at Encanto Park in central Phoenix on the 18th (Mike Plagens). This species is uncommon at any time of year in the Valley, and particularly rare in summer.
Continuing the trend of eastern warblers seen elsewhere in the state, a first spring male *AMERICAN REDSTART was a surprise visitor to a private residence in Tolleson on the 18th. Even more surprising was a #KENTUCKY WARBLER seen and photographed at the same yard on the 22nd! (William Grossi).
On the 22nd, Scottsdale Pavilions hosted a drake RING-NECKED DUCK and a pair of AMERICAN WIGEONS (duck and drake), normally only seen in winter in the Valley (Carlos Ross). The drake wigeon appeared to have a broken left wing, so this pair is likely attempting to oversummer here.
OUTLYING AREAS
Three CLAPPER RAILS were reported at the marsh at the west end of Sisson Road, near Paloma Ranch in Gila Bend on the 18th (William Grossi).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The National Forest Service has announced that the Mogollon Rim between Strawberry and Globe and the Pinal Mountains are now closed to public access due to extreme fire danger.
Rarity photos of some of these birds are available at the Arizona Field Ornithologists website at http://www.azfo.org.
The next report would normally be on June 29, 2006, but the compiler will be in Hawaii next week, so there will be a delay until July 6.
Do keep in mind that June and July are the slowest months for bird sightings, not just here in Phoenix, but throughout the state of Arizona.
This inaugural report covers June 16-22, 2006. Reports are weekly unless otherwise stated.
An asterisk * preceding a species name below indicates that the species
warrants careful documentation. Pound sign # indicates that brief
corroborative details are warranted. Please send details to the Arizona Bird
Committee at: P.O. Box 91856 Tucson, AZ 85752-1856
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
AMERICAN WIGEON (Scottsdale Pavilions)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Gilbert Water Ranch)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Scottsdale Pavilions)
*LITTLE BLUE HERON (Rio Salado Wetlands)
CLAPPER RAIL (Sisson Road)
RING-BILLED GULL (Gilbert Water Ranch)
"WESTERN" FLYCATCHER (Rio Salado Wetlands)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Encanto Park)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Rio Salado Wetlands)
#KENTUCKY WARBLER (Tolleson)
*AMERICAN REDSTART (Tolleson)
PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA
The *LITTLE BLUE HERON continues at Rio Salado Wetlands as of the 18th (Eric Lattumer), when it was seen at the demonstration wetland at Central Avenue. Late migrants seen here on the 18th included a silent "WESTERN" FLYCATCHER and a female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Eric Lattumer).
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a first summer RING-BILLED GULL were late migrants at Gilbert Water Ranch on the 18th (Eric Lattumer).
An AMERICAN ROBIN was seen at Encanto Park in central Phoenix on the 18th (Mike Plagens). This species is uncommon at any time of year in the Valley, and particularly rare in summer.
Continuing the trend of eastern warblers seen elsewhere in the state, a first spring male *AMERICAN REDSTART was a surprise visitor to a private residence in Tolleson on the 18th. Even more surprising was a #KENTUCKY WARBLER seen and photographed at the same yard on the 22nd! (William Grossi).
On the 22nd, Scottsdale Pavilions hosted a drake RING-NECKED DUCK and a pair of AMERICAN WIGEONS (duck and drake), normally only seen in winter in the Valley (Carlos Ross). The drake wigeon appeared to have a broken left wing, so this pair is likely attempting to oversummer here.
OUTLYING AREAS
Three CLAPPER RAILS were reported at the marsh at the west end of Sisson Road, near Paloma Ranch in Gila Bend on the 18th (William Grossi).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The National Forest Service has announced that the Mogollon Rim between Strawberry and Globe and the Pinal Mountains are now closed to public access due to extreme fire danger.
Rarity photos of some of these birds are available at the Arizona Field Ornithologists website at http://www.azfo.org.
The next report would normally be on June 29, 2006, but the compiler will be in Hawaii next week, so there will be a delay until July 6.