I check out the American Birders Association Bird sightings reports on a daily basis. I do this to 1) see what is going on in Southern Arizona and 2) give me something to do if I can get away.
Here is an ABA report from Saturday:
"In the (Santa Cruz) Flats there was a marked increase in the number of raptors. Among them were four species of falcons, including two CRESTED CARACARAS, a PEREGRINE FALCON, two PRAIRIE FALCONS, and lots of AMERICAN KESTRELS. The caracaras were viewed perched and on the ground looking west from Wheeler Rd. just north of Baumgartner. A very close look of an OSPREY perched on a telephone pole along Greene Reservoir Rd. offered great photo ops. Other raptors included two NORTHERN HARRIERS, scattered SWAINSON'S HAWKS with over 50 at the Evergreen Turf sod farm, and two BURROWING OWLS at the sod farm. A flock of 40+ WHITE-FACED IBIS were in a flooded field on the east side of Tweedy R. across from the sod farm."
Christine and I had to drive up to Phoenix on Sunday, so thought, "Wow, this would be a great opportunity to check out and photograph all these raptors."
So we hit the Flats (on our return) driving up and down Philips Road, Pretzler Road, Tweedy Road, Greene Reservoir Road, Baumgartner Road, and Wheeler Road.
No Crested Caracaras
No Peregrine Falcons
No Prairie Falcons
One American Kestrel
No Ospreys
One male Harrier Hawk
One Swainson's Hawk
One Red Tailed Hawk
One Ferruginous Hawk
No Burrowing Owls
No White Faced Ibis
And as for photos, only a marginal (at best) Swainson's Hawk and a okay Raven:
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| Swainson's Hawk |
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| Raven |
It may have had something to do with the wind and dust storm that we were faced with. However, being out in nature is never a complete disappointment. So, we returned happy nonetheless.
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