March 8, 2007: Phoenix Area Birding (Encanto Park, Gilbert Water Ranch, Scottsdale) (45 PHOTOS, 44 BIRDS)

Today, I was lucky enough to bird three times, before class, during lunch, and after the class. In the morning, I made another trip to nearby Encanto Park. I got GREAT looks at the Harris' Hawk pair this morning. Those and some other photos are immediately below. I continued to see the other typical birds of the park, Ring Necked Ducks, Pied Billed Grebe, Harris' Hawk, lots of Canada and Domestic Geese, Mallards, Gila Woodpecker, Curve Billed Thrashers, Mockingbirds, and Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

ENCANTO PARK, Phoenix, Arizona

Got some great Harris' Hawk shots (see below). The first one immediately below I think is the best one of the group.

Below: Two more photos of American Coots

Above: Female Great Tailed Grackle

Below: Two nice shots of a Gila Woodpecker

Yet more nice Ring-Necked Duck photos today! (Below)

Yellow Rumped Warbler (Audubon)

GILBERT WATER RANCH - Gilbert, Arizona

Not as much time to bird at lunch, but did finally find the Peach Faced Lovebird, and lots of waterfowl (Shoveler, Green-Winged and Cinnamon Teal, Pied Billed Grebe, Pintail, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Coot, and Canvasback). Also lots of Long Billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Avocets and Stilts. Land birds such as Anna's Hummingbird, Mockingbird, Curve Billed Thrasher, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Yellothroat, and Verdin. Still also thousands of White-Crowned Sparrows.

Peach-Faced Lovebird (rapidly colonizing the Phoenix area) (above and below)

Double-Crested Cormorant

Above and Below: Great Egrets

American Coot

Cinnamon Teal

Anna's Hummingbird

Inca Dove

Black-Necked Stilt

American Avocet

Long-Billed Dowitcher (Above and Below)

Great Blue Heron

Great Tailed Grackle

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA Birding

Evening birding was cut short by getting stuck in traffic on I-10 and Loop 101 on the way to Scottsdale!

I found a nice set of ponds at the Pavilion Shopping Center on Indian Bend Rd. There were many American Wigeon here, and I got some great shots. Also present were Mallard, Ruddy Ducks, Shoveler, and Coots. Because of all the traffic, I didn't have time to try any other places in Scottsdale this evening.

Traffic on the 101!

Birdwatching retention ponds at the Pavilion Shopping Center (Indian Bend Rd just west of Loop 101 in Scottsdale)

Canada Goose

Mallard Duck (with Wigeon in the background)

I got some great shots of American Wigeon at the pond...

There were also Northern Shovelers at the pond

Ruddy Duck

Stampede of Coots!

ENCANTO PARK LOCATION
GILBERT WATER RANCH LOCATION (LOCAL.LIVE.COM):

PAVILIONS SHOPPING CENTER SCOTTSDALE

March 7, 2007: Phoenix Area Birding (Encanto Park, Scottsdale) (22 PHOTOS)

I birded the lunch hour at Encanto Park, in search of Harris' Hawks, and nice duck shots. Later in the evening I had a little bit of time, so I checked out some ponds on Hayden Road in Scottsdale. Because of traffic, I didn't get much time for that! The hot weather (mid 80's and sunny) felt nice! Brief look at the Harris' Hawk, but saw lots of Ring-Necked Ducks, Mallards, Canada and Domestic Geese, Curve Billed Thrasher, Mockingbirds, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Verdin, and lots of Gila Woodpecker.

ENCANTO PARK (Phoenix, Arizona)

I got some nice shots of the park's tame Ring-Necked Ducks (who apparently have not flown north yet). See below....

Now for some other bird shots from Encanto Park....

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Northern (Red-Shafted Race) Flicker

Gila Woodpecker

Rock Pigeon

Domestic "Swan Goose"

I also got some nice shots of American Coots.... (below)

Mourning Doves (2 below)

Ponds on Hayden Rd, south of Chapparal (Scottsdale, Arizona)

Chapparal Ranch had lots of Mallards, Coots, and Canada Geese, and a few Ring-Necked Ducks. There were also Double-Crested Cormorants. Some temporary looking ponds a bit further south on Hayden had a wide variety of waterfowl, including Redhead, Canvasback, Coots, Wigeon, Shovelers, Ruddys and Cinnamon Teal. There was also a Great Egret.

Nice assortment of ducks on the ponds (Canvasback, Ring-Necked Ducks, Shovelers, and Coots!) (above and below)

Great Egret

Gambel's Quail (Paradise Rd, Scottsdale)

American Wigeon (McCormack Ranch, Scottsdale) . There were also lots of Cactus Wren, and Gila Woodpeckers in this neighborhood (but I missed the Lovebirds and Harris' Hawk in this area)

ENCANTO PARK LOCATION

Ponds on Hayden Road, Scottsdale Location (South of Chaparral and east of Hayden, it is NOT a Golf Course as labeled)

GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Paradise Rd near 65th in Scottsdale)