Tuesday, March 14, 2006

New Mexico - Arizona - Colorado Trip ~ March 8, 2006

On the 8th, we spent the morning back at the Gilbert Water Ranch. Birds seen there in addition to ones mentioned before included Double-crested Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, Least Sandpiper, Gila Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Violet-green and Cliff Swallows, Bewick's Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Wilson's Warbler, and Green-tailed and Abert's Towhees, but still no oriole.
Verdin at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona.
This bird was photographed in a small mesquite tree. This photo shows the yellowish head, dark lores, tiny bill, the rufous shoulder patch exposed by the wind blowing the feathers, and the light gray breast and belly.


We left Gilbert around mid-day and drove up to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. There, new trip birds included Broad-billed Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush, Spotted Towhee, and an unusual bird for Arizona: a Brown Thrasher.
Brown Thrasher at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. This was the only photo I could get of this 'eastern' bird that was being sought after by the western birders.

No comments:

Post a Comment