The shallow lake was filled with birds. The list included seven species of ducks, Eared Grebe, a few White-faced Ibis, five species of swallows, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, and a total of seventeen species of shorebirds. Hundreds of American Avocets and around 20 Black-necked Stilts were scattered around the lake.
Around a hundred Wilson's Phalaropes and about 20 Red-necked Phalaropes were present. There was a report of a Red Phalarope from there, but this pale Red-necked might have been misidentified.
Well over a hundred Baird's Sandpipers was a sight not normal for an eastern U.S. birder.
The chance to study about a dozen Western Sandpipers was another plus.
The balance of shorebird species included Killdeer, Least, Pectoral, and Stilt Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and singles of Semipalmated Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper, and Willet. Sparrows seen included Vesper, Chipping, Song, Savannah, and a Brewer's.
A Black Tern was also noted flying around the lake.
The reed-lined pond by the golf course produced Black-crowned Night-Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coot, Black Phoebe, White-crowned Sparrow, Orange-crowned, Yellow, and Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, and two Northern Waterthrushes.
The surrounding area yielded Great Blue Heron, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinnned Hawk, Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Vermilion and Willow Flycatcher, Western and Cassin's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahuan Raven, Curve-billed Thrasher, Green-tailed Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbird, and Greater Roadrunner.
On the way back out the road just past the golf course, I managed to catch a photo of this Scaled Quail as it started to drop off of a post along the road.
We headed west on I-10 and made a quick stop at the McDonald's in Benson. Out front, the 'T-Rex' statue wearing a mask portrayed a sign of the times.
Heading south and then west to Patagonia, we arrived at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in the early afternoon. As usual, the property was buzzing with hummingbirds, which included Black-chinned, Anna's, Broad-tailed, Rufous, and the numerous Broad-billeds. Jason spotted a Costa's that I didn't see, and a Lucifer Hummingbird was also present. This is the place to go in the U.S. if you want to see Violet-crowned Hummingbird. There were at least three of them visiting the feeders.
Soon after, a Thick-billed Kingbird was a pleasant find in one of the trees near the water feature.
Other birds noted while watching the feeders included White-winged and Inca Dove, White-throated Swift, Ladder-backed and Gila Woodpecker, Dusky-capped and Vermilion Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Bridled Titmouse, Barn Swallow, Bewick's Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Lesser Goldfinch, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow and Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Summer Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Lazuli and Varied Bunting. Jason saw an Indigo Bunting, a good find for the Southwest. A Peregrine Falcon zipped by just over the trees. Vireos seen included one each of Bell's, Warbling, and a Cassin's, represented by this documentation photo.
After waiting for a long while for my life bird to show up, my camera battery died. As my luck in 2020 would have it, the bird showed up during the short time it took me to walk to the car and back. I got a glimpse of it being chased from the feeder and into the brush. After another hour of waiting and watching, I finally spotted the Plain-capped Starthroat as it flew in and perched above its preferred feeder. I got a few photos of it during the short time it fed before flying off again. The large size, long bill, white patch down the back and rump, and white malar stripe bordering the gorget that only showed red near the bottom edge were well seen.
Later in the day, I managed to get a photo of the female Lucifer Hummingbird as it perched within several feet of our car.
We drove a short distance west down Blue Heaven Road to where a Rufous-capped Warbler had been seen, but it was pretty late in the day and bird activity was dwindling. We did get to see Say's Phoebe, Green-tailed Towhee, Lucy's Warbler, Western Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, and looks at both a young and an adult Gray Hawk.
We drove east to Sierra Vista for food that wasn't in a backpack and, once again, stayed at the Rodeway Inn.
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