Date: 1/18/25 4:17 pm From: Olga Harbour <oharbour...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SE AZ Santa Cruz Flats
Hi folks,
A friend and I spent several hours at Santa Cruz Flats this morning. In the end we saw 40 species of birds.
One of the highlights for us was large flocks of Lark Bunting flying back and forth across the road between the feed lot and the old river crossing. Other highlights: 5 Crested Caracaras, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, at least 10 American Kestrels, and at least the same number of Loggerhead Shrikes. Along Curry Rd. we saw a Bendire's Thrasher, my first in ages.
We never got decent looks at the birds at Tweedy and Pretzer, with the exception of American Pipit. We did get decent looks at Brewer's and Lark Sparrows along Picacho, and any number of White-crowned Sparrows. Also along Picacho, several Western Bluebirds were hanging out with Western Meadowlarks. A large flock of Gambel's Quail were near the corner of Baumgarten and Wheeler. Lots of Horned Larks were easy to see along most of the roads we traveled. Two gorgeous Vermilion Flycatchers and several Say's Phoebes rounded out the day.
