Date: 3/9/25 4:53 pm From: Steven Tracey <straceyflash...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SEAZ: Sierra Vista EOP Birding Walk -- 09 Mar 2025
Hi Birders
This morning 8 birders, mostly from Arizona, found 68 birds at the EOP
facility on the Sunday birding walk. It seems like we always get a tease
of spring in February with both weather and migrating birds, only to be
dealt the reality in March that it is still winter. Such was the case this
morning. It was cold and the birds really haven't changed in the past few
weeks. While that means not much in the way of migrants beyond the
swallows that arrived a few weeks ago, it doesn't mean a lack of good
birding. We still have a great collection of ducks. In fact our 14 duck
species today tied our high for the season. Among those 14 species were
the continuing female Greater Scaup and Hooded Merganser. We also had a
good shorebird morning, and while nothing particularly unusual showed up we
did manage to get all of the wintering species we have been seeing
sporadically on previous walks. We also managed to see normally plumaged
male and female Northern Harriers along with the melanistic Northern
Harrier as well.
We had a Peregrine Falcon around today that made a few passes at the
ponds. At one point we looked back at one of the open water ponds after
seeing a big flush of birds to see the Peregrine chasing a male Blue-winged
Teal down the middle of the pond. Now I assume many of you will have heard
that the fastest bird and by some accounts the fastest of all animals is
the Peregrine Falcon. In today's race however with the teal a few feet
above the pond and just a few feet in front of the Peregrine, the teal took
a straight line over about half the length of the pond and pulled away from
the Peregrine, eventually dropping to safety in the cattails at the end of
the pont. Now maybe the Peregrine was flying on a full stomach or maybe it
was just toying with the teal, or just maybe the fastest bird in the world
is actually a Blue-winged Teal!
Birding walks behind the locked gates of the Sierra Vista EOP occur every
Sunday morning. For the spring months of March, April and May, the walks
will start at 7:00am. Walks are limited to the first 15 participants. Meet
early at the EOP Bird Viewing Platform to sign in with the guide. Late
arrivals will not have access behind the locked gates. Scopes are useful. A
hat and water are highly recommended.
The EOP is located just east (~ 3 miles) from Sierra Vista on AZ Hwy 90.
Look for the Brua Animal Care Center and the Wildlife Viewing signs on the
northside of Hwy 90. Turn left (north) and proceed to the bird viewing
platform. Note that Google Maps may direct you to the wrong entrance.
