Date: 3/29/25 4:15 pm From: Steven Tracey <straceyflash...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SEAZ: FSPR Birding Walk at Hereford Bridge
Hi Birders,
For several months the Friends of the San Pedro River have been leading a
bonus Saturday birding walk in addition to the Wednesday morning walks at
San Pedro House. This morning was the bonus Saturday for March and instead
of a walk around San Pedro House, we walked the trails around the Hereford
Bridge Trailhead. The area around Hereford Bridge is similar to San Pedro
House, but a combination of a more narrow riparian forest and a higher
proportion of willows to my mind makes this area a bit bitter for migrating
warblers in spring. Today 16 birders did their best to prove my theory,
finding 52 species, including lots of Lucy's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers along with small quantities or singles of Wilson's,
Orange-crowned, Nashville, Virginia's and Black-throated Gray warblers.
All of this in the face of what started as a cloudy and breezy morning and
ended with sunny and windy conditions. We had a few recent arrivals beyond
the warblers, including good looks at Gray Hawks and a few Bell's Vireos.
The highlight of the walk, for me at least, was a low flying Common Black
Hawk. Not quite the spectacle the hawk watchers in Tubac are treated to
but finding one on the San Pedro is always nice.
Just a reminder that in addition to the walks every Wednesday morning at
7:00am at San Pedro House, we will be having our "Big Morning Birding
Challenge" on Saturday April 12 as part of the "Celebrate the San Pedro
River" festival. For this event, docent led teams will be birding from
7:00am to 11:00am at 5 different SPRNCA locations. Teams will be at San
Pedro House, Hereford Bridge, Escapule Wash, Millville (Charleston Bridge),
and Waters Rd. (Casa de San Pedro). You can choose your favorite spot or
maybe one you haven't been to yet and join the challenge. All you need to
do is show up (detailed directions are on the event guide on the FSPR
facebook page), no fee or sign up is required and all birder levels are
welcome. After the birding, we will all go to San Pedro House to go over
the results and announce the winners as part of the festival. If you do
join the fun, definitely plan to go to San Pedro House afterwards and
bringing your lunch wouldn't be a bad idea.
