Greetings Birders,
Arrived at the Aztec Feedlot shortly after sunrise on 7 July, but nothing exciting awaited me. One of the workers approached me, wanting to know what I was up to. After talking with him, I gave him a business card so his boss could call me. Ten minutes later I was speaking with Andrew, the new owner, who let me know that for the immediate future, access to the Aztec and Vicksburg Feedlots is suspended due to the bird flu. Nobody but workers are allowed on-site, for fear that we might inadvertently infect their cows.
At Spot Road Farm were a few shorebirds and the usual suspects, including a WILLET, two WILSON’S PLOVERS, and an early NORTHERN HARRIER. Later that afternoon I made it to the Paton’s. No luck with a recent Allen’s Hummingbird, but it was nice to see and hear two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, and multiple BLUE GROSBEAKS.
At dawn on Tuesday the 8th, I was listening and looking hard for the pair of ROSE-THROATED BECARDS along Harshaw Creek. I'd read that just within the past week a male had arrived, and the two birds were working on a new nest to replace the one knocked down by the wind. At the stream crossing, I soon heard the high thin call of a becard, but only twice, and couldn't spot it. A while later, and farther upstream from the original nest, I heard a squeaky jumble of notes betray the presence of the female in a tree, soon to be joined by her mate. The male had a small stick in its bill, so I thought the new nest might be in the huge sycamore nearby. But although I got good photos and recordings of their calls, I never did find the nest. Over the course of an hour I spotted and heard a fine selection of birds here, including GRAY HAWK, 8 species of flycatchers, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, SCOTT'S ORIOLE, and ROCK, BEWICK'S, and CANYON WRENS.
Then it was back to the Paton's for another try at the Allen's Hummingbird. Still no luck on that front, but again a wonderful selection of their usual birds, including two VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINBIRD, at least 23 BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS, multiple YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, and a BRONZED COWBIRD. Nothing exciting in Box Canyon, and the temperatures were rising quickly. At Santa Rita Lodge it was still pleasant, and I watched RIVOLI'S and two beautiful RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, and an ARIZONA WOODPECKER among the many others. At 112 degrees along the I-8 corridor, I didn't relish stopping at Spot Road Farm again, so I headed on home to Yuma.
eBird reports with photos:https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/x3hDCN7oVgIMnYQ1VhmfNiyoSNg?<domain...>
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/D5OaCOJpWjf2PDgo5UvhniGXbxW?<domain...> Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/yMRdCP6q0kC5DB2qvF1iMix8b_-?<domain...>
