Date: 9/27/25 6:15 pm From: henry detwiler (via aznmbirds Mailing List) <aznmbirds...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SWAZ: Yuma County
Greetings Birders,
Friday (26 Sep) brought a fine change in temperature to Yuma County--fall had arrived! At the Solar Pond close to Wellton a number of sandpipers had arrived to feast of the little flies. Five PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were the most I'd seen to date. A DUNLIN was a first for the season. A flock of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES was nice to see. I spotted a juvenile SABINE'S GULL across the pond, but unfortunately it flew off before I got to it. A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT joined the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT regulars. A BLACK TERN was unexpected.
As I drove to my next destination I noticed a gull in a flooded area next to the road--it was the juvenile SABINE'S GULL! It was right next to the road and unperturbed by my presence, so I got excellent photos.
At the 6th Ave Drain the shorebird extravaganza continued with 11 species. Four more PECTORALS were joined by LEAST &GREATER YELLOWLEGS, dowitchers, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, and numerous LEASTS and WESTERNS.
Today (27 Sep) I greeted the dawn at Spot Road Farm. Sparrows are now numerous, and a VAUX'S SWIFT made a quick fly-by. There were still a number of flycatchers--I found 7 species. I spotted a PYRRHULOXIA, and wondered if they bred again this year. At a small pond along the eastern edge of the farm, a small yellowish bird with black streaks on its flanks caught my eye. It even stuck around long enough for me to get photos--a lovely MAGNOLIA WARBLER. I had high hopes of getting lots of rare shorebirds at the Solar Pond and the Dome Valley Drain, but an unexpected gully-washer of a thunderstorm altered my plans. After seeing almost nothing through the rain at the Solar Pond, and with the dirt roads getting muddier and muddier, I headed on home.
The Magnolia Warbler brings my AZ Big Year total up to 384. eBird reports with some photos among them:https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/vqXzC0Aj5NfmZ5YkPFwf4t9cN_V?<domain...>
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/YXtVCg7WAOIGpR4qQhohzt4hkPC?<domain...> Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Kw5mCjAWEjfRPXZYNt5iZtm_66F?<domain...>
