Monday, October 14, 2013

Gilbert Water Ranch Bird Walk

A somewhat blurry quick shot of a Lazuli Bunting at Gilbert Water Ranch,
Oct. 12th, 2013.  Seen on Kathe Anderson's Bird Walk.

It was actually jacket-wearing weather on Saturday morning at Gilbert Water Ranch!  Some fellow-birders even donned gloves as we headed out on a Kathe Anderson bird walk (Kathe wore shorts!).  Kathe's bird walks are fun, fast-paced, and fact-filled.  I always learn something new, or see something I never would have on my own.  Sure enough, something out of the ordinary popped up high in the trees, a flash of blue.  Easily the most unusual sighting of the morning - it was a male Lazuli Bunting, shown above.

Our winter ducks are starting to arrive - Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teals, Northern Shovelers, and American Wigeons.

A Northern Pintail Duck in non-breeding plumage, at Gilbert Water Ranch,
Oct. 12th, 2013.

A pair of Northern Pintail Ducksw in non-breeding plumage,
Gilbert Water Ranch, Oct. 12th, 2013
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Gilbert Water Ranch,
Oct. 12th, 2013.
Our wintering Yellow-rumped Warblers are starting to appear, this one showing off his butter-butt!  The "warbler-butt" view is usually all I can capture of these twitchy jumpy birds.  The warbler below looks to be a juvenile, just barely showing hints of yellow.  A bit more subdued than his cohorts, he sat quietly for me, probably still missing his momma.

Juvenile Yellow-rumped Warbler

A very sleepy, nearly comatose, young Black-crowned Night Heron didn't budge as our group paraded by.  An hour and a half later I found him in the exact same spot!  He must have had a rough Friday night, out partying with the other teenage Night Herons.  (A possible kegger at Honey Bee Point!)

A sleepy juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, Gilbert Water Ranch,
Oct. 12th, 2013
The greatest indicator of Fall was our FOS White-crowned Sparrows!

White-crowned Sparrow, Gilbert Water Ranch,
Oct. 12th, 2013
On a sad note, the storage shed at GWR had been vandalized overnight and all of the binoculars stolen. These binoculars are essential to the nature walks and bird walks held at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. So, please, if you have any binocs you'd like to donate, contact Scott Anderson at scott.anderson@gilbertaz.gov .



Photos by Peggy Thomas (with the aid of
the very cooperative birds of Gilbert Water Ranch.)

2 comments:

  1. Thanks, Peggy! We appreciate your sharing some nice photos and an enjoyable day the Water Ranch. Jan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stay safe on the water with life jackets and safety vests including inflatable life vests, high visibility jackets and more from Academy Sports .. toddler life jacket

    ReplyDelete

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