Birding Without Barriers: A Few Winter Show-offs at Fountain Hills Lake

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

A Few Winter Show-offs at Fountain Hills Lake

A bad shot of a beautiful pair of Hooded Mergansers on the north island of Fountain Hills Lake,
at 10:00am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas.

After a loooonnnnngggggg unwanted hiatus from birding, I'm finally baaaccckkkk! It was rough not getting a birding-fix for months on end. I must admit that I developed a serious case of bird-envy and had to stop reading the AZNM Listserve in order to preserve my sanity. My occasional forays into FaceBook's Birding--Arizona and Southwest page were agonizing, and brief looks at bird blogs were unbearable. I thought I could live vicariously through the birding adventures of such prolific birders as Gordon Karre, Tommy D., and Laurence Butler, but that led me to fantasize about the possibility of teleportation, and then to a serious investigation into the latest advances in hover-craft technology (a gal can dream!).

Another bad shot of Hooded Mergansers on the north island of Fountain Hills Lake,
at 10:00am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas.

This morning while scanning flocks of mainly Ruddy Ducks and American Wigeons at Fountain Hills Lake (near the island at the lake's north end) a few of our flashier waterfowl suddenly appeared. Mixed in with the Wigeons were 3 gorgeous pairs of Hooded Mergansers! After taking a few far-off photos I began heading back to my van. Then I spotted 2 flashes of bright white out by the fountain. Too far off for a photo were a beautiful pair of male Buffleheads!

One of several Horned Grebes (CORRECTION
- EARED GREBE) at Fountain Hills Lake,
10:30am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas

Yessss, fall is here, heralded in by our wintering ducks. Now I just need to see a few White-crowned Sparrows in my yard for my November birding to be complete.

Hope to see many of you out in the field, forest, park, or roadside soon!

2 comments:

Luna MorrisSeptember 1, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Winter visitors at Fountain Hills Lake make such a beautiful sight! The mix of calm water and seasonal wildlife sounds like a perfect spot for nature lovers.online bookkeeping services
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liquidation auctionsOctober 1, 2026 at 12:04 AM
The winter bird sightings at the fountain sound like a wonderful way to enjoy birding during the colder months. I love how these seasonal visitors can turn an ordinary outing into an exciting opportunity for observation and photography.

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Upcoming Accessible Bird Walks

Desert Botanical Garden: Birds in the Garden, Every Monday, May thru Sept. at 7:00 a.m. Meet near front entrance. Join expert birders for a morning bird walk along the Garden trails. Everyone is welcome, including first-time birders. Wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and bring binoculars if available. Scooters available for rent to mobility impaired. See the awesome "DBG Birdwalks" website for complete listings of the latest birds seen at Desert Botanical Garden!

Boyce Thompson Arboretum - Friday Bird Walks with Lisa & Peggy July 6 and August 3
6:30 a.m. - Guides Lisa & Peggy will search for Violet-green Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Warbler and other colorful species on their Friday birdwalk around the main trail. The pair of engaging guides returns Friday July 6 and invite all who love birds to join their 6:30 a.m. walk.

Owl Walk & Talk - Zanjero Park - June 23rd, 6:30pm – 7:30pm Desert Rivers Audubon OwlWatch volunteers will lead a tour of the burrowing owl habitat at Zanjero Park. Meet us in the park parking lot, 3785 South Lindsay Rd., Gilbert.

Birds 'n Beer every 3rd Thursday at Arizona Audubon’s Rio Salado Center - from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. RSVP at Audubon's Facebook page : www.facebook.com/audubonaz or via email: vramos@audubon.org

Wednesday Mornings at Sweetwater Wetlands -
Join Luke Safford for an easy walk through the Sweetwater wetlands to see waterfowl in the hundreds, regular and visiting warblers, and several exciting species hiding in the reeds. Birders of all experience levels welcome! The Wetlands are located at 2617 W Sweetwater Dr. Start times are as follows: November-February: 8am, March-April: 7am, May-August: 6am, September-October: 7am. Contact leader with questions, 520-576-6044, saffordluke@gmail.com

Tucson - Agua Caliente Park - Wake Up with the Birds Every Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.. Join this guided birding walk in the desert oasis of Agua Caliente Park to look for summer birds of the Sonoran Desert such as warblers,
flycatchers, hummingbirds, orioles, vireos and other resident specialties. Binoculars are available for use. Online registration now required, $5 fee. Online registration: www.pima.gov/nrpr For more information, email eeducation@pima.gov , or call 520-615-7855. Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road, Tucson.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson – Bird Walks every day (7:30 a.m., Mar – Sept.). Meet at museum entrance. Call 883-2702. Free with admission.

Tohono Chul Park, Tucson – open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Birding walks at 8:00 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, YEAR ROUND! Entrance fee. 520-575-8468.

Red Rock State Park in Sedona - Wednesday & Saturday Bird Walks - June - August: Walk starts at 7am - Bird enthusiasts can join a naturalist for a “Guided Bird Walk”. Beginning as well as advanced birders are welcome. Rangers recommend that visitors bring their own binoculars. The bird-feeding area behind the visitor center, on the Hummingbird Patio, is an excellent spot to start your tour or to take pictures. Hummingbirds are almost always there to take advantage of the feeders! Another good viewing point is the visitor center roof. Most of the year-round birds are found in the riparian area next to Oak Creek or along the field that is behind the visitor center. March - May: Walk starts at 8am, June - August: Walk starts at 7am, September - November: Walk starts at 8am, December - February: Walk starts at 9am

Sedona Bird Walks 7 am every Wednesday. Free Weekly Bird Walks in Sedona with Jay's Bird Barn! Tim will be leading free bird walks every Wednesday for Jay's Bird Barn. Limit 12 people – sign up in the store or by calling 928.203.5700 Don’t own binoculars? Let us know and we will provide you with binoculars to use during the bird walk. Summer walk hours are 7am – 11am. We'll meet at the Sedona store – 2360 Hwy 89A, Suite B-1 (at Safeway Shopping Center). Contact Jay's Bird Barn or Tim for the week's walk describing location, difficulty of the trails, etc.

Prescott Bird Walks - April – September: 7:00am-11:00am - FREE and open to the public! Limit 12 people – sign up by calling 928.443.5900. Meet at the Prescott Store: 1046 Willow Creek Road Suite 105 (at Safeway Shopping Center) http://www.jaysbirdbarn.com/bird-walks/

Are you more of a Night Owl? See my After Dark page for some great evening adventures!

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Have any suggestions, comments, or corrections? Contact Peggy at birdbloglady@gmail.com

The health of our Arizona rivers and the livelihood of the people and the wildlife that depend on them are in jeopardy. A combination of drought, invasive species, over-allocation and unsustainable management are running our rivers dry. Many of the birds that depend on them, like the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bell’s Vireo, are in decline, and the future of the communities and economies surrounding the rivers is uncertain.

Click here to join Audubon's Western Rivers Action Network as we rise to this historic challenge to create healthier western rivers for the birds, wildlife and people.

Welcome to my BIRD-BLOG!

I'm a birder and long time Arizonan and outdoor enthusiast. Been wheelin' it for over twenty years, and on occasion, even wing'd it (that's a whole other blog). I'm fascinated by birds, and anything else that flies. This blog is to share my experiences as I explore Arizona, looking for great, wheelchair accessible, birding hot spots. You are at http://www.birdingwithoutbarriers.com/ - ENJOY!

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DISABLED BIRDING LINKS

Birding For All (formerly Disabled Birders Association) would never compromise the needs of birds or other wildlife with their push to get better access for people, but do believe that good design that gives access to people with mobility problems etc. does give improved access to EVERYBODY. Half of DBA members have a disability and half do not - they welcome all as it will only be by an alliance of disabled and able-bodied people that change will happen. Please join Birding For All - Membership is FREE.

All Access and Easy Trails in the San Francisco Bay Area - Bay area land management agencies have increased access to parks and preserves by installing all-access trails

Boulder Colorado Area Accessible Trails and Natural Sites

Accessible Birding Sites in Massachussetts

Wheelchair Accessible Sites on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

A Few Winter Show-offs at Fountain Hills Lake

2 comments: