Where do you want to go?

Home | Wingtips | Alerts | Announcements |Archives | Articles | Birding & Hiking | Join | Links | Officers | Yavapai County Sightings | Mojave County Sightings | Trips & Meetings

Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

Site search Web search

 

Updated 3/5//07

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler
By David Morgan

Black-crowned Night-heron
By David Morgan

Yavapai County Bird Sightings

REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS:

Call Bob Thomen at (928) 778-1005

Call or email Carl Tomoff at (928) 778-2626 (email)

Rare Bird Hotline (read more)

Jay's Bird Barn - read and report local sightings

Northern Arizona Audubon Society - share sightings, information, etc. with others in our area (serving Northern Arizona Audubon Society)

Visit or Join the Northern Arizona Birding and Nature E-group - share sightings, information, etc. with others in our area

(Also see "I SAW A GOOD BIRD, NOW WHAT DO I DO?")


Special Bird Counts

Christmas Bird Counts; Prescott, Chino Valley, and Mojave County

Birding on the Platte - Summer 2007

Willow & Watson Important Bird Area Census

Christmas Bird Counts in our area Christmas 2006

2005/2006

Christmas Bird Counts in our area Christmas 2005

2004/2005

Christmas Bird Counts in our area 2004/5 (this link will open a copy of Wingtips, January 2005 - See "In this issue" on page 1 for page numbers to view CBC statistics)

Sullivan Memorial Bird Count 2005

2003/2004

Christmas Bird Counts in our area 2003/4
Sullivan Memorial Bird Count 2004

2002/2003

Results of Christmas Bird Counts in our area 2002
Results of Christmas Bird Count 2002 around the country
Sullivan Memorial Bird Count 2003

2001/2002

Christmas Bird Counts Prescott, Chino Valley, & Havasu NWR 2001/02

2000/2001

Christmas Bird Counts Prescott & Chino Valley 2000/01
Sullivan Memorial Bird Count 2001

1999/2000

Christmas Bird Counts for N. Arizona 1999
Sullivan Memorial Bird Count 2000

 

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings
Prescott Area

Bob Thomen


See Wingtips for reports since September/October 2005
September/October 2005
May - August 2005
March - April 2005
January - February 2005 (Wingtips, Mar/Apr 2005 - page 6)
November - December 2004 (Wingtips, Jan/Feb 2005 - page 5)
September - October 2004
May - August 2004
March - April 2004
January - February 2004
November - December 2003
September-October 2003
May - August 2003
March/April 2003
January/February 2003
November/December 2002
September/October 2002
May/June/July/August 2002
March/April 2002
January/February 2002
November/December 2001
October 2001
September 2001
May, June, July, and August, 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
November/December 2000
October 2000
September 2000
May, June, July, and August, 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
November and December 1999
October 1999

 

All sightings in this column are tentative in nature as they have not been confirmed except by the individual reporting them to Bob Thomen

 

Report your Prescott area sightings to Bob Thomen at 928-778-1005


 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings September/October 2005

Osprey 9/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Bald Eagle 9/8 at Willow Lake by Steve Burk. First of season.

Black-necked Stilt (about 500), Snowy Egret (9), Black-crowned Night- Heron (3) 9/12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. All three species are first of season.

Eared Grebe (2) 9/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

White-crowned Sparrow (4), three juvenile 9/16 at Lynx Lake by Steve Burk. First of season.

Caspian Tern (5), Forster’s Tern (4) 9/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both species are first of season.

Curve-billed Thrasher 9/18 at Jim Morgan’s in Diamond Valley.

Common Snipe 9/19 at Willow Lake by Karen O’Neil.

Lincoln’s Sparrow 9/20 at Willow Lake by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Ring-necked Duck (4) 9/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Red-naped Sapsucker 9/22 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Sora 9/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Harrier 9/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Northern Goshawk, juvenile, Greentailed Towhee 9/26 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Brewer’s Blackbird (14) 9/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Pintail, Redhead (3) 10/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both species first of season.

Hermit Thrush (2) 10/3 at the Homestead by Karen O’Neil.

Swainson’s Hawk (about 60) 10/3 at the Homestead by Bonnie Pranter.

Common Black Hawk 10/5 at Mary Leeper’s. Last of season.

Painted Redstart 10/5 at Roy Houser’s. Last of season.

Ferruginous Hawk 10/6 at Willow Lake by Walt Anderson.

Common Poorwill (2) 10/6 in Paulden by Walt Anderson. SIGHTING OF THE SEASON.

Sora (2) 10/7 at Watson Lake by Sharon Arnold.

Canada Goose (7) 10/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

American Goldfinch 10/10 at Watson Woods by Karen O’Neil. First of season.

Horned Grebe (2) 10/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hermit Thrush 10/11 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Hepatic Tanager, Oregon Junco, Gray-headed Junco, 10/12 at Karen O’Neil’s. Tanager is last of season. Oregon Junco is first of season.

Winter Wren 10/12 at Oak Creek Canyon by Bonnie Pranter.

Canvasback, Bufflehead (2), Clark’s Grebe 10/12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both ducks are first of season.

Lesser Scaup 10/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Cattle Egret 10/13 at Watson Lake by Steve Burk.

American White Pelican 10/15 at Prescott Airport by Bonnie Pranter.

Western Grebe (48) 10/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bald Eagle (3). Pair of local adults chased a 2nd year. The young has not been seen since 10/21. Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Plumbeous Vireo 10/24 at Watson Woods by Bonnie Pranter. Last of season.

Lark Bunting 10/25 in Chino Valley by Bob Thomen. Either a female or a first year male.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings

May through August 2005

Blue-winged Teal, Lark Bunting (2) 5/1 in Chino Valley by Karen O'Neil.

Hammond's Flycatcher 5/1 at The Homestead by Karen O'Neil.

W. Tanager 5/1 at Ponderosa Park by Karen O'Neil. First of season.

Herring Gull, 3rd winter, Great Egret, Caspian Tern 5/1 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Clay-colored Sparrow (3) 5/2 feeding feverishly under a feeder for 8-10 minutes at Bob Thomen's.

Franklin's Gull (13), Eastern Meadowlark 5/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hepatic Tanager 5/3 heard at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

W. Wood-Pewee (2) 5/4 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/6 at Thumb Butte by Ken Scott.

N. Cardinal (female) 5/8 in Paulden at Penny Govedich's.

Black Tern 5/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

N. Bobwhite 5/13 (undoubtedly an escapee) in Chino Valley by Dolly Mitchell.

Hooded Oriole 5/13 at Roy Houser's, Wildwood. First of season.

Willet (7), Tricolored Blackbird 5/17 at Willow Lake. As far as I can tell, this is the first sighting of the Tricolored in Arizona. It has to be sighting of the period. By Bob Thomen.

Clark's Grebe, Yellow-headed Blackbird 5/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Eared Grebe (2) 5/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Wild Turkey 5/20 at Bob Pearson's in Skull Valley.

Cattle Egret 5/23-5/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American White Pelican (20) 5/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Least Tern 6/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-winged Dove 6/4 in Diamond Valley by Pat McGinty.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6/8 in Granite Basin by David Moll.

Common Black-Hawk 6/15 nesting in the Dells fide Mary Leeper.

Blue-winged Teal 6/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Willet (7) 6/25, Eastern race. Smaller, no gray on head, neck or back and heavily barred below. At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7/4-8/30 The Dells by Diane Kerry.

Indigo Bunting 7/5 at Indian Camp Ground by Karen O'Neil.

Blue Grosbeak 7/6 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park.

Lesser Yellowlegs (2) 7/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-faced Ibis, Wilson's Phalarope (5), Least Sandpiper (3) 7/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American Avocet (7), Black-necked Stilt (2) 7/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Curve-billed Thrasher, (heard) 7/27-7/28 in Diamond Valley at Pat McGinty's.

Eurasian Collared-Dove 8/3 in Diamond Valley at Jim Morgan's.

Wilson's Warbler (2), Townsend's Warbler 8/4 at The Homestead by Karen O'Neil. Both first of season.

Swainson's Hawk 8/5 Ponderosa Park by Karen O'Neil. First of season.

Black Tern 8/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Wild Turkey (4), N. Goshawk (juvenile) 8/20 in the Bradshaws by Sherman Jensen and Leslie Loomis.

Belted Kingfisher 8/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Olive Warbler (female) 8/29 at Copper Creek by Karen O'Neil.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

March/April 2005

N. Rough-winged Swallow 3/1 in Watson Woods by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Turkey Vulture (12) 3/8 at Kathy Wingert’s. First of season.

Common Black Hawk 3/10 in the Dells fide Mary Leeper. First of season.

Peregrine Falcon (2) 3/15 in Skull Valley by Bob Pearson. The first sighting in 15 years.

N. Cardinal 3/17 at Helene Kaplan’s.

Cinnamon Teal (6) 3/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

California Gull (8) 3/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Broad-billed Hummingbird 3/25 - 3/26 Black Canyon City by Steve Fortier.

White-throated Swift (3) 3/27 at Thumb Butte by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 3/27 Ponderosa Park by Karen O’Neil. First of season.

Merlin (black) 3/28 at Highlands Center by Kathy Wingert.

Bullock’s Oriole 3/29 in the Dells fide Mary Leeper. First of season.

Scott’s Oriole 3/29 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Dusky-capped flycatcher 3/29 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. SIGHTING OF THE MONTH!

Cedar Waxwing (2) 3/29 at Roy Houser’s in Wildwood Estates. First of season.

Osprey (2) 3/30 Lynx Lake by Carl Tomoff. First of season.

Painted Redstart 3/30 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Am. White Pelican (8) 3/31 at Willow Lake by Ruth Lenker. First of season.

Curve-billed Thrasher (2) 4/1 resident of Dewey by Irma Boulware.

 

 

Cassin’s Finch (7) 4/1 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Golden-crowned Kinglet 4/1 at Kathy Wingert’s

House Wren 4/1 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

W. Grebe (3), Snowy Egret 4/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 4/3 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Hooded Oriole 4/6 in the Dells at Mary Leeper’s. First of season.

Rufous Hummingbird 4/6 in the Dells at Mary Leeper’s. First of season.

Am. Avocet (5) 4/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Clark’s Grebe 4/8 - 4/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Franklin’s Gull (2) 4/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

N. Cardinal, female 11/3/04 - 4/12/05 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Loggerhead Shrike 4/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/13 in the Bradshaws by Kathy Wingert. First of season.

Black-headed Grosbeak 4/13 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Willet (2) 4/14 at Watson Lake by Sharon Arnold. First of season.

Red-faced Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler (2), Plumbeous Vireo 4/11 at the Homestead by Kathy Wingert. All first of season.

Purple Finch (5) 4/14 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Lazuli Bunting 4/15 at Len Barker’s. First of season.

 

 

Grace’s Warbler (heard) 4/15 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Rufous Hummingbird 4/15 at Don Ham’s

Lazuli Bunting, Am. White Pelicans (12) 4/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bronzed Cowbird 4/16 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Cassin’s Kingbird, W. Kingbird, White-faced Ibis (5) 4/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. All first of season.

Purple Finch (3) 4/18 - 4/25 in the Dells by Mary Leeper.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (4) 4/19 at Willow Lake by Walt Bull. SIGHTING OF THE MONTH!

Eurasian Collared Dove 4/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen

Zone-tailed Hawk 4/20 in Granite Basin by Kathy Wingert. First of season.

Black-crowned Night Heron, Brown-headed Cowbird (2) 4/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.

Wilson Phalarope, female 4/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Peregrine Falcon (2) 4/24 Dewey by Kim.

Olive-sided flycatcher 4/25 Senator Highway by Karen O’Neil.

Green-tailed Towhee 4/27 in the Dells fide Mary Leeper. First of season.

Marbled Godwit (14) 4/27 at Willow Lake by Carl Tomoff.

Band-tailed Pigeon (2) 4/28 in Williamson Valley by Doug Iverson.

Summer Tanager 4/28 at Helene Kaplan’s. First of season.

Blue Grosbeak 4/28 at Helene Kaplan’s. First of season.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings
September - October 2004

Black Tern (21), Snowy Egret (13), Dowitcher, sp? (4), Common Nighthawk, 9/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

“A blue Parakeet” 9/5 - 9/17 at Virginia Miller’s at Ho-Kay-Gan.

Northern Parula Warbler, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, first of season, 9/6 at Granite Basin by Bonnie Pranter, et al.

Turkey Vulture (70) 9/6 in Granite Oaks by Doug Iverson.

Cattle Egret (5) 9/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hooded Warbler 9/9 at Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff.

American Redstart 9/16 Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff.

Lazuli Bunting (8-12), Red-naped Sapsucker 9/20 Both species are first of season; in Granite Basin by Karen O’Neil, et al.

White-crowned Sparrow 9/22 at Helene Kaplan’s. First of season.

Osprey (2) 9/25 Watson Lake by Karen O’Neil, et al.

Townsend’s Warbler (2), Black and White Warbler, Palm Warbler, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Barn Owl 9/27 in Willow Woods by Karen O’Neil, et al. Without question the Palm Warbler is the SIGHTING OF THE PERIOD.

California Gull 9/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Pine Siskin 9/29 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Lesser Scaup 9/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Canada Goose 10/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Hepatic Tanager 10/4 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Turkey Vulture (2) 10/5 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.

Long-billed Curlew 10/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hooded Warbler, female 10/6 at Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff.

Lucy’s Warbler 10/7 - 10/20 at Watter’s Nursery by Eric Moore.

Cassin’s Kingbird 10/10 - 10/20 at Willow Lake Rd. by Eric Moore.

Hepatic Tanager 10/11 at Watter’s Nursery by Eric Moore.

Above sightings of these three species are rather late.

Little Blue Heron, juvenile 10/10 - 10/12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Stilt Sandpiper (12) 10/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Prairie Falcon 10/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

Lewis’s Woodpecker 10/13 southwest of Prescott by Carl Tomoff.

Merlin 10/13 hit Irma Boulware’s window in Prescott Valley. It recovered.

Bufflehead (2) 10/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Cassin’s Finch 10/20 at Lynx Lake by Karen O’Neil.

Western Grebe (4) 10/20 at Watson Lake by Karen O’Neil.

Long-billed Curlew 10/23 - 10/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Merlin 10/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American White Pelican 10/29 - 10/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte’s Gull (8) 10/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American Avocet (11) 10/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings
May, June, July, and August 2004

Northern Waterthrush 5/1 Sullivan Lake by Russell Duerksen.

Wilson's Phalarope (5) 5/1 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bald Eagle 5/1-5/30 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Western Screech Owl 5/2 calling at Bob Thomen's.

Blue-winged Teal 5/2 Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Red-faced Warbler, Grace's Warbler 5/2 at the Homestead by Russell Duerksen.

Northern Cardinal 5/2 Yavapai Hills by Ginger Johnson.

Western Grebe (2) 5/3 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Eared Grebe (5) 5/4 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Semipalmated Plover (2) 5/6 Willow Lake by Ginger Johnson.

Painted Bunting, Grace's Warbler 5/8 Agua Fria Monument by Carl Tomoff. Bunting cosighting of the period.

Magnificent Hummingbird (f) 5/8 Lynx Lake by Carl Tomoff.

Northern Cardinal 5/23 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan, last one there was on 5/22/78.

Costa's Hummingbird 6/15 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Lesser Goldfinch, Texas race 6/16 at Leslie Loomis's.

American Redstart 6/20-6/21 Aspen Spring by Carl Tomoff.

Rufous Hummingbird 6/21 at Virginia Miller's, Ho-Kay-Gan. First of the season.

Least Tern 6/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Brown-headed Cowbird 6/28 at Virginia Miller's, Ho-Kay-Gan. First of the season.

Indigo Bunting (1-2) 6/28 6th Street Woods by Bonnie Pranter and group.

Lesser Yellowlegs (2) 7/1 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Common Nighthawk 7/2 Sullivan Lake by Bonnie Pranter.

Greater Yellowlegs 7/4 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Osprey (Imm.) 7/5 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Common Black-hawk 7/6 at Kathy Wingert's.

Zone-tailed Hawk (Imm.) 7/8 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2), Brown-crested Flycatcher (3) 7/11 Confluence of Granite Creek and Verde River by Jim Morgan.

Great Egret 7/15 Watson Lake by Carl Tomoff. First of the season.

Brown Pelican 7/15 Prescott by Carl Tomoff. Second sighting in Prescott area. Cosighting of the period.

White-faced Ibis (5) 7/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Peregrine Falcon 7/27-8/30 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American Avocet 8/8 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Forster's Tern (5) 8/10 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Wilson's Phalarope 8/11 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

MacGillivray's Warbler, 8/12 at Helen Parsons'.

Orange-crowned, Virginia's, Nashville, Hermit, Grace's, Black-throated Gray Warblers 8/16 Banning Creek by Karen O'Neil and group.

Caspian Tern (4) 8/22 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Black-necked Stilt ({100) 8/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Snowy Egret (10) 8/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Least Tern 8/27 Willow lake by Bob Thomen.

Black-crowned Night-heron (3) 8/27 Perched in dead ponderosa, Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Willet 8/29 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the Season.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings
March and April 2004

Barn Owl 2/29 Prescott Lakes Parkway Bridge by Melinda Benton.

Common Black Hawk 3/3 at Mary Leeper's in The Dells.

Turkey Vulture 3/5 at Watters Garden Center, Jay's Bird Barn, by Eric Moore. First of season.

Lazuli Bunting 3/10 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (2) 3/12 in Granite Basin by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Band-tailed Pigeon (2), Pine Siskin 3/16 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park. First of season.

Northern Harrier 3/16 at Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. Last of season.

Vermilion Flycatcher, female 3/20 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Scott's Oriole 3/21 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Ruddy Ground-dove 3/22 on Meadow Lane, Prescott by Carl Tomoff.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 3/23 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Snowy Egret 4/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Long-billed Dowitcher (12) 4/3 at Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Lewis's Woodpecker 4/3 at Mary Trevor's suet feeder.

Stilt Sandpiper (5)!!! 4/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Co-sighting of the month!

Yellow-billed Magpie 4/3 at Doris Masterson's. Probable escapee.

Osprey 4/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Franklin's Gull (8) 4/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Red-breasted Merganser (15) 4/5 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte's Gull 4/6 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Black-necked Stilt (3) 4/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Cassin's Kingbird 4/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Scott's Oriole (2) 4/8 at Lois Longfield's. Two weeks early.

Painted Redstart 4/8 in Granite Basin by Bob Dwyer. First of season.

Zone-tailed Hawk 4/9 in Mayer by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/13 at Kathy Wingert's. First of season.

Eurasian Collared Dove 4/14 in Chino Valley by Phil Perisith.

Virginia's Warbler 4/14 at Walt Anderson's. First of season

American White Pelican (106) 4/15 at Willow Lake by Carl Tomoff.

Black-headed Grosbeak 4/16 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Willet (3) 4/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Caspian Tern 4/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Barn Owl 4/20 at Willow Woods by Cheryl Berry.

Plumbeous Vireo 4/20 in 6th Street Woods by Karen O'Neil. First of season.

White-faced Ibis (16), American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Western Kingbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird (2) 4/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. All first of season.

Franklin's Gull ({ 75), Canada Goose (3) 4/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Wilson's Warbler 4/23 at Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck 4/25 at Watson Lake by Bonnie Pranter. Sighting of the month!

Female Yellow-headed Blackbird traveling with a large flock ({ 80) of Bronzed Cowbirds 4/25 near Cleator by Loretta Alden.

Hepatic Tanager, Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/27 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park. Both first of season.

Summer Tanager, Bell's Vireo, MacGillivray's Warbler, Bullock's Oriole 4/27 in Perkinsville by Bonnie Pranter. All first of season.

Forster's Tern (14) 4/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Bald Eagle 4/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

Noteworthy Bird Sightings November/December 2003

Great Egret (2) 11/03 12:30 on Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Peregrine Falcon 11/03, 11/10, 11/22, 12/6, and 12/10 at Willow by Bob Thomen.

Bald Eagles (2) 11/3 through period at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Red-naped Sapsucker 11/4 at Roy Houser's. First of season.

Osprey 11/5 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte's Gull 11/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen

White-faced Ibis 11/13 - 12/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.

Common Goldeneye 11/22 - 12/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Snow/Ross' Goose 11/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Am. White Pelican 11/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Cassin's Finch 11/28 by Carl Tomoff. First of season.

Long-billed Dowitcher (7) 11/30 at Watson Lake by Bonnie Pranter

Orange-crowned Warbler, Hooded Merganser, Am. Goldfinch 11/30 in Watson Woods by Bonnie Pranter.

Hooded Merganser 12/1, 12/3, 12/10, and 12/22 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte's Gull (7) 12/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Loggerhead Shrike 12/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Pinyon Jay (100+) 12/6 through the period at Penny Govedich's.

Fuertes morph. Red-tailed Hawk 12/9 through period at Virginia Miller's in Ho Kay Gan.

Winter Wren 12/10 at top of Granite Mountain!! By Cathy Wingert and Suzanna McDougal.

 

 

Townsend's Solitaire and Anna's Hummingbird (2) 12/11 at Walt Anderson's

Yellowlegs (sp.?) 12/13 at Sullivan Lake by Russell Duerksen.

Black-and- white Warbler 12/16 at Watter's Garden Center by Eric Moore.

Anna's Hummingbird 12/22 at George Prehmus'.

Williamson's Sapsucker, female 12/23 at Mary Leeper's in the Dells.

Wood duck (4) 12/29 through 12/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Spotted Sandpiper 12/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Chestnut-sided Warbler (first winter female), and Common Yellowthroat 12/31 at Watson Woods near pond by David Moll. Both birds probably wintering. Chestnut-sided Warbler has to be the sighting of the period.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

September/October 2003

Osprey 9/1 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Pinyon Jay (flock) 9/4 at Walt Anderson's.

Flammulated Owl 9/5 heard at Homestead by Russell Duerksen.

Bay-breasted Warbler 9/6 at Granite Basin Lake by Bob Thomen.

Olive-sided Flycatcher 9/6 at Homestead by Russell Duerksen.

Snowy Egret (8) at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) 9/11 at Aspen Spring by Bonnie Pranter.

Great Egret (6) 9/12 at Double O Ranch, 20 miles SW of Seligman by Jennifer Cordova.

Northern Harrier 9/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Yellow-throated Vireo 9/18 in Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff.

Red-necked Phalarope 9/20 at Watson Lake by Mary Trevor.

Black and White Warbler 9/21 in Watson Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Eared Grebe 9/21 at Willow Lake by Carl Tomoff. First of season.

Zone-tailed Hawk 9/22 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (15) 9/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Eastern Kingbird 9/23 at Agua Fria by Barbara Dwiggins, fide Bonnie Pranter.

Black and White Warbler, and Tennessee Warbler 9/24 in 6th Street Woods by Carl Tomoff.

American White Pelican (6) 9/28 at Willow Lake by Carl Tomoff.

Magnolia Warbler, Grace's Warbler, and Bell's Vireo 10/1 at Little Ash Creek by Walt Anderson.

Turkey Vulture 10/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.

Blackburnian Warbler 10/4 in Willow Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Lesser Goldfinch, Texas race, male 10/4 at Page Springs during the PAS Field trip there, fide Jim Morgan.

Canada Goose 10/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Buffelhead 10/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

American Redstart 10/10 at Willow Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Blue Grosbeak (2) 10/15 at Mary Leeper's in The Dells. Last of season.

Lesser Scaup 10/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Common Merganser (3) 10/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Hermit Thrush 10/26 - 10/29 at Lois Longfield's. First of season.

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 10/27 at Larry Bickford's in Forest Trails. Sighting of the period, if not "of the year."

Williamson's Sapsucker 10/29 at Walt Anderson's.

Hermit Thrush 10/29 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park.

Common Ground-dove 10/29 - 10/30 at Mary Leeper's in The Dells.

Cedar Waxwing (18), Pine Siskin (4) 10/29 at Roy Houser's in Wildwood. First of season.

Juniper Titmouse 10/30 at Karen O'Neil's in Ponderosa Park.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

May - August 2003

Three misplaced sightings for March and April by the writer are: Solitary Sandpiper 4/4 At Page Springs by Russell Duerksen. Forster’s Tern, Barn Owl 4/4 in Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.

 

Clark’s Grebe 5/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Green Heron 5/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Summer Tanager 5/8 in Granite Creek Park by Marian Kelly.

Summer Tanager, Bronzed Cowbird 5/11 at Walt Anderson’s.

Bonaparte’s Gull (2) 5/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Cattle Egret 5/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Lewis’s Woodpecker, American Goldfinch 5/16 in Wilhoit by Diane Malenfant.

Wilson’s Phalarope (@ 30) at Watson Lake by Mary Trevor.

Lewis’s Woodpecker 5/18 at Granite Creek Park by Larry Bickford.

Forster’s Tern 5/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Peregrine Falcon (2) one juvenile 5/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

California Gull (3) 5/29 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Indigo Bunting 5/30 at Helene Kaplan’s.

Costa’s Hummingbird 6/1 at Eric Moore’s.

American White Pelican (45) 6/1 - 6/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 6/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Goshawk, juvenile 6/20 - 7/11 at Virginia Miller’s.

Rufous Hummingbird 7/2 at Virginia Miller’s.

Northern Cardinal 7/14 on the VA grounds fide Walt Anderson.

Five-striped Sparrow, possible (1-3) 7/15 at Bob Pearson’s in Skull Valley. Narrow white lines below and above eye with black breast spot. Co-sighting of the period.

White-winged Dove 7/20 at Walt Anderson’s.

Common Poorwill (2) 7/20 at Karla Baker’s in Humboldt.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7/28 at Don Alden’s.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, possible (6-7) 7/30 at Willow Lake Park by Wayne Cook. Black cap seen on two birds, male. Co-sighting of the period.

Sora, juvenile 8/1 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Lazuli Bunting (2) 8/5 at Jane Cook’s.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8/5 at Virginia Miller’s.

Greater Yellowlegs 8/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Wilson’s Phalarope (17) 8/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black Tern (12) 8/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte’s Gull, first winter plumage (5) 8/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black Tern (4) 8/24 in Prescott Valley by Jim Morgan.

White-faced Ibis (=- 300) 8/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Flock circled for 45 minutes before landing.

Common Black-hawk, juvenile 8/27 at Mary Leeper’s in The Dells.

White-winged Dove 8/27 at Virginia Miller’s.

Black-necked Stilt (13) 8/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

March/April 2003

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3/1 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.


Black-chinned Hummingbird 3/3 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Vermilion Flycatcher 3/6 in Chino Valley by Carl Tomoff. First of season.


Rough-winged Swallow (10) 3/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Violet-green Swallow 3/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Williamson’s Sapsucker 3/8 at Goldwater Lake by Virginia Miller.


Lesser Scaup 3/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Broad-tailed Hummingbird 3/11 in Granite Basin by Walt Anderson. First of season.


White-winged Dove 3/12 in Yavapai Hills by Jonathan Beidelman, fide Bonnie Pranter.


Rufous Hummingbird (2) m&f 3/13 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Ruddy-ground Dove (2) 3/16 on Meadow Lane in Prescott by Carl Tomoff.


Cliff Swallow ({ 125) 3/16 at Watson Lake by Carl Tomoff. First of season.


Lucy’s Warbler 3/16 in Granite Dells by Carl Tomoff. First of season.


Green-winged Teal ({ 100) 3/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Common Black Hawk 3/20 in Granite Dells by Mary Leeper. First of season.


Turkey Vulture 3/21 in Granite Dells by Mary Leeper. First of season.


Western Screech Owl, heard 3/21 at Bob Thomen’s in Prescott.


Northern Cardinal (singing) 3/23 in Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan.


White-winged Dove 3/23 at Rebecca Davis’ in Prescott.


White-winged Dove 3/25 at Willow Creek by Carl Tomoff.


Great-tailed Grackle (2) 3/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Ash-throated Flycatcher 3/27 south of Skull Valley by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Zone-tailed Hawk 3/29 in Granite Dells by Mary Leeper. First of season.


Yellow-shafted Flicker (female) 3/30 at Walt Anderson’s in Prescott. Sighting of the Month.

Rufous Hummingbird 3/31 in Ponderosa Park at Karen O’Neil’s.


Eastern Phoebe 4/3 at Tres Alamos Ranch by Karen O’Neil.


Broad-tailed Hummingbird 4/3 in Ponderosa Park at Karen O’Neil’s.


Eastern Phoebe 4/4 in 6th Street Woods in Prescott by Carl Tomoff.


Snowy Egret 4/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Western Grebe (5) 4/5 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Brown-headed Cowbird 4/6 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Bonaparte’s Gull (3) 4/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Osprey 4/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Franklin’s Gull (5) 4/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Western Kingbird 4/9 in Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan. First of season.


Northern Harrier 4/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.


Bullock’s Oriole 4/10 in Granite Dells by Mary Leeper. First of season.


Scott’s Oriole and Lazuli Bunting 4/11 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. Both first of season.


Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/11 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.


Black-chinned Hummingbird 4/12 in Ponderosa Park by Karen O’Neil.


Cassin’s Finch (2 m&f) 4/13 in Stricklin Park by Karen O’Neil.


American Goldfinch 4/13 in Stricklin Park by Karen O’Neil. First of season.


Zone-tailed Hawk 4/13 in Granite Dells fide Mary Leeper.


Western Gull (4) two adults, two 1st year immatures 4/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Sighting of the month.


Virginia’s Warbler (2), Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/17 on Big Bug Mesa by Walt Anderson. Both first of season.


Yellow Warbler 4/19 in Granite Basin by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Merlin, Hammond’s Flycatcher 4/19 in Granite Basin by Bonnie Pranter. Both first of season.

Black-crowned Night-heron 4/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


White-faced Ibis ({ 35) 4/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Franklin’s Gull (12) 4/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Purple Finch (2), Black and White Warbler 4/20 at Martha Strickland’s in Prescott. Both first of season.


Black-headed Grosbeak 4/21 at Martha Strickland’s. First of season.


Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/21 in Granite Oaks by Doug Iverson.


Lark Sparrow 4/21 in Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan. First of season.


Red-faced Warbler (10) 4/22 in Walker by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Lazuli Bunting (5) 4/22 at Rob Hunt’s in Prescott.


House Wren 4/23 in Watson Woods by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Bald Eagle 4/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Maybe last of season.


Gray Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Olive Warbler (3), Grace’s Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler 4/24 along Aspen Creek by Walt Anderson. All first of season.


Blue Grosbeak 4/26 at Rob Hunt’s in Prescott. First of season.


Caspian Tern, Common Loon 4/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.


Blue-winged Teal 4/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Black-necked Stilt (2), Willet (10) 4/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

January/February 2003

Eared Grebe (2) 1/5 - 2/28 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.
Ruddy Ground Dove (3), Inca Dove (2) 1/8 - 2/28 On Meadow Lane, Prescott. By Carl Tomoff. BIRD OF PERIOD
Redhead (7) 1/11 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Anna's Hummingbird 1/13 - 1/25 At George Prehmus’ Prescott. First of season.
California Gull (2) 1/16 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Olive Warbler 1/16 In Prescott by Walt Anderson
Eurasian Collared Dove (2) 1/17 At Marilyn Saxerud's Prescott.
Fox Sparrow, Eastern race 1/20 - 1/24 At Virginia Miller's in Ho-Kay-Gan.
Anna's Hummingbird 1/21 At Walt Anderson's, Prescott.
Double-crested Cormorant 1/29 - 2/28 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.
Bonaparte's Gull 2/6 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.
Red-naped Sapsucker 2/11 At Walt Anderson's in Prescott.
Cinnamon Teal (6) 2/12 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.
Varied Thrush 2/16 At Walt Anderson's in Prescott. SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
Ring-billed Gull (2) 2/26 At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

 

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

November/December 2002

Steller’s Jay (1) 11/1 in Seligman by Jennifer Cordova.


Snow Goose 11/1 - 11/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Common Goldeneye (2) 11/1 - 11/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Towsend’s Solitaire (3-4) 11/2 - 11/14 at Walt Anderson’s.


Common Loon, juv. 11/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Prairie Falcon 11/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Eurasian Wigeon 11/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Clark’s Greebe 11/10 - 11/19 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Red-throated Loon 11/10 at Watson Lake by Carl Tomoff. Sighting of November.


Pacific Loon 11/10 at Watson Lake by Carl Tomoff.

N. Cardinal 11/17 at Jim Morgan’s, Diamond Valley.

Hooded Merganser (4) 11/17 - 11/27 Willlow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Clark’s Nutcracker 11/24 at Ana Wood’s.


Spotted Towhee, almost pure albino 11/25 in Pinyon Oaks by Carl and Vickie Young.

Lesser Scaup (2) 11/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Evening Grosbeak (6-8) 11/29 at Walt Anderson’s.


White-throated Sparrow 12/3 in Ponderosa Park by Karen O’Neil.


Bald Eagle on nest 12/8 at Lynx Lake by Jim Morgan.


Ferruginous Hawk, juv 12/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Anna’s Hummingbird, female 12/14 at Walt Anderson’s.


From a flock of some 20 dark-eyed Juncos, Walt Anderson was able to identify 5 subspecies 12/14 in his back yard.


Varied Thrush 12/16 in Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff.

Hermit Thrush 12/16 at Jane Cook’s.


Lark Sparrow 12/17 at Penny Govedich’s in Paulden.


Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (2) 12/18 at Watson Lake Park by Carl Tomoff.


Eurasian Collared-dove (2) 12/22 - 12/31 at Marilyn Saxerud’s.


Western Screech-owl caught a red-naped sapsucker in midair and carried it to a branch twelve feet above ground. 8 p.m. 12/24 near Stricklin Park by Eric Moore. Sighting of December.


Varied Thrush, female 12/29 - 12/30 at Sylvia Neely’s.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

September/October 2002

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8/30 Black Canyon City by Steve Fortier.


Long-billed Curlew 9/2 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Green-tailed Towhee 9/3 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


White-crowned Sparrow 9/4 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Greater White-fronted Goose 9/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Marbled Godwit 9/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Black-crowned Night-heron (6) 9/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Peregrine Falcon 9/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


American Avocet (42) 9/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Bell’s Vireo 9/10 at Bob Thomen’s.


Wilson’s Phalarope (2) 9’/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Broad-billed Hummingbird 9/11 Black Canyon City by Steve Fortier.


Black Tern 9/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


A. White Pelican (6) 9/11 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Calliope Hummingbird 9/13 at Jim Morgan’s in Diamond Valley.


Common Black-hawk 9/13/ at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Common Merganser (4) 9/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


White-faced Ibis (about 350) 9/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Rufous Hummingbird (18) 9/15 - 18 at Diane Malenfant’s in Yarnell.

Band-tailed Pigeon (14) 9/16 at Diane and Doug Iverson’s at Granite Oaks.


Bald Eagle 9/17 through period at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Caspian Tern (4) 9/18 at Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Western Grebe 9/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Snowy Egret (41) 9/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Iceland Gull, Kumlien’s race 9/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. After he identified the gull he went to his room for the hotline list. On returning it was gone! SIGHTING OF THE YEAR!


Fox Sparrow 9/20-23 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.


Turkey Vulture (7) 9/20 Last sighting of Mary Leeper’s flock. They normally stay until mid-October.


Purple Finch 9/21 Virginia Miller’s Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Gray-headed Junco 9/22 Virginia Miller’s Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.


Yellow-headed Blackbird (about 25) 9/22 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Forster’s Tern (3) 9/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Lewis’s Woodpecker (2 imm.) 9/25 at Diane and Doug Iverson’s at Granite Oaks.


Cattle Egret (6) 9/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Lewis’s Woodpecker 9/28 at Shirley Lohmann’s in Wilhoit.


Golden Eagle 9/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Eurasian Collared-dove (2) 9/30 at Kathy Lowe’s in Prescott Valley.


Pinyon Jay (18) 10/1 through period at Penny Govedich’s in Paulden.

 

Dowitcher (sp?) (8) 10/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow (2) 10/8 at Don Hams’ at Pine Lakes.

Lawrence’s Goldfinch (4) 10/9 - 16 at Jonathan and Ginny Beidelman’s in Yavapai Hills (fide Bonnie Pranter).


White-winged Dove 10/9 at Carol Rawlings’ at Ho-Kay-Gan.


Lewis’s Woodpecker (12!) at Diane and Doug Iverson’s at Granite Oaks. Sighting of the Month for October.


Canada Goose (9) 10/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Snow Goose 10/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Franklin’s Gull (2) 10/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Canvasback (2) 10/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Bufflehead (2) 10/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Prairie Falcon 10/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Evening Grosbeak 10/21 at Don Hams’ at Pine Lakes.


A White Pelican (4) 10/23 at Watson Lake (observer?)


White-crowned Sparrow of the Z.l.gambellii race 10/25 at Diane Malenfant’s in Yarnell.


Merlin 10/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

May, June, July, and August 2002

Cattle Egret 5/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

N. Parula 5/5 at Bob Thomen’s.

Swainson’s Thrush 5/9 at Watson Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 5/11 in Spring Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Swainson’s Thrush 5/13 in Acker Park by Carl Tomoff.

Clark’s Grebe 5/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Swainson’s Thrush 5/14 at Carl Tomoff’s.

Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush 5/14 at Walt Bull’s. Blackpoll Warbler is a co-sighting for the month of May.

Bald Eagle, White Belly I 5/14 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Flammulated Owl, Hammond’s Flycatcher 5/15 at Helen Parsons’.

N. Waterthrush, Swainson’s Thrush 5/15 6th Street Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Wilson’s Phalarope (4) 5/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American White Pelican (@100) 5/18 Landed on ponds of Antelope Hills Golf Course by Carl Tomoff.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/20 at Barbara Stewart’s out Williamson Valley Road.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/21 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a pair 5/24 in Camp Verde at Kate King’s.

Phainopepla, female, and Long-billed Curlew 5/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (3) 5/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bronzed Cowbird 5/26 at Walt Anderson’s.

Gray Catbird 5/27-29 at Barbara Stewart’s out Williamson Valley Road. Co-sighting for the month of May.

Painted Bunting, female 5/28 at Antelope Hills Golf Course by Carl Tomoff. Co-sighting for the month of May.

Lazuli/Indigo Bunting hybrid 5/30 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Am. Goldfinch 6/1 in Black Canyon City by Adrian Fortier.

Hooded Oriole 6/2 at Walt Anderson’s.

W. Screech Owl (2) fledglings 6/4 at Walt Anderson’s.

Scott’s Oriole, female, Bullock’s Oriole, female 6/7 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Zone-tailed Hawk 6/9 at Jim Morgan’s in Diamond Valley.

Hermit Thrush 6/10 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Pyrrhuloxia 6/13 near Stricklin Park by Rebecca Anderson.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6/13 by Thumb Butte by Walt Anderson.

Dickcissel 6/16 in Watson Woods by Russell Duerksen. Sighting for the month of June.

N. Parula 6/18 in Watson Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Golden-crowned Kinglet 6/18 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Forster’s Tern 6/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Zone-tailed Hawk 6/21 in Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Rufous Hummingbird 6/23 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Peregrine Falcon (2) soaring, Willet (2) 6/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Purple Martin (3) 7/1 at Walt Anderson’s.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (7) 7/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Common Black-Hawk 7/21 in The Dells by Bob Thomen.

Black and White Warbler 7/30 at Helen Parsons’. Sighting of the month of July.

Common Nighthawk 8/4 at Virginia Miller’s at Ho-Kay-Gan.

Red-faced Warbler 8/7 at Goldwater Lake by Cheryl Berry.

Am. Avocet (19) 8/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black Tern 8/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Lesser Yellowlegs (4) 8/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Harrier, male 8/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Marbled Godwit (7) 8/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Possible Altamira Oriole, juvenile 8/22 at Helen Parsons’. Co-sighting of the month of August.

Common Nighthawk (@ 10) 8/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-faced Ibis (106) 8/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Red-necked Phalarope (@ 70) 8/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (9) 8/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Lazuli Bunting 8/29-30 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Wilson’s Phalarope (2) 9/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 8/31-9/1 at Jim Morgan’s in Diamond Valley.

Canada Warbler, 1st fall female, 8/31 at Perkinsville Bridge by Bob Thomen. Co-sighting of the month of August.

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

March and April 2002

Varied Thrush Early January to 3/22 in Granite Basin. Discovered by Jonas Evers, later seen by Carl Tomoff.

Hooded Merganser 3/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Cinnamon Teal 3/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

“Dowitcher” (sp?) 3/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season. Most certainly “Long-billed” per calendar.

Rufous Hummingbird 3/11 at Eric Moore’s. First of season.

Broad-winged Hawk 3/11 at Bob Pearson’s in Skull Valley. It was an adult. Sighting for the Month of March.

Sage Thrasher 3/12 in Prescott Valley by Eric Moore. First of season.

Peregrine Falcon 3/12 in Prescott by Pam Robbins.

Turkey Vulture 3/12 in Granite Basin by Toby Corwin. First of season.

Common Black Hawk 3/12 in The Dells by Mary Leeper. First of season.

White-winged Dove 3/12 in Prescott Valley by Eric Moore.

Eared Grebe (2) 3/13 in Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Common Goldeneye 3/14 in Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Lesser Scaup (8) 3/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Scott’s Oriole 3/15 in Yarnell by Walt Anderson. First of season.

W. Screech Owl 3/16 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Cliff Swallow (4) 3/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Lincoln’s Sparrow 3/17 in Spring Valley by Byrd Woodward. First of season.

A. White Pelican (5) 3/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 3/22 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Hammond’s Flycatcher 3/22 in Granite Basin by Carl Tomoff. First of season.

Western Kingbird 3/22 in The Dells by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Osprey 3/22 at Lynx Lake by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 3/22 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Clark’s Grebe 3/26 - 4/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Bullock’s Oriole (2, one male, one female) 3/26 in Spring Valley by Shirley Register. First of season.

Scarlet Tanager (male) 3/26 at Ho-Kay-Gan by Faith Roelofs.

Curve-billed Thrasher 3/26 at Prescott Country Club by Walt Anderson.

 

Common Snipe 3/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Prairie Falcon 3/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Swainson’s Hawk 3/28 in Kirkland by Walt Anderson.

Hooded Oriole 3/29 in Spring Valley by Shirley Register. First of season.

Bonaparte’s Gull 3/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Black-necked stilt 3/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Green-tailed Towhee 3/30 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Great Horned Owl on nest with young, Lucy’s Warbler 3/30 in Watson Woods by Kathy Wingert. First of season.

Band-tailed Pigeon 3/31 in Prescott Valley by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Northern Cardinal 3/31 in Prescott Valley by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Franklin’s Gull 3/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Vermilion Flycatcher (2 males) at Lynx Lake by Jim Morgan. First of season.

Calliope Hummingbird 4/1 at Eric Moore’s. First of season.

Black-headed Grosbeak 4/3 in Spring Valley by Shirley Register. First of season.

Tennessee Warbler 4/7 at Page Springs by Russell Duerksen. First of season.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 4/7 at Linda Wilde’s.

Brown-headed Cowbird 4/8 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Lazuli Bunting 4/10 at Len Barker’s. First of season.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/10 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

American Avocet (33) 4/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

White-faced Ibis (11) 4/12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Northern Bobwhite 4/12 (an escapee) in Granite Oaks by James Neal.

Zone-tailed Hawk, Western Flycatcher (2) 4/12 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Vesper Sparrow (3) 4/12 in The Dells by Dianne Kelly. First of season.

Cassin’s Kingbird 4/13 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Rough-winged Swallow (4), House Wren, Virginia’s Warbler (6), Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/13 by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Golden-crowned Sparrow 4/14 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan.

Greater Yellowlegs (3) 4/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

 

 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4/15 in The Dells by Dianne Kelly.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 4/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Snowy Egret (6) 4/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s Warbler, Summer Tanager 4/16 in Watson Woods by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Nashville Warbler 4/17 at Walt Bull’s. First of season.

Gray Flycatcher, Red-faced Warbler, Hermit Warbler (3) 4/18 at Big Bug Creek by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Caspian Tern 4/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Yellow-breasted Chat 4/19 at Virginia Miller’s in Ho-Kay-Gan. First of season.

Lark Sparrow 4/19 in Dewey by Helen Kopezynski. First of season.

Bell’s Vireo, American Goldfinch 4/21 at Russell Duerksen’s in Chino Valley. First of season.

Bell’s Vireo is the Sighting of the Month for April.

Lesser Yellowlegs (3) 4/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Willet (3) 4/22 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Bald Eagle 4/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last sighting.

Cattle Egret (2), Western Gull (2) 4/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Western Tanager, Grace’s Warbler 4/25 at Aspen Creek by Walt Anderson. First of season.

White-winged Dove 4/26 at Roy Houser’s in Wildwood.

Dusky Flycatcher 4/26 at Bob Thomen’s. First of season.

Marbled Godwit (8) 4/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Warbling Vireo, Gray Vireo 4/27 at Bob Thomen’s. First of season.

Olive-sided Flycatcher 4/27 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.

Indigo Bunting 4/27 at Prescott Airport by Mary Minkler.

Yellow Warbler (2), Western Wood Pewee 4/29 at Bob Thomen’s. First of season.

Hepatic Tanager 4/30 in Granite Basin by Walt Bull. First of season.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

January/February 2002

Eurasian Collared-dove (2) 1/1 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore.

Black-crowned Night-heron (2) 1/1 - 1/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Western Grebe (1) 1/3 - 1/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Turkey Vulture (1-2) 1/4 over Prescott by Ann Bickford. This is the second winter sighting in the area. Sighting of the month!

Peregrine Falcon (1) 1/5 - 2/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Merlin (1) 1/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hermit Thrush (1) 1/11 at Jane Cook’s.

Snow Goose (4) 1/12 with Canada Goose (78) 1/12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hermit Thrush (1) 1/12 at Karen O’Neil’s in Ponderosa Park.

Redhead (15) 1/12, ({ 30) 1/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Mountain Bluebird (2) 1/16 at Antelope Golf Course by Kay Roam.

Eurasian Collared-dove (6)!! 1/16 at Robert E. Smith’s.

Anna’s Hummingbird (2-3) all winter at Jim Morgan’s in Diamond Valley.

Snow Goose (3) 1/31 with Canada Goose (105) 1/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Prairie Falcon (1) 2/1 - 1/3 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bald Eagle (12) 2/3 and 2/5 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Loggerhead Shrike (1) 2/4 at Helene Kaplan’s.

Downy Woodpecker (2) 2/5 at Jane Cook’s. Sighting of the month!

Lawrence’s Goldfinch (1) 2/15 at Bumble Bee by Bonnie Pranter.

Common Golden-eye (1 male) 2/16 at Lynx Lake by Jim Morgan.

Cassin’s Finch ({ 15), Williamson’s Sapsucker (1 female) 2/23 near Lynx Lake by Bonnie Pranter.

Violet-green Swallow (1) 2/26 at Watson Lake by Walt Anderson.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

 

November & December 2001

Gila Woodpecker (1) 10/31 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore.

A. White Pelican (12-2) 11/1 - 11/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Red-breasted Merganser (9) 11/4, (17) 11/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Ringed Turtle-dove (2) 11/5 - 11/12 in Prescott by Eric Moore. First in the Tri-city area and co-sighting of November.

Cedar Waxwing (6) 11/7 in Prescott at Walt Bull’s.

Townsend’s Solitaire (2) 11/8 on Perkinsville Road by Walt Anderson.

Bonaparte’s Gull (16) 11/9, (6) 12/29 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Ross’ Goose (1) 11/10 - 11/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Brown Pelican, juvenile (1) 11/10 - 11/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First sighting in the Tri-city area and co-sighting of November.

Clark’s Grebe (2-1) 11/11 - 11/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American Goldfinch (2) 11/19 in Chino Valley by Audrey Fluhart.

Hermit Thrush (2), Williamson’s Sapsucker, female (1) 11/19 in Prescott at Helen Parsons’.

Anna’s Hummingbird (1) 11/23 in Prescott at Bob Thomen’s. Last of season.

Common Loon (1) 11/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Pinyon Jay ({100) 11/26 in Ho-Kay-Gan at Virginia Miller’s.

Dowitcher (sp?) (4) 11/28 and 12/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (1) 11/29 - 12/1 in Wildwood by Joy Waddell. Sighting of December.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (2-1) 12/3 - 12/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Herring Gull (1) 12/8 and 12/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Ross’ Goose (1) 12/8 at Watson Lake by Jim Morgan.

Common Loon (1), Ross’ Goose (1) at Watson Lake by Russell Duerksen.

Band-tailed Pigeon (1) 12/12 in Ponderosa Park at Karen O’Neil’s.

Hooded Merganser (2-7) 12/14 - 12/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Spotted Sandpiper (1) 12/18 and 12/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-throated Sparrow (1) 12/19 in Prescott by Bonnie Pranter.

Common Goldeneye (4-1-6) 12/20 - 12/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Redhead (9) 12/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Snow Goose (1) 12/24 and 12/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Loggerhead Shrike (1) 12/26 and 12/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

October 2001

Lewis’ Woodpecker (1) 10/2 at Jane Cook’s.
Hooded Warbler (1) 10/2 Oak Creek Canyon by Bonnie Pranter.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (1) 10/3 21 miles out Williamson Valley Road, by Julia Barton.
Western Screech Owl (1) 10/3 Forest Trails by Pat Sperry.
Least Tern (1) 10/3 - 10/7 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Inca Dove (1) 10/5 Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan.
Pectoral Sandpiper (1) 10/6 - 10/8 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Cassin’s Vireo (1) 10/10 Stricklin Park by Bonnie Pranter.
Williamson’s Sapsucker, female (1) 10/12 at Helen Parsons.
Turkey Vulture (1) 10/12 The Dells by Bob Thomen. Last of season.
A. White Pelican (1) 10/12 to end of period (1 - 17) Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Fox Sparrow (1) 10/15 Ho-Kay-Gan by Virginia Miller.
Western Kingbird (1) 10/18 Chino Valley by Bonnie Pranter. A very late record.
Cassin’s Kingbird (3) 10/18 Chino Valley by Bonnie Pranter.
Western Gull (1), Surf Scoter (2), Black Scoter, female (1) 10/19 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.
Black Scoter has to be sighting of the month.
Belted Kingfisher (2) 10/21 Watson Lake by Ginger Johnson.
Northern Pygmy Owl (1) 10/28 Ho-Kay-Gan by Virginia Miller.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

September 2001

The following were received too late to be included last month:
Pinyon Jay ({ 50) 8/25 at Thumb Butte by Walt Anderson.
Red Crossbill (10) 8/31 at Thumb Butte by Walt Anderson.
*********************
Chipping Sparrow (7) 9/1 at Thumb Butte by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Vesper Sparrow (1) 9/1 east of Cordes

Junction by Walt Anderson. First of season. Cattle Egret (4) 9/2 - 9/9 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


MacGillivray’s Warbler (1) 9/3 Ho-Kay-Gan by Donn Rawlings.

Bald Eagle (1) 9/4 thru period at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


W. Tanager (2), Costa’s Hummingbird (1), Green-tailed Towhee (2) 9/4 at Ho-Kay-Gan by Virginia Miller.

Graylag Goose (1) 9/6 at Willow Lake by Carl Tomoff.


A. White Pelican (1) 9/7 - 9/13, White-fronted Goose (1) 9/7 - 9/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Mexican Jay (10) 9/11 east of Cordes Junction by Walt Anderson.


Chestnut-sided Warbler (1) 9/14 at Granite Basin Lake by Bob Thomen.


Common Loon (1) 9/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Brewer’s Blackbird (1) 9/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


White-crowned Sparrow (1) 9/21 in Williamson Valley by Lois Longfield. First of season.


N. Parula (1), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1) 9/21 in Stricklin Park by Carl Tomoff. Black-throated is Sighting of the Month.


Belted Kingfisher (1) 9/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Cassin’s Kingbird (1) 9/29 in Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan. This is a late date

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

May, June, July, and August 2001

White-winged Dove (2), Black-headed Grosbeak (1) 5/2 in Williamson Valley by Bill Brink. First W-w Dove of the season.

Western Wood Pewee (2), Cassin’s Kingbird (3) 5/2 in Kirkland Valley by Roy Houser. Both species are first of season.

Bronzed Cowbird (1) 5/3 at Jim Morgan’s. First of season.

Evening Grosbeak (3) 5/4-5/6 at Roy Houser’s.

Franklin’s Gull (47) 5/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-winged Dove (1) 5/7 at Antelope Hills Golf Course by Carl Tomoff.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) 5/15 at Helen Parsons.

White-winged Dove (1) 5/16 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore.

Inca Dove (1) 5/17 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore. First of season.

Black Tern (2) 5/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Peregrine Falcon (1) 5/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Gull-billed Tern (1) 5/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Second sighting in 17 years. Sighting of the month of May.

Bald Eagle (1) 5/28 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Mississippi Kite (1) 6/1 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore. Many observers have seen up to four individuals throughout the summer, two adults and two of last year’s young. This and Bob Erb’s have to be the sightings of the month of June.

Western Screech Owl young (at least 2) 6/1 at Pat Sperry’s.

Cactus Wren (2), Northern Cardinal (1), Hooded Warbler (1), Lazuli Bunting (2), Indigo Bunting (2), Gray Vireo (1) 6/5 Little Copper Creek by mile marker 302 on U.S. 89 toward Wilhoit by Carl Tomoff.

Mississippi Kite (one young of last year) 6/18 east end of Willow Lake by Bob Erb.

Black-necked Stilt (4) 6/20 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Eared Grebe (2) 6/24 Building a nest at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American White Pelican (1) 6/25 thru 7/8 when it was joined by two more thru 7/16 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Gadwall (11) 6/29 female with 10 young, at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Eared Grebe (0) 6/30 Nest and Grebe gone, at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Tree Swallow (1) 6/30 at Watson Lake by Jim Morgan. First of season.

Lawrence’s Goldfinch (1) 6/30-7/1 at Joy Waddell’s. This is accidental in summer in Prescott. Therefore this is the sighting for the month of July.

Rufous Hummingbird (1) 6/30 at Virginia Miller’s. First of season.

Dusky Flycatcher (4) 7/2 Bill Williams Mt. by Ken Larsen. First of season.

Northern Pygmy Owl (3 fledglings) 7/7 at Granite Basin Lake by Helen Parsons.

Yellow-headed Blackbird ({ 30 all male) 7/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Marbled Godwit (2) 7/16, 17, 18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Calliope Hummingbird (1) 7/17 at Virginia Miller’s.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1) 7/18 in The Dells by Jim Morgan.

Oregon Junco (2) 7/19 at Evelyn Reek’s. Very, very early!

Black-crowned Night Heron (6) 7/19 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

Forster’s Tern (5) 7/24 & 7/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Wilson Phalarope ({ 35) 7/25 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American Coot (4, female with 3 fledglings), Pied-billed Grebe (8, pair with 6 fledglings) 7/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Osprey (1) 7/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Common Tern (1) 8/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Harrier, female (1) 8/9 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Pinyon Jay (approx. 75) 8/17 at Kathy Wingert’s.

Herring Gull (1) 8/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Only the second or third sighting in 17 years. This is the sighting of the month of August.

White-faced Ibis ({ 500) 8/24 flying in a single “V” south over Eric Moore’s house about 6:30 p.m.

Black-necked Stilt ( { 80) at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Cattle Egret (6) 8/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Calliope Hummingbird (1) 8/29 at Russell Duerksen’s.

Hutton’s Vireo (1) 8/30 singing at Thumb Butte by Kathy Wingert.

Northern Shoveler (1) 8/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

 

 


Back to the top

 

 

April 2001

Cedar Waxwing (flock) 4/7 Downtown Prescott, fide Jane Cook.


Evening Grosbeak (3) 4/7 at Roy Houser’s.


Brown-headed Cowbird (1) 4/8 at Walt Anderson’s. First of season.


Western Kingbird (1) 4/11 Chino Valley, by Russell Duerksen. First of season.


White-faced Ibis (9) 4/11 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Zone-tailed Hawk (1) 4/13 Prescott, by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Townsend’s Solitaire (1) 4/13 Prescott, by Walt Anderson. Last of season.


Lazuli Bunting (1) 4/14 at Roy Houser’s. First of season.


Painted Redstart (10), Virginia Warbler (8) 4/14 Big Bug Creek, by Walt Anderson. Both first of season.


Red-faced Warbler (1) 4/17 Potato Patch, by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Cordilleran Flycatcher (2) 4/17 Ponderosa Park, by Walt Anderson. First of season.

Lucy’s Warbler (1) at Bob Thomen’s. First of season.


Band-tailed Pigeon (7) Ponderosa Park, by Walt Anderson.


Vermilion Flycatcher (1) 4/18 V.A. Hospital, Prescott, by Walt Anderson.


Broad-tailed Hummingbird (1) 4/18 Prescott, by Walt Anderson. First of season.


Black-headed Grosbeak (1) 4/19 At Roy Houser’s. First of season.


Bald Eagle (1) 4/21 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. Last of season.


Common Loon (2) 4/21 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen, First of season.


Caspian Tern (1), Marbled Godwit (13) 4/22 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.


Hermit Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, among literally hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers in a fallout 4/22 Around Goldwater Lake after the snowstorm, by Walt Anderson. Has to be sight of the month!


Western Gull (1) 4/23 with 10 American White Pelican at Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen.

Summer Tanager (1) 4/23 The Dells, by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Common Black Hawk, juvenile (1) 4/23 The Dells at Mary Leeper’s.


Lark Bunting, male in alternate plumage (1) Chino Valley, by Bonnie Pranter.


Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Wilson’s Warbler (1), Bullock’s Oriole (1) 4/25 The Dells, by Bob Thomen. All first of season.


Yellow-breasted Chat (1) 4/25 Perkinsville Bridge, by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.


Swainson’s Hawk (2) 4/26 Chino Valley, by Bonnie Pranter. First of season.


Wilson’s Phalarope (4) 4/26 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Barn Swallow (1) 4/27 at Bob Thomen’s. First of season.


Purple Martin (1) 4/29 Thumb Butte, by Sue VanPetten.


American Avocet (18) 4/30 Willow Lake, by Bob Thomen. First of season.

 

 

Back to the top



 

 

March 2001

Red Crossbill (2) 3/1 in Chino Valley by Eric Moore.

Lesser Scaup (6) 3/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Turkey Vulture (2) 3/9 in Skull Valley by Bob Scott.

Olive Warbler (2) 3/9 at Granite Basin Lake by Bonnie Pranter.

Common Black-Hawk (1) 3/9 in The Dells by Bob Thomen.

Red-shouldered Hawk (1) 3/10 in Watson Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Verdin (1) 3/10 on the Peavine Trail by Carl Tomoff. Sighting of the Month!

Rufous Hummingbird (1) 3/11 at Eric Moore’s. First of season.

Vermilion Flycatcher (1) 3/11 in Yarnell by Pam Reisland.

American White Pelican (13) 3/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

California Gull (6) 3/26 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Red-breasted Merganser (9), Peregrine Falcon (2), Franklin’s Gull (1) 3/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow ({ 25), Cliff Swallow (1) 3/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both species are first of season.

Black-crowned Night-heron (3) 3/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte’s Gull (5) 3/31 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bald Eagle (1) an adult is still at Willow Lake at the end of the month. By Bob Thomen.

I personally know of three people who have misidentified the large geese at Watson Lake as Greater White-fronted Geese. They are actually the much larger Greylag (Barnyard) Geese. Someone dumped four during the summer and two in early winter. Would that this is the worst that man will do to the two lakes.

 

 

Back to the top

 

February 2001

 

  Gila Woodpecker (1) 2/4 at Len Barker’s.
White-throated Swift (5) 2/4 in The Dells by Ann and Larry Bickford. First of season, early by about a month.
Golden Eagle (2) 2/5 Both juvenile, near Peeples Valley by Byrd Woodward.
Winter Wren (1) 2/5 in The Dells by Ann and Larry Bickford.
Tree Swallow (1) 2/7 Watson Lake by Ann and Larry Bickford.
Purple Finch (1) 2/7 at Penny Govedich’s.
Varied Thrush (1) 2/14-2/16 at Roy and Barbara Houser’s.
Grace’s Warbler (1) 2/16 at Roy and Barbara Houser’s. **Although the Varied Thrush would have been a life-bird for the writer, I have to rate a Grace’s Warbler in Prescott in February as SIGHTING OF THE MONTH.
Lesser Goldfinch (1) 2/27 Black-backed race. At Virginia Miller’s. Sibley refers to this race as Texas.
 

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

January 2001

 

Fox Sparrow (2), 1/03-1/31, one slate-colored race, other red race.

Northern Cardinal, female, since 11/29-1/31. Both at Eric Moore's.

Scott's Oriole (1), 1/06 The Dells' (fide) Mary Leeper.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1), 1/06 Williamson Valley by Barbara Stewart.

Merlin (1), Loggerhead Shrike (1), 1/10 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Turkey Vulture (1), 1/11 Prescott by Carl Tomoff.

Scott's Oriole (1), 1/14 at Marilyn Saxerud's.

Grasshopper Sparrow (1), 1/16 at Bob Thomen's.

Anna's Hummingbird (2), 1/21 Yavapai Hills by Linda Davis.

Cinnamon Teal (3), 1/23 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of the season.

Clark's Grebe (1), 1/26-1/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

*****************

The Scott's Oriole sightings of Jan. 6 and Jan. 14 have to be sightings of the month. My guess is that they were of the same bird. There are no previous winter records of Scott's Oriole in the Prescott area.

Though the quantity of January sightings was low, the quality was high. The Rose- breasted Grosbeak, Turkey Vulture, or Grasshopper Sparrow would qualify as sighting of the month for most Januarys. There has been a plethora of Bald Eagle sightings this winter from Skull Valley to Prescott Valley. Two adults have spent the month at Watson-Willow Lakes. They appear to be a mated pair, both feeding on a single kill, probably an American Coot. The third winter resident Bald Eagle is a White Belly II (three-year-old). I watched it plunge into the water, slowly "swim" perhaps 120 feet to a small island where it plucked and ate its kill, a coot.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

November and December 2000

 

Greater White-fronted Goose, imm. (1), 10/28-11/7 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Common Loon (1), Lewis's Woodpecker (2), 11/1 by Ken Larsen.

Swainson's Hawk (1), Osprey, imm. (1),11/2 Skull Valley by Ken Larsen.

Evening Grosbeak (1), 11/2 in The Dells at Mary Leeper's.

American Avocet (1), 11/4 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen; late.

American White Pelican (13), 11/5-11/6 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Prairie Falcon (1), 11/8 at Willow Lake by Walt Bull.

Clark's Grebe (1). 11/11-12/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Townsend's Solitaire (1), 11/11-11/18 at Walt Anderson's.

Double-Crested Cormorant, imm. (1), 11/12-12/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Fox Sparrow, Red Race (1), 11/13 in The Dells at Mary Leeper's.

Violet-green Swallow (12), 11/15 at Watson Lake by Nelson Cocandor; late.

Rough-legged Hawk, 1st year (1), 11/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hooded Merganser (4), 11/18 in Prescott Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Blue-winged Teal (1), 11/18 at Willow Lake by Russell Duerksen.

Rough-legged Hawk (1), 11/20 in Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Franklin's Gull (1), 11/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Rough-legged Hawk (1), 11/23 in Prescott Valley by Walt Anderson.

Virginia Rail (1), heard 11/23 at Tavasci Marsh by Walt Anderson.

Hutton's Vireo (1), Crissal Thrasher (1), Phainopepla (1), 11/24 at Kathy Wingert 's.

Evening Grosbeak (5), 11/25 at Karen O'Neil's.

Gila Woodpecker, female (1), 11/25 at Walt Anderson's.

Northern Cardinal (1), 11/29 at Eric Moore's.

Fox Sparrow, Red Race (1) 11/29-11/30 at Virginia Miller's.

Bridled Titmouse (2), 12/1 at Shirley Register's in Spring Valley. First sighting in Spring Valley.

Purple Finch (1), 12/1 at Virginia Miller's.

Peregrine Falcon, male & female (2), 12/1 perched in snag at Willow Lake by Bob T homen.

White-throated Sparrow (1), 12/2 through period in the Dells at Mary Leeper's.

Hooded Merganser (2), 12/6-12/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

Ferruginous Hawk (1), 12/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Prairie Falcon (1), 12/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Vermilion Flycatcher, female (1), 12/18 Antelope Hills Golf Course Pond. near U.S . 89 by Carl Tomoff. COSIGHTING OF THE MONTH.

Cactus Wren (1), 12/18 south of Prescott by Carl Tomoff. COSIGHTING OF THE MONTH.

Evening Grosbeak (20), Phainopepla (1), Gila Woodpecker, male (1), 12/23 in Prescott by Walt Anderson. Maybe Gila will breed.

Lazuli Bunting (6), 12/24 as reported by a backyard birder in Prescott of her favorite bird. It was initially rejected as not being possible. Research in Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County, Arizona printed in 1997 lists Lazuli Bunting as "casual winter visitor." My guess is it was a valid sighting.

Common Goldeneye (2-6) 12/24 through period at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

October 2000

 

American White Pelican (1) 10/1 - 10/23 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Purple Finch, female (1) 10/4 with a pair of house finches. Complete and valid description. At Evelyn Reek’s. First of season.

Bufflehead (1) 10/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Clark’s Nutcracker (1) 10/9, 10/14 at Karen O’Neil’s.

Lewis’ Woodpecker (1) 10/12 in Walker by Jim Morgan.

Common Snipe (3) 10/14 at Watson Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Canada Goose (14) 10/15 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Evening Grosbeak (2) 10/17 at Kathy Wingert’s. First of season.

Crissal Thrasher (1) 10/20 at Morgana Lampe’s in Meyer.

Peregrine Falcon (2) 10/21 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Clark’s Grebe (2), Common Loon (1) 10/21 in Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen. The same or another loon was there 11/1.

Western Gull/Yellow-footed Gull (1) 10/24 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black Hawk, immature (1) 10/27 at Mary Leeper’s.

Hermit Thrush (1) 10/28 at Jane Cook’s. First of season.

Greater White-fronted Goose, immature of the Greenland race or an unbelievable Greylag Goose of Europe-Asia (1) 10/28 through the period. At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Snow Goose (7) 10/28 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Swainson’s Hawk (1) 10/28 in Skull Valley by Ken Larsen.

Red-shouldered Hawk (1) 10/28 and 10/30 in Watson Woods by Jim Morgan.

Ruddy Ground-dove (1) 10/28. It was found stunned in Prescott Valley. It is now recovering at Mary Leeper’s along with Common Poorwill and a Flammulated Owl. A Ruddy Ground-dove in Prescott Valley by George Leeper is not only the sighting of the month but also of the year!

American Dipper (1) 10/28 and 10/30 in The Dells by Mary Leeper.

Eared Grebe (2) 10/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Northern Cardinal (4) 10/31. Parents with young in Meyer by Morgana Lampe.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

September 2000

 

Orange-crowned Warbler (2), Wilson’s Warbler (1), Lazuli Bunting (1) 9/2 in Watson Woods by Karen O’Neil. All first of season.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) 9/6 at Walt Bull’s.

Bald Eagle, juvenile (1) 9/8 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Common Merganser (1) 9/10 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.

White-crowned Sparrow (2) 9/13 in Watson Woods by Bob Thomen. First of season.

Black-necked Stilt ({200) 9/18 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Greater White-fronted Goose (18) 9/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bobolink (2) 9/22 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Sighting of the Month!

Little Blue Heron, juvenile (1) 9/22 at Prescott Valley STP by Jim Morgan.

Fox Sparrow (2), Townsend’s Solitaire (7) 9/23 at Granite Basin Lake by Bonnie Pranter. Both first of season.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (1) 9/24 at Lynx Lake by Jim Morgan.

Fox Sparrow (1) 9/27 at Virginia Miller’s.

Hooded Warbler (1) 9/27 in Oak Creek Canyon by Bonnie Pranter.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, imm. male (1) 9/28 in Yavapai Hills by Sharon Helmann. Are they breeding in the area?

Red-naped Sapsucker (1), Nashville Warbler (1) 9/30 in Watson Woods by Karen O’Neil. Both first of season.

Cassin’s Finch (7) 9/30 at Karen O’Neil’s.

Turkey Vulture (6) 9/30 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

 

May, June, July and August 2000

Prairie Falcon (1) 5/1 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Brewer’s Sparrow (1) 5/1 - 5/11 singing at Barbara Stewart’s, Williamson Valley.

Burrowing Owl (2) 5/2 Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.

Greater Pewee (1), Hepatic Tanager (1) 5/2 Black Canyon Spring (Mingus Mt.) by Bob Thomen.

Warbling Vireo (1), Townsend’s Warbler (1) 5/2 Black Canyon Spring (Mingus Mt.) by Bonnie Pranter.

Hammond’s Flycatcher (1), Gray Flycatcher (1), Dusky Flycatcher (1) 5/4 in Grapevine Canyon by Walt Anderson.

American White Pelican (23) 5/4 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Vermilion Flycatcher (1) all orange 5/6 San Pedro by Len Barker.

Indigo Bunting (1) 5/6 & 5/8 at Barbara Stewart’s, Williamson Valley.

American Redstart (1) 5/8 at Barbara Stewart’s, Williamson Valley.

Northern Waterthrush (1), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1) 5/8 Granite Creek, near 6th Street by Carl Tomoff.

Pacific Loon (1) 5/8 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Red-faced Warbler (1) 5/10 The Homestead by Bob Thomen.

Summer Tanager (1) 5/12 Yarnell Hill by Dianne Malenfant.

Blue Grosbeak (1) 5/12 Watson Woods by Bob Thomen.

Cedar Waxwing (12) 5/12 Watson Woods by Bonnie Pranter.

Eared Grebe (20) 5/13 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Hooded Warbler (1) 5/14 - 5/19 at Eric Moore’s.

Purple Martin (1) 5/16 with many Cliff Swallow, Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (1) 5/19 a mile north of Ash Fork by Julia Barton. Sighting of the period.

Black Tern (2) 5/19 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Yellow-breasted Chat (1), MacGillivray’s Warbler (1) 5/20 at Mary Minkler’s.

Osprey (1) 5/21 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (4) imm. 5/22 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Phainopepla (1) 5/25 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Peregrine Falcon (1) 5/28 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Herring Gull (1) 1st summer 5/30 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

American White Pelican (40) 5/30 OX Ranch by Carol Rawlings.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) 6/8 - 6/11 at Mary Dunn’s.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) 6/11 Watson Woods by Karen O’Neil.

Long-billed Curlew (2) 6/13 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

House Finch (1) albino 6/14 - 6/18 Williamson Valley by Lois Longfield.

Common Black Hawk (2) 6/14 nesting in The Dells by Mary Leeper.

Vermilion Flycatcher (4) 6/22 two pair in Willow Woods by Carl Tomoff.

Common Poorwill (1) 6/22 calling at night, Peck’s Lake , Jim Morgan.

Rufous Hummingbird (1) 7/3 at Karen O’Neil’s; first of season.

Marbled Godwit (2) 7/4 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1) 7/8 Verde Valley by Jim Morgan.

Black-headed Grosbeak (2) 7/8 adult feeding young in Spring Valley. First sighting during breeding season, by Shirley Register.

Zone-tailed Hawk (1) 7/12 Prescott Valley by Jim Morgan.

Forster’s Tern (23), Caspian Tern (1), Black Tern (3), Least Tern (1) 7/21 perched on small isle in Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Black-chinned sparrow (3) imm. 7/23 Diamond Valley by Jim Morgan.

Zebra Finch (7) 7/23 two for at least a year. Spring Valley by Shirley Register.

Scott’s Oriole (1) 7/24 Spring Valley by Shirley Register.

Black-throated Sparrow (6) 7/27 Glassford Hill by Jim Morgan.

Black-crowned Night Heron (5) 7/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Western Tanager (1) 7/28 Spring Valley by Shirley Register.

Northern Harrier (1) female, Lesser Yellowlegs (1) 8/7 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.

White-faced Ibis ({ 2000) 8/9 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Semipalmated Plover (1) 8/13 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Verdin (1) female 8/21 north of Bubbler Ponds by Carl Tomoff.

Cactus Wren (1) singing 8/21 Antelope Hills Golf Course by Carl Tomoff. Neither Verdin nor Cactus Wren have been identified in Prescott prior to this.

MacGillivray’s Warbler (1) 8/27 - 9/6 at Mary Minkler’s. First of season.

Green-tailed Towhee (1) 8/31 at Mary Minkler’s. First of season.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

April 2000

 

Bald Eagle (1) 4/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Last of season.


Hooded Oriole (1) Bullock’s Oriole (1) 4/2 at Jim Morgan’s, Diamond Valley. Plumbeous Vireo (1) 4/4 in Copper Canyon by Walt Anderson.


Peregrine Falcon (2) 4/4 eating a Wood Duck in The Dells by Carl Tomoff.


Lucy’s Warbler (1) 4/6 in The Dells by Bob Thomen.


Swainson’s Hawk (1) 4/8 in Chino Valley by Russell Duerksen.


Red-breasted Merganser (15) 4/11 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


White-faced Ibis (6) 4/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Willet (18), Common Goldeneye (10) 4/14 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Lazuli Bunting (1) 4/14 in Spring Valley by Shirley Register.


Green-tailed Towhee (1) 4/15 at Kathy Wingert’s.

Canada Goose (3) 4/13 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Very late.


Northern Goshawk (1), Zone-tailed Hawk (1), Western Flycatcher (2), House Wren (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Black-throated Warbler (1), Townsend’s Warbler (3), Hermit Warbler (1), Grace’s Warbler (1), Painted Redstart (2) 4/18 near Highland Pines by Walt Anderson.


Ash-throated Flycatcher (1) 4/20 at Walt Anderson’s.


Gray Flycatcher (2) 4/20 on Big Bug Mesa by Walt Anderson.


Western Kingbird (1) 4/20 at Bonnie Pranter’s.

 

Black-headed Grosbeak (3), Brown-headed Cowbird (1), Cassin’s Vireo (1) 4/22 in Stricklin Park by Walt Anderson.


Lark Bunting (1) 4/22 at Shirley Register’s. Excellent sighting.


Black Hawk (2), Vermilion Flycatcher (6), White-winged Dove (2), Common Poorwill (1), Wilson’s Warbler (1) 4/22 at Burro Creek by Kelly Pope.

Bronzed Cowbird (1) 4/24 at Bonnie Pranter’s.


Chukar (1) 4/26 in Yavapai Hills by Susan Riebel.


Clark’s Grebe (1), Glaucous Gull (1) 4/27 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Glaucous Gull is Bird of the Month. (See below **)


Summer Tanager (1) 4/28 at Helene Kaplan’s.


** Thursday, April 27, 2000, Willow Lake. About 1 p.m., at a distance of at least 2500 feet from the west, through a 20X60 Bausch and Lomb Senior Balscope, I observed 11 gulls on a narrow spit. The gulls were facing toward me, and 10 of them were the same size, and appeared to be of one species. The eleventh one was at least two sizes larger, particularly in girth.

As the light was not all that good, it required some time and hard looking to be certain of the identification of the ten, which were Ring-billed Gulls. I was unable to identify the larger gull. It appeared to be whitish, with a large light-colored bill that was “sharply” black at the tip.

I looked again at perhaps 2:30 p.m., and the gulls were gone. Looking over the lake I found a loose flock of gulls milling about, but no large one. I looked again a little after 4 p.m., and found the larger gull. It was standing alone in profile, maybe 1000 feet away. Because of angle and the time of day, the lighting was much improved. I studied the gull for about 20-40 minutes, and referred to my books: Gulls, A guide to Identification, by P.J. Grant, 2nd ed.; Master Guide to Birding, Vol. 2, by John Farrand, Jr.; National Geographic Field guide to Birds of North America, 3rd. ed.; Western Birds, by Roger Tory Peterson, 3rd ed.

It was a large gull, with a large pale bill that was sharply black 1/4 of its length at the tip. The head, hindneck, foreneck, and breast were pure white, with a dark brown or black eye. The legs and feet were a pale pink flesh color. Standing in profile, the rest of the gull appeared to be a uniform light tan. (Actually it was white, with a uniform distribution of light tan bars. This included the belly, flank, mantle, wing, and tail. The wing extended beyond the end of the tail perhaps 1 1/2 inches.)

Luckily, I was viewing the bird through my scope as it took off. It rose almost directly away from me, and I was able to get a full view of its upper parts. The only thing new that I observed at that time was that the primaries and the secondaries were lighter in color than the rest of the wing. That was the last that I saw of the gull.

Armed with the above information, I was now able to age and identify the gull. There are only three North American gulls in which the primaries and tail are no darker than the mantle. They are: Glaucous, Iceland, and Glaucous-winged. These three gulls are of various shades of tan only in their first year. Both the Iceland and Glaucous-winged gulls have an all black bill. The first-summer Glaucous Gull has a large flesh-colored bill with a sharply marked black tip. All the other field marks were observed: large size, dark eye, light flesh colored pink legs and feet, white head and breast, light tan mantle, tail and wing, with lighter colored primaries and secondaries.

Checking the literature on Arizona birds, I learned the following. Birds of Arizona (Phillips, Marshall and Monson, pub. 1964) makes no mention of the Glaucous Gull. The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona (Gale Monson and Allan Phillips), which includes information through 1980, lists one immature photographed November 30, 1972 at Boulder Beach, Lake Mead, Nevada. The Field checklist of the Birds of Arizona (Gary Rosenberg and Dave Stejskal) which is current through 1994, lists the Glaucous Gull as accidental in winter, “accidental” being defined as a total of five or less records. I strongly suspect that whatever the number of sightings is, they are from the Colorado River system.

The main purpose for my writing this piece is to illustrate why I have not placed some of my best sightings on the Hot Line. The bird had flown by the time I identified it, as was the case with the Yellow-footed Gull sighting. With the Aplomado Falcon sighting, the identification dawned on me after the bird had been gone for hours.

Bob Thomen

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

March 2000

 

Band-tailed Pigeon (2) 3/2 at Karen O’Neil’s.


Snow Goose (1) 3/2 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Wild Turkey (1 &) 3/3 in Virginia Miller’s yard. Bird of the Month.


White-throated Swift (1) 3/4 at Virginia Miller’s.


Turkey Vulture (1) 3/4 at Karen O’Neil’s.


Pine Siskin (1) 3/7 at Carl Tomoff’s.


Lawrence’s Goldfinch (4) 3/7 Watson Woods by Walt Anderson.


Bullock’s Oriole (1) 3/10 Diamond Valley by Scott Brunner, fide Jim Morgan. Very early.


Osprey (1) 3/12 Watson Lake by Rob Gill.

Common Black-hawk (1) 3/13 The Dells by Bob Thomen.


Rufous Hummingbird (1) 3/14 Skull Valey by Bob Scott.

Bald Eagle (1 Transition) 3/15 Over the Dells by Bob Thomen. Not the last of the season.


Olive Warbler (1) 3/16 Singing at Walt Anderson’s.


American Avocet (1), Caspian Tern (1) 3/17 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Northern Mockingbird (1) 3/18 V.A. Hospital by Eric Moore.


Black-chinned Hummingbird (1) 3/18 at Virginia Miller’s.


Broad-tailed Hummingbird (1) 3/18 at Pat Sperry’s.


Western Screech Owl (1) 3/20 Roosting in a nest box at Pat Sperry’s.


Prairie Falcon (1) 3/20 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Bonaparte’s Gull (1) 3/21 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Yellow-footed Gull (1) 3/24 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Sandhill Crane (1), Double-crested Cormorant (58) 3/25 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Painted Redstart (2) 3/25 Singing in the Bradshaws by Karen O’Neil.


Hammond’s Flycatcher (1) 3/26 The Dells. Last Day observed, first seen 2/7 by Bob Thomen.


Lawrence’s Goldfinch (2) 3/28 Williamson Valley by Barbara Stewart.


Hooded Oriole (1) 3/30 Spring Valley by Shirley Register.


Franklin’s Gull (2) 3/30 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Long-billed Curlew (1) 3/31 On snow covered Prescott High School Baseball field by Sheila Murray.


Black-necked Stilt (1) 3/31 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

February 2000

 

Pine Siskin (2), American Goldfinch (1), 2/5 at Karen O’Neil’s.


Northern Cardinal (17), Gray Flycatcher (2), 2/5 near Bumble Bee by Kathy Wingert and Bonnie Pranter. All cardinals at one sighting.


Hammond’s Flycatcher (1), 2/7,10,11, & 16, the Dells by Bob Thomen.


Lincoln’s Sparrow (1), White-throated Sparrow (1), 2/8 & 2/9 at Eric Moore’s.

Winter Wren (3-4), 2/8 at the Homestead by Jim Morgan.


Turkey Vulture (1) 2/9 Prescott by Barbara Stewart. Truly an early sighting.


Rough-winged Swallow (18), 2/23 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Long-eared Owl (1), 2/25 Specimen, found on U.S. 89 near golf course by Eric Moore. Birdof the month.

Common Loon (1), Double-crested Cormorant (4), 2/27 Watson Lake by Russell Duerksen.


Common Goldeneye (20), 2/27 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

January 2000

 

White-throated Sparrow (2) 1/1 through the period, at Jane Cook’s.


Bald Eagle (1) 1/1 on a snag by Kathy Wingert’s just south of Prescott.


Rough-legged Hawk, juv., dark-morph (1) 1/2 Chino Valley by Bob Thomen. Bird of the Month.


Orange-crowned Warbler (1) 1/8 on suet at Shirley Register’s in Spring Valley.

Lawrence’s Goldfinch (1) 1/14 at Nancy Fleshner’s in Spring Valley.


Cedar Waxwing (20) 1/15 at Granite Basin by Bonnie Pranter.


Greater White-fronted Goose (1) 11/7 - 1/17 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Herring Gull, 1st winter (1) 1/20 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Brown Creeper (1) 1/22 at Karen O’Neil’s.


Costa’s Hummingbird (1) 1/25 at Bob Scott’s in Skull Valley. First winter sighting I am aware of.


Bald Eagle (1) 1/29 at Bob Scott’s in Skull Valley. First he has seen in Skull Valley in some 20 years residence.

 

 

Back to the top

 

 

November and December 1999

 

Turkey Vulture (1) 11/2 at Virginia Miller’s. Last of season.


Ross’s Goose (1), Snow Goose (5) 11/2 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Northern Cardinal (1) 11/5 Watson Woods by Bob Thomen.


Greater White-fronted Goose (1) 11/7 through the period. At Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Golden Eagle (1) 11/12 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Pacific Loon (1) 11/19 - 11/20 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Hermit Thrush (1) 11/24 at Jane Cook’s.

Winter Wren (1) 11/26 Groom Creek by George Prehmus.


Red-breasted Merganser (9) 1/29 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


American Dipper (1) 11/30 - 12/21 Granite Creek by Jason Scott.


American Goldfinch (2) 12/1 at Karen O’Neil’s.


American Dipper (1) 12/4 Sycamore Creek by Donn Rawlings.


American Avocet (1) 12/5 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


American White Pelican (1) 12/6 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Herring Gull (1, 1st winter) 12/12 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Ross’s Goose (13) 12/16 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Hooded Merganser (1) 12/18 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Olive Warbler (1) 12/21 Wolf Creek Camp Ground by Karen O’Neil. olive warbler bird of the period!


Hooded Merganser (10) 12/21 to end of period. At the Print Pac Pond in Prescott Valley by Walt Anderson, fide Jim Morgan.


Bald Eagle (5) 2 adult, 1 juvenile, 1 White-belly I, and 1 White-belly II at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Northern Cardinal (1) male 12/31 by Ken and Kay Meyers, S. Mt. Vernon St.

 

 

Back to the top


 

 

October 1999

 

Lewis’ Woodpecker (1) 10/1 at Allen Bonds in Prescott.


Lewis’ Woodpecker (6) 10/1 north of Skull Valley by Donn Rawlings.


Western Gull (1) imm. 10/8 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Green-tailed Towhee (1) 10/10 at Helene Kaplan’s in Prescott.


Neotropic Cormorant (1) 10/11-12 at Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


Yellow-headed Blackbird (at least 6) 10/12 in a large flock of red-winged blackbirds, Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.


American Avocet (94) 10/16 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

Canada Goose (9) 10/17-31, Bufflehead (2) 10/17-31 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. Both first of season.


Lawrence’s Goldfinch (2) 10/19 Watson Woods by Bonnie Pranter. Bird of the Month!


Bald Eagle (1) 10/22 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen, snatched a ruddy duck from the water.


Western Screech Owl (1) 10/23 Calling at Bob Thomen’s.


Green-winged Teal (1) 10/23 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Painted Redstart (1) 10/23 Groom Creek by Kelly Vickey. A late record.


Peregrine Falcon (1) imm. 10/25 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

White-throated Sparrow (1) 10/27 Walnut Creek by Bob Thomen.


Lewis’ Woodpecker (2) 10/27 Walnut Creek by Bonnie Pranter.


Lesser Scaup (5) 10/28 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen. First of season.


Bald Eagle (1) White-belly II 10/31 Willow Lake by Bob Thomen.

 

 

Back to the top