Migratory Birds in Arizona
Migratory Birds in Arizona
It’s that time of year when migratory birds show up in Arizona. When we were in Wickenburg last week we saw some, and now here at the river there are even more.
The Hassayampa river runs through the town of Wickenburg, and there is a preserve just outside of town. We didn’t see all the activity I had hoped for, but we did see Vermillion flycatchers which are new bird for me, and completely gorgeous.
I’m not sure where these guys winter, but apparently they aren’t here for very long. Talk about little jewels.
This Rufous hummingbird was passing through.
We parked our RV at a friends place in Wickenburg, they have 16 acres and she loves the birds. She has a resident cardinal pair. Love these guys!
She also has a great horned owl that likes her palm tree.
Lesser goldfinch pass through too.
Then we got back to the Salt river, and the bird activity is really ramping up. Yesterday we saw 3 adult, and 1 juvenile bald eagle. They nest in the area, and I’m not too sure if they leave here or stay. I’m thinking they probably stay.
I went to the river the first afternoon we were here, and watched a couple of Snowy egret. They too are migratory and a new bird for me. They shuffle their feet along the bottom of the river until they scare up something to eat. Fascinating to watch.
He caught a mud cat, and gulped him down.
A couple days later I saw one catch a crawdad and gulp it. That seemed weird to me with that shell and everything. Must have tough stomach juices.
Yesterday afternoon we went to the river looking for horses and saw this hilarious story.
There are now cormorants on the river, and apparently the resident egrets don’t like the competition for fish. This cormorant was sitting on a rock in the river flapping his wings, and probably looking for lunch. The great egret came along and told the cormorant under no uncertain terms was he to occupy that rock.
Not your rock.
My rock.
Better view from here.
The funniest part was when he slipped off the rock.
That’s it, keep the balance.
It’s all good, nothing to see here.
He eventually just strolled up the river.
The blue heron are also really active and building in the rookery getting ready for nesting. Those guys though….so hard to get a good photo.
Between the horses and the birds, I have been a pretty happy photographer.
Love those yellow feet that match the yellow by the beak. Some real pretty, colorful birds.
Absolutely fantastic photographs. If it wasn’t such a long drive for me, I’d be over there hanging out with the birds regularly. Maybe I’ll try heading over there this week sometime!
Oh my gosh, what wonderful shots and what a fun story!! The Vermilion flycatcher is gorgeous, that’s something I have never seen and would love to.
Lovely photographs, The flycatcher is gorgeous!
That snowy egret episode was a fun read. I wonder how birds establish hierarchy, is it just size or is their an inherent order of who listens to who.
Hello, your bird photos are all awesome. I love the pretty flycatcher and the owl was a great sighting. Enjoy your day, have a happy week ahead.
I am totally wowed by the color of the Vermillion Flycatchers. You were so lucky to see them. Did you know that the Rufus hummers fly all the way to ALASKA to breed? Then, they make it back to Colorado on their southward migration by July. Their migrations are insane!