Bird Sightings Report

Archive for January, 2010

Bird Sighting Report, January 1 to January 31, 2010

Many individuals have commented on the paucity of birds in our area during the months of December and January. The results of the Silver City and Gila River Christmas bird counts tends to support these observations. However, there are reports that many of our usual wintering sparrows have chosen to winter farther south in Mexico.

As January comes to a close, with the weather warming and the days lengthening, a few species are heralding the coming spring. House Finches, Curve-billed Thrashers, and  Bewick’s Wrens are beginning to sing as they prepare to attract a mate and begin the nesting cycle.

In January there was one Christmas Bird count that involved a number of local participants from the Silver City area.  After a short summary of unusual species seen during January, the results of the Gila River Christmas Bird Count will be summarized in tablature form.

Species Accounts

Geese: 2 Canada Geese (Gene Lewis, Tyrone sewage ponds, 31 January).

Ducks: 6 Buffleheads (4 males, 2 females) at the Silver City Golf Course (Barbara Smith, 1 January) and one at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 31 January).

Gallinaceous Birds : 7 Montezuma Quail (2 adult males, an immature male, and 4 adult females) at Karen Beckenbach’s Silver City residence on 3 January and a pair of Montezuma Quail at Steve London’s residence between Hanover and San Lorenzo (visiting everyday in January to at least the 27th); 12 Wild Turkeys visited Karen Beckenbach’s Silver City residence on 3 January.

Hawks: A Merlin was seen by Gene Lewis (3 January) at the Tyrone sewage ponds; a Bald Eagle observed in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 8 January).

Owls: 2 Great Horned Owl at the City of Rocks (SWNM Audubon Field Trip, 16 January); along with 2 Long-eared Owls.

Long-eared Owl by Brian Dolton, City of Rocks, 16 January

Doves: Gene Lewis had 1-3 Inca Doves visiting his Silver City residence throughout the month.

Hummingbirds: an immature Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird visited a feeder at Barbara Smith’s Silver City residence in Indian Hills on 1 January (also seen on 25 December). A male Magnificent Hummingbird was also seen at Barbara Smith’s residence on 1 January. Mary Alice Murphy reported on 27 January an  “intermittent hummingbird at our feeder – often on the snowiest days. It’s a big one and I’ve seen a white eye-stripe, but no colored throat.” This is most likely a Magnificent Hummingbird.

Flycatchers: An Empidonax flycatcher seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 14 January).

Titmice: Dale and Marian Zimmerman reported an unusual Bridled Titmouse at their Silver City residence on 10 January.

Thrashers: A Crissal Thrasher was seen by Gene Lewis at the Tyrone sewage ponds (17 January).

Warblers: Alan Seegert reported 2 Olive Warblers on the Sheridan Gulch Trail near Glenwood on 7 January. An Ovenbird was seen and photographed by Bob Barnes in Hillsboro on 14 January. There are only five other winter records for this species in the state.

Ovenbird by Bob Barnes, Hillsboro, 14 January

Ovenbird by Bob Barnes, Hillsboro, 14 January

Emberizids: A Fox Sparrow visited the Dale and Marian Zimmermans’ residence on 29 January. A Yellow-eyed Junco was seen and photographed by Karen Beckenbach at her Silver City residence on 26 January. This species has rarely been recorded in our immediate area: once at Cherry Creek, once at the City of Rocks and now at Karen’s residence. A relatively small population was discovered several miles south of Silver City on Jack’s Peak in the Burro Mountains several years ago.

Fox Sparrow by Dale and Marian Zimmerman, Silver City, 30 January

Yellow-eyed Junco by Karen Beckenbach, Silver City, 26 January

Blackbirds: Angela Flanders reported a flock of approximately 200 Yellow-headed Blackbirds approximately 2 miles north of Deming (14 January). Dale Zimmerman reports that this species has been visiting this winter site for at least the past 30 years. Karen Beckenbach saw this species in the same location on 18 January.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds by Angela Flanders, Deming, 14 January

Gila River Christmas Bird Count on 2 January

This year’s count totaled 97 species and 4760 individuals, while last year’s count totaled 95 species and 4214 individuals. Of interest this year were  Montezuma Quail, the unidentified peep species of sandpiper, the Eastern Phoebe, American Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Fox Sparrow and Pyrrhuloxias. The fairly recently arrived Eurasian Collared-Doves are doing well in the Cliff/Gila Valley. The American Crows seem to be rebounding after a serious decline presumably caused by West Nile Virus. A special thanks to all who helped collect this data. For a historical look at count data from this specific area, go to http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/. Follow the link, then on the left-hand column click on “historical results.” You can select a state, then a count circle, then the years you are interested in. Toward the bottom of the resultant species table, you can see the total number of species and participants for each year.

Pyrrhuloxia by Dave Krueper, Gila River, 2 January

Route 1 – Begin at Mangas Springs and proceeding north and west on Highway 180 until it intersects with the Bill Evans Lake turnoff. Proceed along the Bill Evans Lake road to Bill Evans Lake. Also include the area south of Bill Evans Lake on the east side of the Gila River to Mangas Creek. Bill Norris and Scott Zager.

Route 2 -Bird the Runyan’s property on the east side of the Gila River above the Highway 180 Bridge. Then begin at the Iron Bridge across the Gila River. Proceed along the east and west bank of the Gila River in a southerly direction until the river makes a big turn against the hill. On the west bank of the Gila River bird to the McCauley ranch keeping on the west side of the fence that parallels the Gila River. Also bird along Sycamore Creek. Larry Malone, Sam and Kim Fry.

Route 3 – Begin at Highway 180 and Airport Mesa Road. Proceed in a northerly direction until you intersect with Highway 211. Turn right and bird Highway 211 until it intersects with Highway 180. Retrace your path to the junction of Airport Mesa Road and Highway 211. Continue along Highway 211 through Gila and then on the east side of the river to Spar Canyon. Count all birds on the east side of the Gila River to 3/8 miles of the river. Also include Hooker Loop Road. Also, Begin along Highway 180 on the northeast side of Cliff continuing along Highway 180 to mile marker 80 and including the areas of Buckhorn, Table Butte Road, Mogollon Vista subdivision, and the Duck Creek Loop. Bruce Hayward and Tom Brake.

Route 4 – Begin in the town of Cliff. Bird along Highway 211 until the junction with Highway 293. Continue to bird along Highway 293 until the pavement ends. Bird the Lichty center, especially the pond. Eugene Lewis and Susan Hill.

Route 5 – Begin on the U Bar Ranch property north of Bear Creek on the east side of the Gila River and bird north along the east side of the Gila River to the northern boundary of U Bar property. Also do the Beaver Pond Stringer and Talbert’s Pond. Roland Shook, Janet Ruth, Dave Krueper, Roxanna Wright.

Route 6. Begin at Mangas Creek below Bill Evans Lake and bird south to the end of the Bird Area. Jerry Bird and Brian Dolton.

I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, please include a date and location. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Undated sightings, with or without a location, are of a lesser value. Please send these to tyrannidae@gmail.com. A thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.

All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.

Please send comments to Roland Shook.