May Workshop, Patagonia Lake

Susan, Clare and Julie joined me for the May Fun Birding Workshop.

We started at Rio Rico which was extremely lively early morning. About 40 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were scattered around the fields. There were five heron species: GREAT BLUE HERON, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, GREEN HERON and GREAT EGRET on the pond east of the railroad tracks, plus three CATTLE EGRETS in fields south of Rio Rico Road. There were plenty of TROPICAL KINGBIRDS, a roadside SWAINSON’S THRUSH, a BRONZED COWBIRD and a couple of GRAY HAWKS. Two more GRAY HAWKS were along River Road to the south of Rio Rico.

In the grassland approach to Patagonia Lake, a singing BOTTERI’S SPARROW put on a good show.

At the lake itself, along the trail at the eastern end, the highlight was a single WILLOW FLYCATCHER. WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, CASSIN’S and WESTERN KINGBIRDS and VERMILION FLYCATCHER were common, and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES were everywhere. HOODED and BULLOCK’S ORIOLES both put in appearances. Late migrants included a single YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS.

On the water, a pair of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, four CINNAMON TEAL, two NEOTROPIC and one DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and a SORA.