Hoodies in Arizona 12/19/07

Spent the morning doing point counts around northern Scottsdale and Carefree swinging by Fountain Lake in Fountain Hills on the way home. The lake was loaded with waterfowl, nothing rare, but lots of birds to look at - American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common and Hooded Mergansers (3). Some 45 plus Eared Grebes were present and literally hundreds of American Coot. On the banks, a single Great Egret, 4 Least and 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Western Meadowlark and an American Pipit. This male Hooded Merganser put on a nice display to two females in the short time that I was there around noon.

Least Sandpipers

Northern Jacana and 'Rough-leg' in Casa Grande, AZ.

This long staying Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa gave us wonderful views on a beautiful winter morning at a small golf course in Casa Grande, AZ. Present since early November 2007 it looks set to become Arizona's fourth state record. It was also my 630th bird in North America (ABA area) for 2007, adding yet another species to a phenomenal birding year in the US.

Northern Jacana with Snow Goose and American Coots at rear.

By way of contrast, in the mesquite desert scrub to the west of the golf course, a nice raptor from the Arctic in the form of a Rough-legged Hawk. It looked like a first-winter bird given the views that we had this morning. Lots of other good birds around this area including Snow Goose, Lesser Scaup, Harris's Hawks (5), Verdins, Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks, and White-crowned and Sage Sparrows, just to mention a few.

Rough-legged Hawk - light morph.

Great looks at Verdin as well..........

and a better view of the immature Snow Goose...........