Recent Sightings

The sightings listed here are submitted to the website by observers from all over the county. Anyone is welcome to submit sightings to be posted by e-mailing to admin@midnats.org

Field Trip Report

March 29, 2008

Sibley & Resthaven Cemetery

The day started cold and damp – Terry (bless her heart, she drove over from Colorado City), Shirley, John, Alvin & I bravely met at

the Sibley parking lot and bundled up trying to protect our binoculars from the intermittent drizzle. Thanks to the US Congress and

early daylight time, the sun was barely up and the overcast made it really dreary.

Pyrrhuloxia and White-crowned Sparrows skittered through the mesquite as we surveyed the southeast corner of the property. The

dry playa that is the remnant of an Eagle Scout project has a giant dirt mound on the northwest edge that provided a great observation

platform for scoping out the entire area. Terry had never seen that section of Sibley before. We started toward the pond and had

only walked a few steps when a flock of Bobwhite exploded almost underfoot. The willows that line the trickle of water from the

pump to the pond were working with White-crowns and Brown-crowns. Some of the juvies are in the midst of an identity crisis with

half white and half brown pates. If you’ve never seen that particular plumage, it can be quite confusing at first look. We heard an

unidentified trill, followed by “witchity, witchity, witchity”, and the unmistakable Marsh Wren twitter. A small red-winged sparrow

popped into the olive tree near Ted’s bench that was quickly ID’d as a Swamp Sparrow – the source of the unknown song. The

Marsh Wren teased and taunted but showed nary a feather in the dense reeds and cattails. The Yellow-throat finally popped into

view – a gorgeous male in full breeding plumage- a brilliant black mask outlined in white and a heart-stopping daffodil yellow

breast.

A Sora sounded off and coots laughed in the cattails as some sauntered over the putting greens oblivious to both golfers and carts. A

Pair of Ring-necked Ducks slept on the big pond across the fairway while 2 Pied-billed Grebes played hide-and-seek.

When we walked along the south side of the pond the Swamp Sparrows put on quite a show. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so

visible and oblivious to birders before. The Song Sparrows were just as cooperative. There’s a short little “boardwalk” that juts into

the cattails near Ted’s bench where the Marsh Wren finally popped into view and the Sora strutted among the cattails like a little

grey chicken – every field mark clearly visible – a text book observation. We made a quick stop at the Hillander School back lot but

only found doves – Mourning and White-winged – and House Sparrows and Finches.

Our next stop was Resthaven Cemetery where Yellow-rumped Warblers (both Audubon and Myrtle) chased through the oak trees

along with Pine-Siskin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Dark-eyed Junco. Terry’s sharp ears picked up the high-pitched whistle of a

Golden-crowned Kinglet trilling in the tall Afghan Pines and finally one sat up on the tiptop for all to see. We decided it was time

for hot, spicy tortilla soup at Casita Gerardo’s where we tallied up the morning sightings. After an excellent lunch, Alvin and I spotted

2 Swainson’s Hawk soaring just north of Claydesta. Not a bad day for such a dismal beginning!

Donna Kelly