Happy Holidays!
Saturday, Dec 15, 2012, was a wet and chilly day, with scattered sunshine in the morning and winds in the afternoon. Not at all what we’re used to for our Christmas bird count!
Imperial NWR Sunrise, 15 Dec 12
This count was centered on Imperial Dam, and covered territory in both Yuma County, AZ and Imperial County, CA. Our most notable find was a Thick-billed Kingbird in the Pratt Restoration Area, at Betty’s Kitchen. This bird was found in late October by L.D. Smith, and had been seen only once since then.
Thick-billed Kingbird, Betty’s Kitchen, 15 Dec 12
We had a total of 117 species, with the following nice finds:
- Brown Pelican (CA)
- Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) (Senator Wash)
- White-tailed Kite (AZ)
- Bald Eagle (1 immature with a blue leg band from the Verde/Salt River northeast of Phoenix) (Imperial NWR)
- Black Rail (AZ)
- Herring Gull (2) (CA)
- Ash-throated Flycatcher (11)
- Thick-billed Kingbird (Betty’s Kitchen)
- Eastern Phoebe (Imperial NWR)
- Cassin’s Vireo (Betty’s Kitchen)
- Barn Swallow (3) (Imperial NWR)
Imperial NWR Sunrise, 15 Dec 12
Once the total results are tallied, I’ll post a link to the Audubon site.
Good birding!
Henry