Walt suggested that we try birding in the Santa Cruz Flats. We had been there in January 2017, and it was fairly good, but with the heat and dry conditions today, there were very few birds to see.
Western Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Mallard
Mallard
Eurasian Collared-Doves
Horned Lark
Lark Sparrow
We found a few green trees, and saw two warbler species.
Wilson's Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
We made a stop in Arizona City, but the large lake there did not have any public access.
Great-tailed Grackles
Great Egret
Our last stop was at Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler. I saw my first Verdin of this trip, but it was the Pied-billed Grebe feeding a crayfish to junior that made my day.
Verdin
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes
Pied-billed Grebes
I didn't have to be at the Phoenix airport until late the next morning, and Walt and I had planned to spend a couple of early morning hours at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve (Water Ranch), but with my bum leg, we decided to cancel that part of the birding trip. We ended the trip with 132 avian species, including 13 life bird species for me. I was happy to see and photograph 15 warbler species, including four of my six target warbler species, as well as good photos of male Townsend's and female Black-throated Gray Warblers, and a Zone-tailed Hawk.
Many, many thanks to Walt Childs for planning the trip, driving the entire time, and being my Arizona birding guide. Also thanks to John Rowlett and Dave Pierce for help identifying a few of the species.