Shorebird Special – August Workshop

I was joined by Eileen Buckel, Susan Fallon, Jenise Porter and Ed Tobin for the August “Fun Birding Workshop”, a day of shorebirding. We were very satisfied with our haul of 13 shorebird species.

Lake Cochise (the main lake at Willcox Twin Lakes) had 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (which departed early PM), 2 STILT SANDPIPERS (early AM only), 1 BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, c.10 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 50+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, c.30 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, c.150 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 AMERICAN AVOCET and c.20 BLACK-NECKED STILTS. A few KILLDEER were around a seasonal pool near the Border Patrol compound and 30+ LONG-BILLED CURLEW by a seasonal pool to the east of Lake Cochise.

Additional highlights included a couple of molting BLACK TERNS which were joined by a third early PM, the long-staying GREATER SCAUP, four swallow species (BARN, CLIFF, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and a single VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW), WHITE-FACED IBIS, SCALED QUAIL and a close fly-by from a rather splendid SWAINSON’S HAWK.

The golf course pond and seasonal pools in that area were also productive, with five heron species (GREAT and SNOWY EGRETS and GREAT BLUE, GREEN and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS), a showy SORA, migrant WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and HOODED ORIOLE and a surprise family party of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES on the golf course (an adult attending three juveniles which were huddled together on a sign saying DANGER – a clear warning to the local passerines!)

We arrived at Benson WTP mid-afternoon to be told that the gate would be locked in ten minutes, so we hurried to the southernmost pond where the shorebird action was. But an immature female PEREGRINE FALCON beat us to it, giving us fabulous views as she stooped towards the rapidly departing shorebird collection. After several dives she took off empty taloned, leaving just the breeding BLACK-NECKED STILTS cowering on the pond. The pond by the entrance was almost bird-free but the surrounding weeds were lively, with LARK SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK and LAZULI BUNTINGS making for a colorful end to the trip.