Pied-billed Grebe
Photo by Earle Robinson

Six birders had a beautiful day at the arboretum near Superior. We were immediately greeted with singing Bell’s vireos everywhere we went. Patience was rewarded with terrific visuals of these rather plain little birds. The day was a good one for hummingbirds too. We saw the usual, Costa’s, Anna’s and Black-chinned. Discovery of an Anna’s female tightly tucked in her nest was a bonus. Good eyes Karen! The great hummer of the day was a beautiful broad-billed male in full display. He has a territory staked out below Ayers Lake along the wash.

At Ayers Lake we watched a Pied-bill Grebe female feeding crayfish to her single chick. We cheered on her crayfish control efforts! One Northern Rough-winged Swallow was hawking insects at the lake, and that was it.

Warblers were pretty scarce. We had a yellow warbler join us at lunch in the picnic area and we saw Lucy’s warblers along Queen Creek in the mesquite. The trip was too early for tanagers and orioles. We saw 34 species in total, not a large number. The lack of species was made up by quality views of the hummingbirds, the grebes and a gloriously beautiful spring day with fine birding companions.