On a combined Birders’ Anonymous and Sonoran Audubon Society trip, 16 eager birders left the Sun Bowl with the first stop at the Estrella Parkway Bridge. It was disheartening to find only 1 lonely egret. We then went to the park where we saw just 4 or 5 species and all for $5.00. At the PIR area, we spotted a Western Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe and a few others. The last stop was at a small pond just east of the El Mirage Pond (now dry) and here we saw Black-bellied whistling Ducks and about 50 White-faced Ibis along with some more species to really make the morning worth while.

Here is the total list of the 31 species seen for the trip: Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Gambel’s Quail, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Burrowing Owl, Gila Woodpecker, Western Kingbird, Common Raven, Cliff Swallow, Cactus Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Lark Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle and House Sparrow.

The attendees were: Dick Fogle (leader), Jim & Pat Hammitt, Gerry Horton, Ian Jeffrey, Joyce Keller, Kira Kremer, Barbara Meding, Frank & Mary Montgomery, Clara Mae Ryder, Frank & Pearl Shewfelt and Sam Stearman. One person didn’t sign the roster and one person I couldn’t read his writing; so they are not included in the list.