Forest Rd 200 July 2005

Six intrepid birders, Donna Smith (leader), Chuck Kangas, Vera Markham, Frank & Pearl Shewfelt and George Wall, decided to get out of the valley heat and into the cool high country to do some birding. Forest Road 300 (Rim Road) that starts a few miles from the town of Strawberry off of Highway 87 was the goal. After an early morning stop near Carefree where Lesser Nighthawks were spotted, the group arrived at Forest Road 300 just after 7am. The temperature was cool 58 degrees and it never got warmer than 72 degrees while birding.

At the first stop, we were all treated to several Red Crossbills perched high in the pines. At another stop, Western Bluebirds were abundant. On down the road among the pines, a Painted Redstart fanned its tail. The highlight of the trip though was found right on the dirt road in front of our vehicles. There was a puddle of water and several birds were bathing in it. We couldn’t believe our eyes as about 4-5 Red faced Warblers and a Grace’s Warbler splashed up a storm.

A little after 11am, we had finished our birding; so we relaxed in a picnic area and had lunch. As we ate, we listened to and watched Acorn Woodpeckers chatter and flit all around us.

The 32 species of birds seen or heard were the Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Lesser Nighthawk, Broadtailed Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, American Rock Wren, Canyon Wren (H), House Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Grace’s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Lesser Goldfinch, Red Crossbill and House Sparrow.