The field trip to the Hassayampa River Preserve was on an overcast day with a threat of rain, however we were hoping for some good birding. Due to the recent rains several trails were closed including the main river walk which limited our access to the preserve and the number of birds we would see. We walked around Palm Lake and the mesquite ramble loop to the river overlook. We saw over 200 birds, about 185 of them were ruby-crowned kinglets, some with their ruby crowns raised, and spotted towhees running and scratching over the ground. We also saw two beautiful gray foxes and a desert ground squirrel excavating his hole. All in all we had a pleasant morning. Attendees were George Wall, John Gottfried, Tom Lazzelle, Carolyn Modeen, Chuck Kangas, Stew and Liz Norris, Vera Markham, Connie VanZurdt ( from Virginia) and Donna Smith, leader.

Several of us stopped at the nearby rest stop for a picnic lunch and to bird the area.

List of birds seen: Pied-billed grebe, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Morning Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Phainopepla, House Wren, Sage Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher (H), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Verdin, Common Raven, Spotted Towhee, Abert’s Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, and House Sparrow.