This trip was originally going to Box Canyon on the Hassayampa River, but Nancy London, the leader, decided the river was still flowing too heavy to be safe. She suggested the River Preserve and that is where we went.

It was a beautiful morning for birding, cool and sunny. Hummingbirds and Orioles were at the feeders by the Visitors Center. The Mesquite Meander Trail was full of Yellow Warblers, noisy Chats and Summer Tanagers. Part of the River Walk is open now and we spotted flycatchers in the trees. The highlight of the trip was along Palm Lake when we saw a Thick-billed Kingbird in a tree by the second bench past the picnic area.

Birders were John Gottfried, Ann McDermott, Helayn Aranguena, Peter Smith, Katie Gagnon, Nancy Carpenter, Tomas Balugh, Angie Young, John and Mimi Macias and Donna Smith, Leader.

Birds seen or heard: Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gambel's Quail (heard), American Coot with young, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Western Wood Pewee, Empidonax Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Thick-billed Kingbird, Bells Vireo (heard), Hutton's Vireo, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Verdin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Phainopepla, Lucy's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Abert's Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird (heard), Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Hooded Oriole, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch.