It was one of the more beautiful mornings in the valley as 22 birders from Birders’ Anonymous and the Sonoran Audubon Society along with a few guests showed up to walk the trails at the Hassayampa River Preserve. It was such a big group that it was split into two groups – George Wall leading one and Dan Bohlmann and Vera Markham leading the other group. The participants were Diana Barnum, Dan Bohlmann, David Bradford, Don and Jane Chong – visitors from Hawaii, Marshall Esty, Shirley Fackleman, Dick Fogle, Darlene Gatto, Jan Harding, Gerry Horton, Marcia Johnson, Vera Markham, Carol Maroney, Jayne McNeill, Gail Sherman, Frank and Pearl Shewfelt, Donna Smith, Annie Teff, Richard Trigobald and George Wall.

Birds were abundant with Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets everywhere. 44 species were seen by the 2 groups and they were Pied-billed Grebe, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Gadwall, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harrier, probably Cooper’s Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird, Costa’s Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, Canyon Wren, Marsh Wren, House Wren, Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Verdin, Lincoln’s Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Lucy’s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hutton’s Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, Scott’s Oriole and Red-winged Blackbird.

After birding, some of the group stayed and had lunch in the picnic area. A great day of birding and socializing.