It was a beautiful morning when we met at the B&M area near the Phoenix International Raceway to do some birding. There was no wind and the sun was at our backs as looked down into the ponds of the Gila River. After observing several birds, we then walked down the roadway and birded some more. It was here that we observed two Ospreys going after fish. One Osprey caught a fish that was so large that he could hardly keep in the air with it.

After birding the above area, five of us went on and drove slowly down Southern Avenue where a few more birds were seen.

The 24 birds seen at the B&M area of P.I.R. were Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Mallard, Osprey, Red-tailed  Hawk (Harlan), American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Say’s Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Marsh Wren, Verdin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Abert’s Towhee and Great-tailed Grackle.

The 12 birds seen on Southern Ave were Cattle Egret, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, House Sparrow, House Finch, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird.

The eight participants were Dick Fogle, Ian Jeffrey, Barbara Meding, Sonya O’Connor, Chuck and Loretta Richards, Clara Mae Ryder and George Wall – leader.