Stoneman Lake

Stoneman Lake was nearly dry. Only a small watery spot remained to offer refuge to a mature Great Blue Heron and what appeared to be an immature one amidst the reeds. However, the many acres of Coconino National Forest surrounding it included a couple of picturesque watering holes where birds were nesting. One very orange-faced Red-faced Warbler challenged the group to identify it, but its black headband was unmistakable and later a truly red-faced bird appeared. A Western Wood Pewee was on its nest near the homes surrounding the lakebed. Cassin's Kingbird was also nesting nearby while Band-tailed Pigeons, Lesser Goldfinches and Black-headed Grosbeaks were visiting local bird feeders. The Western Bluebird was evident.

Not many humans inhabit or seem to explore this area Northeast of Camp Verde which is reached by several miles on dirt roads. It includes healthy stands of Ponderosa Pine and oaks and some of the group got good, close looks at summer residents such as Grace's Warbler, House Wren, and both male and female Western Tanager.

The entire bird list seen and heard was: Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Red-Shafted Flicker, Western Wood Pewee, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo (heard), Vireo sp., Steller's Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's), Red-faced Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Black-headed Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

Participants were: Donna Smith, leader; Marshall Esty, Eleanor Campbell, Chuck Richard, Vera Markham, George Wall, P.J. Mikolajczyk, Marjorie Eckman, Andrea Nesbitt, Joy Dingley, Chuck Richards, Dan Bohlmann, Virginia Edens, Ann McDermott, and Chuck Kangas.