Sycamore Creek meanders for miles on both sides of Rte. 87 Northeast of Phoenix beyond Fountain Hills. The new road affords magnificent views of the jagged Mazatzal Mountains so the group would have enjoyed a scenic ride away from civilization even without any birds. But they were there. It had rained the night before so there was good running water in one spot and a damp coolness under the huge, old Sycamores along the creek. There the group saw the most species including Bullock’s and Hooded Oriole, Bell’s Vireo, Lazuli Bunting, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Western type (Cordilleran?) Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Cooper’s Hawk, Black Phoebe, Blue Grosbeak, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Scrub-Jay, Bewick’s Wren, and Yellow Warbler.

The group stopped at four sites each with a somewhat different habitat that included juniper, ash and cottonwood in addition to the majestic Arizona Sycamores. A family of Cactus Wrens, the lively Black-throated Sparrows, Canyon Towhee, Curve-billed Thrasher, and a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers entertained at one spot.

The last stop was along the old road where new houses have the advantage of quiet seclusion away from the traffic on the new divided highway. There in the fields opposite the creek was a good sized flock of Lark Sparrows, Phainopepla, and Western Kingbird. Along the way Bushtits did their thing in the Sycamores, the Gila Woodpecker called, the Verdin whistled and the Common Raven cawed. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Harris Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Gambel’s Quail, Turkey Vulture, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, House Sparrow, Hummingbird (sp.), and a Barn Owl which was, sadly, a road kill was also seen.

The photograph was taken at the George Walker house in Paradise, Arizona.

Participants were: Eleanor Campbell, leader; Vera Markham, George Wall, Donna Smith, Cathy and Jack Thompson, Bob McCall, Chuck Kangas, Chuck Richard, and Ann McDermott.