Yavapai Bird Alert

Re: Lesser Black Backed Gull

xheatheringx@... (Heather Hofling) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 06:55:58 -0800

Thanks, Justin for the heads-up! Great sighting.

If the gull is spotted again this morning I’d love an update if possible. Here on the list serve or xheatheringx@... or 928-587-2115.

Thanks everyone!

Heather Hofling

Re: Lesser Black Backed Gull

altondouglasiverson@... (Doug Iverson) — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 17:16:20 -0800

Diane and I saw the same combination of gulls just a little earlier.

Doug and Diane Iverson

Re: Lesser Black Backed Gull

prescottburk@... (Steve Burk) — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 12:34:46 -0800

It was still there along with 6 other gulls at 1:05 pm. South shore --> straight down trail, turn left (west) and take the small trail through the field of burrs. If the gulls are all sleeping together, it can be hard to pick out the LBGU

Lesser Black Backed Gull

justin1.legendary@... (Justin Bryce) — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 11:56:54 -0800

12/7/24 9am South shore of Willow Lake

One lesser black backed gull observed on south side of lake with California and Ring-billed gulls. Red gape, yellow legs, darker back, pale iris. Don't know if it's the same as reported previously.

Justin Bryce

Re: Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull at Willow

prescottburk@... (Steve Burk) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:54:24 -0800

I have posted the Lesser Black-backed Gull on eBird and I see that Felipe Guerro has posted it on eBird as well. So a number of birders have arrived at the same conclusion independently. Felipe also posted an American Herring Gull, so I'll have to look through my photos to see if I can find that in the flock.

Steve

Re: Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull at Willow

runningsensei@... (Clark Tenney) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:49:32 -0800

I saw the LBBG and the 40+ Ring Bills at 5:15. On my way back to my car, I turned around and saw that the flock had taken flight. When last seen at 5:25pm, they were dots in the sky far above Willow Lake. I don’t know if they landed back at the lake or not.

Clark Tenney

Re: Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull at Willow

xheatheringx@... (Heather Hofling) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:41:12 -0800

Thank you Steve for getting the message out. Great sighting! I would be interested in knowing if they stay and are seen tomorrow. - Heather

Re: Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull at Willow

waltandersonAFC@... (Walt Anderson) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:37:34 -0800

Steve, it certainly looks suspiciously like a Lesser Black-backed. There is another gull in your photo next to your bird's bill that also seems to have a dark mantle. Does it give any good clues in an uncropped version? Leg color would clinch it.

Walt

Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull at Willow

prescottburk@... (Steve Burk) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:40:58 -0800

I was just started to post this when I noticed I had an email from Eric Moore asking for my opinion on a gull he photographed today at Willow!!

At a bit after 3pm I took photos of numerous gulls at south shore Willow including zoomed photos of a gull of interest. After getting back home and looking at my photos I think it best fits with Lesser Black-back Gull. It has only a red spot on its bill, no additional black like a California Gull and a darker back than a California. It has a light iris (dark in California). Tail had no big white spots, but it appeared to have some short white lines on the dark tail. Unfortunately the legs were blocked from view in all my photos. Please weigh in with opinions as this is the same bird Eric is asking about.

[eBird Alert] Yavapai County Rare Bird Alert

rballandg@... (Richard Balland) — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 08:35:19 -0800

I watched 2 of the Common Loons Yesterday Morning from the east shore of Watson lake for about 15 minutes. They slowly moved closer to my location and within Camera Range allowing for some nice photos.

Re: Pacific Loon - Lake Pleasant

xheatheringx@... (Heather Hofling) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:14:14 -0700

Thank you, Troy! I’m not on discord so I appreciate the old school reach out. I’d be interested in hearing if the Pacific Loon stays, plus info about anything new. Thanks again, Heather

Pacific Loon - Lake Pleasant

aplomado02@... (Troy Corman) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:47:54 -0700

Late this morning, I found a Pacific Loon in the Castle Creek inlet above (northwest of) the boat launch parking lot at Lake Pleasant. Also noted as rare, was a first-winter Herring Gull (now known as American Herring Gull due to very recent splits). With the pending cold front with a 20 deg. drop in high temps the remainder of the week, we should see some significant avian movement. Be on a watch for gulls, scoters and loons to name a few on any open water bodies.

Unsure how many members of this group belong to the AZ Rare Birds and Discussion Discord group. However, I wanted to make others aware that there are channels on this app. for each county in AZ to report rarities soon after they are discovered. I posted the above to the Yavapai channel. This seems to be how many birders in AZ are keeping up to date on rarity reports.

I hope to see you in the field...

Troy Corman

Re: Dunlin

altondouglasiverson@... (Doug Iverson) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:08:52 -0700

We must have left just before Sue arrived. No gulls, large flock of avocets and saw the Dunlin.

Dunlin

suedrown@... (Sue Drown) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:06:20 -0700

I went to the south shore of Willow to look for Steve Burke's reported Herring Gull. I did not see that bird; however, there was a Dunlin foraging in the mud shore.. I believe I've seen this bird over the past week but finally saw it close enough to ID. The avocets are still there.

--
Sue Drown
Prescott

Herring Gull

prescottburk@... (Steve Burk) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:31:56 -0700

A Herring Gull was mixed in with Ring-bills and many avocets this morning at south shore of Willow Lake (photos).

Steve Burk

pelicans at Watson Lake

prescottburk@... (Steve Burk) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:07:04 -0700

This morning I received an email from Everett Sanborn saying that his friend, Karen Shaw, had seen a large number of pelicans land on Watson Lake late yesterday afternoon. So I just went to the Watson overlook. The very first picture I was able to take of them after stepping out of the car was as they lifted off because shooting began at the police pistol range. I roughly estimated 80 pelicans, but was busy taking photos. Surprisingly, the bulk of the flock headed south but about 15 returned and landed on the east side of the lake. But, wouldn't you know, here came a kayaker with a long telephoto lens --- but he still felt the need to try to get very close to the pelicans. They of course flew. I was there from 9-9:20 am. It is possible that some may have returned.

Steve Burk

Re: Bird Sightings at Willow

footballmom27@... (Janie Stewart) — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 11:28:35 -0700

Common Tern still at Willow Lake 11:28am

Re: Bird Sightings at Willow

footballmom27@... (Janie Stewart) — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 07:49:51 -0700

If anyone goes out to Willow Lake this morning and spots the Common Tern please let the group know asap thank you

Bird Sightings at Willow

eric@... (Eric Moore) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 23:24:05 -0700

I went out to the south shore of Willow Lake this afternoon between 4:30 and 5:30 and saw two red-necked phalaropes as well as a single common tern. A lot of other cool bird sightings as well. If you want to see my full list check on my Ebird report. Eric Moore

Red-necked Phalarope

suedrown@... (Sue Drown) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 09:25:28 -0700

A non-breeding Red-necked Phalarope is at Willow Lake this morning.. It was close to the South shore then moved close to the North shore., seemingly a solo bird.

--
Sue Drown
Prescott