January 12—This day marked my first encounter with the invasion of Cedar Waxwings that graced the Valley last winter. This species was sort of my “spark bird” back in the day, and I was stunned to find a flock of them flycatching from the Mesquite tops, the early morning sun beautifully illuminating the soft colors of their velvety plumage.
January 18—I joined the flock of birders at Kiwanis Park enjoying the rare urban stopover of a pair of White-winged Scoters, and I left feeling, given the contrast of his white highlights on black plumage and the outrageous orange bill, the male might just be the most spectacular of all North America’s ducks.
February 28—Our first “yard bird” of the year, an American Robin, appeared at 6:00pm looking for dinner beneath the fountain in our front yard. Our new visitor was part of a robin invasion that seemed to accompany that of the waxwings.
May 18—On our trip to Yellowstone, a pair of Canada Jays joined us for lunch. This was the only bird on our adventure’s target list that we managed to see, and I was happy to finally get good photographs of a species being impacted by climate change.
June 20—Stumbling onto a pair of American Dippers feeding just fledged young, I spent the entire day observing and photographing much of the natural history of these birds, possibly the most unique and fascinating species in North America.
September 27—As I searched for the Least Flycatcher being seen at Gilbert Water Ranch, a previously unreported male Prothonotary Warbler dropped out of the sky into the reeds right in front of me. This was certainly my most unforeseen and exciting find of the year.
October 25—On my third try at Veterans Oasis Park, I finally located the Black-throated Green Warbler initially reported there by Jill Casperson. This was my only “state bird” of the year, one I had been chasing and missing for forty years!
November 29—On my third try for the Grasshopper Sparrow beingseen along the Salt River, I was able to photograph this beautiful-even-though-not-in-breeding-plumage winter bird, one of a handful of the sparrow tribe which belies their “boring” reputation.
December 7—Finally a species we’ve been expecting in our yard in winter for twenty years made an appearance when a White-throated Sparrow of the tan-striped race showed up amidst our annual little flock of White-Crowneds and graced us into late January.
December 18—Not just another sparrow, but arguably the most unique and recognizable of its family, the Harris’s Sparrow spending the winter in McDowell Mountain Park, popped up in a Mesquite in early morning light for a portrait.
Every year is different to a much greater degree than every day is different. We look forward to the exciting discoveries that await us in 2024 as we emerge from the fog of the pandemic and plan new adventures. Bird and enjoy as you embrace this long awaited emergence.