Who’s Migrating?

Not these guys, they’re here in force year-round, the Rosy-Faced Lovebirds, feral descendants of tame birds that survive well in the Phoenix area. But this is the time for the migrating birds to start showing up for the winter, along with the other snowbirds we get.

So last weekend at Granada Park in central Phoenix, close to where I live, I checked out who was around:

White-Crowned Sparrows make their annual reappearance this time of year.

Flocks of American Wigeons descend on our fair city. They make the cutest sounds, not quacks at all.

More American Coots with their funny feet arrive.

The wild Mallards show up although I’m not sure if this is a pure one since we have Mallard hybrids around all year.

The small, elegant Ring-Necked Ducks (also known as Blackjacks) make their presence known as flocks fill up the local lakes.

The European Starlings were watching the arrivals with me.

I see a lot of doves but not usually Mourning Doves.

I guess this might be a hawk nest? It was almost 2 feet long but it was just slightly above eye level so I can’t imagine a hawk having a nest that low. I’ll be going back to this park this weekend to see who else might be in town and maybe I’ll find the resident.

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