Embedded Files
2025/26 Field Trips
2025/26 Field Trips
April 18, 2026 - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
April 18, 2026 - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Report by Wayne Bowers
Six folks traveled to the Laguna Mountains in Southern California. Our first stop was at Pine Valley County Park to stretch our legs, hit the bathrooms and find a few birds we don’t get to see in our Yuma County outings. The park was fairly quiet when we first arrived but soon got busy as the dog walkers and youth soccer teams showed up. The first of the day Acorn Woodpeckers were noisily flying about. We saw our first and only Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. Steller’s Jays were easy to hear and spot. The first Turkey Vultures of the day were warming on the back fence and before we left there were 20 or so soaring in the sky. The only Bullock’s Oriole of the day was calling from an oak tree. Oak Titmouse’s were busy searching for food and mates. A soaring Red-shouldered Hawk provided nice identification views. We ended up with 15 species although Merlin heard more birds that were expected in the area.
Our next stop was at the Pine Creek Trailhead where we were hoping to find Mountain Quail that we only heard last year. Not to be. The parking area was abuzz with a Boy Scout group filling their knapsacks with the makings of Smores and preparing to go down the trail for a camping adventure. There was also a group of young day hikers milling about. There was no chance of finding our hearing quail above the din. We did see a few Mountain Bluebirds watched a calling Ash-throated Flycatcher and not much else.
We moved on to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park stopping at Green Valley Campground to get our day use permits. We added Northern House Wren, Wrentit, Turkey, and American Robin to the list. Our stomachs were starting to remind us that we had early breakfasts so we moved on the Paso Picacho Campground for lunch and to explore the area for birds. We added Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufus Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. With full bellies and the clock ticking away we moved on to Stonewall Mine.
At Stonewall Mine as at all of the other stops the Acorn Woodpeckers were busy. After reports of the heavy rains in San Diego we had hoped that the marsh at the upper end of Picacho Lake would be wet but it was dry so there were no Canada Geese on it like last year. We were also disappointed not to see any White-tailed Kites or Bald Eagles. The only new trip bird was a Lark Sparrow that was a life bird for Tu. She also was able to get a photo to add to her photo life list.
We left for home about 3:00 and got back to Yuma tired but before the sun set at 6.
March 14, 2026 - Picacho State Recreation Area
March 14, 2026 - Picacho State Recreation Area
Report by Wayne Bowers
Eight birders from Yuma Audubon Society and two visiting out of town folks from John Day, Oregon bumped rattled and rolled over 18 miles of washboard road out to Picacho State Recreation Area on our March monthly field trip outing. The weather forecast was for unusually hot weather and it was spot on. After stopping at the self-pay station and getting legal we headed to the main boat ramp area which is in disrepair caused by severe erosion from a past storm event. A passel of Turkey Vultures was perched in the trees warming in the sun with wings spread and some on the ground tussling over a catfish carcass. Spring migration was underway for some species as we saw a wedge of White-faced Ibis flying north, a nice Wilson’s Warbler was bugging in one of the large eucalyptus trees, and we saw and heard several Ash-throated Flycatchers. Several species came up as rare for eBird for the time/area including Baird’s Sandpiper, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Canyon Wren, and Lawrence’ Goldfinch. The Baird’s was foraging in the shallow water pond north of the new overlook trail. Goldfinches were in the eucalyptus trees near the boat ramp, the Canyon Wren was calling from the rocky hillside near the junction to the staff housing area and boat ramp, and the flycatchers were seen and heard in several locations. Phainopeplas were calling and displaying throughout the day use areas, and campground. A Great Egret was stalking around on the rocky hillside looking for a lizard meal and the Gila Woodpeckers were flying around calling and pecking away in the tall cottonwood trees. We had lunch in the picnic area on the river by the campground boat ramp. After lunch the sun was beating down and the temperature was already hitting 90 degrees and we decided to call it a day. Several of us stopped for a brief visit to the Picacho Cemetery before bouncing back to Yuma. As we neared Yuma, we could see aircraft participating in the Yuma Air Show flying over town. We tallied 37 species for the day.
Birds encountered: Baird’s Sandpiper, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Canyon Wren, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Gambel’s Quail, Mourning Dove, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Common Raven, Verdin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern House Wren, European Starling, Phainopepla, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Abert’s Towhee, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler.
February 14, 2026 - Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
February 14, 2026 - Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Report by Margaret Heming
On February 14, 2026, eleven folks participated in the monthly Yuma Audubon outing to Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Our trip leader, Wayne Bowers, was unable to attend. Bruce and Deirdre provided leadership, with Bruce carrying Wayne’s scope and Deirdre keeping the bird lists. After the one hour and twenty-minute drive, we arrived at the CNWR headquarters. The drive included a detour, since the main bridge into the refuge area was out of commission. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed clear, sunny skies with no wind.
We birded at five areas within the refuge and ended up with nearly sixty species for the day.
We started at the viewing platform which had a great view of the Goose Loop Auto Tour route we were about to drive around. From above, we were able to spot a coyote walking past a small group of Sandhill Cranes. An interesting sight! Bird species seen from there included American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Sandhill Crane, Say’s Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Next, we drove around the Goose Loop Trail, stopping periodically to view the birds we discovered. Highlights included 2000 American Wigeons and 1000 Snow Geese, plus a lone Eurasian Wigeon! Other species we saw: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gambel’s Quail, Mourning Dove, Great Egret, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Least Sandpiper, Killdeer, Black Phoebe, Marsh Wren, White-faced Ibis, American Pipit, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Saw Turkey Vultures soaring high on the thermals near the mountains. and Pelicans passing by in the distance. Our birding identification skills were challenged by a hawk in a far-off tree. Was it a Cooper’s or a Red-shouldered? “Picture Bird” suggested it was a Red-shouldered when Tu’s photo and my photo were submitted to it.
The Corn Field Nature Trail was next. Species we encountered: American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Robin, Northern Flicker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, Northern House Wren, Abert’s Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Probably the most exciting birds of the day were the Black and White Warbler and the Cassin’s Vireo. Bruce kept hearing the Vireo, and we finally found it high in a tree. Then the Black and White Warbler was found nearby. We were some crazy happy birders at that point!
After lunch and lively conversation up near the headquarters, we drove out to Hart Mine Road, stopping at the bridge to look for owls. The Great Horned Owl flew out and landed near us, posing nicely for the photographers in the group. Also spotted a beautiful Phainopepla.
At our last stop, we had to walk by a rattlesnake to get to the trail and ponds. Everyone got great snake photos! As we looked down the trail to the far end, we saw a second coyote and a Roadrunner. Other bird species at this location: Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Mourning Dove, American Coot, Least Sandpiper, White-faced Ibis, Killdeer, Great Egret, Raven, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Merlin.
January 17, 2026 - Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
January 17, 2026 - Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
Report by Wayne Bowers
January 17, 2026 fifteen folks participated in the monthly outing to Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge. Weather was perfect. No wind and lots of sun. As we approached the Unit 1 area we stopped at the Refuge sign to look for Burrowing Owl and other species where there is a mix of open fields, drainage ditches, brush and a flooded field. Some goose hunters were set up a couple of hundred yards away and were unsuccessfully trying to shoot high flying Snow Geese. Our presence probably didn’t help them as we wandered around looking for birds. The geese were flying high and out of range of the gunners but we got to add them to our tally along with distant views of American Pipits and our first and only look at 3 Greater Sandhill Cranes flying by. We moved up to the flooded ponds on the west side of the road and had nice views of loafing and feeding waterfowl in the early morning light. We got to study the teal with all three expected species present – Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal. There were Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets were there so we could study the difference in winter plumage. There were also a few adult and juvenile Snow Geese there as well as other waterfowl and a few shorebirds.
From there we moved to the parking area at Unit 1. When we first arrived a very cooperative Black-crowned Night Heron perched on the ditch bank in full view. They are usually shyer. From the viewing platform there were more dabbling ducks, and quite a few Long-billed Dowitchers and a lone Marbled Godwit. There was a noticeable lack of small shorebirds compared to past outings. Only a few Least Sandpipers.
We left at 11:00 and headed to refuge headquarters with our stomachs starting to growl for food a bit. On the way we passed fields with large numbers of Cattle Egrets and there was a Peregrine Falcon perched on a power pole. We also saw a few Burrowing Owls. We arrived at a busy refuge headquarters that was hosting a birding and wildlife viewing event. After lunch folks spent time in various areas around headquarters with some hiking all the way out to Rocky Point. Often there are lots of white geese in the fields around HQ but not this time. The field in from of the viewing platform did have quite a number of American Pipits. The lake continues to dry up and the shoreline is too far away to identify birds on the water or the shoreline. We tallied 55 species for the trip.
Species: Snow Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, Ring-billed Gull, Gambel’s Quail, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, American Coot, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Long-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, Wilson’s Snipe, White-faced Ibis, Double-crested Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, Verdin, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Abert’s Towhee, American Pipit, Greater Roadrunner, Horned Lark, White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Vermillion flycatcher.
November 15, 2025 - Mittry Lake
November 15, 2025 - Mittry Lake
Report by Wayne Bowers
Five Yuma Audubon Society members traveled to the Mittrey Lake area on Saturday, November 15 for a birding field trip. The day was mostly overcast with a few light sprinkles and one short, but intense desert downpour. We started near the old Laguna Dam spillway where Wilson’s Snipe are usually reliable.
Maintenance crews had cleaned out the spillway that was becoming overgrown with vegetation over the years. It was mostly bare concrete with a little sediment and a few aquatic grasses starting to grow back. We were fortunate to watch 5 normally hard to spot Wilson’s Snipe foraging in the open along with a couple of Killdeer. Our only Red-tailed Hawk of the day was resting on top of the highest rock outcrop above the rock quarry parking area.
As we crossed the spillway area heading to Betty’s Kitchen a cooperative Western Grebe foraged just below the dam. It was nice to see the “eye in the black” up close that separates it from a Clark’s Grebe. A Great Blue Heron flew up and perched on a nearby snag, providing a good photo op. We wandered around Betty’s Kitchen ticking off expected birds as intermittent shotgun blasts nearby reminded us that bird hunting season was underway. We neither heard or saw Gambel’s Quail in the area. They must have either been hunkered down or in hunter’s bags. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers were actively feeding in the trees. A Northern House Wren teased, us calling from a thicket but wouldn’t come out for us to get a look. Abert’s Towhee and Spotted Towhee were also calling but hiding.
We next took a drive out to the boat ramp. The vegetation has grown up so much it is hard to see out across the marsh. We did spot a Northern Harrier working along the far side of the marsh. We continued making the loop around and back to the Laguna Dam spillway and on to the covered picnic area where we stopped for lunch. A few sprinkles came down as we watch lightning strikes and heard thunder as a storm cell passed to the east of us.
While eating we got good looks at a nearby Common Loon in winter plumage. After lunch we drove up to the restroom/boat trailer parking area to look for sparrows or a possible rock or canyon wren with no luck. While we were there an intense thunderstorm sent us scampering back to our vehicles to wait it out. One group decided to call it a day and left during the deluge. The rest of us continued up along the east side of the lake and along the canal stopping at the small pond along the lake just after the road climbs up and parallels the canal. We watched 3 Soras foraging in the open in the shallow pond, our first Sora of the day. They were accompanied by a couple of killdeers and a few coots. Looking over the lake it was apparent that American Coots have vacated their northern summer haunts and can be seen in abundant numbers most anywhere there is shallow water. There were also about 30 Western/Clark’s Grebes out on the lake but were too distant to separate with wind rocking the spotting scope. We recorded 39 bird species for the day with no rarities. We missed several birds often seen including Turkey Vulture and no owls.
Species: Anna’s Hummingbird, American Coot, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Green Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, European Starling, Crissal Thrasher, House Finch, Abert’s Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruddy Duck, Gambel’s Quail, Sora, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Loon, Northern Harrier, Phainopepla, Great-tailed Grackle.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse