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Post by oldfulica on Feb 26, 2009 11:53:53 GMT -8
Hi Thor got to Salton ahead of us but it gave us impetus to get out there from our base in Yuma. As he mentioned the area is a great place to see where our birds go in winter. We saw over 100 Mountain plovers in one field and another was full of Curlews, Dowitchers and White-faced Ibis.  The Yellow-footed Gull was where it was supposed to be.  Brown Pelicans were getting into the breeding plumage  We have talked to many people who come here every year and have never seen a Rattler. We feel lucky to have found this one on one of our hikes.  Off to Tucson next week. |
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Post by Dave on Feb 26, 2009 18:11:45 GMT -8
Thanks for keeping us informed, Len!
I love the picture of the rattler. Looks like quite the overhead picture so I assume you were in a vehicle??? This snake has eluded me so far. Mountain Plover are a great addition to any list. Glad to hear you picked up the gull as well.
Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
DB
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 27, 2009 6:04:50 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2009 20:28:52 GMT -8
We were also fortunate enough to run across (almost ran over) a rattler in Arizona in August, 2007. It was lying on the road a few kms north of Portal, and showed no inclination to back off and head for cover, and no sense of humour at all when we got out of the vehicle for better looks.  Len, did you ever get Rufous-capped Warbler? Was there one staked out somewhere? We spent an afternoon driving a very, very, I mean very! rough road into French Joe Canyon north of Sierra Vista, and walking a long hot "trail" (actually no trail at all) up the canyon in search of this species, based on the accounts in the ABA and Tucson Audubon Society's birdfinding guides, only to learn later that Rufous-capped Warbler had not been reported there for a couple of years. It was, however, a unique and memorable hike in the desert, surrounded by stark beauty and in total solitude (unlike the other birding hotspots we hit in SE AZ). It was well worth it, even though we didn't find the warbler. Stan Olson Abbotsford |
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Post by oldfulica on Mar 1, 2009 7:13:10 GMT -8
Hi Stan We were driving on the road when we saw a vehicle parked ahead of us. The occupants were looking into a bush and as we approached they got into the car and drove off. That's when we saw the snake coming out of the other side of the road heading towards the same bush. I grabbed the camera and jumped out. I got between the bush and the snake thinking it would stop and perhaps coil up. It paused for a moment and and then kept coming straight at me. I decided to stet aside and took the picture and it went into the bush. I checked on the internet later and found out they are quite persistent in chasing females and that's what led me to believe the other car may have seen aother snake and my snake was in hot pursuit. We haven't had a chance to look for Rufous-capped Warblers here. Next week we head for for SE Arizona where we should be in better territory. One of the things we have found that we like to do are to walk in the desert also. Yesterday we drove into Kofa NWR between Yuma and Quartzite. It was four wheeling all the way. We got there just as the sun was rising and man it was cold. As the sun rose so did the temperature. We walked up washes and saw Phainopeplas, Curve-billed Thrashers, Gilded Flickers, Rock, Cactus and Canyon Wrens, Canyon Towhees, Costas Hummingbirds and Black-throated Sparrows. Total silence except for birds out there. s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/oldfulica/?action=view¤t=Curve-billed-Thrasher-Feb2.jpgWe have been trying for Black and Clapper Rails without success. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2009 9:59:14 GMT -8
Hi, Len.
I was curious to see if I could identify the snakes, so I found a website that shows 13 rattlesnake species occurring in Arizona. From what I see there, yours and mine look like they could be the same species and my guess would be they are Western Diamondback Rattlers.
There was a brief note saying this species is the largest rattlesnake in the west, and is responsible for more bites and human deaths than any other rattler species in the US, so maybe it's a good thing you did step aside and not get in the way of his amorous pursuits.
A real treat to see, in any case.
Good luck in Arizona. It's a fantastic place to bird.
Stan
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