Difficulty: Easy (Not a lot of walking on dirt road/trail. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and be prepared for hot and sunny weather)
Visit Cochise Lake to observe a wide variety of shorebirds. This inland water body is a globally Important Bird Area in part for its concentration of shorebirds and importance for special status avian species. We will concentrate on studying notable behaviors and structural clues for shorebird identification. Our late summer/early fall migrants also provide a variety of plumages to study and compare. American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Least, Western and Baird’s Sandpipers are all likely with other shorebirds possible. Swainson’s Hawk, Scaled Quail, Bendire’s Thrasher, and Chihuahuan Meadowlark are also seen in the area. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and spotting scope (if you have one) and be prepared for hot and sunny weather. Limited to 9 participants.
Black-necked Stilt by Shawn Cooper