Field Trips
Field trips are held on the third Saturday of the month and generally meet at 7:00 am at the Pinetop McDonald's and 7:30 am at the Show Low McDonalds. FOR THE EXACT MEETING PLACE AND TIME, check the specific field trip below.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Bring binoculars and a scope if you have one. You should plan to bring snacks and water for the trip and wear appropriate shoes. Most field trips last until noon. Please plan to leave your pets at home. You will see more birds if you are very quiet while in the field. Most trips involve some moderate hiking. All of our trips are open to the public. Special trips and afternoon field trips are as scheduled. There are no regular trips in January, February, or December, but do look for our Christmas Bird Count and other special events during the winter. For a schedule of upcoming trips, go to our Calendar page. If you have any questions about field trips email us. (Select Contact Us on the sidebar to the left) Hope to see you there!
BEGINNING BIRDWATCHING WALKS at Woodland Lake in Pinetop led by Mary Ellen Bittorf are a great way to get acquainted with our local birds. For more information contact her at (928)367-2462
Trip reports from past years are here.
March 19, 2011 "Jewel of the White Mountains"
Woodland Lake Park, Big Springs and Jacques Marsh
Meet at McDonald's, Pinetop 7:30 am.
We'll be birding the local lakes in the town of Pinetop-Lakeside for this trip. We'll stroll around the paved path at Woodland Lake Park, stopping with the scope to get a good look at Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Western Grebe, Eared Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Redhead, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, and Mallard. Osprey and a Bald Eagle might be flying overhead. We'll drive or hike down to Big Springs Environmental Study Area, the spring-fed ponds and marshes that connects to Woodland Lake Park. We'll be on the look-out for the Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, and Cooper 's Hawk. Then we'll take in the complex of ponds and marshes at Jacques Marsh and see a similar variety of waterfowl. Raptors are seen here resting on snags so we might see a Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon.
April 16, 2011 "Spring Fling"
Pintail Lake/Telephone Lake
Meet at McDonald's, Pinetop (7:00 am) and McDonald's, Show Low (7:30 am) or Pintail Lake parking lot off Highway 77.
Join us this spring at Pintail Lake which is one of White Mountain Audubon's regular fieldtrip destinations. Pintail Lake is a man-made wetlands forming ponds and marshes utilizing treated wastewater. A viewing platform overlooks ponds and a trail leads to a wildlife viewing blind. We'll be on the lookout for a number of waterfowl such as Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Cinnamon Teal, American Wigeon, and Pintail. Other wetland species include Sora, Virginia Rail, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Red-winged Blackbird. Since this is a spring field trip, we might see migrating shorebirds such as White-faced Ibis, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, and species of sandpipers. In the surrounding grasslands we may a observe Townsend Solitaire, Gray Vireo, and Mountain Chickadee.
May 14, 2011 "North American Migration Count"
Wenima Wildlife Area
Meet at the Wenima Wildlife Area north of Springerville at 7:00 am ; NOT at our normal location at McDonald's; Hwy 60 to Hwy. 180 north approximately ΒΌ-mile to signed turnoff. A favorite of Audubon Members at many times of the year, but very productive in the Spring, this Apache County NAMC is a concentrated bird survey to record all species and numbers observed along our route. We survey portions of the Little Colorado River in teams, and should visit Wenima, Becker Lake, South Fork, and other areas as feasible. If enough participants show up, we will break into teams to bird other areas like the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area and Nutrioso Reservoir. Please plan on a full day; bring water and food. For more information, contact Sue Sitko at sitko@frontiernet.net.
June 17, 18, 19 Annual WMAS Campout Burnt Mill Spring
Please refer to Special Events-Campout for more information. Several birding events are planned. One event will be:
River Walk and Becker Lake Wildlife Area/White Mountain Grasslands Wildlife Area. We'll be birding at this ecologically restored section of the Little Colorado River, which provides both a lake and river setting. Posted signs along the river explain how restoration took place and what wildlife lives there. Birds to look for are Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Says and Black Phoebes, Northern Mockingbirds, Lesser Goldfinch and Chipping, Lark and Brewer's Sparrows. Becker Lake is fairly small but provides habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Raptors like Osprey, Northern Harrier, and Red-tailed Hawk frequent the area. Several birds recorded rarely in northeast Arizona have been observed at Becker Lake like the Red Phalarope and the Least Flycatcher. We're hoping to spot a few of these wanderers. If participants are willing, we'll visit the White Mountain Grasslands Wildlife Area where we'll see Mountain and Western Bluebirds and Western Meadowlarks. These grasslands offer opportunities to see Golden Eagles, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed hawks and other raptors. There's a high probability of seeing pronghorn antelope, elk coyote and gray fox as well.
July 30, 2011 Annual Hummingbird Banding
Sipes Wildlife Area
Meet at McDonald's, Pinetop (time TBA) For a more complete description refer to White Mountain Audubon Special Events.
Audubon will join researchers Sheri Williamson and Tom Wood as they band hummingbirds. Expect to see Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope and Black-chinned Hummingbirds. During a banding session onlookers can watch and assist as the researchers measure the birds and note their condition. They will learn about the lives and habits of these remarkable little pollinators. The festival includes presentations on hummingbirds and birdwatching. At this old ranch property there are ponds and short trails for wildlife viewing. White faced Ibis and Yellow-headed Blackbirds can be found near the ponds. Lewis' and Acorn Woodpeckers, Mountain Bluebirds, Western Tanagers, and Williamson's Sapsuckers are often spotted. At dawn or dusk elk are often sighted.
August 23-28 "Birdwatchers Extravaganza"
Beaver Creek Guest Ranch Alpine, AZ
For a more complete description refer to White Mountain Audubon Special Events or link to beavercreekguestranch.com
For our August Field Trip, we will join Auduboners from many places to participate in birding and presentations, hikes and a cookout in and around the Blue River and Wildcat Canyon. Beaver Creek Guest Ranch is offering special rates for this event so check out information about accommodations and the itinerary and to reserve your spot. This is a real mountain getaway with areas to view forest birds such as Acorn, Hairy, & Downy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flicker, pinyon-juniper birds such as the Spotted Towhee and Pinyon jay, riparian birds such as Cordilleran flycatcher and Black Phoebe, and grassland birds such as Says Phoebe and Song Sparrow.
September 17, 2011 "Silver Creek Reflections"
Silver Creek Fish Hatchery
Meet at McDonald's, Pinetop (7:00am) and McDonald's, Show Low (7:30 am)
At this Game and Fish property we will bird along a two mile(one way) creekside trail. Violet-green, Barn, and Tree Swallows abound. We can expect to see Black Phoebes, Say's Phoebes, Great Blue Herons, Lesser Goldfinches and several varieties of warblers. There are fields of wildflowers as well and we may arrange for a tour of the hatchery. This area is rich in wildlife and in previous visits the Game & Fish ranger has highlighted animal tracks.
October 15, 2011 "Apachelands"
Williams Creek Fish Hatchery, Whiteriver, AZ
Meet at McDonald's, Pinetop 7:30 am
We can carpool to drive down to several good birding spots on the Apache Reservation. Williams Creek Fish Hatchery is located in the Ponderosa pine forest along the North Fork of the White River. We'll be looking for the Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Brown Creeper and Lazuli Bunting.
November 19, 2011
Fool Hollow Lake and Show Low Treatment Plant Show Low, AZ
Meet at McDonald's, Show Low 8:30 am
What do a State Park and water treatment plant have in common? Lots and lots of waterfowl! You will be on various shorelines of Fool Hollow Lake where by looking in one direction you will view Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Redhead, American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, American Coot and Western Grebe. Looking up in the pines and oaks off to the other side are often various woodpeckers, Western Wood Peewee, Mountain Chickadee, House Finch, and Juncos. No visit to Fool Hollow Lake is complete without seeing Bald Eagles which are seen circling the lake. We'll travel several miles down the road to take in the waterfowl at the Show Low Water Treatment Plant. If you didn't get them at Fool Hollow you'll have your chance at this location.
Past Field Trip Reports
2010 Archived Field Trip Reports
2009 Archived Field Trip Reports
2008 Archived Field Trip Reports
2007 Archived Field Trip Reports
2004 Archived Field Trip Reports
2003 Archived Field Trip Reports
2002 Archived Field Trip Reports
