[birding] Finley NWR Grasshopper Sparrows

[Rich Hoyer]

Saturday, May 30

Hi All,

The day before yesterday I was beckoned out by the gorgeous weather  
and stole away to Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the breezy  
afternoon. At the restored prairie on Finley Road I found two singing  
male GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. One was 170 yards due SE of the parking  
area and observation platform, while the other was another 630 yards  
farther SE. At the latter, a bird flushed from the ground close to the  
male, and I presume it was a female on the nest. Other birds were a  
singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, many LAZULI BUNTINGS, WESTERN  
MEADOWLARKS, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD (probably one of a pair that was  
here a week ago).

The wildflower display there is amazing right now, and there was also  
a herd of 85 Elk. I felt utterly transported back in time while I was  
out there.

Good Birding,

Rich, on his way back to Tucson
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Rich Hoyer
Tucson, Arizona

Senior Leader for WINGS
http://wingsbirds.com
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