Birds, Birds, Birds Tucson Arizona

Today was a day to walk and enjoy the weather and practice my photography skills on the sometimes elusive and always challenging birds of Sweetwater. It's as if Sweetwater was designed for practicing both your photography and your birding skills. There's always plenty to see including an occasional rare visitor or two. There are several observation platforms that hug the waters edge throughout the wildlife viewing area similar to the one pictured above.
Sweetwater is an urban wildlife area, a water treatment plant and an outdoor classroom in the middle of Tucson Arizona. cms3.tucsonaz.gov/water/sweetwater

There are many retention ponds which always have a variety of ducks with the most prevalent being the Northern Shoveler this time of year.


There always seem to be quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers present near the bridge. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-rumped_warbler/id
Black Phoebes are common here. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black_phoebe/id
Verdins are always fun to photograph as they never sit still for more than a couple of seconds at a time. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Verdin/id
I have seen the Orange Crowned Warbler on my last few visits. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/id
As I said there are rare visitors on occasion and we were treated to this Female Black and White Warbler that was in the company of a Black-throated Gray Warbler. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/lifehistory

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-throated_gray_warbler/id
This is one of the resident Harris's Hawks that made several rounds while we were there.

www.peregrinefund.org/explore_raptors/hawks/harrishk.html
Juvenile Northern Shoveler.
Adult male Northern Shoveler. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Shoveler/id
Mallard. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/id
Just being cute I guess!
American Widgeons are numerous here also. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Wigeon