This outing should provide a good mix of common desert birds and water birds. We’ll start at Thunderbird Conservation Park and look for Sonoran Desert species such as Cactus Wren, Black-throated Sparrow, Gilded Flicker, and Loggerhead Shrike. The picnic area and wash could hold some wintering sparrows or other surprises. We will finish up at the viewing blinds for Arrowhead Lake, where there should be good waterfowl diversity (there is usually a large flock of Common Mergansers at this time of year). Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers could be found as well.

We will meet at Thunderbird Conservation Park, in the parking lot labeled “Thunderbird South Parking Lot” on Google Maps (turn left from the main entrance to the park off of 59th Avenue in Glendale). Arrowhead Lake is the body of water NE of the intersection of 59th Ave and Melinda lane. Dress in layers and bring water, hats and sunscreen. A scope is useful for the lake if you have one, but I’ll have mine to share.

Limit: 15

Difficulty: 2 (some hiking on well-maintained trails, slight elevation gradient, not more than 1-2 miles total)

Leader: Torin Waters

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