life list: 507

Hi! It’s been a minute! My Big Day really birdnt me out so I had to put birding on the back birder. Anyways, I just got back from a quick trip to AZ to see family and got some AZ birding in, too! This is going to be a very tiny post to get myself back in the blogging groove after my accidental big break.

As I’ve mentioned before, Reid Park in Tucson is a fantastic and accessible birding destination! This time of year there are some fun visitors, lots of ducks, and some occasional rarities. I mostly spent time gazing upon some of my usual and unusual-looking favorites: Cedar Waxwings and Wood Ducks.

Here’s some intel on these two species:

Cedar Waxwings are very unusual-looking and extremely cute bird that can be found in North America. They flock in groups and mob up on fruit-bearing trees. They eat so much fruit that CWWs have been reported to get drunk off of overripe berries that have begun to ferment (must be nice).

Anecdotally, Cedar Waxwings seem to be increasing in numbers at Reid Park in the winters. I had almost never seen them before 2021, but now I get to see them at about every visit during the winter. In both the Bay Area and in Arizona, they are winter visitors. If you are lucky enough to have a yard, CWWs enjoy stopping at bird feeders

I’ve talked a lot about Wood Ducks but I’m about to do it again!

Wood Ducks get their name from their unusual (for ducks) affinity for nesting and perching in trees. Unlike most ducks, their cute little gams are equipped with cute little claws to grasp onto and perch on tree branches. They nest high up in trees near water and when their babies are old enough, they jump UP TO 50 FT down from the nests into the water, following their mother.

There are still two continuing male Wood Ducks at Reid Park now, so hurry on over to see these amazing birds!

All in all, we saw 16 species at the park, none new to the year or to my life list.