Katy Penland
Well-known member
I'm giving specific directions to these two under-birded places off the over-traveled US 93, the highway that connects Phoenix to the playgrounds of Laughlin and Las Vegas, NV, in case any of our North American members or visitors find themselves in this part of the universe. 
I had only a few morning hours on one day to check out what I'd hoped to be some fall migrant traps. Not a bad list of birds, and even managed a lifer (Vaux's Swift), but I'm sure that with less wind and more time, the lists would've been longer. There's usually some water year-round in these two places even if in high summer before the "monsoon" rains there are only a few puddles here and there. There's always underground water running, which keeps the vegetation green.
Big Sandy River & Burro Creek
near Wikieup, AZ, ele. 3334
11 September 2005
Big Sandy: Approx. 3 miles south of Wikieup on US 93, beginning at turnoff for Cholla Canyon Road off US 93 just past the south end of Big Sandy River Bridge and ending where the road washes out crossing river again (just before "primitive road" fork).
Burro Creek: Approx. 10 miles south of Wikieup off US 93. Public campground. From southbound 93, turn off highway at south end of Burro Creek Bridge (there is no northbound access without making a U-turn farther north and doubling back).
Weather was very windy, mid-70s-low 80s, clear; 7-9:30 a.m.
Big Sandy:
American White Pelican (20) flying in V formation southward (downriver)
Red-tailed Hawk (adult and juvie)
Turkey Vulture (4)
Gambel's Quail (9)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (3)
Mourning Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove (2)
Greater Roadrunner (2)
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Gila Woodpecker (2)
Black Phoebe (2)
Say's Phoebe
Cassin's Vireo
Western Scrub-Jay
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (7)
Verdin
Cactus Wren
Bewick's Wren (2)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Crissal Thrasher
European Starling (5 mostly molting young)
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (2)
Nashville Warbler (adult female)
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (male and female)
Northern Cardinal (5 juvies and females)
Hepatic Tanager (male)
Song Sparrow (feeding 1 young)
Black-throated Sparrow (4)
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole (female)
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
3 coyotes chasing a jackrabbit
Burro Creek:
Green Heron (2)
American Kestrel
Swainson's Hawk (3)
Turkey Vulture (32)
Gambel's Quail (50+)
Spotted Sandpiper
Vaux's Swift (2)
Western Kingbird
Black Phoebe
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Verdin
Canyon Wren (2)
Rock Wren
Yellow-breasted Chat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Townsend's Warbler
I had only a few morning hours on one day to check out what I'd hoped to be some fall migrant traps. Not a bad list of birds, and even managed a lifer (Vaux's Swift), but I'm sure that with less wind and more time, the lists would've been longer. There's usually some water year-round in these two places even if in high summer before the "monsoon" rains there are only a few puddles here and there. There's always underground water running, which keeps the vegetation green.
Big Sandy River & Burro Creek
near Wikieup, AZ, ele. 3334
11 September 2005
Big Sandy: Approx. 3 miles south of Wikieup on US 93, beginning at turnoff for Cholla Canyon Road off US 93 just past the south end of Big Sandy River Bridge and ending where the road washes out crossing river again (just before "primitive road" fork).
Burro Creek: Approx. 10 miles south of Wikieup off US 93. Public campground. From southbound 93, turn off highway at south end of Burro Creek Bridge (there is no northbound access without making a U-turn farther north and doubling back).
Weather was very windy, mid-70s-low 80s, clear; 7-9:30 a.m.
Big Sandy:
American White Pelican (20) flying in V formation southward (downriver)
Red-tailed Hawk (adult and juvie)
Turkey Vulture (4)
Gambel's Quail (9)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (3)
Mourning Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove (2)
Greater Roadrunner (2)
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Gila Woodpecker (2)
Black Phoebe (2)
Say's Phoebe
Cassin's Vireo
Western Scrub-Jay
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (7)
Verdin
Cactus Wren
Bewick's Wren (2)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Crissal Thrasher
European Starling (5 mostly molting young)
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (2)
Nashville Warbler (adult female)
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (male and female)
Northern Cardinal (5 juvies and females)
Hepatic Tanager (male)
Song Sparrow (feeding 1 young)
Black-throated Sparrow (4)
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole (female)
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
3 coyotes chasing a jackrabbit
Burro Creek:
Green Heron (2)
American Kestrel
Swainson's Hawk (3)
Turkey Vulture (32)
Gambel's Quail (50+)
Spotted Sandpiper
Vaux's Swift (2)
Western Kingbird
Black Phoebe
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Verdin
Canyon Wren (2)
Rock Wren
Yellow-breasted Chat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Townsend's Warbler
