ML644488962

Media notes

A large flock (ca. 100) of Lawrence’s Goldfinches area gathering—and coming and going—to water where runoff from Double PhD ponds at SBNWR flow out into a small channel choked with tall grasses and lined with mesquite shrubs. I recorded toward a flock of ca. 25-30 that were somewhat closer, but much of the whole flock can be heard. They were usually silent in flight. Background includes: a distant Common Raven & what are likely some contributions from White-crowned & Lincoln’s Sparrows, both of which were also in the area. I suppressed low frequencies of continuous background noise from trucks streaming past in adjacent Sonora. Recorded with a Zoom-F3, using a Sennheiser ME67 and foam windscreen.

Observation details

[1100m] fascinating experience, as flocks flew in from the west and landed in the 2-3 m mesquites along the edge of the Double PhD (SW most ponds on the refuge) outflow 7-7:30 a.m., then dropping to drink in the outflow water that permeates the weeds at the base of the mesquites; moderate chorus of rather quiet song from perched flocks, also a few calls from perched birds, but flocks in long-distance flight seemed silent; 82 A.C. in departing flocks, heading generally NW, with 15-20 still present in the mesquites, and a few more later in the cottonwoods and over at Hackberry, 110 seeming a safe minimum figure, 3-4 x my prior high count here; no idea where they are feeding; situation similar to the recent sightings in Portal at Steve W.'s home, the early morning arrival at a drinking spot at the edge of mesquites, departing thereafter to points unknown; recorded;

Additional species

• Common Raven Corvus corax