Sun City West Animal Sightings

I have seen many different types of birds and coyotes in the short time I have lived here. What other kind of critters have you spotted when you are out and about in West?

 

Re: birds, there is a nice group of birders who meet in SC. They are called Birders Anonymous and meet at The Church of the Palms across from Sundial Rec.
Reptiles. Some of my favorites are the peach colored geckos that can often be seen near lights at night as they cling to the sides of houses awaiting insect meals. I'm not sure of the names of lizards I sometimes see but they like to sun along the tops of cinder block fences and some have dark rings around their necks.
Bats sometimes circle and dive around the streetlamps on my street.
It's great knowing we have so many insect catchers on duty!
Rabbits galore, cottontails and some jackrabbits.
Turtles by the lagoon at Lakeview.
Unfortunately, some roof rats.

 

I'm a birder. I wondered if SC had a birder group...I didn't see on listed on the clubs. I especially love hummers. And Arizona is the hummer capital of the US.

 

I have done a lot of research regarding birding in Arizona and don't think SC has a bird group.
I thought I had already posted about birding in AZ.
If not I will do it again.

 

peg, suncityjack in his post above said there's a group "Birders Anonymous and meet at The Church of the Palms across from Sundial Rec." Maybe you could check that.

 

Birds

Hundreds of species of
BIRDS are found year-round in the state.
A large number of birds pass through during migration and The Nature Conservancey at Hassayampa River Preserve celebrates
International Migratory Bird Day.

In March there is an
Annual Welcome Back Buzzards at the
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park.

There are many
bird watching areas.

 

You should be in Sun City now.

Today a Momma quail went across the street in front of my car
with a dozen babies no bigger than my thumb.

 

I have also heard owls and woodpeckers. The neighbor reported seeing a baby bobcat. Lots and lots of bunnies.

 

Birders' Anonymous is one of those clubs in Sun City that are not chartered clubs. If you can't find a chartered club for your interests, chances are you can find an unchartered one. Unchartered clubs are not under the RCSC umbrella so cannot use their facilities or be publicized in Sunviews newsletter, but you'll find them in the clubs listings in The Independent. For ex., SC's Best Friends dog club meets at Fairway Rec, but the Arrowhead Kennel Club meets at Coco's on 10243 W. Grand Ave. For unchartered clubs you don't need to be an RCSC cardholder and there is often a nice mix of non-Sun Citians. I have friends in a hiking club that is unchartered.

 

Yes, Pegmih you posted a great resource under Arizona Birds! I just added the info below after chatting with Shirley to make sure it was accurate. She'd love to see some new members. They go on field trips and have some wonderful programs, often with PowerPoint pics taken by members (Ex., George Wall's exquisite photos from his birding safari to Africa).
Birders Anonymous is a group that gathers to watch and to learn about birds. Open to all. Persons of all birding skill levels welcome. Meetings are 10 a.m. third Fridays of each month, Oct.-May unless otherwise announced. There are no dues; a cash offering is accepted about four times a year as a gift to The Church of the Palms (across from Sundial Rec. at 14808 N. Boswell Blvd., Sun City)for the use of their facilities without charge. e-mail shirleyfackelman@yahoo.com
The listing above is from the July 3, 2013 Sun City Independent.

 

Thanks, jack, that's good info. I'll certainly look for that bird group when I get SC.

 

The Sonoran Audubon Society is the true birding group of the West Valley. It has its meetings September - May of each year. Go to www.sornoranaudubon.org to get all the details. There are trips throughout the year. Take a look at its newsletter. I am the editor of the newsletter and former president and board member.

 

Wallaby your link doesn't work. Must be some error in the posting.

 

You are right; however, when I type in that address after http:// on my google bar, it finds it fine. I have no idea why you can't go from how I typed it in.

 

You might have entered the http:// twice. It happened to me here because when you pull up the linking icon it already has http:// in the box. If you copy and past the link from your address bar it will have two incidents of http:// You can edit it and try again...see if that is the issue. You might not have noticed it at the time.

 

I am a bird nut and used to raise exotic birds...mostly African Grey parrots. I miss them but feel they are happiest sitting in a tree in their country of origin..sigh. Anyway, I love all the birds we have here and quite a few spotted in my front yard. The woodpeckers are interesting but the Quail make me laugh every day. I love the little babies marching through the yards and we do brake for quail here. The humming birds are so numerous here in the desert. We have planted some butterfly/ hummingbird bushes.

 

I couldn't own a bird for the same reason. Seems selfish to not allow them to fly and be a bird just so you can look at them. Not that I don't want to have one in my house sometimes. The African Greys are so smart. You must have had some fun with them.

 

There is a lovely water park which is home to many beautiful birds in Gilbert... Large Birds - small birds ! ...I visited this awesome area several years ago with the camera club. You might be able to locate this water park in Gilbert by getting on to the City of Gilbert Web Page.

 

We in AZ also have a wild flock of Love Birds that move throughout the Phoenix area and are creeping over this way. I would be delighted to see a flock of parrots land on my fruit trees.

 

Anita maybe you are talking about the Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona. I went to the site and Love Birds visit that place too