Warbler Walk at Rio Vista Park

Rio Vista Community Park sits along the New River wash near Thunderbird Rd and the Loop 101. Since the City of Peoria cleaned out all the undergrowth and debris, it has become a nice riparian corridor and a great spot for some late season birding! Since we haven't been there before, we are going to check it out this weekend in the cooler early morning hours. Recent eBird checklists list over 70 species since September 1st; in addition to the female American redstart, we'll be looking for warblers (Lucy's, orange-crowned, Nashville, MacGillivray's, yellow, Wilson's, Townsend's, yellow-rumped, and black-throated grey); hawks (zone-tailed, Harris's, Cooper's, and kestrel), flycatchers (ash-throated, vermillion, western, gray, and willow); sparrows (Brewer's, black-throated, lark, white-crowned, Savannah, Lincoln's); and other favorites, including Bullock's oriole, yellow-breasted chat, Swainson's thrush, green-tailed towhee, lazuli bunting, belted kingfisher, and common yellowthroat. With luck, we'll also pick up some woodpeckers, owls, hummingbirds, herons, and gnatcatchers as well!

Rio Vista Park is located north of Thunderbird Road, just west of the Loop 101. Take Rio Vista Blvd north from Thunderbird and park near the Recreation Center. You'll see the Veterans Memorial helicopter as you enter. Make sure to bring sunscreen and water, along with your binos, bird books, and cameras!

We'll try to wrap things up no later than 10am, before it gets too hot. That's a little early for lunch, but if anyone is interested in a late breakfast, we'll go the nearby Haymaker's Restaurant for a bite. Haymaker's is at 8706 W. Thunderbird Rd