Before more content from along the de Anza Trail @ Santa Cruz River south of Tucson, Arizona, it’s part 1 of a great visit to El Rio Preserve in Marana, just northwest of Tucson straddling Interstate 10. Like some other birding ‘hotspots’ in the area, El Rio Preserve features a shallow, artificial lake fed with treated wastewater:
At the time these shots were taken (mid August), the big news was a surprise sighting of a rare Purple Gallinule. The number of Purple Gallinules spotted by BirdingPI.com staff? Zero. But, there were plenty of other lovely birds to enjoy:
