Desert Rivers Audubon: Upper Beeline Highway – Sycamore Creek

**Upper Beeline Highway – Sycamore Creek is a high elevation riparian area** northeast of Fountain Hills with willows, cottonwoods, sycamores, pines, scrub oak and juniper. Different species of birds are found here than in the Phoenix metro area such as Bridled Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, Steller’s Jay, Woodhouse Scrub Jay, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Bushtits, and Townsend’s Solitaire. Your leader is an expert guide in this part of Arizona. She knows what to expect in each habitat and often locates them first by calls or songs. Together we will be looking for migrants (such as Lazuli buntings), and the arrival of winter visitors (Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Red-naped Sapsucker and Northern Flicker). **Leader: Anne Leight** **What to expect:** Up to 4 hours of birding. Some will be by car with quick stops, and the rest will be a walk on sturdy pavement approximately 2.5 miles round trip. **What to wear:** It will be about 25 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area. Dress in layers you can peal. **What to bring:** Binoculars, sturdy shoes/hiking boots, plenty of water, snacks. ***READ the liability waiver** for this event [here](https://tinyurl.com/5p86mfvd) before registering. Registration is required. This event is limited to 10 participants. **Where to meet:** Denny’s in Fountain Hills on Shea BLVD near State Route 87. (33.572358, -111.714559) There is plenty of parking toward the back of the parking lot. Look for Anne’s gray Acura. Carpooling can be decided there. _Black-necked Stilt. Photo: Donald S Pelley. Courtesy of Desert Rivers Audubon._