Audi TT is unrivaled in its visual impact. Although it was launched in 1998, but it still manages to look fresh and unique after all these years. The TT is made on the same chassis as the Audi A3 and VW Golf and it gives you lots of choices of petrol and diesel engines. It comes in front or four-wheel drive. Top of the range 335bhp TT RS models are very powerful and all TT's handle beautifully. The 2.0 TDI diesel versions give 53.3mpg. The second generation Audi TT was unveiled in 2008, but it manages to stand out from the crowd due to its clean and crisp lines. Base models come with 17-inch alloy wheels while the interior is part leather all over the range. The final finish is exquisite as expected from Audi. Audi TT is offered in three engines, base models get a 1.8-litre turbo petrol and the 2.0 TFSI is the next engine in the range. The boot space is 290litres which can increase to 700litres once the rear seats are folded. TT is an expensive car to buy but it does hold on to its value very well. Even after three years the Coupe keeps 60 per cent of its value. If you drive a company car, you should opt for 2.0litre TDI diesel engine mated with S tronic double clutch gearbox. It returns 51.4mpg and goes from 0-60mph in just 7.5seconds. However, this means that the TT range covers both performance and price. If you are a keen drive you will naturally go for the coupe and if you like to drive calmly the roadster is your best option. TT does seem pricey in comparison to Volkswagen Scirocco as the later is based on TT. In TT, Audi has managed to design a stylish car inside and outside, is economical and drives well.
There are two sizes of ponds. The larger ones are quite large, and can accommodate hundreds if not thousands of water birds, which they do in winter. They are flat and held in by dirt berms, with no landscaping. Unfortunately, getting more than a distant view of these is difficult. However, if you have good binoculars, or a good scope, or a large telephoto lens, you can see and identify species that are not hidden behind the nearest berm, throughout these ponds. This is where you will see most of the shorebirds. The shorebirds most often seen are Killdeer, Black-necked Stilts, White-faced Ibis, and American Avocets. Other shorebirds are less frequent visitors. Most of the birds you will see there are various species of ducks, particularly Northern Shovelers, Mallards, American Wigeons, the three species of Teals, and a few Pintails. Occasional Red-winged Blackbirds and several species of doves who stop by to get a refreshing drink round out the species that visit these.
Once in a great while, you will see a Great Egret or a Great Blue Heron there, and one year, I saw a Great Blue Heron nesting in a tree on the far side. There are also four smaller ponds, with some "side ponds" formed by islands and other features. These are landscaped with trees and other types of vegetation and provide hiding places for the birds. Many ducks will climb up onto the islands in the middle of each pond to rest and hide. In addition to ducks and the occasional shorebird, you will see Pied-billed Grebes, and you will hear Soras. You will occasionally see Soras and Common Yellowthroats, as well as the frequent American Coots and Common Gallinules. In certain seasons, you will observe up to four species of swallows flying overhead, sometimes catching bugs on the wing, and sometimes diving down and dipping in the water for a tiny morsel.
Egrets and Herons are more likely to be found here. A Black-crowned Night Heron often sits in a specific tree near one of these, and I have seen Green Herons, but not this year. In addition, you will observe various raptors, including Harris's Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks. Great Horned Owls sometimes raise young in a nest in a tall sycamore across the street. Feeding all of the smaller ponds is a stream known as Hidden Pond. This is close to the entrance. Here is where you are most likely to find various kind of warblers and sparrows, as well as goldfinches and House Finches. You will also see warblers and sparrows elsewhere, but this is where they tend to congregate. Sweetwater Wetlands has a bird list of 298 species! Roger Road ponds are across the street. They have different species from Sweetwater. They are presently closed, but they will be re-opened. This is THE essential resource for those who want to know where the birding hotspots are in southeastern Arizona! They'll tell you everything you need and want to know and more. Periodically they come out with new editions covering yet more spots.
Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona - 8th EditionAn essential reference for me. Gilbert is technically part of the central Arizona birding region, but I am including it because it is close, and it should be discussed alongside Sweetwater Wetlands. It is a very similar place, with similar species. It also has landscaping. A real rarity, a bird thought to be extinct, showed up there a couple of years ago in December. Nobody really knows why the Baikal Teal appeared, and he stayed a couple of weeks. His presence brought birders from all over the United States and elsewhere. Baikal Teals normally summer in Siberia and winter in Viet Nam and other nations close by. Gilbert Water Ranch has a number of ponds, which are larger than the ones at Sweetwater. Like the larger ponds at Sweetwater, these are allowed to dry out to keep algae at the minimum, so where you find the birds may change from one day to the next.