Kansas and Oklahoma

 On September 30th we left Colorado and headed south to the Cimarron National Grasslands north of Elkhart, Kansas. The weather was overcast, pretty dark, and wind swept the plain in a stiff cool breeze. The overlook beside the Santa Fe trail on this dark day yielded nothing more than grazing cattle.

In Elkhart, Kansas we got gas and across the street was huge grain elevator. On the road and the lawn of a bank building nearby we saw hundreds of House Sparrows.

In the flock was a dozen Eurasian-collared Doves:

 

And dozens of Great-tailed Grackles:

 

Not a bad grouping of birds to introduce us to the Sunflower State.

East from Elkhart along the miles of straight, prairie road we saw Northern Harrier, American Kestral, and Ring-necked Pheasants.

We drove into Oklahoma, the clouds sticking with us, and headed to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. We saw birds more familiar to us in Virginia: Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay. We also observed lots of waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds from the blind on the Eagle's Roost Trail. Some but not limited to: Black-necked Stilt, Great Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, and White Pelican.

After driving to the salt flats, which after. a recent rain was muddy and full of puddles, and digging for the selenite crystals  the refuge is famous for,  we headed westward out of the refuge. Before we hit the main road to Cherokee, OK, we saw over a dozen Scissor-tailed Flycatchers perched on the power lines. 

It was a migratory flock of adults and juveniles whose tails aren't nearly as long as the adults. What a great way to end the day!

Zion NP, Northern Arizona, and Mesa Verde NP

On September 25^th we took in the beauty of Zion National Park. We tried to bird from the shuttle bus that ferries the loads of visitors to the park up to the canyon. Not easy at all, in fact impossible. However, on our way out of the park heading east we took a little break at the Checkerboard Mesa view point and California Scrub Jay showed up with a nice nut in its beak!

 The next day, September 26^th we heading south into northern Arizona to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. On the way into the Kaibab National Forest, with cloud cover joining our journey, we saw a Golden Eagle on a snag in a burned area. The bird was huge, and preening before soaring off eastward. 

 The meadows lined with aspen, pine and spruce were just a lovely transition to the amazing vistas that is the Grand Canyon. We walked the popular Bright Angel Point Trail. On the way we scanned the skies hoping for California Condors but no such luck. We did, however, see Stellar Jays, Dark-eyed Junco in transition to winter plumage, Pygmy Nuthatches, Common Raven, and chattering Mountain Chickadee.

 

On September 27^th we left our base at Jacob Lake (45 miles north of the north rim of the Grand Canyon) and drove thirty minutes (16 miles) to the Condor Viewing Area at the Vermillion Cliffs. This remote area accessible by a three-mile washboard gravel road did not disappoint. We scanned the cliffs a  mile or so away from the covered viewing area and the streaks of dropping was the key to finding five perched California Condors on the cliff face. The spotting scope revealed black and white wings. But when the birds took wing and joined five others soaring over the red rock mesa, it was so worth the effort of the getting there. 

 Even from a great distance the birds looked like small airplanes over the top of the cliff. We saw some pens on top of the mesa where we later learned that condors are released in the area after genetic testing so there are birds from different clutches and birds of different ages present in this spot. We stood there for 45 minutes admiring these rare and precious raptors. Hard to pull ourselves away.

 

Later in the afternoon we birded the woods around the Jacob Lake Inn where we were staying. They have a little rock fountain there and we observed Cassin’s Finch:

 

 

Lesser Goldfinch :

 

 

And a Red-eyed Vireo which was out of it’s range and is considered a rare find here.:

 

 A Stellar’s Jay joined the party too.

 

 

 

 In the Ponderosa pines we saw a flock of noisy Pygmy Nuthatches:

 

and Western Bluebirds:

 

 

 

On September 28^th we left Jacob Lake and headed east toward Colorado. On the way we stopped at Navajo Bridge again. It was 8:30 and we hope the California Condors that are know to be there were present. We scanned the mesas and then the river gorge. There on the underside of the road bridge were four condors perched on the girders. They were younger birds. Two had darkish heads indicating first year. Two had orange heads indicating second or third year birds. We stood on the footbridge opposite the birds and observed them for forty minutes. They preened and stretched. The two older ones walked in between the girders and disappeared from sight in the place where the girders were joined. After a few minutes one backed out with the other plucking at its fluffy black “collar” feathers. This playful exchange lasted a minute and then one of the first year birds took wing and soared to the side of the gorge. About five minutes or so the other three birds, one by one, took wing and soared in graceful arcs and headed south down the river gorge. It was incredible to see these large birds so close.

 Our time in northern Arizona was quite birdy for us indeed!

 Late in the day on the 28^th we visited Mesa Verde National Park in southern Colorado. On our way leaving the park we saw a dozen Black-billed Magpie flocking to roadside trees. We’ve seen these birds ever since South Dakota but have yet to have a chance to get a decent photo of these gregarious birds. The opportunity finally presented itself. 

 A great way to end the day!

Death Valley NP and Ash Meadows NWR

 On September 23 and 24th we stayed in Death Valley National Park at The Ranch at Death Valley. Our room was on a golf course and we observed several species of birds which was a great bonus to our accommodations! 

We saw White-faced Ibis, White-crowned Sparrows, and Yellow-rumped Warblers

A Say's Phoebe perched on a little sign giving good views:

 

There were quite a few Eurasian-Collard Doves perched in the trees on the hotel grounds:

We also observed a large coyote stalking Kildeer on one of the greens but the birds made a hasty escape.

On September 24th we drive to Ash Meadows NWR just across the border in Nevada. This oasis was once slated for development but wiser heads prevailed and it was kept as a wild habitat. There are springs on the land that attract birds and are also the home to several species of tiny pupfish. The Devil's Hole pupfish, the rarest fish in North America, is there but the area is well guarded with fencing. We did see the Ash Meadows pupfish in one of the small spring fed streams.

 

It was late morning and the sun was so bright and the air temp in the 90's. The birds were quite scare. At the Crystal Springs reservoir we did see hundreds if American Coot, Mallards, and other waterfowl too far away to correctly ID.

The best find was our first sighting of a Greater Roadrunner near the reservoir's edge.

The bird raced to cover when we drove up and gave us the quickest glimpse. It was delightful to see this bird of the desert!

Yosemite and Mono Lake

 On September 21st we arrived in Yosemite National Park. The first thing we did there was a four mile round trip hike up to see the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoia trees. The hike covered some decent elevation and was a bit strenuous going up. Coming down was far easier.

On that hike, Dan gamely carried his long lens in case birds we had never seen before mad an appearance. I just took my binoculars.

That trail and the over two hours we were on it did not disappoint. 

A Hermit Thrush was the first bird we saw on the dusty trail:

 

We saw several woodpecker species...

Downy Woodpecker:

 

Hairy Woodpecker:

Pileated Woodpecker:

Acorn Woodpecker:

 

And White-headed Woodpecker:

 

The last two species were life birds for us and that is always a huge thrill despite our aching feet when we were through with the uphill/downhill climb.

On September 22nd we drove east out of Yosemite, admiring the gorgeous granite formations, mountains, and lakes. Speaking of lakes, north of Lee Vining, California we headed to Mono Lake, and alkaline lake that is gradually shrinking and a haven for birds and the saline water is full of brine shrimp. 80% of the California Gull population breeds there.

 

We birded the County Park, that borders the northern part of Mono Lake. It's an oasis of green with a boardwalk that goes out toward the lake in the marsh. Since the lake has receded so dramatically the boardwalk end is quite a ways from the lake shore. On that path we saw another life bird: The Lesser Goldfinch (male).

Nothing lesser about this songbird who let us know his presence with a lovely song.

The lakes edge produced migratory waterfowl that we have seen back east but it is always a thrill to see these birds like American Avocet, Willet, Ruddy Duck, and American Coot.

Back in the park we saw migratory White-crowned Sparrows and another life bird, the Red-beliied Sapsucker:

Mono Lake, particularly County Park, is popular with birders and we can certainly see why!

California's San Joaquin Valley

 

We had planned to spend Monday, September 20^th at Sequoia National Park but the wildfires had other ideas. Instead we birded the Merced NWR and San Luis NWR in California’s beautiful San Joaquin Valley. After driving past miles of almond groves, tomato, potato, and cotton fields, we arrived at Merced at 9:30. The five-mile auto loop did not disappoint. Migratory waterfowl crowded certain areas of the wetlands and fields. Sandhill Cranes croaked overhead landing in pastures among the cattle. American Coot, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, ans Black-necked Stilt crowded the wetlands. We didn’t recognize some of the birds we saw, still trying to get out western “ID” legs with these unfamiliar species so far from our home. We added several life birds to our list including the Loggerhead Shrike:

 

 

The Black Phoebe:

 

 

The Red-necked Phalarope:

 

 Eurasian-collared Dove:

 White-faced Ibis:

California Towhee:

We also enjoyed some more familiar birds some we've seen back east and some we've seen several times since we've been in the west.

Black-necked Stilt:

 

Western Bluebird (female):

 

Kildeer:

 

Least Sandpiper:

Greater Yellowlegs:

Black-crowned Night Heron:

We headed over to San Luis NWR, about 35 minutes west of Merced. There were wetlands at San Luis but not much today. We did see a few species including raptors Red-tail Hawk, Northern Harrier, and American Kestral.

A wonderful place to bird. Peaceful, sunny, breezy and warm.

Mt. Ranier

 We entered Mt. Ranier National Park through the west gate and climbed steadily up to Paradise, the highest point here you can drive in the park. Douglas fir, western red cedar and other gorgeous trees lined the edge of the road. A canyon of tall trees. The weather grew progressively cloudy as we neared Paradise. Once there we saw a parking lot nearly full and lots of people. A small meadow beside the parking lot was a nice place to look.

 

We learned quickly that the Stellar's Jay liked to forarge near people, most specifically where people are eating all fresco.

Nearby, perched on top of a small balsam, a Canada Jay (formerly grey jay) kept a weary eye before flying to the taller trees across the parking lot.

We saw a few other birds in the area: American Robin and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

We drive to the east entrance and walked the Grove of Patriarchs trail where we heard more Stellar's Jays fussing in the very tall tree tops.

Not too birdy but we have a great opportunity to observe two local Jay species.