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!