Vermilion Cliffs-Condor Viewing Site, Coconino County, AZ

Painted Desert from Cameron Trading Post at sunset 9/27/19

The distant trip from Phoenix Valley to observe the CALIFORNIA CONDOR Release on Saturday, September 28, 2919, took us into a very beautiful part of Arizona: Marble Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona almost to the Utah border.

As you may know, the population of CALIFORNIA CONDOR (CACO) reached a critical low number of 22 in the world in 1982. With the efforts of biologists that number has grown over the past 37 years to approximately 500. The condors reach sexual maturity in five to seven years and may live in a monogamous relationship for fifty (50) years or more unless the mate is lost. Being scavengers, their biggest threat to a good life is lead from shot in wild animal carcasses they feed on. Despite an educational campaign to use copper bullets instead of lead, our North American condors continue to meet their demise from hunters' leavings. So, the program seems to go forward and backward simultaneously. The good news is that at least one CACO has given birth in the wild to a healthy young.  

Since the restoration program began, CACO have been released in Central and Southern California; Baha, Mexico; and in Arizona. Thus, my eagerness to experience the release of four young (18 month-old) condors at the Vermilion Cliffs today. Of the four (4) young condors being released, two were raised in Boise, Idaho; and two in Oregon. The Peregrine Fund has been critical in supporting the continued growth of the condor population and I understand that these four condors have been acclimated to Arizona.
Fitted with a numbered light wing tag and a tag for telemetry before release, each condor will be tracked for as long as possible. The numbers of the released condors were: 
X6, X9, XX, and X7.  So, if you see any of them at the Navajo Bridge anytime soon, you'll know they were released from Vermillion Cliffs on September 28, 2019.

With the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies gathered at the Release Site (about 3 miles in from Route 89a on a dirt road), Jannie Blok and I arrived in plenty of time to avoid a long walk into the viewing area.  

My little blue Honda is the third car from the left (above) with shades in windshield. Plenty of cars in front of mine and lots more being added to the rear, far down the road.

 Many folks gathered at the BLM information area where spotting scopes had been set up.

Having trekked across the desert to the edge of a wash to set up along with several other folks, we were looking back at the large group and down into the wash where a small group chose that place to get some space to look at the Big Birds. 

We were all looking up the high cliff to the Release Site cage where the four young condors would gain their freedom. 

The one distant photo up to the Release Site cages. Several wild adult California Condor are perched on the rocks and one on top of the cage awaiting the big moment.

As often happens when birders gather, I came across friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Anne and Theona from Desert Rivers Audubon were there as were a few folks we came across at Navajo Bridge where we had stopped on our way here to the Release Site.

At the two bridges (the old one is now a pedestrian bridge while the new one was built to replicate the original but wide enough for modern traffic.) It was here at these two bridges-beween 8-8:30 a.m.-that all my condor photographs were taken. The Colorado River that runs beneath the bridges is lined with two steep cliff sides of red rock.

The five CALIFORNIA CONDOR pictures I took there were for birds identified by their tags

as:  P-2; P-5; T-7; P-8 and 54.

P-8 was directly beneath me on the Old Bridge. With a good lean over the rail, I was able to snap this photo while it watched me!

Two Juvenile CALIFORNIA CONDOR perched on the new bridge support beams

54 going for a stroll on the new bridge structure
Below, the same bird finds a perch. 
Ugly heads are free of feathers for cleanliness purposes since they feed on carcasses.

P-54 at new perch

Every show needs a star; today it was P-2.  Perched next to a juvenile, the two of them were not getting along. 

It separated itself from the juvenile. Note Colorado River below.

Then, took off.

Top side of P-2 as it flies toward cliff wall

P-2 in flight giving a good view of its 9.5 foot wingspan (wider than the length of a ping pong table)

Is there room on that ledge?

 No!

P-2 settled on a boulder along the steep wall, free from the juvenile's closeness.

Back at the Release Site, some onlookers took off themselves after watching the first CALIFORNIA CONDOR walk to the edge of its cage, look around and lift off away from us. Many of us remained to see each Condor find its way to winged freedom for the first time.

Mass exodus of people after first CACO took off. 

The young condors that followed the leader did not run out immediately but took their time checking out the cage and the ambient situation before they, each in their own good time, lifted high and off to the East. But what a thrill to see these giant birds taking their first free flight!

As I mentioned at the start, we were enjoying some of the best lands that Arizona protects. 

Marble Canyon

Balanced Rock

Jannie at Little Colorado River Gorge, Cameron Trading Post

Gecko symbolizes "desert"

With a gecko at each side of this tunnel beneath 89a leading from the RV Park to the Trading Post, I thought the symbols might also mean "protection".

Sunset on Friday evening toward Painted Desert

The 700-mile round-trip journey was broken up with a stop at Kachina Wetlands on Friday and a drive along the Lower and Upper Lake Mary with no waterfowl in sight. The road into Mormon Lake Village was gated and closed so we looped back toward Flagstaff and continued on up Highway 89 to the Trading Post.

The Condor Release at the beautiful Vermilion Cliffs was a highlight of my year of birding to date.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60156940

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60212087

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60212551

COMPARATIVE SIZES OF BIRDS WITH WIDE WING SPANS:

CAIFORNIA CONDOR - 109" wingspan

LAYSAN ALBATROSS  83" wingspan

BALD EAGLE   80" wingspan (approx.same for GOLDEN EAGLE)

TURKEY VULTURE  -  67" wingspan

RED-TAILED HAWK   49" wingspan

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Lower Salt River [Granite Reef & Coon Bluff Recreation Areas] Maricopa County, AZ

Sunday, September 15, 2019
Arrived in the pale light of dawn at 5:45 a.m. at Granite Reef with Lois Lorenz. Few birds were stirring but seven wild horses were still there munching in the picnic area on grass and low limbs of mesquite trees. When I usually arrive around 6:30 a.m., the horses have already departed for parts unknown. Since a Roseate Spoonbill had been reported seen flying east there around 6 a.m. earlier this week, at the very least, I wanted to be present at that hour. No such rare bird showed itself today.

Salt River was running high and strong with some of its usual low spots covered. As the river widens approaching Granite Reef Dam, the water slows. A GREAT BLUE HERON was the only standing water bird we spotted.

GREAT BLUE HERON

Birding for about an hour there, Lois and I came up with 25 species without breaking a sweat. The mature BALD EAGLE flew downstream and circled its earlier nest area before flying off.  A male BELTED KINGFISHER surprised me; the species must be back from its nesting area. Walking the western end of the river trail, we flushed up a COOPER'S HAWK which might have been lying in wait for the ORANGE-CROWNED or NASHVILLE WARBLER we spotted.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59828898

Having decided earlier that we'd spend about an hour at each location, Lois spotted a  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW as we drove into Coon Bluff Recreation Area. With temperatures in the 80s under partly cloudy sky, we hung close to the bluff for a fair number of birds. Downstream we spotted a large band of wild horses.

Note the very pregnant-looking white horse on the left. More wild horses farther downstream.

Birds don't always sit out and perch for photos as seen below with this ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.

Patience paid off.  It moved to a more open perch.

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER  [2 above photos]

One of my favorite birds is the ROCK WREN. What a show it put on for us when it landed on the crusty pocked surface of the bluff!  Flying from one spot to another, higher and higher on the cliffside, it eventually went beyond my camera range. See four photos below.

A few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD from a small flock overhead dropped down for a drink.

As always, however, it was the VERMILLION FLYCATCHER who insisted on repeated poses.

Would you know a VERMILLION FLYCATCHER (VEFC) if you caught it perched with its  back to you? Totally black up to its nape.  But then the flash of red from its head and flanks let you know which bird is really there.

Preening, the VEFC head is very visible.

You want a profile in this direction?  Fine, just fine!

OR, maybe this direction?

I go weak in the knees with this small lively show-off!

With that finale, Lois and I headed off for a second breakfast to catch up with one another as with our respective work and play, it's been months since we've birded together.

24 species at Coon Bluff almost matched those spotted at Granite Reef Rec area; altogether, reaching a total of 38 species for our 2.5 hours of birding. Certainly didn't break any records, but totally enjoyed it.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59829786

Southeast Arizona: I-19 Corridor and Sierra Vista, Arizona [Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties]

September 7, 8 & 9, 2019

Arizona Poppy (blooms from July to October)

Fortuitously, Hinde Silver and I changed our original dates from weekdays to the weekend for our 3-day birding adventure to Southeast Arizona. We escaped rain at every turn even through evidence of recent showers! With clouds and potential showers, there were few people, too; a welcome surprise for a weekend!

Along the I-19 Corridor South of Tucson, we started birding at 7:00 a.m. at the following locations:

Tubac's dAnza Trail for the Rose-breased Beard (without success) but other good birds in 2.5 hours;

Tubac's Ron Morriss Park briefly;

Amado Waste Treatment Plant briefly;

Canoa Ranch Conservation Park - 1.5 hours;

Madera Canyon's Santa Rita Lodge bird feeding station - 1 hour.

At Santa Rita Lodge, along with hummingbirds buzzing so fast our heads were swiveling in an attempt to see all of them, we met other friendly birders-- which often happens there.

A wildlife scene unfolded that captivated us but we didn't stay for the resolution: two adult Coues' White-tailed Deer came up from the creek and jumped the fence into the feeding station area. But the fawn's couldn't make the jump. They kept walking back and forth on the lower side of the fence for a long time. Finally, the adults returned but didn't seem to know what to do about the problem. There was no resolution of that predicament during the remainder of our visit.

Fawns (2) on down-side of fence

Doe gets drink from fountain on upper side of fence seemingly unable to cope with the stranded fawns below

Birds from Day #1:

Female VERMILLION FLYCATCHER

TROPICAL KINGBIRD

RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (formerly known as MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD) 2 pics above

ACORN WOODPECKER

Two Male BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD above

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD Female (Left) and Male (Right) 

Flock of Six GREAT BLUE HERON flew into Canoa Ranch pond area

Juvenile SWAINSON'S HAWK (left) perched a long while with Juvenile GREAT BLUE HERON in snag tree
[Note coloration of Swainson's and dark crown and bi-colored bill of GBH as to immature status]

Immature SWAINSON'S HAWK

LARK SPARROW

SPOTTED SANDPIPER

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD [worn outer tail feathers but pale tip to tail]

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK
(adult left; 2 young at right; off-photo was the other adult)

DAY #2, Sunday, 9/8/19 - Birding Spots:

San Pedro RNCA- House and Trails; 3 hours;

Miller Canyon, Beatty's Guest Ranch (mostly at CAS feeders)  1 hour+

Carr Canyon (chose not to drive to top; low clearance vehicle) brief

Brown Canyon Ranch and Trail #115  1 hour

Alone in sky. Often flies with look-alike Turkey Vultures
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
Above & Below

AMERICAN KESTREL (female)

Bird we hoped to find:  LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
(above and below)

An abundance of BLUE GROSBEAK appeared frequently along the San Pedro River trails.

BLUE GROSBEAK testing the river for a bath. Must have been cold; when it dipped its chest in, it immediately lifted and flew off.

Although I didn't snare a photo of a female BLGR (tan/brown),  I did get one of a female INDIGO BUNTING that shows the dramatic sexual dimorphism:

Female INDIGO BUNTING

From File: Male INDIGO BUNTING for comparison

DAY #3, Monday, 9/9/19  Birding Spots along the way home:

St. David-Holy Trinity Monastery

St. David- Golden Bell Road

PEACOCK

PEA HEN

With the sun shining on this bird, it showed yellow up to the throat and had a forked tail.
Since I heard the nearby metallic twittering of Tropical Kingbird, I submitted it as such but was called by the reviewer -obviously gray chest and pale outer tail feathers, smaller beak than Tropical.
WESTERN KINGBIRD

Adult GRAY HAWK in the distance.

We had birded long hours in fairly cool temperatures (60-85°F) under sometimes cloudy sky and sometimes clear but windy conditions. It was the first time I gave my new camera a workout in shooting birds in the air and was satisfied for a first-effort result.

Until next time. . .

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