Posted by Alex on February 09, 2003 at 22:17:21:
This was my first trip out west, and I was excited about the western species. My dad had a conferance, and my stepmom, stepbrother and I were able to tag along. We arrived late at night, about 5:00 Eastern Time. I only got a couple hours of sleep, and got up at 6:30 Pacific time. The lifers for me are fully capitalized.
Day One:
I got up early in the morning at the sound of bird calls. Even though I was tired from all the traveling all yesterday, the new birds were too tempting.
I got out to witness my first GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at the Chapperal Suites in Scottsdale, Arizona, right near
Pheonix. After watching the grackles for a while, I went down 4 stories to the bottom. At the bottom near a flower bed was my first ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. I walked in an urban area about 1/2 a mile away, to see a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and a singing CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. Four new ones in 5 minutes. I found an angry VERDIN seized by my pishing calls. About 10 minutes later, I found more Anna's hummingbird, and my first GAMBEL'S QUAIL. Next was a CACTUS WREN, which was the most common all-western species here. Also present were mockers, white-winged dove, house finch and cardinal. Some type of towhee showed up, but it flew away to quickly for identification. Probably an Abert's Towhee.
Seven birds now, and after breakfast we left to Desert Botanical Gardens. There it was a gold mine of cacti and desert lizards. I found a HERMIT THRUSH about 5 minutes into the trail, and later I found new PYRRHULOXIA, GILA WOODPECKER and LESSER GOLFINCH. On the way out, I found an angry BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD.
We then went to a pond full of mixed ducks. There were domestic geese and ducks, mallard, and new CINNAMON TEAL and AMERICAN WIGEON. What I did'nt see that were also in that park but were reported earlier were Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Bendires Thrasher and Bronzed Cowbird. None of those were found, but I only had 5 minutes there.
Day Two:
Same birds as yesterday, but we went off to Camelback Mountain. Harsh Climb, but we did it. On the way up, I found my first ROCK WREN, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT. Lots of neat chimpmunks and squirrels. On our next mountain, I spotted a pair of thirsty BLACH-THROATED SPARROW after a light shower near a puddle near sunset. This muntain was less tough, but the view at the top
was incredible. All of Phoenix. A Rock Wren accompanied me on the top.
Day Three:
No new birds because we were in the car the whole day making our way to the Grand Canyon. Lots of different terrain. My favoriet was near Flaggstaff. There is a snowcapped mountian there, and some of the area near the highway had clumps of snow. What I did'nt get was that there was only Tumble Weed in the mountain, not the desert.
Day Four:
Woke up to a raven calling in Grand Canyon National Park at 5:30 a.m. I watched the sun come up over the canyon, and I was stunned at the beauty. Even though it was 25 degrees, I birded. After the sun coming up, we went for breakfast. On the way there, I found JUNIPER TITMOUSE, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, OREGON JUNCO, and GREY-HEADED JUNCO. After breakfast we headed for a tram tour. On the way there we were accompanied by 20 mule deer. On the walk over I found two PYGMY NUTHATCH. Agian, while walking, I found found my first WESTERN BLUEBIRD, STELLER'S JAY, and WESTERN SCRUB JAY. After a nice 2-hour tram tour and walk, we found a nice trail down the canyon. Halfway down, we stopped to head back up, but I was busy watching a WESTERN RED-TAILED HAWK. Here comes my favorite bird of the trip (drum-role ) A GOLDEN EAGLE. A juvenile, at first I thought it was a condor, but I found it to be an eagle.
We then exited the park, and stayed in Flagstaff. The trip through the Navajo land made you fell spiritual and back in time when night fell. I loved it.
Day Five:
The day of our trip back :( . Almost all driving, but back near the chapperal, we stopped at a rest stop. I ventures off near the mountain side, and started pishing. Lots of rustling in the bushes. A kinglet came out, but I saw a sparrow in there. One popped out for identification. ROUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW! As we got on the road, I spotted a fly-over HORNED LARK. This would end the trip, with 30 new species. Back to Miami.