A trip to Arizona always promises great birds and stunning scenery, and this one was no exception. We were especially excited to visit our friends, Kathy and Tom, who spend their winters in Sun City West. Their hospitality and fantastic backyard birding made for the perfect start to our adventure.
Sun City West and Hassayampa
Our friends’ yard was a hub of activity, with Costa’s Hummingbirds zipping around the feeders, a Curve-billed Thrasher singing its heart out, and a bustling family of Gambel’s Quail. Thanks to the time change, we were up early every day, enjoying neighborhood walks where we found Inca Dove, countless Gila Woodpeckers, Verdin, and Hooded Orioles.
While Mike and Tom hit the golf course, Kathy and I went to the Hassayampa River Preserve for a little birding. I’m so lucky to have a non-birder friend who truly enjoys the experience. The preserve’s feeders were swarming with hummingbirds, and the trails held a variety of species, including Green-winged Teal, Summer Tanager, Say’s Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, and a Bell’s Vireo. The highlight was a Yellow-breasted Chat, one of 26 species we found.
The Triumph of the California Condor
On Sunday, it was time to head north to Page for Mike’s work. Our first birding stop at Buffalo Park in the Coconino National Forest had low expectations due to high winds, but we were pleasantly surprised to find Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, and several Chipping Sparrows.
Our main target for the day was the California Condor, one of our biggest misses during our 2015 “big year.” We stopped at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s Navajo Bridge, where the condors were nesting. A ranger told us the parents had just swapped places, and while we could see a bird in the nesting hole, the view wasn’t good enough for a life bird. But our luck was about to change. We made the 30-mile drive to the Vermilion Cliffs Condor Viewing Area and were rewarded with an astounding view of ten California Condors in flight and resting. This is a must-stop for anyone in the area!
Solo Birding and Sedona’s Charm
The next day was all work for Mike, so I went on a solo birding excursion. My first stop was Lone Rock Beach on Lake Powell in Utah. The views were stunning, and the 40+ Franklin’s Gulls in breeding plumage made the trip worthwhile—a rare sight for us Florida birders. After a quick stop at Horseshoe Bend for the spectacular views, I took the Hanging Garden trail, where Black-throated Sparrows were singing up a storm. The final stop was the Page Water Treatment Plant, which held a couple of Lesser Scaup and an Eared Grebe.
After Mike’s work was done, we headed to Sedona. We made a whirlwind tour of several hotspots, including the South Gateway Visitor Center (where we saw an Ash-throated Flycatcher), Slide Rock State Park (Cassin’s Kingbird), and Page Springs Fish Hatchery (American Avocet). We even went to Dead Horse Ranch State Park to check out the feeders for the upcoming Verde Valley Birding Festival, where we found Lesser Goldfinch and Violet-green Swallows.
A Cultural Finale
On our way to the airport, we decided to combine culture and birding one last time. We stopped at Montezuma Castle National Monument, where we saw an Osprey and a Red-tailed Hawk soaring above the 800-year-old Pueblo cliff dwellings.
Our final stop was the Desert Botanical Garden near the airport. The beautiful cactus and flowers were a magnet for birds, butterflies, mammals, and lizards. Five trail loops offer different types of desert landscape, but my favorite was the Desert Wildflower Loop. Although we missed the Greater Roadrunner, we added Black-chinned Hummingbird and Bushtit to our trip list.
It was a great trip filled with friends, incredible scenery, and, most importantly, some unforgettable birding.
Trip Summary:
Trip Birds: 89
Life Birds: 1 California Condor
Next up: Michigan and possibly a Kirtland’s Warbler
You must be logged in to post a comment.