Trip Report: Cats, Condors, Canyons

Sunday, September 12, 2021, morning

I drive to Point Imperial to photograph sunrise. A raven briefly flies over the canyon. After getting the landscape shots I pull out my long lens to look for wildlife. A Uinta chipmunk pops up, with three bold stripes running the length of its back just like a king cheetah. A female western bluebird poses on a dead tree.

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uinta chipmunk - ZooChat
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western bluebird (female) - ZooChat

The bare limbs provide for clean photos, which is good because several minutes later three species land in quick succession. First is spotted towhee, followed by Steller’s jay, followed by cordilleran flycatcher.

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spotted towhee - ZooChat
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stellers jay - ZooChat
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cordilleran flycatcher - ZooChat
 
Sunday, September 12, 2021, afternoon

After lunch I do a short walk around the lodge area with my long lens. A very small lizard is on the path, which I believe to be a common sagebrush lizard. Another Steller’s jay proves elusive but then a white-breasted nuthatch lands on the side of a pine tree next to me. I photograph it for several minutes before heading back to the cabin.

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common sagebrush lizard - ZooChat
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white breasted nuthatch - ZooChat

I drive to Cape Royal for sunset photos and am greeted at the parking lot by a Clark’s nutcracker. At the canyon rim I photograph what I think is a turkey vulture soaring over the canyon. When I review the images later I am pleased to see it is, in fact, a zone-tailed hawk. After dinner at my cabin I walk to the rim for an unsuccessful attempt at photographing the night sky.

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clarks nutcracker - ZooChat
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zone tailed hawk - ZooChat
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Cape Royal Sunset (North Rim Grand Canyon) - ZooChat
 
Monday, September 13, 2021, morning

My last morning at Grand Canyon and I walk to Bright Angel Point for sunrise. I do landscape photos but no wildlife. Compared to the productive South Rim, where elk and deer walk through the parking lot, the North Rim seems devoid of wildlife. It is surprising I have not seen one single deer the entire time. Purportedly there are bison in the grass fields both inside and outside the entrance station, but I do not see them. Even birds seem few and far between compared to the abundance I experience at South Rim. The Canyon views are far more limited at the North Rim, as are the lodging and visitor amenities. I am glad I came once to say I have seen it, but from now on I am sticking to the closer South Rim.

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Bright Angel Point (Grand Canyon North Rim) - ZooChat
 
OkapiFan said:
@Arizona Docent What was your opinion of the Greensboro Science Center? Strengths, weakness etc.
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I thoroughly enjoyed Greensboro Science Center. As I said in my report it has something for everyone. I made it a full day outing my first day (and returned for a second afternoon), but I think for most people it's a half day visit. My only real criticism is the zoo portion is not laid out in any logical sense, with the exception of the four small cats being housed together (eg taxonomically). Since the small cats are what I want to see I am exceedingly grateful they are together. I also like the fact that the veterinary center is open to the public; very few zoos do that.
 
Monday, September 13, 2021, afternoon

Wbile I was at one of the North Rim viewpoints, another traveler told me she had seen condors at Navajo Bridge on her drive up. There is a small parking lot and gift shop, so I decide to stop on my drive back. The older, original bridge is now open only to pedestrians while the newer (similar looking) bridge is open only to vehicles. I walk out the pedestrian bridge and, sure enough, there are condors perched on the support spans of the vehicle bridge. I am thrilled to see them, but the metal bridge does not make an ideal photo. I notice another photographer on the opposite side of the bridge pointing his camera to the cliff. I ask if there are condors and he points out two in a cave for a more natural photo. I stay a while and find one sunning on the other side of the vehicle bridge and then some playing and soaring. The clerk in the gift shop confirms they are here almost every day, so if you want to see a wild condor this is the place.

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Navajo Bridge, Arizona (condor viewing) - ZooChat
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california condors - ZooChat
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california condor - ZooChat

After lunch in Flagstaff I check into my hotel in Oak Creek Village (near Sedona). I leave my long lens in the room and walk three blocks to the trailhead for sunset photos. I hear coyotes howling nearby but never see them.
 
It was pointed out to me the female western bluebird in Sunday's post may be a mountain bluebird. If anyone wants to add their two cents to the debate, feel free.
 
Tuesday, September 14

I am out just before sunrise and walk to the same trailhead. After photographing sunrise on Bell Rock, I pull out my long lens for bird photos. The only species that readily presents itself is Woodhouse’s scrub jay. After breakfast I drive straight through to my home in Tucson. What will next year bring? I have a credit from British Air for my canceled trip, so here’s hoping international travel opens up.

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Bell Rock, Sedona - ZooChat
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woodhouses scrub jay - ZooChat
 
Arizona Docent said:
Monday, September 13, 2021, afternoon

Wbile I was at one of the North Rim viewpoints, another traveler told me she had seen condors at Navajo Bridge on her drive up. There is a small parking lot and gift shop, so I decide to stop on my drive back. The older, original bridge is now open only to pedestrians while the newer (similar looking) bridge is open only to vehicles. I walk out the pedestrian bridge and, sure enough, there are condors perched on the support spans of the vehicle bridge. I am thrilled to see them, but the metal bridge does not make an ideal photo. I notice another photographer on the opposite side of the bridge pointing his camera to the cliff. I ask if there are condors and he points out two in a cave for a more natural photo. I stay a while and find one sunning on the other side of the vehicle bridge and then some playing and soaring. The clerk in the gift shop confirms they are here almost every day, so if you want to see a wild condor this is the place.

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Navajo Bridge, Arizona (condor viewing) - ZooChat
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california condors - ZooChat
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california condor - ZooChat

After lunch in Flagstaff I check into my hotel in Oak Creek Village (near Sedona). I leave my long lens in the room and walk three blocks to the trailhead for sunset photos. I hear coyotes howling nearby but never see them.
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California condors!!! Wow, what a privilege! I certainly hope I can have adventures like this when I am an adult.
 
Holy… this trip looks like a beautiful and one I’m truly envious of! Congrats on so many beautiful photos capturing your amazing trip, the Duke Lemur Center is now higher on my list due to your photos :oops::D
 
I am jealous. Before covid I had booked a 10 day road trip from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, but obviously that needed to be canceled :oops: This trip report makes me wanna rebook it for next year though.

To the earlier discussion about Duke Lemur Center, they in the past let at least some groups into the nocturnal area. I only got to see one building as part of the academic tour, but in it I saw slow loris, aye-aye, and fat-tailed dwarf lemur. I believe they don’t have loris’ anymore though.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I thoroughly enjoyed Greensboro Science Center. As I said in my report it has something for everyone. I made it a full day outing my first day (and returned for a second afternoon), but I think for most people it's a half day visit. My only real criticism is the zoo portion is not laid out in any logical sense, with the exception of the four small cats being housed together (eg taxonomically). Since the small cats are what I want to see I am exceedingly grateful they are together. I also like the fact that the veterinary center is open to the public; very few zoos do that.
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I look forward to revisiting this zoo sometime in the future to see the new exhibits. I was waiting until their binturongs arrived and it looks like one of them made their debut on exhibit last week.

You took some wonderful photos during your trip!
 
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