It was great to be back in Flagstaff reliving this scenic itinerary with John Coons on some of my old Arizona stomping grounds. We started the tour with an afternoon at Kachina Wetlands, then a morning at Hart Prairie where we picked up both Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers, Downy Woodpeckers, the locally breeding Dusky Flycatchers, a recently arrived MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhees with the majestic San Francisco Peaks at our backs. In the taller mixed conifer woods nearby, we saw Red-faced Warblers, a flock of Clark’s Nutcrackers, Hermit Thrush and the endemic, Gray-collared Chipmunk. That afternoon John took us to his secret Three-toed Woodpecker spot at a recent burn site and within a few seconds the bird flew in and landed on the trunk right in front of us. Gorgeous! As if that weren’t enough for one day, we stopped at a spot with giant Ponderosa snags and saw Lewis’s Woodpeckers attending a nest! That evening John’s partner, Lynn, prepared a fabulous salmon dinner for us to wrap up a great first day of birding.
This tour isn’t complete without a visit to that tremendous hole in the ground that we call the Grand Canyon. On our way there, we pulled off the road to find a small flock of Pinyon Jays warming in the first rays of sunlight. Both Gray and Ash-throated Flycatchers vocalized nearby. After a fulfilling morning of taking in vistas at the canyon and seeing Zone-tailed Hawks, White-throated Swifts, Plumbeous Vireo, and both Grace’s and Black-throated Gray Warblers, we made our way to Gray Mountain for the afternoon. Here, among the Pinyons, Junipers, and flowering Cliff Rose, we found a pair of talkative Gray Vireos, Black-chinned and Black-throated Sparrows, Scott’s Orioles, a Rock Wren and a surprise Crissal Thrasher.
Following our day at the Canyon, we dropped down in elevation to the Verde Valley where we enjoyed Abert’s Towhees at their upper elevational limit, a brilliant male Vermilion Flycatcher, several Brown-crested Flycatchers, Lazuli Buntings and some Common Black Hawks high over the cottonwoods. Working our way back up to Flagstaff, we made a few stops Oak Creek Canyon where we found Virginia’s Warbler, a pair of Painted Redstart and a handsome male Rivoli’s Hummingbird, a local specialty in this part of the state.
Having yet to see the most important bird on the itinerary, the California Condor, we ventured up to Navajo Bridge where we saw four of these colossal birds resting on the trusses of the bridge. We spent the entire morning watching them as they perched, preened, and circled over that majestic red rock landscape. On our way back into Flagstaff we stopped at Picture Canyon where we saw two scarce pine forest breeders: Hepatic Tanager and Olive-sided Flycatcher. Both gave us excellent views. We finished the tour with a second visit to the lower elevations of the Verde Valley where we found a super cooperative Rufous-crowned Sparrow and an even more cooperative Canyon Wren at Montezuma Well. Working our way back up in elevation we stopped at Stoneman Lake and then Mormon Lake, the largest natural lake in Arizona where we scoped various ducks and a small flock of Clark’s Grebes, our final birds of the tour. John and I would like to thank all the people who made this tour possible, especially Caroline in our office, and Lynn for preparing some great food for us. We’d like to thank you all too for a fun week of birding. See you next time!
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
We saw these a few times at the area lakes.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors)
A single male was seen at Mormon Lake.
CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera)
This beautiful, mostly western species, gave us a few nice views during the week.
GADWALL (Mareca strepera)
We saw two at Mormon Lake on our last day in the field.
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
This widespread duck was seen most days of the trip.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
There were about four individuals seen in the marshy vegetation at Mormon Lake.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca)
We saw a few at Kachina Wetlands on our first afternoon then again at the Cameron STP.
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
A rather uncommon species in the summer in Northern Arizona, but we saw a couple during the week.
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
We saw one at the Sedona Wetlands.
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
Our only sighting was at the ponds near the hotel in Flagstaff.
COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser)
A pair were swimming in the Colorado River well below us as we viewed them from Navajo Bridge.
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
These showed in fairly good numbers on a few occasions.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
Three individuals crossed the road in front of us near Montezuma Well.
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
We saw our first at Kachina Wetlands then a single bird "singing" at Montezuma Well.
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
There were a fair number seen at Mormon Lake.
CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii)
Micah spotted six individuals near the shoreline at Mormon Lake. These seemed to be paired up and we even saw a couple of them dashing across the water together in their display dance.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
We saw a good number during the week.
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
We had many great views of these rocketing around us at Grand Canyon.
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
A male showed up at the feeder at John and Becky's house in Oak Creek Canyon. This is as far north as this species occurs with any regularity in North America.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
We saw a few of these during the week.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
Our first was spotted feeding in the columbine flowers at John and Becky's house then another was perched in a shrub at Montezuma Well.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
Seen nearly daily, we had several good views of this species in Hart Prairie on our first morning.
VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola)
We had fantastic views of a few individuals at the Kachina Wetlands during our first afternoon.
SORA (Porzana carolina)
One at Kachina Wetlands was seen walking over the top of the reeds. Then on our final day we heard many calling at Mormon Lake.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
One was seen at the Cameron pond. This is a migrant through the area.
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
We saw a few around the edges of ponds.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
There were six individuals at the Cameron STP that were hanging out with the following species.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
Four individuals were seen swimming at the Cameron STP pond along with the Wilson's Phalaropes.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
Several were seen at Kachina Wetlands and again at Cameron ponds with a few more here and there.
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
Gulls are not common most of the year in the Northern Arizona but we saw one at the Cameron STP and a couple more at Mormon Lake on our final day.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Nannopterum auritum)
Laura spotted one perched atop a post at the Sedona Wetlands.
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
Two individuals were seen at the pond at Cameron on our way to Navajo Bridge.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
There was a single bird at the Cameron STP that we saw on both of our visits.
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
A couple or three were encountered during the week.
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
There were a few at the pond at Cameron then a few more at Mormon Lake.
CALIFORNIA CONDOR (Gymnogyps californianus)
We had a great experience with these huge birds at Navajo Bridge which spans Marble Canyon high above the Colorado River. There were two adult and two immature plumaged individuals here that we watched sunning themselves. We had a handful of sightings of them flying short distances to the canyon walls or under the bridge. It was truly magnificent to see these birds in flight. Here are the bios of the individuals we saw. Tag 50: a two year old immature that was hatched in Marble Canyon. Tag V3: a seven year old adult plumaged male that was hatched at the Oregon Zoo. Tag 2Y: a five year old female hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho. Tag K6: a 14 year old male hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho.
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Seen daily.
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
We saw one going to a nest atop a cell tower near the Kachina Wetlands as well as a couple more during the week.
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
We saw two birds along lower Oak Creek, then another two or three individuals on our final day at Stoneman Lake and along the road near Lower Lake Mary.
COMMON BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus anthracinus)
This local specialty was seen flying through the trees at John and Becky's house, then another at the nearby Page Springs Fish Hatchery.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)
We had nice views of two individuals at Grand Canyon where we got to study one as we looked down on it in Grand Canyon.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
We had several individuals during the week.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
This well-known species flew out from under us at Montezuma Well while we were looking at a Canyon Wren.
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
We enjoyed great views of two males and a brief female on our first morning amongst the aspen trees of the San Francisco Peaks.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
Two birds showed well in the Hart Prairie area. This has become a tough bird to find in the breeding season in the area in recent years.
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
This unusual woodpecker showed very well in a mixed pine-oak habitat outside of Flagstaff. It has a quite beautiful combination of colors in its plumage.
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Our first were seen in the trees at the pond near our motel for our eighth species of woodpecker for the day.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
We saw a couple of individuals in the sycamores at John and Becky's house along Oak Creek.
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (Picoides dorsalis)
We had wonderful views of this uncommon species in a two year old forest burn. This species targets bark beetles in these burned trees and can be quite difficult to find outside of these burns.
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Dryobates pubescens)
This widespread species is actually one of the more uncommon woodpeckers in Arizona. We saw a pair amongst a grove of aspens during our first morning in the San Francisco Peaks.
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
This lowland species ended up showing well at John and Becky's house along Oak Creek.
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus)
Rather common in the area, we saw a few during the week.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
We saw these daily in a variety of habitats.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
A male was perched up for us along the dirt road at the upper end of Oak Creek Canyon.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Micah spotted one flying high over the area where we saw the Lewis's Woodpeckers.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi)
A fairly uncommon species throughout its range, we scoped an individual at Picture Canyon that ended up coming closer for a nice view.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
We saw a few but they were surprisingly quiet in the areas we birded.
GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii)
We scoped a singing individual in the pinyon-juniper habitat where we stopped to see the Pinyon Jays along the highway. Then we had another at Stoneman Lake.
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri)
We enjoyed several nice views of this very local species in the willows at Hart Prairie, the site where this species was described to science.
WESTERN FLYCATCHER (CORDILLERAN) (Empidonax difficilis hellmayri)
We had nice looks at a calling bird at the Hildebrand's house in Oak Creek Canyon. This form was called Cordilleran Flycatcher until last fall when it was re-lumped with Pacific-slope Flycatcher. This is a rather common breeding bird in the appropriate habitat in Northern Arizona.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
We had nice looks along Oak Creek and again at Montezuma Well.
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
This open country species was seen a handful of times during the week.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
We saw both a male and female in the open pasture adjacent to Oak Creek near Page Springs.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Our first were at Grand Canyon then we saw more in the lower elevations south of Flagstaff.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
A couple of these large flycatchers were seen in the tall deciduous trees along Oak Creek near John and Becky's home.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
This species of kingbird occurs a little higher in elevation than the following. We saw these in several locations around Flagstaff and Grand Canyon.
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
We had a few looks in the lower elevations and again at the Cameron Trading Post.
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii)
Usually a real skulker, a singing individual showed very well in the trees at John and Becky's house.
GRAY VIREO (Vireo vicinior)
This species is an area specialty and we had great views of a couple of individuals, with more heard, in the pinyon-juniper habitat outside of Grand Canyon.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
We heard more than we saw and had a few nice looks in the ponderosa pine forests near Flagtaff.
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
This species was quite vocal in the aspen trees in the San Francisco Peaks.
PINYON JAY (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
Driving to Grand Canyon, Micah spotted a few in the trees next to the highway and we jumped out to enjoy this area specialty that has been declining in numbers for several years. We had scope views of several individuals that were vocalizing frequently. That afternoon we found a group of about 20 along the slope of Gray Mountain.
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
A common bird of the ponderosa pine forests, we saw several during the week as well as watching them at the water bath at the house.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
We saw a calling bird along Stoneman Lake Road.
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana)
Another species that has gotten more difficult in recent years, we saw at least nine birds in a loose group in the mixed conifer forest of the San Francisco Peaks.
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
This is a common species in the Flagstaff area.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
This well-known bird was seen in virtually all the habitats we visited, including soaring in Grand Canyon.
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Poecile gambeli)
We had a few in the pines here and there.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
Two individuals were seen at a rest stop in Oak Creek Canyon. This is a riparian species in Arizona.
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Our only ones were along the old highway after leaving Grand Canyon.
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
We scoped a calling bird at the Sedona Wetlands.
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
We had nice views of one walking on the ground just off the road on our way to Grand Canyon.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
We saw several each day with lots of them flying at eye-level at Grand Canyon.
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
We saw these flying about at Kachina Wetlands on our first afternoon, then we heard a few at Stoneman Lake later in the trip.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
A few were seen here and there including the Sedona Wetlands and at Cameron.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Many seen, and they were nesting at the motel.
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
A handful were flying around at Kachina Wetlands then more at Cameron.
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
A group of about four individuals showed well in the shrubs along the old highway between Grand Canyon and Cameron.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Corthylio calendula)
A few came in to pishing in the forest of the San Francisco Peaks.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
This western form of the familiar species may be split one of these days.
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
A pine specialist, we saw these tiny guys each day in the ponderosas.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
A few came in to pishing along the road in Hart Prairie.
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
We saw a couple with the mixed-species flock in the San Francisco Peaks.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
A handful showed well in the low shrubs along the old highway out of Grand Canyon.
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)
A couple of birds gave us looks along Gray Mountain, then again at Navajo Bridge.
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
This species seems to have been greatly affected by drought in the southwest but we had dynamite looks at a singing individual at Montezuma Well.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
This familiar species was limited to the higher elevation forests we visited.
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
A couple were encountered during the week.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale)
This is a rather uncommon species this far north in Arizona. We had pretty good views of one along the slope of Gray Mountain.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
This was a good year for this species in the Flagstaff area.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
Seen daily, this species is fairly common in open areas of the ponderosa pine forests.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides)
A real beauty, we saw a pair in Hart Prairie that seemed to be going to a nest in an aspen tree on a beautiful day where the bird was the same color as the sky.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi)
An uncommonly seen bird in the nesting season in Northern Arizona, we heard, located, and scoped a calling individual in top of a tall pine near Mormon Lake.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
We had great close views of one in the Hart Prairie area and we heard the marvelous song echoing through the mixed-conifer trees.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Seen daily.
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
We saw these handsome birds a few times with several feeding in the mulberry trees at Cameron Trading Post.
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
A handful were seen at the Sedona Wetlands, including males and females.
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra)
We did very well at seeing this species during the week. We had our best looks at those coming to the waterhole above Oak Creek Canyon where we saw about 15 individuals. This species is usually seen flying overhead and calling. These were of the Type 2 form that breeds in ponderosa pine forests.
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
Mostly heard after we saw our first ones at Kachina Wetlands.
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis)
Another area specialty, we had nice looks and heard the bouncing ball call along the slopes of Gray Mountain.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
A sharply marked and gorgeous sparrow, we saw our first near Gray Mountain then again at Montezuma Well.
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
We had several encounters with this boldly marked sparrow in the Flagstaff area.
DARK-EYED JUNCO (RED-BACKED) (Junco hyemalis dorsalis)
A common breeding bird of the ponderosa pine forest that we heard more than we saw, but had several nice looks.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
A quite late migrant was seen in the mulberry trees at Cameron Trading Post.
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
Our first was singing away at Kachina Wetlands then we had several views in Hart Prairie where this species is a rather common breeder.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
Our only sightings were along lower Oak Creek where it is a common breeder.
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)
We saw a couple of pairs along lower Oak Creek Canyon then again at Montezuma Well. This is a riparian species here.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
After a bit of searching we had fabulous views of one on the slope, quite close to us, near Montezuma Well.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus)
A fair number showed well at Hart Prairie, where this is a fairly common breeder. We had nice scope views of those singing from the tops of currant bushes.
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Our first one was seen down slope and over the rim at Grand Canyon. We later saw one hopping about on a picnic table at Page Springs.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
This interesting species that "used" to be a warbler gave us nice views along Oak Creek at John and Becky's property. Often a real skulker, we saw them rather high in trees singing away.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
We only saw a few during the week in the wetlands we visited.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta)
After our first in the neighborhood outside of Flagstaff we saw a few more at Mormon Lake.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
There were at least five individuals coming to our neighbor's oranges and jam feeders just before we had dinner at the house. We saw a few more later in the in the lower areas we visited.
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)
A rather uncommon bird in our area, we saw a young male then a gorgeous adult male along the slope at Gray Mountain.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
These were common, as expected, in the marshes and lake shores.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
Seen daily.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
This is a common summer bird around Flagstaff.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
We only saw these in the lower elevation areas we visited.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Leiothlypis celata)
A quite local breeder in our area. We had a scope view of a singing bird at Hart Prairie during our first morning in the field.
LUCY'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis luciae)
Our first ones were seen quite well at the rest area off the interstate on our way south to Oak Creek.
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis virginiae)
One showed quite well at a rest stop in Oak Creek Canyon on our way back north.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei)
This species is one of the later breeding birds to return to Northern Arizona. We found a singing bird in Hart Prairie that gave us fabulously close views as it hopped about in a willow.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
A few were encountered with our first at Kachina Wetlands.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
This species was singing from the parking lot of the motel each morning. We saw a handful during the week.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
A common breeding warbler in the pine and mixed-conifer forests we had a number of encounters.
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
Another southwest mountain specialty; we had nice looks in Oak Creek Canyon then a couple more later in the week.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
This species frequents the pinyon-jumiper habitat and we had a few nice views at Grand Canyon and along Gray Mountain.
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Laura spotted one when we were woodpeckering.
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
On our first morning we had great looks at this southwest mountain specialty in the mixed-conifer forest of the San Francisco Peaks. This is quite looker.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
Two individuals showed well right along the creek in Oak Creek Canyon. A real beauty.
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
We scoped a singing male at Picture Canyon just outside of Flagstaff.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
We saw a couple of males at John and Becky's house along Oak Creek then we saw another at Montezuma Well.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
We had several good views during the week of gorgeous males and females including about eight individuals that were feeding in the mulberry trees at Cameron Trading Post.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
We saw a male at the picnic area at Montezuma Well.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
We scoped a singing male in Hart Prairie on our first morning then saw several more during the week.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
We saw a male and female near John and Becky's house along Oak Creek.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
We saw two migrants in the cottonwoods along Oak Creek Canyon.
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
One was seen in the vacant lot as we were leaving dinner on our final day.
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
This is the more commonly seen rabbit in the area.
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
It was a surprise to see this large rabbit in the pine/aspen forest of the San Francisco Peaks.
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
Many were seen at Grand Canyon.
GRAY-COLLARED CHIPMUNK (Tamias cinereicollis)
This species has a very limited range in North America and is quite common in the Flagstaff area.
WHITE-TAILED ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus leucurus)
We saw one in the parking area at Navajo Bridge and another at Montezuma Well.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
Heaps of these were seen at Grand Canyon.
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis)
GUNNISON PRAIRIE DOG (Cynomys gunnisoni)
A few were seen on the way to the San Francisco Peaks.
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
Another species that is nearly endemic to the state of Arizona. We saw one in the trees near Montezuma Well.
ABERT'S SQUIRREL (Sciurus aberti)
We had a few nice looks at this fancy looking species.
RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) [*]
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
We saw a couple of these along the banks of Oak Creek Canyon.
ELK (Cervus canadensis)
We saw a few at Grand Canyon and more along the highway as we headed south.
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
We saw several individuals during the week including an all white individual with a group of 5-6 others at the base of the San Francisco Peaks.
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
We saw one in the grasslands as we were returning from Grand Canyon.
Reptiles encountered during the week:
Red-eared Slider
Plateau Lizard
Greater Earless Lizard
Side-blotched Lizard
Desert Grassland Whiptail
Sonoran Whipsnake
Totals for the tour: 154 bird taxa and 16 mammal taxa