Jake Mohlmann on his recent tour, Arizona and Utah: Fall Migration in the Canyonlands 

While Hurricane Norbert brought record amounts of rain to California and southern Arizona our 2014 Fall Migration in the Canyonlands tour managed to avoid all the inclement weather, save a few scattered showers here and there. 

Beginning and ending in Phoenix allowed us to pick up a suite of the Sonoran Desert species not seen anywhere else on our tour such as Broad-billed Hummingbird, Gambel’s Quail, and the riparian-obligate Abert’s Towhee.

As the sun hits the rim during sunrise at Grand Canyon 

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon produced exciting interactions with a female Williamson’s Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, and numerous White-throated Swifts darting by at eye-level. The sunrise overlooking Bright Angel fault and the vast canyon was as unforgettable as ever. 

An impending rainstorm approaching Inspiration Point from the west at Bryce Canyon.

Bryce and Zion Canyons exhibited the upper layers of the “Grand Staircase” in glorious hues of orange and red. Our group enjoyed close-encounters with Mountain Chickadees, Green-tailed Towhees, Virginia’s Warblers, and a complete surprise pair of Greater Sage-Grouse while traversing the high plateaus of southwestern Utah.

Greater Sage-Grouse, a lifer for everyone on the tour!

The Navajo Reservation provided experiences with a few magical canyons including the fluid sandstone lines in Antelope Canyon, the isolated monoliths of Monument Valley with a moonrise backdrop, and modern Navajo farmers tending to their crops below the sheer cliffs of Canyon de Chelly.  

Our group excited to be at Antelope Canyon

Spending two full days in the White Mountains of central Arizona allowed us to relax and enjoy the cool montane air where several avian highlights were experienced.  A tooting Northern Pygmy Owl kept our attention while we all watched attentively through the scope. Just down the road a gathering of Clark’s Nutcrackers amused the group with their antics a few meters away while everyone got great pictures of them cracking nuts.

Northern Pygmy Owl 

We were able to mop up lots of exciting species our last day as we traveled from the high elevation pine forests back down to the Sonoran Desert regions below. One particular spot of interest produced a mixed flock including at least 6 Grace’s Warblers, 2 male Hepatic Tanagers, a singing Painted Redstart, and obliging family of Mexican Jays.