[redcliffs] RCAS Field Trip, June 10, 2006

[Charles/Marilyn Sheard]

A new field trip for Red Cliffs Audubon!  The Kaibab Plateau, located  adjacent to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon NP in Northern Arizona offers a chance to see species perhaps not found in Southern Utah.  Species such as the Red-faced Warbler or the Hepatic Tanager.  We felt that as the planet warms and summer ranges are slowly shifting north that the plateau could be worth checking out.  Not yet, we found out.  Some surprises were found, however.  On a roadside pond at the elevation of approximately 8000 feet, a male Lesser Scaup in eclipse plummage.  Originally misidentified by yours truly as a Common Goldeneye this bird was truly out of place.  Another nice and unexpected bird was a Townsend's Warbler normally seen in the Ponderosa forests much farther north.  Another  nice find was a family group of Red Crossbills at the Jacob's Lake Forest Service campground.  Several of these juveniles were foraging on the ground attended by a brightly plummaged female.  For those that fancy the Grace's Warbler we would also recommend this campground.  On a tip, we extended our trip by seeking out and finding a place called Fire Point.  Fire Point is located in the Grand Canyon NP at the end of forest road 223.  It takes an act of faith to get there but there is no toll booth at the end to collect a park entrance fee.  Free and wild!  Species seen;  Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Gambel's Quail, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-throated Swift, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Black-billed Magpie, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Juniper Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Grace's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, Bullock's Oriole, and Red Crossbill.
        Charlie
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