Link to Northern Colombia 8/17/26 to 8/24/26 (still working on these pics!)
9/5 to 9/13/26 We flew into Las Vegas, NV, and, after visiting with family, headed to AZ to see California Condors! We felt so lucky to see them as well as we did! Then, via Ouray, CO, where we photographed a Black Swift nest, we “jeeped” into the high country and through the mountains to Denver, CO, catching Pinyon Jays, Dusky Grouse, and an American Three-toed Woodpecker among other birds. An AWESOME trip!
9/12/26 Gunnison County, CO: Taking a Jeep into the high country, we came across Dusky Grouse and an American Three-toed Woodpecker. Also, Common Raven .
9/11/26 Ridgeway State Park, near Ouray, CO: We came into the park just before sunrise and the trees along the entrance were swarming with Pinyon Jay and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay individuals. Over a 100! The light was dim and these birds were moving fast! Luckily we caught some later in the morning and as flyovers, but saw them only as twos and threes: Pinyon Jay , Williamson’s Sapsucker (f), Evening Grossbeak , Green-tailed Towhee , Mountain Chickadee , Chipping Sparrow , Red-tailed Hawk , and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay .
9/10/26 Ouray, CO: After visiting the Black Swift nest again (see below), we found an American Dipper pair working a nearby stream and an obliging Cassin’s Finch pair. Also: Orange-crowned Warbler , Pine Siskin , Canada Jay , and White-crowned Sparrow .
9/9 and 9/10/26 Mancos, CO: Lewis’s Woodpecker! Also, nearby, caught a fly-by Pinyon Jay (more later), Townsend’s Solitaire , Bushtit , and Yellow-rumped Warbler .
9/9 and 9/10/26 Ouray, CO: We were lucky to see a Black Swift nest still on the cliffs in September. However, lighting was super tough in the canyon. There was a young one in the nest with a parent coming to feed it while we were there.
9/7 and 9/8/2026 Navajo Bridge, AZ: Near the north end of the Grand Canyon we drove into the parking area and had a juvenile California Condor (tag 72) immediately on some rocks. The next morning we had an adult on the bridge showing off and two other adults on a lower ledge. The three of them flew about and then flew off together around 11 am. They were quite a treat to see! There are about 600 condors now but their numbers were down to 27 in 1987 – almost extinct. Lead poisoning is still a problem. A BIG Thanks to all who put in the hard work restoring the species!
9/8/26 Three adult California Condor Tag V7, Y9, V3, and White-throated Swift :
9/7/26 Immature California Condor Tag 72:
9/6/2026 Jacob’s Lake and area, AZ : American Kestrel , Common Raven , Clark’s Nutcracker , Dark-eyed Junco , Pygmy Nuthatch , Red Crossbill , Vesper’s Sparrow , Red-tailed Hawk .
9/5/2026 Henderson, NV: While visiting family in NV, we did a little birding in Las Vegas. At the Henderson Bird-viewing Preserve, we caught Crissal Thrasher , Lucy’s Warbler , Western Grebe pair , and a female Western Tanager .
