I got the opportunity to go to the Grand Canyon *specifically* to go birding back in May this year. We stayed in Tusayan and I walked through the Kaibab National Forest one afternoon (not to the Canyon), hiked the 6 miles (!) from Tusayan to the Canyon one morning, and then rode the shuttle in from Tusayan one morning. If you decide to hike in from Tusayan, do not underestimate the 6 mile distance from the trailhead to the Village. I started at 7:30 am and did not reach the Grand Canyon Village proper until almost noon. That was a pretty brutal trek, as I still hiked more throughout the park. I even started down the Bright Angel Trail, although I stopped at the 1.5-mile Resthouse and turned back to meet my wife back at the top. Unfortunately, I did not see Condors, although they were seen the week before we got down there *and* the week after I left.
Granted, this was in May...
The Tusayan Greenway Trail (the hike in from Tusayan to the GC National Park) got me several lifers, including Cassin's Kingbird, Bullock's Oriole, Grace's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Bushtit, as well as lots of Pygmy Nuthatch and a really good look at a Hepatic Tanager.
I got no lifers at the Canyon this time, but I got really good looks at Lucy's Warbler and Virginia's Warbler on the Bright Angel Trail, as well as Rock Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. There were also Violet-Green Swallow, Juniper Titmice, Mountain Chickadee, and Woodhouse's Scrub Jay all over the Rim trails. There were also several Turkey Vultures ... so be cautious of declaring Condors in flight unless you can confirm size and/or wing patterns.
On this trip, I also happened to go down to Phoenix to visit friends. While we were down there, she had Gila Woodpecker, several species of hummingbirds, White-winged doves, and Curve-billed Thrasher just coming up to her feeders at her house. The real highlight there was the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch. Again, take this with a grain of salt as it was May, but I got to see Gambel's Quail, Black-chinned and Anna's Hummingbird, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocet (with babies!), Baird's Sandpiper, Verdin, Bronzed Cowbird, Abert's Towhee, Black Phoebe, and the piece-de-resistance was a Least Bittern heard from the boardwalk on the fishing pond (and confirmed by a local birder who happened to be out that night and pointed me in its direction). If you look at the Phoenix area for August of Current Year on eBird, the *only* place that has 100+ species is the Riparian Preserve.
As a birder, I've been to Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona twice as of this trip. Despite this being my 2nd trip, and despite not getting to see Condors or spend as much time trapsing the mountains outside of Salt River Valley *or* get down to Tucson or any of the birding meccas in southern Arizona, I *still* got 14 lifers on my trip this May.
To wrap up an already long story, there's definitely a lot to see if you're willing to get out at dawn, dusk, or persevere (as the birds also do) in the heat. I hope you have a wonderful trip.
Cheers and Good Birding,
Chase D
(formerly of Columbia, Boone County, MO)
Cabot, Lonoke County, AR
chase dot darr at gmail dot com
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The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
