SEQUOIA/KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
MAY 14-16, 2006
My father and two sisters came to visit from South Carolina so we took a trip to the mountains. We stopped at the rest area on I-5 and saw two Western Kingbirds behind the restroom. Once we entered Sequoia National Park we took the Big Stump Trail where we heard many Fox Sparrows singing and one Western Tanager. We saw four MacGillivray’s Warblers and one Red-breasted Sapsucker. Hammond’s Flycatchers were singing but we never could find one. We saw and heard Red-breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadees all over the meadow. I thought I heard a Calliope Hummingbird but it flew off apparently. Next we walked around the General Grant Grove. There were too many people, many more than expected because it was mother’s day. We checked into our rustic cabin at Grant Grove and then we went to the Columbine Picnic Area to cook dinner, wild sockeye salmon. The picnic area was sadly full of trash.

Monday morning I got up early and walked around the Grant Grove meadow. I saw another MacGillivray’s Warbler, several Wilson’s Warblers, and a few Lincoln’s Sparrows. I got some nice video of a White-headed Woodpecker. When everybody woke up we drove down to Sequoia National Park and hiked the beautiful Buena Vista Trail. It was full of birds. Daddy couldn’t make it and waited under some rocks while we took the one mile trail to Buena Vista peak. On the trail we saw Western Wood-Peewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Chipping Sparrow, Cassin’s Finch, finally a Hammond’s Flycatcher, a Western Tanager that landed on the ground, and a Yellow Warbler. We heard a Pileated Woodpecker calling. At the summit we saw one Green-tailed Towhee and heard an owl calling. We approached a tree but couldn’t see anything. We were about to give up and just as I turned my back on the tree we heard wings flapping but somehow it got away without our seeing it. We decided after listening to some tapes in the car later that it was a Northern Pygmy-Owl. Next we drove to Giant Forest and walked down the brand new trail to the Sherman Tree, oldest living thing. In January one of its largest limbs came down in a ferocious storm. It crashed so hard into the ground that it was partially imbedded and had demolished the fencing around the tree and the sidewalk. The limb was wider than my arm length and was quite impressive. The sound when it came down must have been deafening. Many Western Tanagers were along the trail. I was impressed with how the park service had taken out the old parking lot that crowded the big trees and made it into an attractive fenced trail to protect the giant trees. Daddy couldn’t make it down the 200 foot loss in elevation on the new trail to General Sherman, so our next stop we took the trail for all people, renamed the Big Trees Trail. This is a flat trail around a the gorgeous Round Meadow. We saw a Winter Wren singing away on a fallen giant and saw a Northern Rough-winged Swallow circling the meadow. At the end of the loop we saw a White-headed Woodpecker go into its nest in another fallen Giant Sequoia. Next we went to Moro Rock. We took the ¼ mile 500 foot elevation gain trail to the top with magnificent views of the Kings Canyon backcountry, Kaweah River, and the San Joaquin Valley. At the summit White-throated Swifts soared past our heads. We heard another owl calling in the distance, probably another Northern Pygmy-Owl. Our next stop was the Crescent Meadow. Daddy was worn out and waited in the car while we walked around the meadow. A Hammond’s Flycatcher stayed ahead of us the entire walk but we never saw it. At the end of our walk we saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker very close. Somebody told us about a bear in the area. As we drove out of the crescent meadow area we saw a very large old Black Bear foraging for ants in a log. It appeared very hungry so we stayed in the car to get our looks and pictures. Last hike of the day I wanted to take the Hazelwood Nature Trail but everyone was worn out so I had to walk it alone. There were only Common Ravens and Stellar’s Jays on the trail. We drove back to Grant Grove and bar-b-qued our dinner at the Big Stump Picnic Area. After dinner I found a Townsend’s Warbler in a maple tree and two Lark Sparrows.

Tuesday morning, I got up early and walked the meadow. New arrivals to the meadow were a Golden-crowned Sparrow, two Mallards, Northern Flicker, and Warbling Vireo. I videotaped a very odd looking leuscisistic Brewer’s Blackbird that was white on top and black on the bottom. I stood quietly beside some mountain laurel behind the John Muir Lodge and watched as three male MacGillivray’s Warblers vied for one female. They were chasing each other and singing away. I got some of the best video ever as they became unaware of my presence and let me get very close videotape. It was very cool. Daddy didn’t feel well and stayed at the cabin while we drove down into Kings Canyon. California had a tremendous winter so I knew the river would be high but I had no idea that it would be flowing even higher than 1998, an El Nino year. We drove to the Junction Vista and stopped and got out. The vista is into the Kings Canyon with excellent views of the junction of south fork and middle fork of the Kings River. I could see even from 3000 feet above that it was flowing well above normal. It roared even from miles away. I heard a “spic” sound and there was a Black-headed Grosbeak perched on a tree. Another Western Kingbird stopped for a while and we saw and heard Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. I could see that summer had come to the canyon but I didn’t know the half of what was in store for us. We took the drive into the canyon very slowly savoring the fantastic views. We stopped again and I heard a Hermit Warbler way up an embankment. More Black-headed Grosbeaks were singing. At one stop with a dramatic 2000 foot drop to the river we saw more White-throated Swifts and Violet-green Swallows. As we drove some more I saw a female Oriole fly into a tree so I stopped and soon a bright male Bullock’s Oriole flew across the street. My sisters from the east coast were thrilled by it. We soon dropped into the canyon where the road follows along side the Kings River and we were amazed at every turn by the sheer force and beauty of the river. Our next stop was Grizzly Falls. We were barely able to approach it to get a picture it was flowing with such intensity. Once in the inner canyon we stopped and took the short walk to Roaring River Falls which definitely lived up to its name. The main trail was closed due to high waters so we had to take the alternative trail through some Oak trees on the opposite side but it was spectacular nevertheless. After Roaring River we started on the Zumwalt Meadows trail. After crossing the bridge over the normally calm waters surrounding the meadow we immediately encountered a flooded trail. Once leaping safely across I heard a Cassin’s Vireo and more Warbling Vireos. Warblers were singing in the willows along the banks of Bubbs Creek. We saw Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler and heard Hermit Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warblers singing. As we walked along this fascinating trail surrounded on one side by the steep walls of Kings Canyon and on the other by the quiet meadow I heard a familiar song and then finally I got both my sisters on a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, rare for spring in Kings Canyon. We also saw a Hermit Thrush. The end of the loop trail was closed due to flooding. In fact, the water level was so high that the boardwalk had been washed away. So we doubled back and returned the way we came. Almost back to the car a Black Phoebe flew by. Sadly it was time to leave. Before driving back out of the canyon we stopped at Cedar Grove to where ten years ago my sister had stood in the Kings River for a picture. There was no chance for her to stand in it this trip as the swift current would have swept her away. In addition, according to Karen, who put her hand in it, the temperature was 33 degrees. We drove back out of the canyon to Grant Grove where we picked up Daddy and then the last stop of the day was Big Stump for our last picnic. A few Golden-crowned Kinglets were singing and the ubiquitous Mountain Chickadee. We had missed all the Sierra Specialty birds, Mountain Quail, Mountain Bluebird, American Dipper, Flammulated Owl, and Blue Grouse but it didn’t matter to us because we had been dazzled by all nature had to offer this trip, the gushing waters of Kings River, all the lovely warblers and new birds for my sisters, towering giant trees, purple mountain majesty, and ineffable mountain scenery.
Total species 54
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Northern Pygmy-Owl
White-throated Swift
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
White-headed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Peewee
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stellar’s Jay
Common Raven
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Hermit Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bullock’s Oriole
Cassin’s Finch
Pine Siskin