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Arizona

Cave Creek Canyon Birding At Portal

Program No. 11973RJ

Boasting awe-inspiring landscapes and some of the richest wildlife diversity in the nation, it’s easy to see why Cave Creek Canyon is a mecca for both birds and birders alike.

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Itinerary

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Duration

6 days

5 nights

What's Included

15 meals ( 5B, 5L, 5D )

2 expert-led lectures

8 expert-led field trips

An experienced Group Leader

5 nights of accommodations

Taxes and customary gratuity

Road Scholar Assurance Plan

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Day

In back Dining Room 5:00 p.m. Orientation, 6:00 p.m. Dinner.

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: D

Stay: Portal Peak Lodge

Activity Note

Lodge check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon:

After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the Back Dining to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Take some time to relax in the tranquility of our surroundings at this charming lodge, located in a remote area surrounded by majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and diverse flora.

Dinner:

At the lodge restaurant.

Evening:

Orientation.5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our Group Leader and instructor — both expert birders — will lead lectures and field trips unless otherwise specified. Transportation throughout the program will be provided via passenger van. Note: This is a remote area where cell phones often do not get reception and Internet is not always available. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our Group Leader will then give us a presentation introducing some of the bird species we can expect to spot throughout the program. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day

Wildlife Viewing, Cave Creek Canyon & Chiricahua Mountains

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Portal Peak Lodge

Activity Note

Getting in/out of a van; driving about 40 miles roundtrip, approximately 2.5 hours riding time with stops. Walking about 1.5 miles total, approximately 2 hours on our feet; mostly level terrain.

Breakfast:

At the lodge.

Morning:

Our learning adventure will begin on a walking field trip with our Group Leader and instructor, both birding experts. We’ll walk from the lodge along Main Street to some of the many bird and hummingbird feeders in the area. At each location, we’ll have private small group examinations. Fourteen species of hummingbirds are regularly seen in the area including Berylline, Violet-crowned, Lucifer, Broad-billed, White-eared, Blue-throated, Magnificent, Plain-capped Starthroat, Black-chinned, Costa’s, Anna’s, Broad-tailed, Calliope, and Rufous. Elf Owls nest by the Portal Library but are usually gone by October. Many owl species nest in the Chiricahua Mountains and we look for Great Horned, Elf, Spotted Owls and Western and Whiskered Screech-Owls. We’ll then walk back to the lodge after our field trip.

Lunch:

At the lodge.

Afternoon:

Resuming our birding adventure, we’ll make our way aboard the van down Portal-Paradise Road, which starts out in a dry chaparral area just north of Portal, AZ. About 2 miles up the road, we’ll notice a change in habitat from chaparral to oak-juniper and, as we go, we’ll keep our eyes out for mid-elevation bird species such as the Elegant Trogon that nests in this area. Visitors from around the world travel to the Chiricahuas and Cave Creek Canyon to view the magnificent Elegant Trogon bird in its surroundings. This area is home to 330 species of birds which include 14 species of hummingbirds and 10 species of owls. Our expert Group Leaders will provide informative commentary along the way. We’ll then return to the lodge.

Dinner:

At the lodge.

Evening:

We’ll gather to review our birding lists together. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

Day

Rodeo-New Mexico, Chiricahua & Peloncillo Mountains

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Portal Peak Lodge

Activity Note

Getting in/out of a van; driving about 50 miles roundtrip, approximately 3 hours riding time with stops. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 5 hours on our feet throughout the day; well-maintained trails.

Breakfast:

Lodge plated meal.

Morning:

Setting out from the hotel by van, we will be on the look-out for Inca Doves, Gila Woodpeckers, and Great-tailed Grackles as we ride to Rodeo. Upon arrival, we will explore the Chiricahua Desert Museum with displays of Chiricahua Desert species of wildlife. Our Group Leader and instructor will provide commentary and answer questions as we examine the exhibits. We’ll then head out to the botanical garden to take advantage of its good bird watching location. After the field trip, we’ll ride back to the lodge.

Lunch:

At the lodge.

Afternoon:

Our next field trip will take us to the Chiricahua Mountains for some mountain birding in hopes of seeing elusive Elegant Trogons. We’ll hop out of the vans upon arrival and set out on a leisurely walk with our Group Leaders searching for birds and learning about this beautiful environment.

Dinner:

At the lodge.

Evening:

After reviewing our birding lists together, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

Day

Cochise Lakes & Willcox Playa, Waterfowl & Shorebirds

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Portal Peak Lodge

Activity Note

Getting in/out of a van; driving about 150 miles roundtrip; approximately 5 hours riding time with stops. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours; mostly flat terrain.

Breakfast:

At the lodge.

Morning:

We will leave the Chiricahua Mountains for a scenic drive to the small historic community of Willcox, Arizona, home to famed singer/entertainer Rex Allen. Along the way to Willcox — an agricultural area attractive to many species — we’ll stop at opportune viewpoints to stretch our legs and scan the skies for birds. Upon arrival in Willcox, we’ll make our way to a local restaurant.

Lunch:

At a restaurant in Willcox.

Afternoon:

Our birding field trip will continue nearby with a walk at the dry lakebed of Willcox Playa and the Cochise Lakes. A beautiful habitat, it serves as an ideal migratory stop-over for waterfowl and shorebirds such as the Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck and Cinnamon Teal Duck. On our way, we’ll keep our eyes open for Chiricahua birds and hawks as we listen to commentary by our Group Leader and instructor. Next, we’ll ride to downtown Willcox for a period of independent exploration in this quaintly charming cattle ranching town. In the early afternoon, we will make the return journey to the lodge with stops along the way to look for birds.

Dinner:

At the lodge.

Evening:

We will review our birding lists together. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

Day

Rustler Park Full Day Field Trip, Onion Saddle, Chiricahua

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Portal Peak Lodge

Activity Note

Getting in/out of a van; driving about 40 miles on dirt mountain roads, approximately 4 hours riding time stops. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours on our feet; well-maintained trails. Elevation 7,500 feet.

Breakfast:

At the lodge.

Morning:

We will hop into the van and ride to Rustler Park, where we’ll begin a full day, high-elevation birding field trip. We’ll ride up the road to reach Onion Saddle, a scenic location at an elevation of 7,500 feet where several species of birds have been recorded. Species at this altitude typically include the Mexican Chickadee, Red-faced Warbler, Olive Warbler, and Red Crossbill.

Lunch:

In the field, with many birds to observe amid the natural beauty of the area, we’ll have boxed lunches.

Afternoon:

Our high-elevation birding field trip will continue to the top of the Chiricahua Mountain in Rustler Park. Species that can be seen here may be in mixed flocks during spring and fall migrations. Above the many wildflowers that may be in bloom, these migrations may include various Townsend’s such as Hermit, Yellow-rumped, and Grace’s, as well as Olive and Red-faced Warblers. We’ll return to the lodge after our field trip.

Dinner:

At the lodge. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening:

We’ll review our birding list while relaxing around the dinner table. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. The clean mountain air and a full day of birding will make for a good night’s rest. Prepare for check-out and departure after our final field trip.

Day

Cave Creek Canyon, Program Concludes

Location: Portal, AZ

Meals: B,L

Activity Note

Getting in/out of a van; driving about 6 miles roundtrip, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2.5 hours on our feet; maintained trails. Lodge check-out 11:30 a.m.

Breakfast:

At the lodge.

Morning:

We’ll return to scenic Cave Creek Canyon, an area boasting stunning vistas of the ragged cliff faces that are themselves marked with numerous caves. Nestled in the canyon, rich forest supports a diverse range of wildlife and birds including the Elegant Trogon. We could visit this magnificent area daily and never witness all the mountains have to offer. We’ll then return to the lodge for check-out.

Lunch:

At the lodge, we’ll have boxed lunches to take away. This concludes our program.

Afternoon:

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.

Cave Creek Canyon Birding At Portal

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