Pinnacles National Park for two nights

the truck at Pinnacles

Leaving the coast and heading inland we aimed for Pinnacles National Park; our first National Park for this trip. Originally a National Monument it was made a National Park more recently and is well known for its geology and its recent part in Californian Condor Conservation.

Condors are, of course, a major bird to see for anyone as they are, one, awesome, number two, huge and thirdly they are a major conservation success story. The Condors were endangered to the point of being nearly extinct for much of the same reasons of many species; persecution, habitat loss and, perhaps more strangely lead poisoning. That is not a hunting joke. They would scavenge on bullet riddled deer or whatever, ingest the lead and then suffer and die. DDT and other toxins were also not helpful. The solution was to ban poisons and to preserve huge areas from which hunting was prohibited and to breed the birds in captivity before releasing them back into the wilds. While the birds still need monitoring they have been successful in that wild born chicks are now being raised so there is still room for optimism in their story. It is however not over yet….

I am pleased to say that I saw Condors almost immediately – soaring high over the nearby ridge. Their size, clean white underwing patch and jizz separated them from the smaller and more abundant Turkey Vultures.   

Megs at the Pinnacles

the reservoir at Pinnacles

On our full day we walked the kids through Bear Gulch, a series of caves, to a small reservoir where we were pestered by the ubiquitous Californian Ground Squirrels for food while the kids took it in turns to drop their water bottles onto the ground and have them tumble into the cool waters of the reservoir. Acorn Woodpeckers were common here as were Californian Quail, Western Bluebirds, Brewer’s Blackbirds, Oak Titmouse, Anna’s Hummingbird, Western Kingbird, Californian and Spotted Towhees. Mule Deer and Black tailed Jackrabbit made the mammal list.

male Californian Quail

wild Turkey

Chipmunk - spp?

Western bluebird female

On our first full day I saw no condors so began thinking I was pretty flukey however on the second morning they were there again soaring. I recommend this spot as the place to see them!   

On our final morning Megan and I joined a bird walk run by a ranger and added White breasted Nuthatch and Ash-throated Flycatcher. It was a good walk with a generous and humble ranger guide, dolled up in her full uniform. Met a couple of ladies from a Californian travel company, one of whom was pretty keen at birding.