February10_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - The most picturesque part of Glen Canyon is the walls of the cliffs and the texture of the rocks - the patterns of erosion are quite unique

Photos - Frames left and right: Sitta Canadensis (Red-Breasted Nuthatch) constantly going from branch to branch looking for tasty bugs. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is small with a broad black line through the eye and a white line above. It's about 4 1/2 inches long with a short tail and a disposition of a Wren Tit, quickly moving from branch to branch, hardly stopping to nibble bark insects, seeds and nuts. Of the 22 species of Nuthatch world wide, there are 3 varieties in the west. The underparts are a wishy-washy rust color and the females cheeks are off-white, while the males are slightly darker. This little creature can be seen in Alaska, Canada and the western USA. They tend to migrate to northwestern Mexico, but sometimes will overwinter in warmer northern regions in the shelter of trees and may visit local feeders.

Center frame: The eastern cliff wall from Cliff Trail in Glen Canyon.

Photos - At this time of the year the trail way is frozen most of the time as the trees block the sunlight and prevent the warming of ice patches (frame left). Cliff trail has little steps dug into the densely packed earth at the shoulder of the hill crest, put there by the locals to assist in climbing the sometimes slippery steep hill to the canyon rim high above Glen Canyon's floor (center frame). From the lip of the western cliff face, looking east to the opposite side (frame right). This isn't the place to be wandering around in the night time without really knowing where you are walking.

Click here for more photos of Glen Canyon Regional Park for this day.