California Condor

A second special raptor encounter in summer 2025

Saturday July 26 2025 – Angeles National Forest

I had only seen a California Condor once, a year prior at the Grand Canyon, and it was only upon photo review a couple of days later was I even able to confirm the distant dark bird we saw.

So when there were reports of California Condors in the Angeles National Forest consistently for weeks we decided we would give it a shot to hopefully get a good look at the critically endangered species. We made a couple of small attempts scheduled around visiting a friend and 4th of July. Both attempts, like so many instances of chasing uncommon or rare birds came up fruitless on finding the bird.

On July 26, Amanda had a bridal dress appointment, so with a large block of time free, I went up looking for them a third time. From my journal:

‘I arrived to the forest road pullout around 10:45a for third attempt at seeing these critically endangered raptors. As luck would have it, as I turned the bend I spotted a huge soaring black bird. I knew it had to be the condor. It had a large wedge-like tail that couldn’t be a raven due to its size. Doubt rushed through my mind, but deep down I knew it. Burst out of my car and photographed it soaring the ridge along the road. The bird land a quarter-mile away and began investigating a trash pile. It began eating, or at least picking up small rocks. I hurried closer and got an incredible view of the condor on the ground. A motorcycle spooked the bird and it took off allowing amazing looks of the soaring bird directly overhead. It revisited the location again and later took flight again when I lost sight of it. As writing, another (black 9 tag) flew over followed shortly later by the first condor (pink 11 tag).’

Seeing a California Condor up close was such a special moment. Several other condor enthusiasts were along the same pullout and was great to meet others so excited about the observations happening over the summer so close to Los Angeles. It made it even more special to spot a second condor that day as well.

It’ll always be my hope that one day the species will have such a healthy population they’re a routine sight over my local mountain range. Regardless, will cherish such an encounter and will be eager for my next sighting of a condor.