Southeast Arizona
Sep 21-23,
2001
Sunny & Warm, 70-90
A leisurely trip to SE AZ with
Henry, Suzanne, Erika, Becky, Adriana, & Gaby to go camping and
explore the beautiful area
56 species total (list follows at end page)
Click on thumbnail
pictures for full-sized shots.
|
Becky, Erika, Adriana, Gaby, & Suzanne
|
We arrived at Coronado National
Monument at the southern end of the Huachuca Mountains late on Friday
afternoon. We decided to hike up to the cave and explore it before
setting up camp. As we crossed a small stream we disturbed a
roosting colony of Turkey Vultures, which flapped off with a great rush
of wingbeats.
|
|
The cave was mostly
dry, but with interesting water-carved passageways, a big column, and a few
other interesting formations. As we exited the cave, we watched
several bats circling the entrance and a vociferous Canyon Wren which
objected mightily to our presence.
|
|
|
On the return trip
from the cave we scared up a covey of Montezuma Quail and heard several
Poorwills calling. That night we camped out close to Overstreet
Canyon, serenaded throughout the night by several owl species: Elf,
Northern Pygmy, and Flammulated. Dinner was hot dogs, beans, and
smores!
|
Banded rock rattlesnake |
On Saturday morning Suzanne, Gaby, and I took a hike up the road into
Overstreet Canyon. Among the beautiful late summer wildflowers were
Yellow-eyed Juncos & Chipping Sparrows, and this banded rock
rattlesnake.
Several colorful grasshopper
species were propagating.
|
Centipede
|
After a breakfast of ham & eggs, we drove down
the road to visit Happy Jack Cave. This spiny lizard and
centipede were the guardians of the opening, but we braved their presence
to explore the cave. While this cave had more formations than the
Coronado Cave, it also had fewer side passages to explore.
Spiny lizard |
|
|
Suzanne and Gaby, with the cave
entrance behind them
A large rockfall made it difficult
to reach the farthest reaches, so we headed back to the entrance.
|
Curtains,
pools, large & small stalagtites & stalagmites, and
other formations were scattered from one end of the cave to the
other.
|
|
Paton's water fountain
|
At the Beatty Apiary, we enjoyed watching six
varieties of hummingbirds visiting several dozen feeders.
Rufous and Black-chinned were the most numerous, but the most
striking were the Blue-throated and Magnificent Hummingbirds.
|
|
After lunch we drove up to Scheelite Canyon in search of the
Spotted Owl. We hiked 3/4 mile up the canyon and spotted no
owls, so we turned back. Erika spied this fine kingsnake as
we hiked out of the canyon.
|
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
Then, after all hope was lost, Suzanne found us
the SPOTTED OWL! It was sitting on a branch about two feet
off the ground! We all got excellent looks and even captured
it on video tape.
|
| As we drove out of the canyon, a Coues' white-tailed
deer ambled across the road, stopping to look at us from the
meadow. |
|
|
Sweetwater Ponds
|
On Sunday morning we stopped at Sweetwater Ponds in
Tucson to check out the bird life there. We found some
waterfowl and a few migrating warblers, but nothing out of the
ordinary, except for this huge spider, which provided lots of
entertainment for the girls.
|
|
Adriana & Gaby |
|
|
