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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Saguaro National Park

Early morning birding at Saguaro National Park (West side).


Sun's just coming up over the mountain


A male Gambel's Quail in a twisted tree


An expanse of Englemann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)


Teddybear Cholla (choy'-ya)  (Culindropuntia bigelovii or Opuntia bigelovii).  Nothing soft and fuzzy about these plants.  The spines easily imbed in skin, shoes, clothing and need a comb or pliers to be removed.  Packrats pile up detached joints around their nests for protection.  The joints will root when in contact with soil.


Another male Gambel's Quail


A Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)


A pretty poor, fuzzy photos of a Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) sitting beside a prickly pear that was probably munched on by a javalina.


Can't get enough photos of saguaro


And, my Lifer Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens) - the female of the pair.  After this initial sighting, I saw these birds everywhere!



1 comment:

  1. An imposing formidable looking environment that's for sure. Still there is life.....

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