Arizona Adventure

Saguaro National Park

This is an overview of one section of the park showing many of the Saguaro cacti. It had rained just before I arrived at the park, and I liked the cloud shadows on the hillsides and the green of the summer desert.

Saguaro Cactus

This cactus was photographed at Saguaro National Park in Tucson Arizona. It is said that the Saguaro grows upward only until it suffers some type of trauma, at which time it grows the new stalks or "arms" so familiar on this type of cactus. Looking at this one with its 7 arms, it must have had a heck of a trauma!

Cactus Galore

This view of Saguaro National Park shows several types of cactus.

Coati On the Fence

This coatimundi was photographed in Madera Canyon in southeast Arizona this last August.

Ready for his Close-Up

A close up view of the Coati, photographed in Madera Canyon, AZ.

Up A Tree

This Coatimundi was photographed in Madera Canyon, in southeast Arizona. It was fairly high up in this tree, but later came down on the ground, so I was able to get quite a few views and shots of him.

Coatimundi

This Coati was photographed in Madera Canyon, in the Santa Rita Mountains of SE Arizona. He is related to the raccoon, and was fun to watch. Unlike the raccoon, he feeds during the day.

Squirrel Lunchtime

I was birding in Patagonia, Arizona, visiting the Patton Center for Hummingbirds, and enjoyed watching this squirrel as he munched on something for lunch. I zoomed in on him as he worked the food.

Lunching Squirrel

This cute little guy was sitting up and eating. He was photographed in Patagonia, Arizona.

Ready For His Close-Up

A close-up view of the squirrel I saw at Patton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, AZ. I liked seeing the details by zooming in.

Yellow-breasted Chat

This Chat was photographed by the San Pedro River, in the preserve out of Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Red-faced Warbler

Not the best photo, but the best I could do with this very flitty warbler in thick foliage. Incinerator Ridge, Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, AZ. This is always a hard bird for me to find, and I hiked a long way, up a steep hill to get this one.

Yellow-eyed Junco

This junco species with yellow eyes can be found in mountains in south eastern Arizona. This one was photographed on Mount Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona.

Canyon Towhee

The Canyon Towhee looks similar to the California Towhee, but is a species inhabiting the southwest deserts. This one was photographed near the San Pedro River out of Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

This beautiful hummingbird was photographed at the Patton's Center in Patagonia, Arizona.

Inca Doves

These pretty little doves were photographed at San Pedro House, in the San Pedro River Valley near Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Northern Cardinal

This Cardinal was photographed at San Pedro House in southeast Arizona. It was a particularly beautiful one, practically glowing red.

Bridled Titmouse

This Bridled Titmouse is the species that lives in mountain ranges in southeast Arizona (and south to southern Mexico). Of all the different special of titmouse, I think this is my favorite, with its cute little tufted head.

Big Skies

It is monsoon season in Arizona, and I am always amazed by the dramatic big skies with wonderful clouds. This view was from outside of Willcox, Arizona.

The Old Windmill

In the Huachuca Mountains in Southeast Arizona, the old Brown Canyon Ranch has been opened for recreation, with trails for walking, birding, and biking. Some of the old structures are still there, including this old windmill. Judith Sparhawk

Wilcox Playa

The summer monsoon season in Arizona brings wonderful clouds to the blue blue skies, and standing water in lakes and playas. This photograph was taken in August outside of Wilcox, Arizona, and shows both the clouds and water.

The Grasslands Road

Driving out of Patagonia, Arizona, the road is narrow and curvy, transversing rocky hillsides, streams, groves of trees...after several miles, cresting the hill, on the other side is this view of the San Rafael Grasslands spreading out for miles. It made me think of a savanna in Africa..very beautiful.