For my Arizona trip I flew into Tucson, where I had reserved a "midsize" car to get me around for the week. When I got to the car rental counter, I was told that they had had a very busy week and day, and the only choices they had left for me were a "bright orange" Mustang or a minivan. Truthfully I didn't want either--I didn't need all the space and gas mileage of the minivan, and I wasn't too keen on a low-slung, very bright Mustang. I ended up with the latter, which was certainly not a little-old-lady-birder car! This photo shows it in Madera Canyon, while it was still pretty shiny, before I drove it over many dirt roads and through monsoon storms and mud puddles! The pluses: my car caught the eye of lots of guys (certainly not me), and it was easy to spot in a parking lot. 9/8/19 Judith Sparhawk
On my recent southeast Arizona trip I spent a few days at Madera Canyon. Even in the mountain canyons, August in Arizona gets pretty warm (or hot!), so early mornings are best. This photograph was taken from the base of Madera Canyon, looking toward this rocky formation called Elephant Head. Not sure the origin of the name, but it stands out in the landscape at the beginning of the mountain canyon. The dawn chorus of birdsong was already in full swing as I hiked up the trail into the canyon. 9/29/19 Judith Sparhawk
This very pretty wildflower grows on a shrub in SE Arizona, and is named Fairy Duster. Certain areas I visited were covered with it. It was very poplar with bees, butterflies and other insects. 9/11/19 Judith Sparhawk
