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Some Days Fill Your Soul

A young Gila monster flicks out its tongue as it descends a nearly vertical rock face in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 28, 2024. Original: _A671251.ARW

Bear and I stopped in a lovely spot for a water break on a warm spring afternoon. We had the trail to ourselves so I lingered, not ready to let the moment pass, I had been back at work a couple of months and missed hiking with him each day. As we finally gathered up to leave I noticed someone left a colorful shirt on a boulder, I didn’t have a trash bag but if it wasn’t too disgusting I was going to pack it out.

Except the shirt turned into a Gila monster, only if someone let all the air out. We had a great view as it tentatively explored its surroundings, climbing up and down nearly vertical rock faces. I had my telephoto with me and we spent half an hour watching it until I filled up my memory card and besides, we needed to get back before closing.

Given its thinness I thought it very young or old or sick, my impression was its slow movements were from uncertainty rather than infirmity. I found it hard to believe even a young monster could be that big but I consulted my big lizard book when I got home and it said hatchlings average over 6 inches long.

There are days on the trails that fill your soul, moments you remember all your life, a joy and a blessing just to witness.

Holme-next-the-Sea

A close-up view of a cactus flower that reminds me of ancient peoples gathered round the inverted tree at Holme-next-the-Sea in England, commonly known now as Seahenge. Originals: _ZFC8935.NEF to _ZFC9009.NEF

A close-up view of a cactus flower that reminds me of ancient peoples gathered round the inverted tree at Holme-next-the-Sea in England, commonly known now as Seahenge.

📷: Nikon Zfc | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: August 27, 2022

Sorry Little One

A pair of legs and tail feathers of a young Harris’ hawk lie scattered on the desert floor in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 27, 2023. Original: _Z726694.NEF

The world is often beautiful but rarely kind, as all the little creatures fed to this young hawk discovered, and eventually the hawk learned too. From what I could see only the legs and a pile of feathers remained, as honey-colored ants recycled what little soft tissue and fluids remained. Bear and I didn’t hike this trail again until weeks later when the only signs of this once beautiful life were a few feathers scattered on the desert floor.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: October 27, 2023

Expansive Views

A loggerhead shrike perches in the arms of an ocotillo in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 20, 2024. Origial: _A676712.ARW

Like saguaros, ocotillos provide winged predators perches with expansive views of the desert floor. Even when they leaf out, their leaves are small and don’t stay long. Their thinner arms generally host smaller predators like kestrels or this loggerhead shrike, but in the far distance I could seen an ancient ocotillo entertaining a Harris’ hawk.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: October 20, 2024