Tag: McDowell Sonoran Preserve

The Joy of the Familiar

A male Scott’s oriole sings from atop flower buds on a saguaro in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 29, 2024. Original: _A674574.ARW

While I enjoy scenic views my favorite part of hiking is seeing animals and plants, so I love visiting trails over and over and over and over and seeing friends both new and familiar. On this occasion a Scott’s oriole singing atop the flower buds of a saguaro, I had seen it in the area on previous hikes. Nothing exotic about the location, I’m standing on the path between the parking lot and the trailhead structure. But what beauty there was to be seen!

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 29, 2024

A Rock and a Hard Place

A close-up view of the head of a common chuckwalla sleeping in the crevice of a large boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 28, 2024. Original: _A673895.ARW

A sleeping chuckwalla is happy to be stuck between a rock and a hard place on a warm spring afternoon. It was a beautiful crevice, deep enough to provide protection from the hawks and owls living nearby with hungry mouths to feed. It’s a bit humbling to see for someone who has trouble sleeping even curled up and comfy in bed.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 28, 2024

Built-in Back-Scratchers

A mule deer buck preens surrounded by desert plants on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 16, 2023. Original: _RAC9671.ARW

I was doing some macro photography of prickly pear paddles when I noticed a buck in the desert scrub behind me. It slowly approached as it grazed, then crossed the trail and continued further south. After I finished the shots he was still in sight and clearly comfortable with me so I sidled down the trail with my telephoto setup, finding a location where I could surround the fine fellow with the desert plants for context. I love watching animals preen, especially those without hands, he was using his teeth though he did have some nice built-in back-scratchers at his disposal. I had trouble getting the focus to lock and most shots were blurry, it was the kick in the pants I needed to order the A6700.

📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: November 16, 2023

The Courtship Ritual

A greater roadrunner perches on a boulder with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its beak in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 20, 2024. Original: _A678074.ARW

We came across this roadrunner with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its mouth and hung back so as not to scare it off its meal. Instead of eating it though it repeatedly made long calls, I assume a courtship ritual and Bear and I were both rather flattered. Eventually it crossed over and started again from a more distant perch, at which point I felt we could continue on without disturbing it.

The desert is full of surprises.

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

A greater roadrunner calls out with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its beak in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 20, 2024. Original: _A678037.ARW

Not a Junkyard Dog

Our dog Bear looks into the distance while standing in front of a water tank covered in graffiti on Service Road No. 4 in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Original: _ZFC8970.NEF

“Not a Junkyard Dog”

This old tank covered in graffiti is my favorite reminder this once was not preserved parkland. I think Bear was watching some hikers over on the Whiskey Bottle Trail, he’s generally not one for looking in the camera and that’s OK. Most of the park is lush with plants and animals and doesn’t resemble the entrance to a junkyard but I do enjoy photographing the tank whenever we’re in the area.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 6, 2024

25 Minutes Later

A Gila monster flicks out its tongue while moving in the sand in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Original: _A677662.ARW

After Bear and I saw a Gila monster this year I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be until I saw another as it was only my 4th in 6 years. The answer, it turns out, was 25 minutes, which is how long it took for us to continue up the trail and find this beauty. Two in one day!

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: April 14, 2024

Tree Topper

A male phainopepla perches above a pile of desert mistletoe berry detritus in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona

Perhaps this winter I should top the Christmas tree with a phainopepla ornament, they certainly make a lovely tree topper. Desert mistletoe berries are a favored food but I’ll pass on replicating the debris field of detritus beneath them, fresh clumps are a giveaway of a preferred perch.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: February 14, 2024