Incinerator Ridge, Mount Lemmon

Yesterday, a had a couple of free hours so drove up to Incinerator Ridge on Mount Lemmon. Walking among the tall Ponderosa and Lodgepole Pines is a very quieting and renewing way to spend a few hours. And, while I was hoping to find some warblers -- olive and red faced, in particular, it was not meant to be. However, I did get some nice photos:

House Finch

Ornate Tree Lizard

Raven

Yellow Eyed Junco

White Crowned Sparrow

Lizards - Part III

Lizards for the most part are harmless and the fact that they eat bugs certainly is in there favor. The Gila Monster is the only venomous lizard in the U.S. and one of only two in North America. It grows to about 2 feet but is very slow moving and docile. Unlike rattlesnakes that inject venom through their fangs, the Gila Monster just secrets its venom into its own mouth which in turn gets into its prey once bitten. There are some comic books and movies (from the 1930's) of Gila Monsters the size of an automobile terrorizing towns just like Godzilla. But, truth be told, you would have to pick one up and stick your finger in its mouth before it would bite you. Nonetheless Gila Monsters are protected and you can't touch them, keep them as pets, or kill them. Here are a few more lizard photos, starting with the Gila Monster.

Gila Monster (The Azure Gate)

Great Basin Collard Lizard (Florida Mountains, Southwestern New Mexico)

Greater Earless Lizard (The Azure Gate)

Lesser Earless Lizard (Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona)

Ornate Tree Lizard (Agua Caliente, Arizona)