Florida Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona

On the way back from Pena Blanca Lake a quick stop at Florida Canyon to look for the Black Capped Gnatcatcher. Yes:

black capped gnatcatcher

verdin

hammond's flycatcher

white crowned sparrow

sonoran coachwhip

Snake in a Tree

I always tell our guests to watch where they walk on our property and when hiking in the desert. There are two reasons: 1) everything in the desert has thorns; cactus "bulbs" are constantly falling and could be in your path while walking and the next thing you know it is on you shoe, ankle ... and then 2) snakes; Hey it's the desert. Snakes live here. Yes, even on our property. We've had ten different kinds of snakes over the years, mostly though, Desert Kingsnakes, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and Sonoran Bullsnakes. 

Of course, my advice doesn't help if there is a snake in a tree. Now a snake in the tree is not typical -- although not unusual. I came across this Sonoran Coachwhip -- a very fast snake who just seemed to disappear. I kept looking but couldn't find him anywhere (on the ground). So, I turned around to walk away and at eye level saw the snake in a Mesquite Tree. 

After jumping ten feet off the ground (well, maybe not ten) I regained my composure and took some photos. Here is one in the series:

Sonoran Coachwhip

Slytherin Part V

References to Harry Potter and Hogwarts aside, the Southwestern US has a large number and species of snakes. I was driving the dirt road on the seldom seen, seldom hiked east side of the Rincon Mountains when I came across a Sonoran Coachwhip "slithering" across the road. Unlike most other snakes I have come across this one climbed a tree, slithering around in the tree and then coming right back at me. At roughly nine feet in length this was a pretty amazing sight to see. I had to back away in order to get my camera to focus properly. 

Sonoran Coachwhip

Sonoran Coachwhip

Sonoran Coachwhip

Holes, Rocks, and Trees

 HOLES: The first photo is the Desert Kingsnake. This is the most common snake we have on the property. I startled one last week watering a potted flower. I was not paying much attention and as soon as I put the hose in the pot out jumped this five foot Desert Kingsnake. The Desert Kingsnake lives in holes typically dug by Harris Antelope or Round Tail Ground Squirrels -- of which there are many. ROCKS: The second photo is a Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (5,000 ft). We were picnicking in Madera Canyon (about an hour's drive from us) when this guy crawled out from between some rocks.  I always try to be prepared for these momentary pleasures, so this was the first of several photos. TREES: Yes, snakes like trees, too. The third photo is the Sonoran Coachwhip. I was driving north past Mescal, AZ to get to the East side of the Rincon Mountains (again about one hour's drive). The Rincon Mountains is where Saguaro National Park is, although access is almost always from the West side. As I was driving I saw this snake "sunbathing" in the middle of the (dirt) road. I stopped, got my camera and he decided that was enough sunbathing and took off so fast I only knew what direction he went. I kept looking around on the ground for him but couldn't find him. So, I turned to go back to my Jeep and saw him in the tree "sliding" through the branches like this was his natural habitat. (Which, later I found out was the case). He was a good eight or nine feet long and completely "pink" in color. Here I was in the desert and seeing something from the Amazon.