Under the Mesquite, I Wait

On the day I took these shots, it was National Park day which meant free entrance.  I don't know why I went to Sabino Canyon.  Well I know why I went but I should have known better.  We have so many canyons here. Most of them are relatively quiet and unknown.  Sabino is full of life but it is also one of  Tucson's premiere tourist destinations.  Yes.  There were lots of people.  I went early to enjoy the cooler temps and perhaps discover the Coati, Racoon or Gila Monster.....or the Mountain Lion that was reported with 3 cubs.

Stop 4

And as for birds?  I heard them but didn't see much activity.  It was a beautiful hike. I did get a little tan from the walk. The water in the creek was flowing and it was pretty.

But I feel like I shouldn't have gone here on this day.  And yet I did.  Any place that's full of runners, crying children, tourists shouting, and loud trams going up and down the canyon road tend to scare off the wildlife.  And yet I went.

It wasn't disappointing. At first I did a long hike but I ran out of water and know my limits.  It was getting hot quick and I returned back to the entrance......but I wasn't going home.  So I took that darn tram for 8 bucks to stop 9 hoping to find birds.....or something........

But I wasn't alone.  While I was searching for birds at Sabino, the Audobon was in a much more quiet canyon on the other side of the mountain.  They reported the same as I did on this day....birds quiet today.  The difference?  They spotted a Gila Monster!!!!

Gila Woodpecker

And speaking of things "Gila", I can always rely on the Gila Woodpecker.  They're always around to make me smile with their loud squacks. But it would be the only bird I'd see up close.  There was a flycatcher in the distance but I couldn't make out what it was.....so I went to the top.

female Filigree Skimmer

And hiked down.  Nada. Zip.  Zilch.  I left the road and walked along the creek to locate the birds chirping in the trees.  There were Verdins, hummingbirds, flycatchers, quail, warblers, and other birds.  But I could only hear them.  But along the creek, I spotted this little gem!  A new kind of dragonfly I hadn't seen before. So I sat on a rock alone and watched them flutter around me.  They landed super close while I sat in the shade.

And while today was a nice hike without lots of wildlife to see, I think I got some of the best dragonfly shots yet.  This is a female Filigree Skimmer.

Now don't laugh at me but I play these games in my head.  "If I were a dragonfly, which one would I be?"  And I think after the find today, I'd choose this color and style:)

Normally I only go to Sabino Canyon when I have guests coming into town because it is a beautiful area and everyone falls in love with Tucson after that visit (and the one to the Desert Museum:)  I've seen deer, cardinals and all kinds of critters in Sabino Canyon but no one captures the beauty of Sabino Canyon like Diane from Desert Colors.

So after an extensive and hot 4 hour morning hike, I gave in and headed to Stop 4 and waved my tram ticket up in defeat.  Why Stop 4?  Because that's where I seem to find all the birds hanging out.....and there was a wonderful shady mesquite tree to keep me from having heat exhaustion.   At least I had some great exercise, but that was cancelled out by movie night and Dominos pizza with Pat.  Tomorrow, Kathie and I are going birding in one of our local parks.  We'll probably find more in town than outside of it.  Stay tuned to see what flies our way:)  More tomorrow.....

Trans-Pecos Morning Glory