We had our scrambled eggs on toast outside on the patio and listened to the funny little Gambels quail, who run around in the underbrush and hop up onto walls or cactuses with ease. They cant sing without bobbing their little topknots.
We had about a 15 min drive to Saguaro National Park West, and stopped at the Gates Pass viewpoint – you can see all the way to the wide open Sonoran Desert from there. We arrived before the Park opened at 9 and had a lovely walk outside the Visitors Center. Early really is the best time for the birds.
Then we sat thru a very interesting 15 min video about the Saguaros, and how the native Americans considered them as human as they, and treated them with great respect. They dont branch until 70 years of age. But the guide told us that they are not the oldest plants in the desert – the delicate creosote bushes with their tiny yellow flowers
After that we drove up to the very top of the road system and had a lunch in one of the huts. Great breeze and views for our chicken and lettuce sandwiches.
Now what? How about one more hike in another wash as thats where the birds would be. Should be. But not when its getting so hot. It was hard going walking in the wash as well, like walking on a sandy beach. We were tempted to go back, but then ran into a family where the man was very keen on us all walking far enough to see the Petroglyphs. So we kept going, and going, and going. Actually it was probably not much further than 1.25 miles each way, but that softness underneath, added to the heat (93?), and sometimes having to scramble up rocks – well, it was very tiring.
The petroglyphs were very interesting tho – 2 photos of them plus the trail, viewed from the higher trail going back.
the few flowers on the cactuses. Evidently it was a very dry winter. But many other bushes flower, and the hummingbirds and other birds love them. Bats are among the pollenators of the Saguaros.
The Gila woodpeckers are among the noisiest birds in the desert – they love making their homes in the Saguaros, and leave a solid boot inside made from chewed up innards – and other birds like to borrow them.
For people who think we take too many photos of birds – dont bother to look at the photos. But you might rejoice with us that we found NINE NEW LIFE BIRDS today alone. We are up to 402 on our life list, and 18 new birds on this trip alone.
