Phoenix Mountains Preserve, again

After almost a week of near-record heat, I took a hike back into the neighboring park to see the effect on the blooms and landscape.

It wasn't a difficult choice of excursions, as the trails of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve are an easy walk from my community. And even on a hot day, the morning weather is still perfect.  While I accessed the mountains the same way, I took a different route on the hike, exploring higher in the park.  But I didn't venture as high as Piestewa Peak, the 2,600 foot signature feature of the preserve. It's a steep 1,200 foot ascent from its trailhead and is more of an aerobic work-out than a nature walk. Nonetheless I covered more than six miles, enjoying new views and discoveries.  While Mexican gold poppies have definitely peaked in this area, there are other new blooms and the loud cacophony of birds reminding us it is indeed Spring in the desert.

Starting at the very last parking area, I made a circle on the north loop of  Trail 304 to  Trail 1A north to the "VOAz crosscut" up to Trail 1A south back to the south loop of Trail 304.  And again I hiked into the park via Trail 200 to the main access road.  It wasn't completely clear to me that I was always on this route as there are a number of unmarked trails in the area, no doubt due to years of visitors traversing this urban oasis.   As a result I hiked north on Trail 8 a short distance until I turned around.

Morning light illuminating cholla cacti.

View northeast from the crosscut's saddle looking at Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains on the distant horizon.

Male gila woodpecker with glow of blooming yellow brittlebush.  The female doesn't have the red cap or yamaka.

Cactus wren in ocotilla making his morning calls or croaks.

The same cactus wren eyeing me before flying away. I like to call him the most playful bird species, less wary and more curious than the average subject.

Ash-throated flycatcher in the morning light.  There are over a dozen flycatcher species in Arizona, many in the deserts.  I've seen this one before, and can identify him by the rufous-colored outer wing. There were several on this morning's hike, making wonderful acrobatics in the air.  

The park's most numerous birds are the Gambel's quails. Their sounds are everywhere even if they're not visible.  They're tough to photograph, as they're always moving and are quite wary of the slightest approach.  I gave it a try anyway, and got this shot of three men and a lady.

A new critter to investigate. These caterpillars seem to be the same species, contributing to the change in desert wildflower blooms.  I was amazed at how it completely denuded the one flower's stalk.  

Some bluebonnets still blooming.

This excursion brought me to some higher elevations in the park.  Note the hikers in the center of the photo, traversing switch backs on the steep trail.

Desert marigolds in yellow and desert globemallow in orange.

Some north-facing slopes and trails still had Mexican gold poppies in bloom.

Cactus flowers might soon be the new stars of the blooming season.

A tiny bird, the female black-tailed gnatcatcher.

The male black-tailed gnatcatcher, in his breeding plumage - his black cap. I could hear these birds' raspy hisses before seeing them.

More glowing chollas. This species should be the teddy bear cholla, but it only looks soft.

The landscape's blooms seem to be dominated by the yellow of brittlebush and desert marigolds.

My very lucky day - a very cooperative black-throated sparrow that not only posed but sang for me. It's a beautiful song, a couple notes followed by a high trill.  Even hiding behind a lattice of palo verde tree branches, I was able to get this shot.  The camouflage created a gauzy, green cast. This  desert sparrow is one of my favorite subjects.

Another shot of the same sparrow, out of the dense canopy. 

Another denizen of the desert, the curved-bill thrasher.  While relatively plain to look at, no bird has a more beautiful range of songs.  He doesn't limit his activities to the open desert, so we're able to appreciate his music in our  manicured backyards.