With spring temperatures already hitting 100, Phoenicians are lucky to have higher altitudes and cooler climates for quick escapes. No place is easier to visit than Prescott, less than a hundred mile drive.
Over this past weekend, Prescott had highs in the 80's contrasting nicely with Phoenix' 106 degrees F. Its mile-high elevation guarantees pleasant days and chilly nights when the Valley starts to swelter. Several surrounding mountain ranges, including the Bradshaws and Mingus, have peaks that approach 8,000 feet, assuring comfortable outdoor adventures even during Prescott's hot spells.
While roadrunners, Gambel's quails and Anna's hummingbirds call both the mountains and the deserts their home, other birds like scrub jays, bluebirds and nuthatches prefer cooler climates. It's only fitting that an environment known for the saguaro cactus would nurture completely different species than one known for the ponderosa pine tree and alligator juniper. Enjoy these weekend photographs that act as a modest introduction to some of Prescott's natural beauty, especially in the form of its wildlife.
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Tall ponderosa pine trees hide a view of Thumb Butte in the Prescott National Forest. Many hiking trails lead to this landmark. |
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The trunk of the alligator juniper tree, common in the area along with the ponderosa pine and a variety of oak trees. |
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Any amount of time in the Prescott area forests will introduce you to the ever-present call of the spotted towhee - two high tweets and a long trill. |
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This spotted towhee could trill with a full beak of insects. |
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And this towhee preferred seeds that fell from the front yard feeder. |
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One of the most active and common birds in the forest treetops is the acorn woodpecker. This character is a male. |
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This female acorn woodpecker seems to be setting up house in a ponderosa tree. |
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The same female in her nest. We know it's a she because her red cap is separated from her white forehead by a black patch. |
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In the same tree, just two feet below, a pygmy nuthatch was setting up its own nest. |
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The white-breasted nuthatch. |
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A small but colorful bird in the forest is the western bluebird. |
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An ash-throated flycatcher in an oak tree. It wasn't too long ago that he was a common site in the deserts. |
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Common year-round in both the deserts and the mountains is the northern flicker, a type of woodpecker. |
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A Woodhouse's scrub jay, Arizona's own blue jay. |
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The largest bird in the area, with the exception of some herons, is the raven. He seems as big as a wild turkey, but is much more stealthy and light of foot when on the ground. |
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Anna's hummingbirds seem to visit the mountains the same time humans do. A feeder filled with sugar water supplements their diet of wildflower nectar and insects. |
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Any feeder filled with seeds is guaranteed to attract house finches, like this male. |
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Two-tailed swallowtail, Arizona's state butterfly. |
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Type of lizard on a sawed ponderosa pine tree log. Counting the rings on a larger image of the tree would indicate it was well over 75 years old. |
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The Albert's squirrel lives in the local pine forests. The tufts on his ears are a quick help in distinguishing him from more common grey squirrels. Hopefully we'll see other mammals during future visits, like skunks, raccoons, javelinas and, if we're really lucky, bears! |
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