A Walk in Watson Woods

America has its famous mile-high city, Denver.  But Arizona has one too - Prescott.  With 30,000 people, Prescott may be more of a town than a city, but it's still got the cooler temperatures of a high altitude community.   And like Denver, it sits on the edge of a mountain range.  While not as massive or extensive as the Rockies, the local Bradshaws are high enough to store some winter snow and to  generate springs to feed Granite Creek.  Historically a perennially running waterway, the creek has long supported a lush riparian environment along its banks.  But with the coming of the miners in the mid-19th century, most of the adjacent trees were cut for fuel, its slopes overgrazed by cattle, its banks dug up for sand and gravel, and the resulting low, open space used as a dumping ground.

Late last century, the local community and state recognized the value of a healthy watershed for clean drinking water, recreation and conservation.   So 126 acres of the original 1,000 acres of forest are now protected as the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.  Many native trees have regenerated and are thriving - including local willows and cottonwoods - creating an oasis in the middle of a crowded central Arizona community.  In addition to the flowing Granite Creek, a nearby pond is maintained, creating habitat for even more native flora and fauna.   A network of paths let you explore the vast park, crisscrossing the stream over bridges and circling around the pond.  Many birds - especially migratory species - call the forest home.

On the morning of my visit, I saw blue grosbeaks, summer tanagers, hooded orioles and yellow warblers, all migrating from Latin America to nest here for the summer.  The kaleidoscope of blue, red and yellow birds flickering against the background of the woods' sun-dappled emerald green canopy was an amazing sight.  The couple of flycatchers - including a black phoebe and a wood pewee - along with the many violet green swallows and Anna's hummingbirds are all seasonal visitors too.  Meanwhile, some year-round residents included red-winged blackbirds, Bewick's wrens, mallards, bushtits, ravens, American robins, spotted towhees, red-tailed hawks and the adorable bridled titmice.

Not far from the pond, Granite Creek fills Watson Lake, a dammed reservoir that recharges Prescott's aquifer - its source of drinking water.  The Peavine Trail, an old rail line converted to modern recreational trail, borders the east side of the woods.  It allows for an easy walk, run or bike ride into the Granite Dells that lie mostly at the north end of the lake.  In this area, large granite boulders create a fascinating and unusual landscape that is yet one more adventure waiting for us a short way down the road.

Granite Creek in the lush Watson Woods.

Mother mallard and her dozen ducklings on the pond in Watson Woods.

Bewick's wren.

Male blue grosbeak.  He's got red bars on his wings, but he's mostly cobalt blue.  

Another shot of the male blue grosbeak.  Note his silvery grey beak.

Male summer tanager high in the trees. 

Male summer tanager, a red flash in flight.

A very distant male yellow warbler.  He's a bright and tiny bird with a big song.

Female hooded oriole near Watson Lake.

Female Anna's hummingbird. In addition to the red, blue and yellow birds, I saw this green bird too.  But she wasn't high in the canopy of trees, preferring to stay close to ground and my eye level. 

This American robin was managing to sing even with a mouthful of insects.  It was the second one I found doing this. Since they weren't eating the morsels, were the bugs an offering to a potential mate?

Spotted towhee.

The adorable bridled titmouse, resplendent in black and white.

The pond attracts other wildlife, including what looks like an American bullfrog.  Difficult to spot, they yelped just before escaping under water.

Dragonflies were abundant, including this pair in some contortion in the reeds by Watson Lake.

Wildflowers are attracting bees.

High above the woods I heard the distinctive scream of this red-tailed hawk in some altercation with a pair of ravens.

Not far beyond Watson Woods, further along the Peavine Trail, lies the Granite Dells.  Another outdoor adventure awaits in that very different landscape.