Mike in the Wild

It's that time of year when scary critters take over our popular culture.  Images of bats, spiders and black cats join those of monsters in adorning houses, schools and businesses as part of the Halloween celebration.  But in Arizona there are much scarier animals lurking about - snakes!   While most are quite harmless, several including the rattlesnake are capable of deadly, venomous bites.  As a result, every encounter with one of these slithering reptiles  (no matter the species) gives a fright like you've just encountered a tarantula.  Boo! Harmless garter snake in Prescott. Harmless garter snake in Lynx Lake, Prescott.  But at first sight it makes you think even the water isn't safe! Harmless garter snake in Prescott. Harmless long-nosed snake in Phoenix. Harmless but very large gopher snake at Lynx Lake in Prescott. Western diamondback rattlesnake at Spur Cross Ranch in Cave Creek. Western diamondback rattlesna...

For many years, the only woodpecker I knew was not real.   Later, having moved to Arizona and discovered a passion for nature and wildlife, I soon realized that the Southwestern individuals in this family of birds bore no resemblance to Woody in the cartoon. When I started visiting Prescott regularly, I quickly became familiar with the mountain-loving acorn woodpecker.  These penguin-looking birds have been referred to as a 'troupe of wide-eyed clowns,' and a short time witnessing a group's tree-darting and squawking made me agree with the metaphor.  In fact, the creator of the "Woody the Woodpecker" cartoons was supposedly inspired during an encounter with this bird's raucous noise-making while staying in a cabin. Arizona is home to many species of the woodpecker, all in the family picidae , whose members span most of the globe.  While all of the local birds aren't as noisy as the acorn, most seem to exhibit the tell-tale woodpecker behavior of foragi...

Just a mile east of the gigantic football stadium that the Arizona Cardinals call home lies part of the New River - Agua Fria Underground Water Storage Project (NAUSP).   Within a grid of six basins, water is collected for seepage and storage into a natural underground aquifer.  This precious resource arrives via canals from the Salt and Verde Rivers, and also the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project, with additional reclaimed water (your clean-as-new sewer water!) coming from the cities of Glendale and Peoria,  The Salt River Project utility manages this vast engineering endeavor. The water in these basins creates 125 acres of temporary ponds that attract a variety of water dwelling fowl and plant life, including birds of prey.   The teeming life in this habitat is a paradox in this busy urban corridor which, in addition to the football stadium, is surrounded by freeways, power lines, an airport, a landfill, and all forms of human encroachment....

It's that time of year, when the night time temperatures in the highlands of central Arizona reach freezing.  The green leaves of many trees are changing color and, interestingly, some of the needles on ponderosa pines are turning brown and dropping in their semiannual routine.  Enjoy these several pictures of a quiet morning walk along Willow Creek between Camp Emmanuel Pines and Trail 332, a final homage to many of my 2017 visits to the Prescott area. A neighbor's aspen or birch tree in its autumn glory. Willow Creek as it cuts through a ridge near Camp Emmanuel Pines. View along Willow Creek with dry-needled ponderosa pines. Colors along Willow Creek. A deer paying close attention to me along Willow Creek. Deer with autumn color and light along Willow Creek. Deer with autumn color along Willow Creek.  Adieu Prescott.  The mild desert temperatures are calling.