December 2022
Blog 389: Back to Catalina and Picacho Peak
From De Anza RV Park we made the short 53-mile drive to Catalina State Park in the Catalina Mountains. We liked this park a lot this past spring and wanted to check it out in the fall…and our four-day stay did not disappoint.
I joined a half-day birding tour guided by some local pros, and Jan and I and the Pups hiked trails the other three mornings enjoying the mountains in the background, beautiful skies, and the abundant saguaros.
Among the birds we spotted were a Woodhouse’s scrub jay, a lark sparrow, a rufous-winged sparrow, and a black-throated sparrow.
As almost always, the pre-dawn drew your attention like bears smelling honey.
Picacho Peak State Park
We embarked on another easy, 36-mile trip as we took the interstate over and up to Picacho Peak State Park.
We had also visited this park in the spring and were happy to return. While walking through the RV park, Jackson spotted this desert blond tarantula.
What a beauty! Jan helped him off the road out of the way of vehicles.
On walks and hikes we spotted this elegant earless lizard warming in the sun, a house finch, and a cactus wren atop a cactus.
Within minutes of putting out the feeder, Anna’s hummingbirds showed up hungry.
Finally, the morning skies started each day delightfully.
Gotta love Arizona.
See you next time.