Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
Travel Blog 380: A Lizard, a Snake, and a Thread-Waisted Wasp
Leaving the Tucson area, we stayed a few days at the 5,500-acre Catalina State Park, another wonderful Arizona State Park. Like most of the places we have stayed so far in Arizona, this is another great stop for birding, with several colorful trails to explore. The always-fun-to-watch roadrunners were everywhere within the park scurrying along like New Yorkers chasing cabbies in the rain.
Speaking of being everywhere, the entire park it seems was built upon a labyrinth that would make the ancient citizens of Rome proud. There were sentinels everywhere, always on guard and ready to squeak out the alarm. Many times, we watched these little guys run off roadrunners and gang up to chase away the gopher snakes slithering for a snack. Those prairie snakes were persistent.
We were fortunate to see a gopher snake offensive and a ground squirrel counter attack.
A few of the other birds we spotted were Albert’s towhee, white-winged dove, and Gambel’s quail.
What a Transformation
To me, this pipevine swallowtail larva is not much to look at. However, give it some time and the output is amazing. Take a look at the pipevine swallowtail.
This and That
In addition, we had the chance to observe an inflated beetle, a sleek lizard, and a common thread-waisted wasp.
There’s always something going on.
Oracle State Park
Not far away was another state park worth visiting. Oracle State Park is a 4,000-acre wildlife refuge in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains that is also designated as an International Dark Sky Park. We saw a Cassin’s kingbird and a house finch.
Again, lots of birds and other critters, pretty scenery, and the self-guided tour of the historic Kannally Ranch House was time well spent.
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
An easy hour up and an easy hour down, this scenic drive, is, well scenic! On a warm day you appreciate the cooler temperatures as you rise in altitude. Nice lunch on the deck of the Sawmill Run Restaurant.
See you soon with more from Arizona.
Speaking of being everywhere, the entire park it seems was built upon a labyrinth that would make the ancient citizens of Rome proud. There were sentinels everywhere, always on guard and ready to squeak out the alarm. Many times, we watched these little guys run off roadrunners and gang up to chase away the gopher snakes slithering for a snack. Those prairie snakes were persistent.
We were fortunate to see a gopher snake offensive and a ground squirrel counter attack.
A few of the other birds we spotted were Albert’s towhee, white-winged dove, and Gambel’s quail.
What a Transformation
To me, this pipevine swallowtail larva is not much to look at. However, give it some time and the output is amazing. Take a look at the pipevine swallowtail.
This and That
In addition, we had the chance to observe an inflated beetle, a sleek lizard, and a common thread-waisted wasp.
There’s always something going on.
Oracle State Park
Not far away was another state park worth visiting. Oracle State Park is a 4,000-acre wildlife refuge in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains that is also designated as an International Dark Sky Park. We saw a Cassin’s kingbird and a house finch.
Again, lots of birds and other critters, pretty scenery, and the self-guided tour of the historic Kannally Ranch House was time well spent.
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
An easy hour up and an easy hour down, this scenic drive, is, well scenic! On a warm day you appreciate the cooler temperatures as you rise in altitude. Nice lunch on the deck of the Sawmill Run Restaurant.
See you soon with more from Arizona.