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| Mount lemmon Road Catalinas, AZ | |
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| | Mount lemmon Road Catalinas, AZ | | | |
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Mount lemmon Road Catalinas, AZ
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| no partners | | We went for a ride on Sunday with friends from San Manuel, to Mount Lemmon Road in Oracle, then Peppersauce canyon, and the back side of the Catalinas. The purpose of this trip was a pre-hunting scouting trip.
Right after we left San Manuel, we came across probably the biggest Gila Monster I've ever seen. He was HUGE, and very well fed. He brushed up before I could get my camera out, but I did get one pic of his head. Awesome sighting, and that makes two for us this year so far!
Then, right before we hit the Mount Lemmon road, we saw the biggest hawk/raptor, (?) I think we have ever seen in this area. I know it was not any hawk I normally see, I've gotten pretty good at identifying them. This bird's wingspan was HUGE, but by his markings I couldn't identify him. Note to self - find out what this bird is, making notes of markings! He was far enough away by the time I got my camera out again, I couldn't get a good pic of him. (it was misting rain, my camera was wrapped in a garbage bag!).
About two miles before we reached Peppersauce campground, we took a side road that winds its way toward the Catalinas. This road is a pretty rough and rocky one, but the scenery was spectacular.
This side road came out about a mile from the campground. Then we turned up the road that heads toward Rice Peak. We traveled up this road quite a ways, then pulled off to do some glassing. We saw two deer here, one too far away and the other got away before I could get my camera out (again!). Then it rained! We pulled out the tarp and just waited out the rain. It was beautiful, and a few of us actually had to put on jackets. By the time it quit raining, it was time to head for home. So we didn't get to finish the loop we had originally planned to do. I was disappointed, but all in all it was a great day. I found later that huge bird we saw was probably a juvenile Golden Eagle. Sweet!!
Wildlife sited: Gila Monster, juvenile Golden Eagle, Cottontail rabbits, black tailed jackrabbits, Gambel's Quail, hummingbirds, Coues Whitetail deer, Cardinals and sparrows. |
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