Esplanade Owlets Photoset • LosDosSloFolks • 2019-04-10 • HikeArizona.COM

Esplanade Owlets, AZ

	2019-04-10
	7 by LosDosSloFolks

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Esplanade Owlets, AZ

Hiking	4.50 Miles	247 AEG

Hiking	4.50 Miles
	247 ft AEG		8 LBS Pack

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Linked

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Sidewinder Trail - Sonoran Perserve N

Apache Wash Loop - Sonoran Preserve North

Esplanade Trail - Sonoran Preserve North

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Yesterday we hiked the Dixie Mountain Loop and Summit trails [ triplog ] with one of the objectives being to see the baby owls that are visible along the trail. As mentioned in our triplog and photoset the nest was empty as they had already fledged just a few days earlier.

Later in the hike we ran into HAZr's RowdyandMe coming up the trail in the opposite direction. During our conversation we told him about missing out on the owls. It was RowdyandMe's triplogs that led us to the owls in the first place.

Shortly after going our separate ways he called us back and said "I know where some other baby owls are". It was like a drug deal or something.

Maybe "I know a guy who knows a guy" was coming next.

It wasn't like that at all. He simply gave us a very accurate location of a giant saguaro with directions on how to get there and that's exactly what we did this morning. Thank you Larry.

We started out at the Apache Wash Trailhead and went up the Sidewinder Trail to see the overview of this area. We then backtracked to the Apache Wash loop and connected to the Esplanade Trail which took us to the owls nest. Success

There were three owlets in the nest best as I could tell and they are cute little things. Worth the effort to find them for sure. This trail system seems to be geared towards cyclists but the Apache Wash trail has prospects and could even be bonafide. It warrants another look. This area like everywhere else probably looked a whole lot better 2 weeks ago!

Heading back to the trailhead and parking lot we almost stepped on another Diamondback. Two in two days that didn't rattle a warning at all. I've been making a concerted effort to keep my head up and shoulders back to help with some neck issues and this almost caused a "Code Brown" moment for me with the snake. Good peripheral vision prevented even minor soilage however.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Great Horned Owl Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

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"If you wait, all that happens is you get older"

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