Esplanade Owl Search Photoset • LosDosSloFolks • 2020-04-13 • HikeArizona.COM

Esplanade Owl Search, AZ

	2020-04-13
	14 by LosDosSloFolks

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Esplanade Owl Search, AZ

Hiking	5.87 Miles	260 AEG

Hiking	5.87 Miles	2 Hrs 45 Mns		2.43 mph
	260 ft AEG	20 Mns Break	6 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

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Apache Wash Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Esplanade Trail - Sonoran Preserve North

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Mrs. SloFolks wanted to check on the owls and their young at the Sonoran Preserve North and I needed to start breaking in my new low top boots so this flat little hike was perfect for both of us. We started at the Apache Wash Trail Head and headed east and then north to where we knew some owl nests were located.

Nest number one had one juvenile present that looked about ready to fledge. Usually one or both parents are nearby during sunlight hours but we saw no one. On to nest number two. We saw one parent first sleeping in a nearby Saguaro. The nest had two Owlettes that still had much of their white down feathers showing through. We got some photos but used the zoom as to not get close enough to upset mom or dad. The adult gave us a show doing a flight to a nearby tree. On the return route Cathy spotted one of the parents from nest number one sleeping in a Palo Verde tree.

A weird thing happened with a bike rider at this point. He came up on us from behind and passed us on our left. There was tons of room and as he smiled and said hello his front tire hit a rock and the bike did a complete 180. He tried to put his leg out but MISSED the ground somehow while he hit the front handbrake. He went down quickly and his helmeted head smashed into my left knee. The physics of all this seemed improbable to impossible. Nobody got hurt, it was just such a strange occurrence.

Saw three owlettes and two adults and my new shoes were doing OK so success on both fronts.

About one mile from the trailhead on the return I jokingly said to Cathy..."If we were to see a snake it would probably be near Apache Wash so I'm gonna fall back in behind you. Not 30 seconds later she came to an abrupt stop as a D-Back was in the grass on the side of the trail. Good eyes for her to see it.

I doubt I would have seen it. No rattle as he was just waking up I think. He did rattle and strike "the pose" as I urged him off the trail for the safety of others.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Barrel Cactus Strawberry Hedgehog Triangle Bursage

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Great Horned Owl Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Wildflowers Observation Light

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