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Rightfully named because there's a bird perched on the bolder! This sunrise photo was taken from Scottdale's McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Tom’s Thumb trail. Looking south-east towards Weaver's Needle and Superstition Mountain (as seen in the distance).
Death Valley (California) is known for extremes; it is North America's driest and hottest spot with fewer than two inches/five centimeters of rainfall annually and a record high of 134°F. It too has the lowest elevation on the continent (282 feet below sea level) and yet is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney (at 14,505 feet) and two hours west of Las Vegas. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. What a sight to see! There's a 2.5 mile loop trail that leads you through gullies and gulches, however because of our time restrictions, we weren’t able to explore it. We’ll have to go back!
"Eurasian Collared Dove" I recently met a friend at Patagonia Lake State Park, which is a nature reserve in southern Arizona (only minutes from Nogales and the Mexican border). Lori and I not only share the same make of RV but we also have a lot of similar interests, including photography, hiking, biking, kayaking, RVing and birding too. That said, this state park covers it all, and then some! The park was busy with both campers and picnickers but it wasn’t crazy busy as it sometimes is. It was so heartwarming to see parents fishing with their little ones along the shoreline, while the elderly sat on strategically placed benches to watch the birds cluster around the feeders (as was this dove). The Eurasian Collared-Dove can distinguished from its relative the Mourning Dove by its black half-collar marking on the nape of its neck. Interestingly, it's not native to North America but found its way over from the Bahamas (via Florida) when several doves escaped from a pet store during a mid-1970s burglary; they can now be found in most parts of North America. Another interesting fact is that they are one of only a few birds that can drink with their heads down; by submerging their bills and using their bills as though it was a straw. *Thanks Lori R for your “birds eye view", and for the happy hour visit too! Enjoy your travels!
