Arizona Sycamores in South Fork (Photo by Narca)
I often hike up the South Fork road with friends, usually Peg or Rose Ann, but some days when the call of the canyon is especially strong, I go alone, quietly. That's when a Black Bear is more likely to amble across the dirt road, oblivious to a hiker. That's when I'm more likely to tune into the small flocks of confiding Yellow-eyed Juncos that forage unobtrusively at the road's edge.
Today sparkles, after last night's mix of rain and light snow. The luminous cliffs glow intensely orange against the skyblue. Flocks of ubiquitous Mexican Jays probe into crevices and under leaves. An Arizona Woodpecker taps softly in the oaks.
The cliffs of South Fork (Photo by Narca)
Today a troop of Coatis cavorts in the creek bed and noses through the drifts of fallen, rusty-gold leaves. Females and young gather in troops like this one. The males (like this big guy who visited our house last month) are solitary. In Costa Rica, people used to think that there were two species of Coatimundi––those that lived in groups, and those who were solitary, the "Lonely Coati."
A lone male Coati (Photo by Narca)
A most enjoyable post. Wish I were there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rich! You're welcome any time.
ReplyDeleteHi Narca, I just stumbled on your blog and really like it. We just spent two night near Portal (which coincided with the big storm unfortunately), but we did manage to get out and hike a bit in the canyon. We love the beauty and wildlife in the area and we will be back. In the mean time, I will continue to check in on your blog to see what you are up to.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan, and thanks. Come back to Portal in early May to catch the peak of spring migration, or in June or July for the nesting season. Once the monsoons start––in years when they start!––the heat isn't so bad.
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