Hmmm … Yesterday a Rattle Snake and today a Gila Monster. Apparently both are quite poisonous. At home my birding occasionally brings me face to foot with small Garter Snakes. Yesterday this process got started during my daily bicycle ride. I had discovered where a Red-Tailed Hawk nest was just off the bike trail. Upon mounting my bike for my return ride a 4.5 foot snake presented itself in my path.
As I knew someone else was riding a bit behind me, I yelled snake and steered just behind the snake to avoid running over the reptile. I thought the snake looked like a rattler, but I had never seen such a beast. The rider behind me exclaimed … wow … good sized rattler. I responded that at least I had quickly steered behind said snake. My riding companion then said: Oh … they can turn and strike real quickly. Oh well … no harm done! I am still riding.
Fast forward to this morning during my morning birding hike in Sabino Canyon. I started watching a strange large reptile which was 8 feet in front of me. Listen to the sound track from the video I was taking. Uff dah! Still cool. Apparently Gila Monsters are quite rare. In the end my two birding excursions yielded two poisonous lifers! I have no desire to repeat these sightings, particularly the snake.
Here is a vista view of my walk in Sabino Canyon. Eventually I would be down hiking the trail in the photo. It was also cool to see Saguaro Cactus in bloom.
My hike shortly after sunrise at Sabino Canyon was super. Here are a few photographs I took of our fine feathered friends, who I like better than reptiles. Learn more about the relationship between birds and reptiles from Arizona State University’s Ask a Biologist.
Cardinal Looking Birds … (with unpronounceable names)
And some other birds …
Black-Throated Sparrow
Gambel’s Quail
Beautiful photos. I’ve been down in Arizona and also encountered rattlesnakes like you did… quite a surprise for someone used to garter snakes! I also saw scorpions right outside my hotel room, and if I recall correctly, a tarantula as well. But I also witnessed at least 50 hummingbirds sharing a fountain at the hotel… a really glorious sight. (I was not into taking bird photos at that time, unfortunately.)
That would be cool to see that many hummers at once. It has been nice to see multiple species of hummingbirds down here in the Southwest.