My stay in Phoenix is nearing its end. The one regret I have is not seeing a Common Chuckwalla. Of course, there are other creatures I wanted to encounter, but it’s impossible to see them all in the limited time. The Gila Monster, a visually striking lizard, mostly lives underground and only surfaces for a few days each year…
After much thought about which trail in South Mountain might have terrain most suitable for a Chuckwalla, I decided to place my final hope in the Mormon Trail. It’s a fairly rocky hiking trail with scenic views, and it’s quite popular.
6 a.m. the parking lot at the Mormon Trail entrance. Everyone starts early while it’s still cool, so the parking lot fills up quickly.Gambel’s Quail chicks.There are so many of these quail. Perhaps the extreme heat keeps predators away.The trail is varied with great views.
As I climbed steadily, I spotted the creature I had been searching for among the rocks by the trail.
I finally encountered the Common Chuckwalla. Being part of the iguana family, it’s clearly much larger than typical lizards. It had just emerged from the shade of the rocks to bask in the morning sun.
I cautiously moved closer with my 500mm lens, the same one I use for birds, but it quickly hid in the shadows of the rocks. I waited patiently for it to move.
Though it appeared slow and docile, it unexpectedly climbed the rock with agility.It seemed this was the spot it wanted to reach.This is the rocky area where the Chuckwalla was hiding.As soon as people approach, it quickly hides in the crevices of the rocks. I was lucky to have observed it from that close before anyone passed by.After climbing the rocky slope, you reach a flat area.Anna’s Hummingbird.Harris’s Antelope Squirrel, which I previously saw eating cactus flowers.After this, I spotted about five more Common Chuckwallas. All of them were basking on the rocks, so it’s not hard to find them if you’re in their habitat. However, they are quite wary, and they hide as soon as you show any sign of approaching.Hidden Valley, near the summit area, has a trail that runs through a valley like a secret passage, just as its name suggests. It felt very surreal, and I really liked it.Although I encountered many lizards, I saw a snake in Arizona for the first time. It was a Sonoran Whipsnake.The Natural Tunnel at the edge of Hidden Valley.A sleeping? Ornate Tree Lizard, hanging on a rock.
That concludes my Arizona trip. Now, I’m heading back to California.
