Phoenix and the White Tank Mountains

We hadn't see our friends Janelle and Justin in four years, so when I heard they moved back to Phoenix, we made plans to visit. We had a day and a half with them before they left for an event in Utah. We were so excited to see each other and reconnect that we forgot to take a group photo until we were leaving, and by then, the kids were sunburned and soaking wet from two days in the pool.

 

I love that we were all able to pick up right where we left off. And the best part was seeing how they have created two successful businesses, one that supplies all the coolest stuff for OHVs and the other provides ultrasound services for pregnant women who want a more personal experience or to have ultrasound at their gender reveal party or baby shower. The future looks bright for both of them!

While in Phoenix we stayed at Saguaro Skies on Luke AFB and discovered the coolest library! First of all, its location at the base of the White Tank Mountains creates an atmosphere that straddles the line between the city and the wilderness. The entire back wall is glass inviting you to have an experience with nature while still enjoying the comfort of air conditioning and padded chairs. Not only is the view pleasant, but I actually saw more wildlife from those chairs than when I walked the outdoor trail. Say's Phoebes, Thrashers, and rabbits were easily seen all beneath one tree. My children watched in delight as a family of quails with a dozen tiny puffball babies skittered by just outside the window! Right before we left a coyote ran by, pausing long enough at a bush for me to point my children's attention in his direction! Wow! 

Mom, Dad and baby Gambel's Quails. This photo was taken thru the window with my cellphone.

 

The library also features a Seed Library. Patrons can choose three seed packets a month.  A chart shows what to plant for each season. They are encouraged to donate seeds back to the program in the future.

The White Tank Mountains Nature Center is located inside the library. There we saw live snakes, scorpions and spiders of the area and saw displays with birds and other wildlife we may encounter. Maps and information for the mountain are available. A fee is charged to enter the mountains. We returned  to explore the White Tank Mountains the following week.

I found cactus wrens and Gilded Flickers (lifer) while hiking a portion of the Ford Canyon Trail, but on my way back to the truck, a cow was blocking the trail. (It was way bigger than it looks in this photo!)

 I stopped walking and started talking to her, realizing if I step off trail, I'll be surrounded by cactus. Then it happened. She lowered her head and started to charge at me! Yes, I screamed and jumped back. Fortunately it was a bluff charge and she stopped. With heart racing, I decided I'd rather dodge cactus than an angry cow. And yes, I did end up with a barbed cactus needle in my foot, which hurts a lot more coming out! Still not ready to leave, I took the wildlife trail to a small pond, and was rewarded with a lesser nighthawk calling and flying just after sunset. 

We visited Tres Rios Wetlands so I could bird while Asher fished. It's owned by the city and requires a permit which can be obtained the same day online for free. No shade and very little water is visible thru the vegetation, yet I still found it an interesting walk. Unfortunately while the trail map on site shows a loop trail, I found only a straight section was accessible. Asher caught some fish and I saw enough birds, lizards, and squirrels to be happy.

Funny Foot Farm

While I was birding Sweetwater Wetlands, the family met our friends at Christopher Columbus Park to enjoy the view while Asher fished. Arizona requires a fishing license for children over 10, but fortunately it's only $5 per year for them.

Then Yair joined us for a visit to the Funny Foot Farm, an exotic zoo where you are invited to feed and pet most of the animals! It's reasonably priced and holds an impressive collection. It's not just a normal petting zoo, you actually get a behind the scenes tour of the facility, stepping into the enclosures of many animals. 

The kids really liked the Patagonian Maras. They kind of look like a mix between a rabbit, a deer and a kangaroo! 

The African porcupines were my favorite! They only have quills on their back half so it looks a little like they're wearing a skirt.

They have great birds here: Guineas, Currasows, Pheasants.

If capybaras are your favorite, they offer a special opportunity to spend extra time with them. Have you ever seen a capybara's feet? Pretty interesting.

This is the only place in the US you can touch, maybe even see these next two animals: 

Red-rumped Agouti and the Chacoan Mara.

This warthog absolutely loved attention! When you start petting her, she'd flop over and soak it up. As soon as you stopped she'd jump back up and continue on with her day.

This enormous rabbit is only a year old! So soft and sweet!

After the tour, you're free to spend unlimited time with the goats, pigs, birds and ostriches. Your admission price includes three cups of food to feed the various animals.

Definitely a fun place to visit, and if you live locally, you can hire the zoo to come to you for a party and for a great learning experience! 

Saguaro National park

Saguaro National Park has two completely separate parks, an east and a west and it's a bit of a drive from one park to the other. Last time, we visited the east, this time we saw the west. Considering the temperatures in May, we decided to pick a few short hikes and take the scenic loop drive. After picking up Jr Ranger books, we walked the Nature Loop where we found some interesting lizards and we saw a Red-tailed Hawk flying carrying a large snake!

   

There are a number of places to stop and hike along the Bajada Loop Drive. My favorite was the Valley View trail where we walked among towering saguaros and followed the trail to a grand viewpoint.

The photo does not do this expansive view justice. Perched on the high peak of this trail is a lovely place to sit and look out over the desert towards the distant mountains. The valley view.

Early May was a great time of year to go because everything was blooming, the palo verde's yellow blooms, the ocotillo's reddish- orange blooms and pink and yellow cactus blooms. The downside was lots of allergens in the air, and it was pretty hot already.