Maricopa Owls and Toads: Not Arizona Sport Team Names

I found my very first Elf Owl, the smallest owl in the world, during one of the trips my wife and I took to Mesa, Arizona. I had looked forward to finding one for some time before we made our first trip to Mesa during the breeding season. We were visiting with my daughter and her family. I checked my Birdseye app for where Elf Owls were being seen in Maricopa County and a place called Coon Bluff Recreation Area was showing recent sightings. My daughter shares my spirit of adventure so the two of us left her husband, my wife, and their baby boy at home and explored along Coon Bluff Road one evening after dark. We heard Elf Owls, but we didn't see them before we needed to return home. I returned the next night in a solo effort and was able to photograph the first one I ever saw. You can read the stories and see the images of that sighting and other really cool dessert birds from that spring trip by clicking here.

I'll keep the narrative short on this post and focus on the images from a recent evening on Coon Bluff Road as well as some fun images of Burrowing Owls I check on during each visit to Gilbert, Arizona.

Elf Owls are about 5 1/2 inches tall with a wingspan of about 13 inches. They nest and roost in tree cavities and forage primarily for insects at night. They have no problem preying on scorpions. They love the cavities in Saguaros. They breed during the spring and summer months in southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico, west Texas, and northern parts of Mexico. They migrate farther south during winter months.

Elf Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Elf Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Elf Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Elf Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Elf Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

I heard a couple of Western Screech Owls calling when I first parked my care on Coon Bluff Road, but my target bird was the Elf Owl. After some one on one time with the Elf Owl I followed the sound of a singing Western Screech Owl. I located that owl and captured the image below.

Western Screech Owl on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

As I was leaving the area to return home I noticed what reminded me of the Bull Frogs I used to see often while growing up in Kentucky. I pulled over and was surprised to see what looked like a wet frog in the middle of a dry desert. Toads, not frogs, live in deserts so it had to be some sort of toad. I captured the images below and then went home to search the Internet for its identity. I discovered that it is a Sonoran Desert Toad. They are active at night and breed during June and July. They are one of the largest toads in North America (about 7 inches long), have white rather than dark throats like most toads, and have large paratoid glands behind their eyes which secret poison as a defense mechanism. Their poison could cause death to a dog if the dog picked it up by it mouth.  Click here for a link to more information on these toads from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum web site.

Sonoran Desert Toad on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Sonoran Desert Toad on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Sonoran Desert Toad on Coon Bluff Road Near Mesa, AZ

Finally, I found seven Burrowing Owls at my regular spot in Gilbert. I check on this burrow site every time I visit Gilbert. I would love to hear some of the captions you would create for these personality-filled birds. Please free to share your suggested captions for what some of these owls could be thinking or doing as they stretch, scratch, sniff, and roll their heads.

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ

Burrowing Owl in Gilbert, AZ