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

On Safari in a Gilbert, AZ Neighborhood

My wife and I made the 700-mile drive from our home in Utah to Gilbert, Arizona last Friday after hearing that our daughter had given birth to our second grandchild--a beautiful girl. She is a very content baby, to the delight of mom and dad. Mom and baby are doing very well. Big brother (2 1/2) loves his "baby sissy." Being a grandparent is the best!

During our visit to Arizona, we spent most of our time in the home, yard, and neighborhood, oohing and ahhing over the little one, playing with her big brother, and helping mom and dad fix and decorate around their new home. Our 2 1/2 year old grandson kept asking for "papa's nocalurs" (binoculars) after we used them to get a close look at a Desert Spiny Lizard on the wall in his backyard.

We went on a little safari several times during our visit. We re-discovered Desert Spiny Lizards (about 5 inches long from nose to vent--not including tail), Anna's Hummingbirds, and White-winged Doves around the yard.

Desert Spiny Lizard in Gilbert, AZ

Desert Spiny Lizard in Gilbert, AZ

Following the song of a White-winged Dove led to the discovery of a very weak looking nest barely held two young doves that would fledge a day later. I thought it was a peaceful sign to have two young White-winged Doves fledge from my daughter's tree while we were enjoying our two young grandchildren. 

I have to admit that the face of the young doves was a little odd at first sight. They were lacking significant facial feathers, had brownish rather than red irises, and dark rather than blue skin around the eyes. Here is an image of an adult for comparison with the fledgling images that will follow.

White-winged Dove in Gilbert, AZ

Before leaving the nest

Juvenile White-winged Dove Just Before Fledging in Gilbert, AZ

I tried to capture images of the young birds together and with a parent, but the many branches and leaves of the elm had me walking in circles to find a gap large enough to provide a view to more than just parts of birds.

Juvenile White-winged Dove in Gilbert, AZ

Juvenile White-winged Dove in Gilbert, AZ

Juvenile White-winged Dove in Gilbert, AZ

The only shot I managed with both parent and young in the same frame.

Adult and Juvenile White-winged Dove in Gilbert, AZ

Here are two other Doves seen around the neighborhood just as another round of Arizona's monsoon rain began to fall. While the temperatures were lower than we expected during our visit, the 70-80% humidity range had me thinking I was back home in Kentucky--sweating while standing in the shade.

White-winged Dove in Rain in Gilbert, AZ

White-winged Dove in Rain in Gilbert, AZ

I extended the safari to a nearby green space in my daughter's planned community one afternoon as I took a casual walk. It wasn't long before the the bird alarm sounded. I heard some Great-tailed Grackles getting upset over some sort of disturbance so I looked toward them and discovered a Greater Roadrunner on the ground beneath them. With little thought I ran back to the house as quickly as I could in my flip flops, grabbed my camera, and rushed back to the park. Fortunately, the roadrunner was still exploring the area under a Mesquite Tree when I returned. I was able to follow and photograph the fascinating bird as it moved along fence lines and climbed into and out of a tree.

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

Making its way into the Mesquite Tree

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

Standing directly below this bird allowed me to realize that roadrunners actually have eyelashes!

Looking up to Greater Roadrunner in Mesquite Tree in Gilbert, AZ

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

As I stood below and admired this bird I decided to capture images I may never see again. For some reason my attention was drawn to one of its legs--the vent was an unintended bi-product of the peculiar perspective.

Leg of a Greater Roadrunner Perched in Mesquite Tree in Gilbert, AZ

Tail of a Greater Roadrunner Perched in Mesquite Tree in Gilbert, AZ

I decided to capture this image when I saw the sunlight penetrating the skin of its chin. The eyelashes were easily seen again as well.

Looking up to a Greater Roadrunner in a Mesquite Tree in Gilbert, AZ

I can only imagine he was curious about what I was doing when he cocked his head and looked straight down at me from his Mesquite perch.

Looking up to a Greater Roadrunner in a Mesquite Tree in Gilbert, AZ

I managed to capture several final images as he made his way across a wall and out of sight.

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

It was a coincidence to have his tail feathers frame his eye in this image.

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

A final roadrunner image provided a view of several of his unique features before he made his way to another playground.

Greater Roadrunner in Gilbert, AZ

I wasn't sure what might follow such an encounter with a roadrunner, but I was pleased to meet a nice neighbor whose backyard bordered the green space. He had some bird feeders in his yard and shared a like-passion for birds and nature. We visited for a while as juvenile Verdins and Anna's Hummingbirds paid their visits above and around us. Young Verdins are quite plain in the appearance. They lack the yellow face and red shoulders of the adults

Juvenile Verdin in Gilbert, AZ

Here is an image of an adult I captured during a previous visit to the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch. It shows what the young birds lack in their appearance.

Adult Verdin at Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch Gilbert, AZ

The male Anna's Hummingbird below provided a great example of how the iridescent gorget and head feathers of these birds can change from dull and unassuming to a glaring rosy shield depending on our perspective and the influence of direct light. This is the same bird facing away and toward us.

Anna's Hummingbird in Gilbert, AZ

Anna's Hummingbird in Gilbert, AZ

When you need to have some quiet time to recharge your batteries or renew your appreciation for life, go on a little safari and observe the diversity and beauty of the world around you.