2018

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted June 23, 2018 - Charles Miles

Sonoran Desert Toad - the true master of the desert... June 2018. — Sonoran Desert Toad – the true master of the desert… June 2018.

I kneel on the hot pavement in front of the magnificent beast, any Sabino Canyon walker could see I am taking photos, but would they guess that I am also paying deep respects to this small master? Hardest of the hard core it spends the cool winter days dreaming underground, only interested in the black hot summer nights, gambling on the southwest’s fickle supply of water for life. I wonder how many summers this one has seen – some sources that say they live 4-5 years in the wild, others guess 10-20 years – could this toad have been here for the massive 2006 floods in Sabino Canyon? Maybe it was stalking beetles by moonlight before every walker had a cell phone camera to flash at it. Silence and an intense stare are all it shares tonight – not impressed by my winters in the desert I guess…

Moon, headlamp and reflection - watching the Sonoran Desert Toads in Sabino Canyon. June 2018. — Moon, headlamp and reflection – watching the Sonoran Desert Toads in Sabino Canyon. June 2018.

Bear Canyon, Night – 5/2/2018

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted June 2, 2018 - Charles Miles

Saguaros and stars from the Bear Canyon Trail. May 2018.

Night, stars, saguaros, night creatures and small pools in Bear Canyon – I’ve seen all of these before, many times, and look forward to seeing them many many many more times…

Looking up Bear Canyon from the Bear Canyon Trail. May 2018.

Sabino Canyon – 5/22/2017

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted July 2, 2017 - Charles Miles

Lower Sabino Canyon below the dam. May 2017.

The dryness and early summer heat are having their way with Sabino Canyon – just below the dam the water’s movement is nearly imperceptible and in the still pools strange patterns and stresses emerge – it feels like the canyon and I are both longing for the refreshing July rains…

The Gauge at the Sabino Canyon Dam - July is usually reliable for weather and rain, but every year is different... July 2017. — The Gauge at the Sabino Canyon Dam – July is usually reliable for weather and rain, but every year is different… July 2017.

Sabino Canyon Nights – 2/26/2017 and 3/25/2017

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 1, 2017 - Charles Miles

Trees over the Sabino Canyon Lake. February 2017.

With (seasonal) water and fast/easy access to interesting destinations Sabino Canyon is an easy choice for night photography. You won’t escape the glow of the city here – if your only goal stunning images of the stars and Milky Way there are better destinations. But we have never failed to find something interesting to photograph and visiting Sabino Canyon at night is a chance to enjoy the canyon without the crowds – an increasingly rare treat!

Capturing Images at night in Sabino Canyon. March 2017.

Esperero Trail – 2/13/2017

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted February 25, 2017 - Charles Miles

A phainopepla near the Tram Road in Sabino Canyon. February 2017.

The Tram Road in Sabino Canyon is not always my favorite – but today… Clouds and beautiful colors in the sky – Phainopepla in the trees – easy walking.

Good light makes it easy to see the grey color of the female Phainolpepla and the shiny black of the males – sometimes perched, calling, at the top of the trees, sometimes flying, flashing the light patches under their wings. The Phainopepla are here for the Mistletoe berries – they eat the outer layers and expel the the sticky seed giving the parasitic Mistletoe a chance to spread.

The easy walking on the tram road is appreciated today – with limited time I tried, and failed, to get to Bridal Veil Falls and after turning around under a just-out-of-reach deflated balloon stuck in a tree in Esperero Canyon (the first trash I had seen in miles) I was exhausted and happy to reach the tram road…