Category Archives: Photos-Landscapes

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~Sunset over the Catalina Mountains

December 29, 2018 Sheila 7 Comments

~December 22, 2018, Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, AZ

A lovely walk, at sunset, on the Romero Ruin Loop Trail.

Howard at the beginning of the Romero Ruin Trail in Catalina State Park (6:15pm)

The mountains are gorgeous with the beginning of the evening sunlight shining on them. (6:16pm)

(6:20pm) Sunlight kissing the Saguaro Cacti.

(6:22pm) The evening sunlight turns these mountains into a fiery, gorgeous sight.

The Romero Ruin Trail Loop is one of my very favorite trails. The views, from atop this hill of the Catalina Mountains are spectacular, the foliage diverse, and the birding rewarding. At sunset, the scene is peaceful and breathtaking.

Earlier in the day, on the same trail:

A list of all the other birds I observed while visiting Catalina State Park:

Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk(new), Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Anna’s Hummingbird, Gilded Flicker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Common Raven, Western Scrub-Jay, White-crowned Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon Towhee, Pyrrhuloxia, House Finch, Cassin’s Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

I wish I would have seen more!

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~The Moon Sits Atop a Saguaro

Image December 20, 2018 Sheila 2 Comments

December 20, 2018, Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, AZ

A stroll at dusk back a nature trail in Catalina State Park to watch the moon rise over the Catalina Mountains was a lovely way to spend the evening.

The Moon sits atop a cactus.

The evening light brings out the gorgeous colors of the Catalinas.

It was a lovely walk, watching the glow of the setting sun play its magic over the mountains.

On Saturday, December 22nd, the moon will be full and it is also the winter solstice. Winter is here.

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~Utah Lake State Park

October 28, 2018 Sheila 2 Comments

Provo, UT

We spent two nights at Utah Lake State Park located in Provo, UT. The campground closed on October 1st; however, since we had reservations we were allowed to stay. We were the only campers there, except for one host site.

Adjacent to the park is a bicycling, hiking, walking trail. On the other side of the trail is an old ranch and the photo below shows what it looks like.

_MG_4838

Utah Lake is unique in that it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West and yet it lies in an arid area that receives only about 15 inches of rainfall a year. The mouth of the Provo River, where it empties into Utah Lake, was undoubtedly a very popular camping place for the early inhabitants of Utah Valley.

_MG_4830 — Utah Lake is surrounded by mountains.

_MG_4942 — Part of the harbor leading into Utah Lake

_MG_4947 — A happy fisherman with his fishing buddy.

_MG_4842 — Still seeing some autumn colors.

_MG_4832 — Jordan River, which flows into Utah Lake

_MG_4852 — A Cottonwood tree, showing its autumn colors

_MG_4856

OoO-Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon

If you are ever in Orem or Provo a ride to see the falls is a must. At the falls there is a paved trail, miles long, that runs along the Jordan River that you can walk, It is beautiful.

Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful foot “double-cataract” falls along Hwy 189 in Provo Canyon. It is most impressive in spring and early summer when flows are highest and wildflowers surround the area. You can view the falls from a highway pull-off or hike to its base.