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Monday, August 25, 2008

Amazing Sights


We started off early on the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain, and within a quarter mile we saw this collared lizard, who never moved from its precarious rock perch.
It didn't even blink while I took this closeup of its collar.
Further along the trail at the backside of the mountain, I photographed this hawk (a Redtail, I think) just as it took off.
In an arroyo south of the main trail, we came across this specimen of Buffalo Gourd, the largest and stinkiest I've ever seen.


The leaves were enormous and many of the gourds fully grown.














The flowers were covered with beetles.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Very interesting beetles. Do you know what they are? Also, very nice lizard picture..

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