We got an early start the next morning, rolling out of bed and getting out the door quickly. We had a big day and a long hike ahead of us, hiking up Ramsey Canyon. The trailhead started at the Ramsey Canyon Preserve, managed by the Nature Conservancy. We planned on spending some time at the visitor's center before moving up the canyon, as this was a prime place to observe a number of hummingbird species. There were a number of hummingbird feeders set up, and a viewing area complete with benches. Over the course of about forty minutes, we observed eleven different species of hummingbirds, including the Violet-Crowned, the Broad-Billed, Black Chins and Blue Throats, Broad Tails and the rare Berylline Hummingbird. Tracey and Steve were ecstatic; it was quite a show, even for a novice Hummer Watcher like me. I had the added bonus of photographing a very cooperative Arizona Sister, one of my favorite butterflies. Our visit to Arizona was more than a simple herping trip; we built time into our schedule to watch birds, ogle plants, badger butterflies and generally drink it all in, while keeping an eye out for the serpent and the frog.

Arizona Sister

Then it was time to start our hike up the canyon. The first mile or so was pretty grueling, a very steep climb to the first scenic overlook. We took our time and stopped to rest here and there, watching out for reptile life. Here in the lower reaches of the canyon, the vegetation included oaks, agaves, and the beautiful two-toned manzanita. Lizards scuttled over rocks and trees - the now-familiar Mountain Spiny Lizards. The sun was out in full force, although clouds were building over some of the peaks ahead of us.

Having reached the overlook, and popping a sweat in doing so, we took a break to drink in the scenic vistas as thousands before us had done. The rocky outcrop we were on fell away into the canyon on two sides, creating picture post card views in a number of directions. Mountain Spiny Lizards were all over this rocky promontory, and we started poking around in search of the little buzztails who would make a meal out of those pretty saurians.

I had worked my way out onto a rocky outcrop that fell away to the canyon bottom. It looked like a good place to live if you were a small montane rattlesnake. I shuffled around a corner and raised up on tiptoe to peer into a crevice, and there was a little Banded Rock Rattler, looking back at me! The snake was coiled in the sun, on a little shelf in front of a deep fissure, and he let out a tiny rattle. I dropped my head back down, out of sight, and worked to pull my camera out of my hip pack. I was not in the best of situations, being right out on the edge; if I lost my balance or tripped I could end up somewhere far below. I shouted for the other guys,  but they were out of earshot. Camera ready, I popped back up, only to see the rattler backing into the fissure. In a few seconds it was beyond the reach of hand or camera lens.

The most disappointing part of this was climbing back up and telling Steve and Tracey what they missed. You don't want anyone to miss any part of the experience when you're all along on the same ride.

We poked around for a while longer, but couldn't turn up anything else. Time to head on up the trail...