Sky Island critters

[reptilist]

Yesterday and today I drove up Mt. Graham, one of Arizona's "Sky Islands". Here are some of the pics....

Mountain Spiny Lizard


Yellow Eyed Junco


Stellar Jay


Spotted Sandpiper


Aberts Squirrel


American Robin


Wild Turkey

[Apache Devil]

Great pics Rep. The idea of sky islands fascinates me, in the desert sense. In southeastern Oregon along the Oregon/Nevada border just east of Lakeview, is the area that I call the High Lonesome. It is a rugged land of high desert plateaus that average about a mile or half a mile across, mostly flat on top, towering above the lower areas that the highway winds through. Looking at these plateaus, I cannot help but think that chances are, no white man has ever been to the top of most of these flat-topped rises. In fact, I think I want to dedicate myself to exploring these high desert plateaus of southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada. There just might be some herpetelogical surprises in wait.

[Iggy1]

Great photos Rep. reminds me of the critters we use to see up in Northern CA. except for the Spiny.