Continuing to take advantage of the current weirdness, we took a day trip back to the same trail in Saguaro National Park. The primary goal? To see if the tadpoles had grown up. In hopes of getting a good shot of a toad, I took the Nikon.
The tadpoles and toads did not disappoint.
![](https://heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0234-1024x1024.jpg)
We saw dozens of red-spotted toads, the largest a bit bigger than a golf ball, the smallest about the size of a chickpea.
That was exciting. Even more exciting? Seeing some baby toads still with tails (which I didn’t get a good shot of) or tadpoles with legs.
![](https://heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0257-683x1024.jpg)
Last week when we were there, butterflies were all over. Hard to believe, but there were even more this time!
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We went earlier in the day and the overall temps were lower, so we were able to do the entire loop trail, about 1.8 miles, whereas last time, we went a small portion of the trail then turned around.
The water wasn’t running in all the places we saw it before, but still plenty of running water.
![](https://i1.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0251.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0267.jpg?ssl=1)
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![](https://i1.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0266.jpg?ssl=1)
Of course, more cactus skeletons! The one on the left is particularly interesting.
![](https://i0.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0346-1.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0345.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0273.jpg?ssl=1)
The dead trees and branches are almost as lovely to look at as the cactus skeletons.
![](https://heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0284-683x1024.jpg)
And it is Saguaro National Park. Photos don’t really well capture just how many saguaros there are.
Most have two or three arms. Sometimes none. Every now and then…
![](https://heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0355-683x1024.jpg)
Sometimes, black and white does a scene well.
Amazing views everywhere we looked
![](https://heat-weirdlastname.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dsc_0283-1-1024x683.jpg)
No plans to go this Friday, but that could change…
1 thought on “5Sept21 photos: Saguaro National Park—again!”