7/30- I drove some backroads west of Tucson looking for sidewinders but came up empty settling for a few toads.

7/31- My first big find, and the best find of the trip came around 6 pm on a dirt road in Saguaro Natl Park. Ambling across the road was a gorgeous Gila Monster. From a distance it looked like a Cottonmouth crossing Snake Road (thick and about 2 feet long). I thought what kind of snake, until I realized it had legs as I got closer. I was so excited I rolled out of the car and had to run back for my camera. I will post the picture as soon as I figure out how. I watched it for several minutes but only snapped about 4 photos because the camera I had was full after 4 shots. What an awesome find!!

8/1- In Saquaro Natl Park I rescued a Desert Tortoise from a heavily traveled paved road. For the 3rd day in a row I saw no snakes. I arrived in Portal that evening greeted by roadrunners, coue's whitetail deer, hummingbirds and a Mexican Spotted Owl, but no snakes.

7/30-Arrived at Tucson airport in the evening and cruised backroads for sidewinders that night. Came up empty on sidewinders. Saw several Merriam's Kangaroo Rats. Also saw a DOR Mojave Rattlesnake en route to sidewinder country.

7/31-Walked a wash in the morning looking for Gila Monsters with no luck. Spent the afternoon at Sonoran Desert Museum and added Desert Spiny Lizard, Zebra-Tailed Lizard and Sonoran Desert Whiptail to my lifelist there. Took a night hike looking for Gila Monsters and saw about 70 Great Plains Toads and one large Sonoran Desert Toad.

8/1-Hiked in the Huachucas looking for Ridgenosed Rattlesnakes with no luck. Saw several tarantulas on the roads. Then drove to Cave Creek Ranch near Portal where we'd be staying most of the trip. Saw two Desert Box Turtles on the roads near Portal. A Madrean Alligator Lizard (lifer) greeted us at the door of our cabin at Cave Creek Ranch. It was crawling up the crack of the door and ran into the cabin and under the stove when I opened the door.

Mike