Gila Monster

On the second of May I resumed my big adventure, this time I will be traveling for 3 months before returning to the LA area.  My first stop was the Katherine’s Landing near Bullhead City, AZ. It is part of the Lake Mead Recreation Area I had been to before. But this time I was at the lower end on the opposite shore.  It was really just a stop over point since I was not driving more than 5 hours at a stretch and this seemed like a good spot. 

I checked in at the ranger station and found learned of a good hiking and birding location called Grapevine Canyon where there also happened to be pictrogrylphs.  So off I went early in the morning.  As I was parking my camper I spotted a Galia Monster crossing the parking lot. I was so excited I almost couldn’t get my camera turned.  As it saw me approaching it began to move a little faster but I did manage to take 5 photos before it hid in the bush.

When I returned to the ranger station I told them about seeing it and they were so excited and then almost hugged me when I told them I had photos.  It seems it isn’t officially documented unless you have photos.  They informed me that it is a rare sighting and I was extremely lucky since no one has reported seeing one in that area for a couple of years.  I gave them copies of the photos that were sent to the state biologist and now it is all official. I was glad to help.

I saw a few other lizards but I will save those for a later blog. But I do want to share the butterflies I found and oh yes the pictogrylphs.

I don’t know much about these butterflies but they are beautiful.

California Patch (Chlosyne californica)

Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)    Isn’t this one beautiful and large for a hairstreak.

Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)

Gray Hairstrek (Strymon melinus)