#Sonora

[herpsandbirds]

Western or Mojave Shovelnose Snake (Sonora occipitalis), family Colubridae, California, USA

photograph by Myke Clarkson

[fatchance]

Cerro San Jose in Sonora, Mexico, seen from Palominas, Arizona. The dark trees in the middle distance are a narrow band of cottonwoods lining the banks of the San Pedro River.

[keepingitneutral]

Casa Tres Ecos, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico,

Courtesy: JALO

[thomaswaynewolf]

[caffeinated-chaos-bean]

Behold, you are on vacation from your hometown and are attempting to see the sights of Yosemite Nation Park, only to find yourself in the rustic, small town of Tuolumne City.

While wandering the parks and seeing just how small this town really is, you bump into Hatsune Miku!! She just moved here after buying a vacation home, far from her homeland, in stay when she wants to get away from the idol life.

Art (c) Myselg

Image (c) Tuolumne County, Ca - my home town.

[theoldbone]

Wulfenite, Mimetite, San Francisco Mine, Sonora, Mexico, photo by Matt McGill

[eopederson]

Puerta, Álamos, Sonora, 1996.

[railwayhistorical]

Rail Over the Border

Here's a southbound train crossing over the border in Nogales, Arizona into Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. A Border Patrol Agent told me this happens six to eight times a day.

The train rolled up slowly to the gate, which is right in the center of town, it stopped for a few minutes (presumably to change crews, as I had seen vans with drivers waiting), and then continued south at a slow rate. After the last car rolled through, the gate was closed.

The line south out of Tucson is now of the Union Pacific; the line on the other side of the border is Ferromex (which is short for Ferrocarril Mexicano—while that sounds like a national line, it is now a private consortium).

Going back in time, the route here on the US side was originally that of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (operating under the name of the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad) while the rail line on the Mexican side was originally the Sonora Railway (funded by the ATSF so that they would have access to the port of Guaymas on the Pacific.

Six images by Richard Koenig; taken May 3rd 2024.

[carlosenrique-mx]

El Cometa C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) Desde San Carlos Sonora. Créditos: Rada_SC, Octubre, 2024

[brutalrestoration]

Saguaro

[ballparksaroundtheworld]

Estadio Manuel "Ciclón" Echeverría, Navojoa, Sonora, México

[herpsandbirds]

How about a Mojave Shovelnose snake? I have one of my own and haven't found a lot on the Mojave specifically!

Oh yes. I have never heard the Western Shovelnose called that before. I had to look it up. They are gorgeous little snakes.

Western Shovelnose Snake (Sonora occipitalis), family Colubridae, found in arid habitats in the SE United States and NW Mexico

This species used to be divided into subspecies, but those subspecies are no longer considered to be valid. (there is geographic variation in color and pattern, though).

This snake was formerly recognized by the scientific name, Chionactis occipitalis.

They feed mainly on invertebrates.

photographs by Gary Nafis, Erik Enderson, Tom Brennan

[mitsdriveswhere]

Once again, the Caverns of Sonora are just on a different level of beautiful. It looks like a magical underwater cave. Like if I was mermaid, I'd want to live here.

[pacountry-madrid]

[thomaswaynewolf]

[lizardsaredinosaurs]

If you kids continue to insist on frolicking outside my cactus at ungodly hours of the day, I swear...

Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum)

Southeastern USA and Mexico

Status: Threatened in the US

Threats: habitat fragmentation, fires