Southern Sonora

I spent the last week in a very remote part of southern Sonora, Mexico, near the town of Alamos, doing biologist stuff. Here are some pictures, with minimal text.

5AM: Alamos. There are about five roosters per person in this town.




Hibiscus.


The lower ranch house, in the tropical deciduous forest.


Part of the kitchen.


The rest of the kitchen.


This mare was purchased for $600 that morning, for the purpose of breeding mules.


Walking to one of the insect trap sites on a neighboring ranch.


Typical wildlife on the ranches. Note the giant fig in the background.


This is what the tropical deciduous forest looks like.


The pool at the mouth of the slot canyon, where we swam.


The slot canyon from above.


A spider the size of my hand looks for fish.


An ant trail carries my fluorescent-dyed cookie crumbs up a tree.


An attempt at night photography: the moon rises over the hill.


Setting out the next day for the upper ranch.


The upper ranch house.


We examine barrel cacti on a rock.


In fact, these cacti only grow on rocks.


If you look closely at this vertical cliff you will see about 20 barrel cacti.


Ephebomyrmex(?) visits a cactus nectary.


A very exciting Cephalotes ant shows up as well.


Another attempt at night photography at the upper house.


Moonlight on the neighboring ranch house.


Hiking through an oak and pine forest.


Agave.


Coral Bean Tree.


Remote canyon.


Me, holding a gigantic oak leaf.


Blacklighting for insects.










Lobo (a.k.a. Bozo) the dog.


The ride down.