Nature Walks - Circle Z Ranch

Every Wednesday, a local Naturalist will lead our guests on a 1-hour Nature walk. Their expertise is inspiring, as they discuss birds, a variety of rich habitats, edible plants, and Arizona’s famed Sky Islands. This Nature walk is a ranch-sponsored activity. It is a slow-paced, short walk designed to maximize your wildlife viewing and nature observation opportunities. This walk happens Wednesday mornings before the rides go out and lasts about 1 hour.

Here is what has been said about the Circle Z Ranch property: “The expanse of wild areas encompassed by the sprawling Circle Z Ranch is indeed inspiring to all who love Nature. Perennial stretches of Sonoita Creek are surrounded by a towering Fremont Cottonwood, Arizona Sycamore, and Southwestern Black Willow Riparian Forest. Many additional water-loving trees and other plants make for a particularly lush and jungle-like stretch of forest near the creek. Extensive Mesquite bosques (woodlands), Desert Scrub, and Grasslands cover the surrounding tablelands and foothills, making for diverse birding.”

Birding highlights include: Gray Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Elf Owl, Gould’s Wild Turkey, Broad-billed and other Hummingbirds, Gila Woodpecker, wintering Hepatic Tanager, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Flycatcher, Vermillion Flycatcher, Chihuahuan Raven, Bridled Titmouse, Cedar Waxwing, Phainopepla, Lucy’s Warbler, Abert’s Towhee, Rufous-Winged Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Lazuli Bunting, and Lawrence’s Goldfinch – to name a few!

Wildlife highlights include: Mountain Lion tracks (a few lucky groups have actually seen a lion!), White-nosed Coati (a tropical member of the Raccoon family), Collared Peccary (Javelina), Coues Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, and Arizona Grey Squirrel (nearly endemic to the state).