Lookout Mountain Park
Phoenix, Arizona

Introduction

Lookout Mountain, one of the smaller units of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, is south of Greenway Rd. and west of Cave Creek Road. There are trailheads from the north at 16th Street and from the southeast at Lookout Mountain Park. As the name implies, the slopes are rather precipitous and the summit offers nice views of the city scapes below.

Much of this mountain is composed of the remains of volcanic eruptions that occurred late in the Tertiary Period, some 25 MYBP.

A large water storage tank embedded on the north flank is apparently leaking some water as evidenced by the large shrubs growing nearby.

Adapted from Phoenix Parks & Rec. Map.

Birds

More common species listed first:

1. Rock Wren -- S,F,W,Sp -- Very common little birds which frequently give spirited high pitched trills while perched atop prominants especially near high points. Their drab gray and brown color blends perfectly with the desert colors.
2. Anna's Hummingbird -- S,F,W,Sp -- These are the most common hummingbirds seen at Lookout Mountain. Green back; forehead and throat of males magenta.
3. Black-throated Sparrow -- S,F,W,Sp --  Lovely birds with a jet-black throat and bib contrasted by bright white eye brows. Beautiful singers. A very nice description of the black-throated sparrow can be found at Twentynine Palms Cyberzine (California).
4. Verdin -- S,F,W,Sp -- Tiny birds, barely larger than a hummingbird. Gray/brown with a majestic yellow head
5. Gila Woodpecker -- S,F,W,Sp -- Common woodpecker that builds nest holes in the Saguaro Cactus.
6. House Finch -- S,F,W,Sp -- I was surprised to see a group of four fledglings feeding on creosote bush seeds
7. Northern Mockingbird -- S,F,W,Sp --
8. Gambel's Quail -- S,F,W,Sp --
9. Red-tailed Hawk -- F,W,Sp -- The steep cliffs often provide the uplifting winds that soaring birds seek.
10. Common Raven -- W -- Conspicuous, fairly large, jet black birds that soar above looking for food. Most likely during the winter months.
11. White-crowned Sparrow -- W,Sp -- look for these during winter and early spring.
12. American Kestrel -- S,F,W,Sp -- This small falcon was seen cruising along ridge February 2000. Probably feeding on birds drawn to neighborhood yards and their handouts of seed.
13. Curve-billed Thrasher -- S,F,W,Sp --
14. Abert's Towhee -- S,F,W,Sp -- mostly at the edges of preserve near residential houses

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) Photo by Mike Plagens.

Audubon's Cottontail
(Sylvilagus auduboni) Photo by Mike Plagens.

Mammals

1. Harris' Antelope Squirrel -- Common squirrels the size of chipmunks with large bushy tails that are held above like a parasol.
2. Desert Cottontail -- Common.
3. Coyote -- These animals often forage for rodents, rabbits, stray cats and fruit in the surrounding neighborhoods.

1. Compass Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus acanthodes) -- Spines tinged with red and yellow.
2. Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) -- Several groves growing on the southeast flanks of the mountain.
3. Buckhorn Cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) -- These chollas are much scarcer here than in adjacent preserves.
4. Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus) -- These cacti are noticeably scarce on Lookout Mountain; many have been repeatedly vandalized by rock-throwers.

Compass Barrel Cactus (Ferrocactus acanthodes). Photo by Mike Plagens.

Shrubs and Trees

In order of Abundance:

1. Triangle-leaf Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea) -- The most common plant in this desert preserve. Often leafless after periods of drought or hard frost.
2. Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) -- dark evergreen shrub with shiny, resinous leaves and dark wirey twigs.
3. Foothills Palo Verde (Cercidium microphyllum) -- This is the only tree found growing upon Lookout Mountain, and then most specimens are only shrub-size.
4. Golden Eye (Viguiera deltoidea) -- fairly common along the trail to the summit. Yellow flowers similar to those of Brittle Bush.
5. Brittle Bush (Encelia farinosa) -- Leafless after drought or frost. Leaves are silvery green and flowers are bright yellow.
6. Wolfberry (Lycium sp.) -- a few here and there. 1 to 2 meter tall shrub with noticeably dark reddish brown or black twigs.
7. Joint Fir -- Ephedra aspera -- A large stand occurs around the summit and its approaches.
8. Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) - Parasitic shrub growing upon various desert trees including Palo Verde and Ironwood.
9. Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana trigonophylla) growing from cracks and crevices especially in the shelter of north facing cliffs or boulders.
10. Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) - Bears peach colored blooms after periods of rain otherwise it is difficult to find
11. Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) --
12. Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides) - A few large shrubs growing around the water tank near the 16th Street trailhead.
13. Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi) - a few can be seen near the summit.
14. Shrubby Bedstraw (Galium stellatum) -- growing amongst rocks on the north flanks of the mountain.
15. Trixis (Trixis californicus) -- look in the shade of desert trees growing along drainages
16. Wright Buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii) -- also growing amongst rocks on the north flanks.
17. Janusia (Janusia gracilis) - a twisty, viney plant also near the top.
18. Lance-leaf Ditaxis (Argythamnia lanceolata) - non-descript, silvery leaved, small shrub
19. Rock Daisy (Perityle emoryi) - Small daisy w/palmately-toothed leaves growing along north facing cliffs. On Nov. 4, 2006 I found found these plants heavily damaged by leafhoppers - cicadelidae.
20. Common Silverbush (Argythamnia neomexicana) -- growing amongst rocks on the north flanks.
21. Desert Hackberry (Celtis pallida) -- A large desert hackberry grows in the little wash just below the water tank. Watch for an abundance of berries in late spring or early fall.
22. Ironwood (Olneya tesota) -- a small sapling has been planted near the Sixteenth Street trailhead. Will it flourish?

Saguaro Cactus damaged by naked apes throwing rocks.  Photo by Mike Plagens.