How Rude!

Fancy sticking out your tongue when I take your photo!

Just Arrived

Our first White-winged Dove of the year.

Desert Colours

Lesser Goldfinch and purple Santa Rita Prickly Pear cactus.

House Finches on High.

Looking down from their vantage point atop the Saguaro

Normal Service has Been Resumed.

After yesterdays crazy post, I am happy to be able to say that things have returned to normal. There are hummingbirds at the hummingbird feeder (this is a male Broad-billed)


And quails on the quail block :)

More New Species!

Hmmm I wonder, should I contact Cornell and tell them about the new species of hummingbird that I have on my nectar feeder?


Or maybe I should let them know about the very unusual quail that I have on my quail block! It isn't even April Fools Day yet, what is going on???

Another Species for the list.

We had two new species for our yard list today. I actually saw this one yesterday but it was the briefest of glimpses and it was flying with a pair of Cardinals. I was pretty sure it was a Pyrrhuloxia but I wanted a better sighting just to be 100% sure. And here he is, obligingly perching for me to confirm his identity.

Bugalicious!

This daunting character is a longhorn beetle, common name Solitary Black Bycid, scientific name Stenaspis solitaria they feed on acacia and mesquite.

A correction to this post - this is in fact a cactus longhorn , Moneleima gigas. Not being a bug person when this character dropped from a mesquite in the middle of the day it seemed to be saying that it was Stenaspis solitaria. My bug guide wasn't detailed enough to illustrate the difference between the two. As Moneleima gigas is usually found on prickly pear or cholla at dusk you can understand my confusion. Luckily my friendly neighbourhood 'bug oracle' - Doug has both specimens in his collection and as soon as I saw them together I realised my mistake. Thanks for your help Doug :)

Super Moon

If the moon looks a little bigger than usual tonight that is because it is passing closer to earth than it has for over 20 years. This phenomena is known as a super moon.

Gila Snacking

The male Gila Woodpecker loves the new fruit and seed mix that I bought.

Keeping Watch

Still my absolute favorites - the Antelope Squirrel has all the right poses down to perfection.

Pretty in Pink

So often overlooked but there is something quite perfect about the humble Mourning Dove.