The Witching Hour Is Upon Us

I can't believe that Halloween is here again already and it is time for me to go through this years photos and pick out some 'spooky monsters'. Of course, as you know, I don't consider any of these critters to be spooky, gross, scary or nasty. I think they are all amazing and part of a wonderful and fascinating ecosystem but in the spirit of the occasion, here are this years selection.

Happy Halloween everyone.

  

  

Knock, Knock, Who's There?

When stepping out of the door it is always advisable to check who is on the doorstep. This beautiful little Red-spotted Toad was sitting on the doormat. Now that is the kind of trick or treater I like.

Unicorns!

Another new species that has appeared on our land this monsoon season is mythical indeed, the Desert Unicorn! How cool is that? I never expected to have unicorns for neighbours. This strange plant develops a large tuber underground and when the rains come they grow leaves, lovely yellow flowers and the long curved fruits that give them their name.

Nightwatch

The Great-horned Owls have been very active around our land recently. Most nights there are three or four of them calling back and forth. This one flew down to the saguaro next to our bar-b-que and kept a very close eye on my husband while he was cooking. Perhaps he was hoping for a steak!

Prince Charming

I still find it quite remarkable to see amphibians in the desert but it is just another highlight of the monsoon season. This beauty is a Sonoran Desert Toad and he seems to thoroughly approve of the new little pond we have put in our back yard.

Slime Mould - Who Knew!

We have had a pretty good monsoon season this year. Thanks in no small part to hurricanes Norbert and Odile. This has meant the desert is very green going into fall, there are lots of happy healthy birds, reptiles and mammals around and a profusion of bugs of every type. In addition there are some more unusual organisms appearing like this totally bizarre slime mould. They appeared over night and looked very similar to round scoops of vanilla ice cream, quite fascinating.

Partly Peeled

Shedding for lizards isn't the 'one and done' process of snakes, it's all bits and pieces as illustrated perfectly by this Zebra-tailed Lizard.

Just Passing Through

We have a particularly handsome coyote that passes through our land on an almost daily basis. Sometimes I see him in person and sometimes he is captured trotting past one of our wildlife cameras.

Still Liking The Lichen

Another of the little details that I love, the palette of colours provided by lichen clad rocks.