A Tough Learning Curve

When we moved to this house I discovered we had masses of lizards all over our land. Just one problem, I didn't know what any of them were. There are the easy ones, the Desert Spiny Lizard, the Regal Horned Lizard and of course, the one and only Gila Monster but the rest? There are so many and every one of them looks different.

So it has taken me a while to realise that in fact many of them that look very different are actually the same species. Take for example this handsome fellow, a male Common Side-blotched Lizard.

And this one? Well that is where the problems start, this is a Common Side-blotched Lizard too! This is the female of the species. Is it any wonder that it is taking me a long time to work them out?

The Aliens Are Coming!

Sitting watching the sun set we can get caught up in the wonderful palette of colours that blaze across the western sky. Just occasionally it pays to turn round though, especially when there is an alien space craft hovering behind you!

A Bad Hair Day

This handsome Pyrrhuloxia was looking so great perched on the wire but there was one small problem.

It was a really windy day!

More Charms of the Chollas

The Chollas are bursting forth, they look beautiful this close.

They look even more beautiful when you get this close.

OK that is quite close enough. This little beauty is still pretty fierce.

Signs of Spring

The seasons of the desert are quite distinctive. We don't have the feet of snow or the endless weeks of sub-zero temperatures that other areas of the country have (thank goodness) but we have seasonal changes. One that I particularly enjoy is the reemergence of my scaly friends when the temperatures start to rise. This beautiful Gopher Snake was cruising around our yard on two consecutive mornings - I love spring!

It's Leg of Lizard For Dinner.

Our resident Kestrels romance seems to be going from strength to strength. The male dutifully brings regular gifts to his lady love. Often she takes the whole thing and leaves him looking rather deflated but sometimes he gets to share the feast. In this instance, leg of lizard.

I am linking this post to Eileens Saturday's Critters.

Caught At Last!

I was sitting quietly in my yard, absorbing the sounds around me when I heard a different call. I looked up to see this little beauty perched a top a nearby mesquite. Hooded Orioles are notoriously flighty in our area so I sat very still and slowly raised my camera. I managed to get one shot of and then 'poof' it was gone.