Mystery Solved

Last year I did a post about not having noticed cicadas in my yard and many of my Tucson friends were very surprised as they were deafened by them on a daily basis during the summer. Well I think I have finally worked out why I hadn't registered them here. Previously when I have lived in places where cicadas occur I am used to them being an omnipresent ear-splitting presence, providing enough decibels to make your brain bleed. OK so I may be exaggerating slightly but suffice it to say they were VERY loud. So the cicadas in my yard strike up individually, a novel concept in itself, and they call for no longer than fifteen seconds and then stop - yes I timed it! What gives? Do I have the worlds politest cicadas or what?

Gotcha!

I don't see Cowbirds in my yard very often which I am not too upset about as they are notorious brood parasites. This species, the Brown-headed Cowbird is known to parasitise at least 220 different species. That being said they are part of the ecosystem so I was happy to finally be able to get a photograph of this disreputable character.

Keeping Watch

So many creatures in the desert live underground but actually catching them on their front door step is a rare thing. I was smiling broadly as this shy little Round-tailed Ground Squirrel peeped at me.

Cuteness Overload!

As if the Round-tailed Ground Squirrels weren't cute enough, their babies are just off the charts! Especially when the sun shines through their fuzzy little tails!

Caught The 'Whip

I have to believe this is the elusive Coachwhip snake. They come in numerous colour morphs and are notoriously fast. The only reason I got these two shots was that I had a big zoom and could stand half way down the drive while the snake peeped out from under the front stoop. They are odd looking creatures, very slender with a small head and when he finally decided that I was a problem he scooted off so quickly!

Feed Me!

This fledgling Cactus Wren was driving its parents crazy. Every time one of them flew in to one of the feeders it would ambush them and harangue them until they relinquished a beak full of food. Children eh?

Textures

Unless they happen to be obligingly coiled up in a neat circle, trying to photograph an entire snake is pretty tricky, usually you end up with a 'distant stick'. But I think that the beauty is in the details and so I often take close-up shots to highlight the patterns and scales. The two Gopher Snakes that frequent our patio make great models.

Someone Has Painted On The Sky!

Sometimes the desert skies defy description, way over the top!