Double Delight

You can't follow this blog and not pick up on the fact that I love Herps. In Arizona there is a 'Holy Grail' that everyone looks out for, the mysterious Gila Monster. How can you not want to see an animal that is legitimately called a monster? They are highly secretive and oh did I mention, they are the only venomous lizard in North America? Needless to say, I have wanted to see one ever since we bought our house. About a year after we bought it my husband was sitting out in the backyard, chatting to me on the phone when one casually trundled onto the patio, needless to say, I was not amused. And so I waited, and waited and the years clicked by. On Friday I was sitting by the pool when what should come strolling towards me but this beautiful character.

Well my year was made, my very own Gila sighting, I was completely delighted. So imagine my incredulity when the next morning I found this outside my front door!



Two different Gila Monsters in two days, it doesn't get any better than this.

Sunday Desert Blooms - Part Four

Staring deep into the cup of a Santa Rita Prickly Pear blossom, such vivid colours.

A New Guest

The Ladder-backed Woodpeckers on our land are notoriously shy and I can never capture a good shot of them. It seems a little bribery works wonders as this beautiful little female just couldn't resist the lure of the suet feeder. Photographed at last!

Sunday Desert Blooms - Part Three

The Mexican Bird of Paradise blooms are very extravagant, just look at the length of those stamens!

Togetherness

 

After a rather lengthly courtship during which she played (very) hard to get, our resident Kestrels are now inseparable. Even sharing, somewhat precariously, the same perch atop of a Saguaro.

Sunday Desert Blooms - Part Two

Another week of colour, this Cholla is a magnet for the hummingbirds when it bursts into bloom.

Who's There?

Deep amongst the rocks and cacti, someone is stirring, who is it?

Oh hello, it is the local rodent patrol officer. So good to see you.

Sunday Desert Blooms - Part One

I love cacti, always have so finally having a garden full of them is a constant delight. At this time of year the explosion of colour is simply dazzling. This is one of our Hedgehog Cacti.

The Watchers

These two House Finches were perched up high in the early dawn light, waiting for the sun to rise and warm them to provide some energy to begin their day.

Flying Rabbits!

Sometimes when I download the images from my wildlife cameras it takes me a minute to work out what it is that the camera snapped, in this instance I had to zoom in a little.

Flying rabbits!!!

Bursting Forth

This time of year is wonderful, all the plants are getting ready to burst into bloom and there really are no more extravagant bloomers than cactii and succulents. I can't wait for the explosion of colours.

What Took You So Long?

I know the Verdins love fresh apple and orange so I try to keep them supplied. I had just put this one up, walked two or three steps away and then turned to look back, and there he was, already perched, about to tuck in to the apple. He must have been sitting watching me put up the feeder. Happy to be of service Mr (or Mrs) Verdin!

Dawn

I love getting outside at dawn so that I can watch the beginning of the day as the sun slides up from behind the mountains. It is a moment of perfect peace and beauty that I always treasure.  

Love Is In The Air

We have had a beautiful male Kestrel around for a couple of months and then a couple of weeks ago he started courting a lovely female. She gave him quite the run around for several days but then it appeared that cupid struck. She is now spending a lot of time checking out nest holes in the Saguaros and he is standing guard and, dare I say, looking rather proud.

Sculptural Form

Sometimes nature leaves art pieces lying around, waiting to be noticed and admired, you just have to keep your eyes open for these beautiful gifts.

Still Here

I first spotted this Screech Owl on Christmas Eve peeping out of a Saguaro next to our pool. It has been in residence ever since so now of course I can't help wondering, is there a partner somewhere that I haven't noticed yet? Or even more exciting, could there be some Screech Owl chicks in our future? Of course my enigmatic owl friend isn't saying a word.

Twister

All the beautiful Saguaros in our yard are unique in form, especially this one, from certain angles it almost looks spiraled.

Pure Gold

The Lesser Goldfinches are one of the most common birds in our yard and yet I love them, they always make me smile. So much gold I feel very wealthy!

Hello Sunshine

We have been blessed with a very mild winter unlike most of the rest of the country so many of our smaller lizards have been putting in regular appearances throughout the months when we would normally expect them to remain dormant underground. They, like us, are very happy to enjoy the warm sunshine.

A Happy Rock

Lichen is quite fascinating, fungus and green algae growing together in a symbiotic relationship. Apparently 6% of the earths surface is covered in lichen. This one appealed to me because it made the rock look like it is smiling.