A VIP.

I normally see Gilded Flicker around the yard, perched on top of a Saguaro or drilling holes in the power poles. Today was a rare treat, he came in and had a good meal at the peanut feeder which is the first time I have seen him come into the feeders ever. Then he took a good long drink at the bird bath before flying off.

Natural Perfection

The desert excels at beautiful sunsets but occasionally it really outdoes itself and this was one such night. With the Saguaros standing guard the sun slid slowly behind the horizon, sending a magical shaft of light into the clouds as the evening settled in.

Doing Our Bit

Recently when we purchased some cactii from our favourite supplier he gave us a free baby Saguaro. We had planted all the other plants and were undecided about where to put the little Saguaro. When small, these cactii need a shade plant to grow under to protect them from the harshest of desert sun until they get bigger and stronger. We have an old Saguaro skeleton half way up our land that is a favourite sundown spot for us and so it came to me, why not plant the new Saguaro near to it? There is a mesquite tree that will fill the role of shade plant perfectly and, all things being equal, in about one hundred and fifty years we will have replaced our fallen friend. Nothing like planning ahead!

Sharing

There are many species that enjoy snacking on the quail block and they are not all feathered. I was fortunate to catch this sweet moment one afternoon, a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel and a Cottontail both munching contentedly away side by side.

Swimming Companion

We recently had our pool redone and it seems that it meets with the approval of our neighbours. This wasp demonstrates its mastery of surface tension to take a drink. I have to confess it is a little daunting sharing a pool with these guys though.

Oh So Handsome.

I mean seriously is there anything more beautiful than the flamboyant Pyrrhuloxia especially when cast against a perfect, clear blue desert sky. My old friend the saguaro skeleton provides a perfect perch.

Ophidian Beauty Revisited

OK, OK I know I am in a minority here but I am always delighted when I find a snake in my yard and I have a particular fondness for this little individual. This stunning Western Lyre Snake has previously tried to sneak into the house. But on this occasion he was just trundling along outside the dining room window . The Lyre Snake is mildly venomous and back-fanged but that is not as scary as it sounds. In fact back-fanged snakes really have to have a good chew to envenomate their prey. I have free handled this snake and it was as relaxed and mellow as any of the captive bred snakes I have at work. I know that is not for everyone but what I am trying to say is that snake does not have to equate to instant death (for the snake or you!) or terror!

Camoflauge

When you are a small Round-tailed Ground Squirrel you are on many critters menus so heightened alertness and cryptic colouring are essential requirements for survival. Look how perfectly this little guy blends in with his surroundings.

Say Cheese!

You know I have a great fondness for herps and way up on the list is the enigmatic Desert Spiny Lizard. This big one was enjoying some warm early morning sun when I intruded on his personal time for a photo. What do you think he's saying?

Nature Red in Beak and Talon

If you commit to providing a balanced environment for all species then you have to accept the natural process of species living off other species. Sometimes it is not pretty, often it is hard to watch but what it does mean is that you have a healthy ecosystem around you. Predators are rare and prey profuse and the struggle for survival is a constant. On this morning the Sharp-shinned Hawk won the struggle and the Mourning Dove did not.

All Grown Up Now

This is the last picture I took of the Thrasher babies in the nest, the next morning the nest was empty. I did check around the nest for signs of predation and found nothing so I have to assume (and hope) that they flew the nest. I did notice a pair of adults coming to the feeders during the day and flying back to the same hackberry bush so I suspect that they were still feeding the fledglings.

The Easter Bunny

Says Happy Easter to everyone.

Hello Kitty!

Well you just know it is going to be a great day when you wake up to a Bobcat sitting outside your front door! Kathie and I were off on a birding trip (of which I will post on my other blog) so I was up early pottering around making my tea and getting ready for our day out. I looked out of the front window and there it was, looking for all the world like a neighbours cat until you catch sight of those massive paws and the distinctive 'bobbed' tail. Needless to say it was a fantastic day.

We're Hiding!

A couple of weeks ago I did a post of a nest I had discovered in a cholla. Well look what we have now! I had heard loud cheeping every couple of minutes as the frantic Thrasher parents rushed back and forth bringing food so when I had seen both parents leave I hurried in, took a quick photo and hurried away again so that neither parents or babies got too stressed. Aren't they sweet?

Verdin

The Verdin is another of natures small but feisty characters and they always make me smile. We seem to have a lot of them in the yard and now that I have discovered how much they love freshly sliced oranges I know exactly how to keep them around.

Clarity.

Nothing much needs to be said here, nature shows us perfection.

'Copping the attitude!'

I have gone through life being told repeatedly that I have a bad attitude and now that I am older and more cynical about peoples opinions I am quite proud not to be an obliging, pliant person. I also tend to instantly fall for any creature that happens to show that same 'piss and vinegar' attitude. Like this little guy - he was glaring in through the spare bedroom window this morning and if he hasn't got FEISTY written all over him I don't know what has!

Blue and Grey

What a beautiful morning. I wonder what was going on between this female Phainopepla and Northern Mockingbird. Maybe she was asking when he was going to start his migration?

At Last!

 We have a wonderful selection of creatures on our land, some of which are more obliging about being photographed than others. One of the most reclusive are the surprisingly large Rock Squirrels. Usually our only view of them is a long fluffy tail disappearing into the distance. It has taken me three years to get a photo. Last weekend we had some chilly mornings and I looked out of the window to see this individual catching some morning sun perched on the fence. It stayed there just long enough to allow me to run and grab my camera and get off a couple of shots before he scurried off.

A Secure Residence

I had noticed a pair of Thrashers working hard carrying nesting material into a cholla so when they flew off for more building supplies I quickly sneaked in and risked loosing large quantities of flesh to capture a shot of all the hard work. One thing is for sure, if the Thrashers do decide to use this nest, they will be very well protected from potential predators!