First up is a female Cardinal perched in the mesquite tree by the bird feeders:
Next is a pair of sparrows on one of the feeders:
Let us not forget the ever-present Gambel’s Quail that are often seen, but extremely camera shy. This Male was enjoying some of the bird block in the feeder area this morning.
And, finally, is a desert bird that I don’t recognize as a regular around these parts – bigger than a sparrow, but smaller than a thrasher:
Click on any image to open the viewer.
After the new moon phase Wednesday (01/29/2024), I managed to get this photo of first lunar light in the waxing crescent phase just after sunset last night. The first quarter Moon is about a week away when it looks as it does in the image above — just a tiny “sliver” of light visible.
My camera is a Canon EOS Rebel SL3 using a Canon EF 55-250mm zoom lens set to 250mm focal length. Click on the image to open the viewer.
Around 3PM this afternoon (Monday, January 27th, 2025), we had a significant quantity of hail fall here in Wickenburg. The hailstones were not more than ¼ inch in diameter and covered the ground like it might have been snowing.
This (clickable) photo is looking toward the west with what looks like a fresh snow, but is only hail and rain which dissipated quickly since the temperature was well above freezing. I used my new SL3 Canon to take the picture.
We are forecast to possibly have more rain going into this week, with clearing next weekend. We have never seen this accumulation of hail since we’ve been here over the last 15 years. Global Warming or “Climate Change,” my A$$.
Here I am posing for the Daddy’s Cameraphone with one of my play balls. This green one is almost too big for me to pick up, but I can do it anyway. The game I want the Daddy to play is “keep away,” where I growl and then run away with the ball. Sometimes I drop the ball and the Daddy throws it so I can chase it. And then play keep away some more.
I am almost four years old, I weigh about 12 pounds (5.4kg) and I am about 16 inches (40.6cm) long, not counting my tail. I look cuddly ’cause I am.
Clickable Image.
Over the past week or so, I have been playing with the new camera I bought to replace my old SL1 Canon. These are some of the backyard critters we see on a regular basis. All photos taken with the new camera, a Canon EOS Rebel SL3 with a EF55-250 lens, usually set to 250mm focal length. The camera mode setting is “P” which is the Program Mode function that selects appropriate settings automatically. Click on any image to enlarge in the image viewer.
Here are a couple of sparrows at one of the feeders:
Next, an Antelope Ground Squirrel:
This is a Gila Woodpecker feeding at the seed block:
And, finally, A Harris’ Hawk – when these guys show up, all the above “prey” seem to disappear from the area:
Here are a couple more photos from today:
Cardinal visiting the seed block.
A goldfinch at the nyjer seed feeder.
And the Harris’ Hawk came back.
We did get a little rain this evening (it’s 9:39PM now), but there was a small rainbow this afternoon when the sun shone through the cloud cover.
we’re having a gentle winter so far in January. Maybe a couple nights when the temperature got close to freezing, but no problems with anything that may be affected by the cold.
Image above: Rainbow to the east of us — Click on the image to enlarge.
