Verna and Bob's Weblog

Photography

Cardinal and Cottontail Sharing Shade Under Cholla

Cardinal and Cottontail

I was standing with my camera near the retention wall at the bottom of the little wash when I saw the red cardinal in my peripheral vision. I turned the camera toward the redness and was surprised to see the rabbit in the viewfinder.

I see cardinals in my periphery due to their color. In order to see a rabbit or other critters that blend in with the surroundings, they have to exhibit some movement. I was lucky that the rabbit was in this shot because it was motionless and didn’t get my attention until I saw it there with the cardinal through the viewfinder.

The critters were about 20 or 30 feet away from where I took this photo. I had the lens set to its maximum focal length of 300mm. Both critters were kind enough to remain in my field of view while I took several images at 1/400 sec, ISO 200, F6.3. This was the best of them. Click on the image to enlarge.

June 3, 2015 by Arizona Critters Photography

Red Bird Flowers Soon

Buds

Maybe tomorrow the first of my courtyard red bird of paradise flowers will open. The flower buds are growing larger and the lower ones that typically open first are showing the colors of red and yellow already.

We get these all summer long, so expect to see a lot of photos with red birds. After all, they are my favorite desert flowers. So pretty. Click on the image to enlarge.

UPDATE: Just as we thought, the first of the flower pods opened this morning.

First Red Bird Flower

June 2, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

A Juvenile Cardinal

A Juvenile Cardinal

This little guy was feeding on seeds from the bird block and bell we have up on the hill behind the RV drive. This photo is of him on the ground under the feeders as he crushes seeds in his beak. Click on the image to enlarge.

There seems to be several pair of reproducing cardinals in and around the vicinity of our house. Wikipedia cites the Northern Cardinal as being of the least concern when it comes to endangered species. It is estimated that there are more than 100 million individual cardinals in their North American range of over 2.2 million square miles.

May 28, 2015 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Hummingbird Feeder

Hummingbird Feeder

I went out behind the patio and was immediately greeted by this hummingbird gathering nectar from one of Verna’s feeders. It didn’t seem to be disturbed by my presence because it repeatedly poked its beak into the little yellow plastic blossoms on the feeder.

The feeders are recent replacements for the old plastic ones which became quite weather worn in our harsh desert environment. The new feeders (other than plastic blossoms) are all glass and metal construction and should last longer than the ones we had before.

The Canon SL1 photo parameters: F6.3, 1/4000 sec, ISO 1000, 300mm Focal Length. The bird was approximately fifteen feet away.

May 27, 2015 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Bishop’s Cap Flowers

Bishop’s Cap Flowers

Only three this time (I think the record is 20), but they’re as pretty as ever. Click on the image to enlarge.

This cactus started in a two-inch plastic pot and we purchased it in Chandler, AZ, way before we decided to move to Arizona, about eighteen years ago. This is for sure the oldest member of our cactus collection now that we’re living here.

Some of our old cactus collection were lost when we sold the California place, but we’re planning on replacing those with new cacti as we continue to refine our Arizona courtyard and rock garden. One day at a time, we’re getting things done.

May 26, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Hawk in the Mesquite Tree

Hawk in the Mesquite Tree

I think that this might be a Cooper’s Hawk that briefly perched in the mesquite tree next to the bird feeders. This hawk, like all hawks, is an opportunistic hunter of small prey including birds that might be feeding in our back yard.

I noticed the bird in the tree when I was in the dining area. I went for my camera and managed to get this shot of the hawk from a distance of about 25 feet. Click on the image to enlarge.

May 24, 2015 by Arizona Critters Photography

Avalon 1998

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