I couldn’t positively identify the species of this lizard from the little desert guide book we have. Nonetheless, it just sat on the river rocks in front of the house watching me as I sprayed for weeds in the rock garden. It didn’t flinch when I took out my little camera and snapped this photo. It only moved when I had to climb up on the rocks to spray a weed higher up. Click on the image to enlarge.
I was out by the irrigation box next to the big saguaro cactus out front when I noticed a bird on the top of some of the flower pods. I usually carry my little point-and-shoot camera, so I retrieved it and took several shots of the bird on the pods. This photo was the best of them, so I am posting it here. The bird is a cactus wren, the state bird of Arizona. The flower pod upon which it is perched is going to open and be the state flower of Arizona. Click on the image to enlarge.
Verna posted a photo of the Cleveland sage flowers in the courtyard a few days ago. I was looking out of the front door and noticed a hummingbird browsing the sage. I stuck my little pocket camera out of the screen door and took several photos of the little bird as it went from flower to flower. This photo was the best of them. Click on the image to enlarge.
I noticed a bird at the bell feeder that I didn’t recognize. According to Stokes’ Field Guide to Birds. this is probably a first-year male Black-Headed Grosbeak. Wikipedia notes that this species is highly migratory and winters in Mexico. This one must have been just passing through when he found our seed bell this morning. Click on the image to enlarge.
The hummingbirds just love these Cleveland Sage Flowers in the courtyard. There were several of the hummers out there this morning browsing the many flowers on the three sage bushes. Click on the image to enlarge.
I was walking up the RV drive after taking pictures of our new thrasher chicks when I spotted this bright red cardinal on the block feeder. I pointed my camera and took several telephoto images. This one seemed to be the best, so I’m posting it here. Click on the image to enlarge.
