Critters

Like the previous post, I spotted this Cactus Wren during my morning walkabout. It was perched on a limb of one of the several Cholla cacti up on the hill behind the house. Just down the limb from the bird is where the pair have built a nest in the Cholla. I presume that the bird is watching over the nest as though there might be some eggs therein.

The image is cropped down from the original and shows good detail. I took the photo from a distance of about 15 feet using my every day lens which has a maximum 250mm focal length telephoto capability. Camera details:

• Camera: Canon EOS Rebel SL3
• Time: 2026:01:31 08:44:27
• Copyright (c): BOB ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
• Shutter: 1/400 sec
• Aperture: F7.1
• ISO: 160
• Focal Length: 250mm
• Lens: Canon EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

You may click on the image to enlarge in the image viewer.

I had the camera out this morning (as I do most mornings) and snapped some of the fauna and flora regularly seen in our back yard. Between Verna and I, we take a lot of pictures, especially at events like yesterday’s Car Show and Fly-In. Nothing below as exciting as all that, but we enjoy seeing this stuff almost every day.

First up is a photo of one of our local White Tailed Antelope Squirrels begging for me to toss an almond to it (which I did).

Next up is a Lesser Goldfinch at the Nyger seed feeder. It appears the bird has something other than a seed in its beak. I am unable to determine what it is, but the bird went back to getting seeds after I took the photo.

Now for some of the still life – this is the tippy top of one of our Buckhorn Cholla Cacti in the area. You don’t want to get too close to these “jumping cholla” balls. Trust me.

And, last for this bunch is a close-up of one cane of an Ocotillo in the yard. These are not true cacti, but as you can see, the thorns mean business. This cane and others on the Ocotillos in the yard still have some leaves after the rains this early winter.

As usual, you may click on any image to see it enlarged in the viewer.

OK, so that’s it for this series of photos. I now have a pretty good collection of lenses for my camera, and I will be experimenting with some of them and posting from time to time.

In the title, I paraphrased the 17th century proverb to describe the morning activity of the little White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrels that inhabit the area around our little house. I usually carry a few almonds in my shirt pocket to toss out to the squirrels when they are brave enough to come out looking for a handout, which is more often than you might think.

This morning, the little guy in the image above was out of the burrow and into the open area in the wash behind the house to receive the nut that I tossed out for him (her?). I usually can’t tell unless a female that is nursing the little ones stands erect and I can see her teats exposed.

The one shown was the only taker this morning, although, on occasion, several might show up. I carry several almonds and can usually throw enough for all that want them.

Image: taken with my Canon EOS Rebel SL3, Normal Program, 1/500sec, F8, ISO 100, EF-S55-250MM Lens @ 250MM, cropped.