Critters

I took this photo of a Zebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) in our back yard yesterday.

From Wikipedia:

They range in size from 2.5 to 4 inches in length. They rise early and are active in all but the hottest weather. During the hottest times of day, lizards may stand alternately on two legs, switching to the opposite two as needed in a kind of dance. When threatened they will run swiftly with their toes curled up and tails raised over their backs exposing the stripes. They can even run on their hind legs for short distances. In areas of creosote scrub this lizard seems to reach highest densities, around 4.8 to 6.0 individuals per acre. This lizard burrows into fine sand for retreat at night and usually seeks day shelter in the shade of bushes.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Just as we pulled onto our road on the way home from shopping today, we saw this cute little family of quail scurrying across the road. Later in the day, we had another quail family with two chicks atop our courtyard wall. They were gone before I could get the camera. We have seen a lot more quail families on and around our property this year than last year. Click on the image to enlarge.

Two of the three eggs in the thrashers nest hatched sometime between last evening and this afternoon. I peeked into the nest and saw these two almost naked chicks. We believe the third egg is left over from the last brood and is not going to hatch. If it does not hatch, I will get a pair of kitchen tongs and take it out of the nest after these two chicks are fully-fledged. Click on the image to enlarge.

UPDATE: The third chick hatched today (7/6/12).

I took this photo of one of the curve-billed thrasher parents sitting in the nest yesterday. Verna peeked in the nest earlier and saw that the three eggs still had not hatched. The cholla where the bird is sitting is about 20 feet in front of the courtyard where I captured the image. Click to enlarge.