Critters

Otherwise known as geococcyx californianus, meaning Californian Earth Cuckoo, this handsome roadrunner was drinking from my birdbath near the little wash out back. The bird has been seen hanging around for a few days, sometimes nefariously trying to catch a goldfinch at my thistle feeders out back. We wish it would leave the birds alone and keep on catching and killing the neighborhood reptilian population.

In any case, it is interesting to watch nature in the desert. Click on the image to enlarge.

I flushed this Desert Spiny Lizard the other morning when loading some aluminum cans into the truck. The lizard didn’t scurry under a rock right away, so I was able to get this shot of it still on the rocks where the bags with cans had been.

We have seen it several times since hiding near the compost where it (presumably) eats insects attracted to the heap. Cabela tries to give chase to the lizard when going out for a walk, but we don’t let her get close.