I recently acquired the last furnishings and bedding for our guest bedroom. Of course, Cabela thinks it belongs to her. Click on the image to enlarge.
Critters
The Hummingbird Feeder
Lat week, the hummingbirds showed interest in some decorations I hung out on the patio. I found the hummingbird feeder and put some syrup in it a couple of days ago. Today, this cute little hummingbird found the feeder and gave me this photo op. Click on the image to enlarge.
Around the Seed Bell
We had a nice, relaxing day today on the patio, enjoying the birds and critters on and around the seed bell I put up this morning. In this view, you can see female (left) and male (right) house finches aloft near the bell with a cactus wren on the bell itself. A curve billed thresher is just below and about to shoo the wren and start in on the bell. Click on the image to enlarge.
Javelina Sighting
I was on the patio earlier this evening and saw a javelina up in the wash behind the house. It disappeared behind the vegetation and I dismissed it as another distant sighting. Cabela started barking and carrying on in the front room. I went to see what was up and there were a family of six javelinas foraging across the road. I ran to get my camera and got this photo of the last one heading up the road. Click on the image to see the non-cropped version.
Saguaro and Rock Squirrel
We took a scenic drive today up the Hassayampa river. We saw beautiful scenery and an occasional critter. This rock squirrel climbed up a fifteen foot saguaro cactus to feast on some of the fruit. Click on the image to see the full context.
Turkey Buzzard
We frequently see these turkey buzzards (Cathartes aura) soaring over our neighborhood in search of food. I took this photo of a low flying buzzard from our patio this morning. Click image to enlarge.
The proper common name for these scavenging birds is turkey vulture, even though buzzard is commonly used. It is called “turkey” because of its slight resemblance to the red-headed game bird.
I cannot remember seeing turkey buzzards over our California home although their summer range supposedly includes SoCal.
From Wikipedia:
The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its meals using its keen vision and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the beginnings of the process of decay in dead animals. In flight, it uses thermals to move through the air, flapping its wings infrequently. It roosts in large community groups. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. Each year it generally raises two chicks, which it feeds by regurgitation. It has very few natural predators. In the United States of America, the vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
Red Birds at the Feeder
We just sat on the back porch today, called our Moms to wish ’em Happy Mothers Day. I heard from my kid, wishing me the same. I must have taken upwards of 400 pictures of the birds and critters out back. There were so many, it was hard to decide which one to post today. At any rate, I hope that Mom enjoys these red birds, a house finch and a cardinal, at our feeder. Image taken this afternoon – click on the image to enlarge.