Critters

Desert Squirrel

desert-chipmunk.jpgWe had some errands to run yesterday afternoon, so we headed out of the little neighborhood. Just as we turned from our road onto the pavement, I saw a desert squirrel sitting atop an old wooden post by the wash. I grabbed the camera and took several shots of the little critter. Click on the image to enlarge.

I love all the little critters that visit our neighborhood. I put out some birdseed and “Critter Crunch” every day. I toss the food a short distance from the house so we can see the animals and birds through the windows and the patio sliding door. Desert chipmunks are regular visitors.

A couple of days ago, the lumber and supplies truck delivered the concrete block for our courtyard wall. We laughed at the antics of the chipmunks as they popped in and out of a stack of blocks near the front window.

Bird Watching

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Cabela, our Min-Pin, is fascinated with the colorful little pyrrhuloxia which I renamed a Casandro Cardinal because nobody here could pronounce that other thing. She is actually fascinated with all of the wildlife she sees, but she won’t be able to look out of the front windows after our shutters are installed in a few weeks. There is always the patio sliding glass door in the rear for her amusement. Click on the image to enlarge.

An Arizona Cardinal

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The Arizona Cardinals football team is out of the playoffs, but this Arizona Cardinal (the real thing, cardinalis cardinalis) paid us a visit this afternoon. He was perched in a mesquite tree immediately behind our drive-through RV pad.

We have never seen cardinals at our old California home, so this sighting was especially nice for us. What a colorful, handsome fellow! Click on the image to enlarge.

Pyrrhuloxia

casandro-cardinal.jpgI think this is a pyrrhuloxia or cardinalis sinuatis, according to an image I see in my “Birds of Arizona” booklet. I wonder why ornithologists come up with all those gigantic, unpronounceable names for pretty little birds like this one?

The colorful little bird, let’s call it a Casandro Cardinal for now, perched briefly in the creosote by the road before flying down to get some of the wild critter food that I put out this morning. We also saw cottontail, jackrabbits, desert chipmunks, quail and a couple of days ago, we saw a mule deer bounding through the rear of our lot.

Last night, the coyotes serenaded us with howls and barks. Quite a change from the South Bay suburbs. I like it!

Footnote from Cap’n Bob:

four-k.jpgThis morning, the Site Meter ticked over 400,000 visits. Thanks to everybody for reading us over the years.

Desert Jack

Yesterday, we spotted a huge jackrabbit on the road near the new house. I swear as big as a medium-sized dog. We didn’t see him today, but we did spot this smaller one.

We like our new neighbors – peoples and critters alike. Click on the image to to see the big picture.

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Critter Crunch

critter-crunch.jpgThe semi-rural nature of our new house allows us to observe wild critters in or near our lot. I like the little quail, cottontails and squirrels that frequent the premises. So, to encourage them to come around. We place some “Critter Crunch” on the ground near our back patio.

I put some down the last couple of times we were in Arizona. It will be interesting to see who and what comes around now that the weather is a little cooler in December. I’ll try to get some pictures of our shy little critters when we’re there over the Christmas holiday.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Sunup

The dogs usually get us up before we’re ready to wake up. They have to do their business though, so we get our slippers on and take them for a walk.

When I went out the door this morning, this nice image of sunlight streaming through a mesquite tree at the rear of the hotel property caught my eye. I stepped back into the room to get my camera and got this shot of it. Click on the image to enlarge.

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