Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Critters

Bees in the Trees

Bee Swarm

Bee Keeper GaryWhile we were walking the dogs this afternoon, Damsel called me over by the mesquite tree across the road to show me a swarm of bees that were hanging from a branch. I already had my camera and long lens since I was going to take a photo of a project with the travel trailer. I took the photo of the bees in the top image.

I called one of our neighbors to see if he knew if there was a bee keeping service in town. He just happened to have a friend that kept bees and would be interested in harvesting this swarm.

Shortly after dusk, they showed up with all the equipment, bee suits and whatever and proceeded to knock the swarm, queen bee and all out of the tree and into a bucket with a lid (of course). The whole process took about half an hour, but the bees are gone, to our neighbors’ and our mutual relief. They have kids and we have dogs, neither that mix well with a beehive in the vicinity.

Click on either image to enlarge.

01 Apr 2016 by Arizona Critters Environment

Slither Hither

Young Gopher Snake

Prior to setting up the tools and dumpster on the driveway for some yard work today, this smallish Sonoran Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer affinis) appeared on the driveway near the garage door that I had opened shortly before. It seemed to be headed toward the garage, but when I called Damsel out for this photo op, the snake suddenly decided to head off to the rosemary patch giving her a loud hiss before disappearing from view.

These snakes can be up to six feet in length as adults, but this one was barely two feet long. It had to be a youngster in snake years.

We like having these guys around the area because they prey on rats and other undesirable desert rodents. Sonoran Gopher Snakes are plentiful in the southwest. We have seen as many as ten of these in the five years of living here and only one rattlesnake, which I think is a good ratio. Also, only one Gila Monster sighting.

28 Mar 2016 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden

Ducks Along The Colorado

A White Duck Ducks Dunking

I took my Canon SL1 and the telephoto lens down to the Colorado river where we camped last night to see if I could get some photo ops of whatever the river and its occupants might have to offer. I was fortunate enough to have a pair of ducks floating near the California side shoreline that were dunking for whatever goodies the river bottom might contain.

The white duck and her mate were about two or three feet from the riverbank when I snapped these shots. They let me approach them without retreating to a range of about fifteen feet so I could get these images of them doing their thing. There were also several other ducks and a number of coots or “mud hens” in the area. Click on either image to enlarge.

15 Mar 2016 by Arizona California Critters Photography Wanderlust

A White Egret

White Egret

This weekend, we are camped in Palm Desert, California on the latest of our several recent visits to visit our grandson. This campground is really more of a desert oasis and resort that features golf putting greens, a driving range and the usual things found on golf courses, including water features (hazards?). We were walking the dogs yesterday when I spotted an egret in the pond near the front gate. I had my camera handy and managed to get this photo just as this magnificent bird was taking off from where it was wading. Click on the image to enlarge.

13 Mar 2016 by California Critters Photography Wanderlust

Rodeo Season

Bowman Rodeo Grounds

On our way up to the Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club shooting range today, we passed the Everett Bowman Rodeo Grounds where a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls were warming up for one of the upcoming rodeo events here in town. During the winter months (and to a lesser extent the rest of the year), we see a lot of horse trailers on the roads and in the downtown and outlying arena parking areas.

We like the fact that the rodeo brings a lot of welcome commerce to our little town, even if it means more traffic on the road and more competition while grocery shopping. Both of us, although we aren’t rodeo participant types, enjoy seeing good horses and riders. We have been known to go to rodeos in the past and may do so again.

26 Feb 2016 by Arizona Critters Current Events People

Lizard Sunning on a Rock

Lizard Sunning on a Rock

I noticed this lizard sunning itself on one of the river rocks below the courtyard out front this morning. I went and got my Canon SL1 and the 300mm lens to get this picture. The little guy obliged me and sat tight while I went in to get the camera. This is another view of the same lizard.

Despite consulting a desert wildlife book and looking on the Lizards of Arizona webpage, I am unable to identify the common or taxonomic name of this variety. We see lizards all the time, now that the weather is warmer.

Maybe readers like Crotalus or Glenn B, being desert and reptile aficionados, can shed some of their wisdom on this one. Right now, I call it “Gray Lizard with two-tone brown pattern on its back.”

UPDATE: Thanks to Glenn B, the little critter has been almost positively identified as an ornate tree lizard. See Glenn’s comment below . . .

22 Feb 2016 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

Fire Ants

Ant Hill with Amdro Pellets

We have several levels of pests in the desert (excluding the humanoid ones) to include several mammal species, a bunch of reptile species and, of course, insects. Damsel can’t abide having ants anywhere on the property, so, when she finds an anthill, she wants something done about it.

The fire ant nest in the image is located down by the roadway in front of our house. It’s an area where we walk the dogs and Damsel worries about the ants biting the dogs. She spotted this anthill a couple of days ago and yesterday, I sprinkled some Amdro fire ant bait pellets on and around it.

When we arrived in the desert homestead, we were relatively new at the game of coping with desert denizens. One of the locals suggested the Amdro product to me and I have to sat I’m glad he did. The little worker ants take the bait down to the royal chamber in their burrow and poison the queen ant with the pellet taken down. The hive is doomed thereafter.

I bought a one pound container of Amdro about five years ago, and I still have several ounces left in it since it only takes a few pellets scattered on and around the mound to do the trick. Nests are usually completely destroyed about a week after the application of the pellets.

The mound was still active when I took the image above. It should be inactive in a day or three. Click on the image to enlarge.

21 Feb 2016 by Arizona Critters Environment Home & Garden

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