Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Environment

Rachel Remnants Rainstorm

As of about 10:30 Arizona time (UTC-7), Tropical Depression Rachel remnants are parked northwest of us, near Las Vegas, NV. Rachel crossed the Baja peninsula as a tropical storm but quickly diminished to a depression as it moved north-northeastward to it’s present position.

We have been getting rain on and off since yesterday afternoon with some heavy showers. I took this (clickable) photo from our front door at about 10:48 AM during some of the moderate rainfall.

It has also been quite windy with perceived gusts of up to 35mph or so. So far, the worst has just been mild flooding which quickly runs off into the Casandro wash just south of our location. I expect that the catch basin behind Casandro Dam is getting quite a bit of runoff from the wash west and southwest of us.

Thus far, we are high and dry inside our little home in the desert. We don’t expect any of the really heavy stuff which, according to the radar map, is west and northwest of us along the Colorado River basin.

Yet He [God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
— Acts 14:17 (NIV)

UPDATE 12 OCT 2026: Here’s Lower Casandro Wash with water flowing. Normally this is a dry wash. What is happening is there is water behind Casandro Dam and it is being let out slowly to flow toward the underground drain in another half mile. Eventually, the water will empty into the Hassayampa River which is east of us about a mile or so.

Lower Casandro Wash

11 Oct 2026 by Arizona Current Events Environment 0

2026 Autumnal Equinox

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Astronomical autumn begins at 00:05 UTC on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — that’s 5:05 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday, September 22 here in Arizona. As you may know, most of Arizona stays on MST year around. Some of the reservations still do DST.

May this fall find y’all to be happy and healthy as we transition to our cooler months. God bless and stay armed, stay safe and stay alert.

Cap’n Bob and Damsel. 💖💖

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—2 Corinthians 13:14

22 Sep 2026 by Arizona Environment Technobabble 0

Squall Line

We were expecting thunderstorms in our Arizona home which prompted me to look at the weather radar on-line. So, I pulled up the area radar and saw that we were likely clear (for the time being) of any serious weather.

As I usually do, I scanned elsewhere in these United States for what else might be going on when I saw this massive squall line over North Dakota extending into Canada in provinces Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is highly unusual to see a squall line like this in North America. (Clickable) image above is screen capture of an Accuweather radar map of the area. I had a chat with Grok about squall lines in the area:

The most organized feature is the nearly north–south band of stronger echoes (yellows and reds) running through central North Dakota. It stretches from north of Minot, through the Bismarck–Mandan area, and south toward the South Dakota border near Mobridge. That is the classic look of a squall line / QLCS on radar: a relatively narrow, continuous line of thunderstorms rather than scattered individual cells. At the time of the image it was moving generally east.

A second, somewhat more broken area of stronger storms (also showing red cores) sits farther north and east across southeastern Saskatchewan into southwestern Manitoba, near Yorkton, Dauphin, and Brandon. That is the northern extension of the same larger system that produced the earlier severe weather and tornado reports in southern Saskatchewan.
The lighter green areas west of the main line are leftover lighter rain and weaker showers from earlier activity.

NWS Bismarck still had a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 11 p.m. CDT, and additional warnings were being issued as the line continued east (one around 8 p.m. CDT covered parts of Burleigh and Emmons counties with 60 mph wind gusts). The line was expected to weaken some as it moved into eastern North Dakota later in the evening.

We said a prayer for the people in the area to be granted the mercy of God’s grace. We pray for victims to be safe, sheltered, fed, clothed as required and given the ability to recover. We know that the volunteer organizations will see to their well being in time. Remember to donate to those charities.

30 Aug 2026 by Environment Science Technobabble

Desert Leaf Cutter Ants

For several years running – basically, since we had the landscaper plant the big ocotillo out front – we have seen what appear to be ant trails where leaves or flowers from the ocotillo and other sources running across the driveway (see left panel in the clickable composite image above). We knew that these trails were left by nocturnal ants since we were out one night to watch the ISS flyover and saw the ants actively going back and forth along the trail. The destination is their anthill located about fifteen feet beyond the pavement which is shown in the right panel above.

I showed the photos to Grok and asked about the ants:

These are desert leafcutter ants (Acromyrmex versicolor), the common fungus-farming species in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

In summer (especially the hottest months like August), their foraging is almost entirely nocturnal because daytime surface temperatures are too extreme. They form clear trails while carrying plant material back to the nest, exactly as in your driveway photo, and often deposit piles of leaf fragments around the entrance crater.

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) is one of the plants they regularly harvest. Studies of Arizona colonies show they collect both fresh young leaves and dry vegetation from ocotillo along with other desert perennials such as paloverde, mesquite, ironwood, creosote, and catclaw acacia. Fresh leaves make up a notable portion of the forage when available (especially after rains when ocotillos leaf out).

They do not eat the leaves. Workers cut and carry pieces underground to cultivate a specialized symbiotic fungus in garden chambers; the ants and their larvae feed on the fungus. Colonies can be sizable, with crater-like nest entrances (often multiple) in sandy or gravelly soil, and they clear or accumulate plant debris around the openings.

A related but less widespread species, Atta mexicana (Mexican leafcutter), also occurs in southern Arizona and shows similar nocturnal summer foraging and leaf-carrying, but Acromyrmex versicolor is the typical one across much of the Sonoran Desert, including areas like Wickenburg. Both are native and generally harmless to people (they can bite if handled but do not sting like harvester ants).

The trail of fresh green leaves leading ~15 feet to the entrance, plus the accumulation right at the hole, is classic behavior for these ants during a summer night’s work. They will likely continue as long as temperatures stay high and suitable plant material is available.

That is some interesting information about the ants. We don’t consider them a nuisance and expect to just leave them to do their thing. They are part of God’s wonderful desert nature at work in our own front yard.

16 Aug 2026 by Arizona Critters Environment

Saguaro Cactus Fruit

Saguaro Cactus Fruit – image (C) CapnBob

I took this photo of our Saguaro by the RV drive this morning. Grok had the following to say about it:

Saguaro cactus fruit (from Carnegiea gigantea, the iconic giant cactus of the Sonoran Desert) is a vibrant, nutrient-rich seasonal treat that plays a crucial ecological role in the arid Southwest, especially in areas like your Wickenburg garden.

Your attached photo perfectly captures the classic look: the green, oval-to-egg-shaped fruits (roughly plum-sized) grow high on the arms of the saguaro. As they ripen in late May through July (peaking around June–early July in Arizona), the outer skin splits open into 3–4 sections, revealing a striking bright red to magenta pulp packed with up to ~3,500 tiny black seeds. The pulp is juicy and sweet, while the seeds have a nutty flavor. This timing aligns with the hottest, driest part of the year, just before the summer monsoons, making the fruit a vital source of moisture and nutrition for desert wildlife.

Key Facts About the Fruit:

  • Edibility and Uses: Humans have harvested it for centuries (e.g., by the Tohono O’odham people, who call it bahidaj). It can be eaten raw, made into syrups, jams, cakes, or drinks. The seeds are high in protein and fats.
  • Production: A single mature saguaro can produce around 150 fruits in a good season, turning the plant into a “desert grocery store.”
  • Your Photo: The split-open fruit with vivid red interior is exactly how it appears when ripe and ready—very attractive to foragers!

Birds That Harvest It:

Birds are major consumers and help with seed dispersal (some seeds pass through undamaged or are dropped while feeding). Key species include:

  • White-winged Doves (Zenaida asiatica): These are the most prominent. They time their breeding so that chicks hatch when saguaro fruit ripens, providing critical food and water. They eat the pulp and seeds directly from the cactus (often seen perched on or leaning into the fruit). They also help pollinate the flowers earlier in the season.
  • Gila Woodpeckers: Frequently feed on the fruit.
  • Curve-billed Thrashers, Northern Mockingbirds, Verdins, House Finches, and others: These also feast on the sweet, juicy pulp and seeds.

Mammals like coyotes, ground squirrels, and javelina eat fallen fruit on the ground, while bats may visit too.

The relationship is mutualistic: birds get hydration and energy in the harsh desert summer, while the saguaro benefits from seed spread (sometimes to “nurse plants” under bushes or trees where dropped seeds can germinate safely).

If you’re seeing this in your garden or on local hikes, it’s a great sign of a healthy Sonoran Desert ecosystem—perfect timing for your bird photography interests!

Keep in mind that AI (in spite of the hype) can make mistakes, so take the above with a grain of salt, although I found the write up to be accurate according to our knowledge about the subjects.

Click on the image to enlarge.

12 Jul 2026 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

Father’s Day and Summer Solstice

Wishing a happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. A special wish for our Dads who have passed into heaven.

Also, June 21, 2026 is the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, so Happy Summer (or below the equator – Happy Winter)! The length of our daylight today (sunup to sundown) is 14hrs 27mins.

Clickable image enhanced by GROK AI.

21 Jun 2026 by Ancestors Environment Family Technobabble

Desert Cacti and Mountains

The Cap’n and I happened to have an appointment in Surprise, AZ today. As usual on any trip in the truck (or any other vehicle – think RV), I brought my camera to document the trip. On the way home, I took the photo above of the desert with the mountains in the background. It’s nice to live in a place where you can see the naked desert just a few miles from home. Anyhow, this view is looking northeastward toward Castle Hot Springs, AZ, from the Morristown Overpass on US 60 near mile marker 120. Click on the image to enlarge.

02 Jun 2026 by Arizona Environment Notions Panorama Photography

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