Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Another Grandson on the Way

Grandson Ultrasound

We have known for a couple of months that we are going to become grandparents yet again. My son called me today and announced that the ultrasound shows a 99% probability that this is a baby boy.

Even though we are already great grandparents, this is the first grandchild from this branch of the family tree. Our son and his wife both had careers to nurture before children, but we’re glad that the blessed event is on the way.

It was especially nice to get this news on Mothers Day. Happy Mothers Day to all.

10 May 2015 by People Retirement Technobabble

Sage and Hummingbird

Sage and Hummingbird

I got an unexpected opportunity to photograph this beautiful little hummingbird hovering between flower stems while collecting nectar from one of three Cleveland Sage shrubs in the courtyard this afternoon. Damsel says that even with good luck that you have to be at the ready with your camera should a photo-op suddenly present itself. I managed to get the shot and a compliment from the household photo expert.

I don’t know the binomial description of this species of hummer, but I do know it’s a pretty one flitting between sage flowers several times today out in the courtyard. Photo taken with my Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR, F5.6, ISO 1000, shutter speed 1/4000 sec, focal length 300mm from a distance of about twelve feet. Click on the image to enlarge.

09 May 2015 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Colorful Barrel Cactus Flowers

Barrel Cactus Flowers

We were at the west end of town today checking the PO Box and shopping a day early because of an appointment with the dermatologist tomorrow. While Bob was getting the mail, I walked around and took some photos of some of the landscape and flowers near the Post Office.

I found a barrel cactus behind the bank that had eight beautiful flowers open. I took the photo above of one side of the cactus. Click on the image to enlarge. The link highlighted in the first sentence of this paragraph takes you to the whole cactus.

06 May 2015 by Arizona Flowers Photography

Argentine Giant Flowers Encore

Argentine Giant Flowers

For the second time this spring, our Argentine Giant Cactus (Echinopsis candicans) had two flowers open. They were out last night, but I waited to take this photo until this morning when they were fully open and the light was good.

This is a single stem cactus at present, but the species can spread out by producing more stems and can occupy a large area. In its present location, we can’t allow it to spread too much, so we will remove and replant other stems should they occur.

I’m not certain, but we may be getting a third bloom in a while since there seems to be another fuzzy patch that may develop into another flower. That would be nice. The flowers are are beautiful and fragrant. Click on the image to enlarge.

05 May 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Thrasher Tending To The Nest

Thrasher Tending to the Nest

Not much going on here today other than a little badly needed rain. Went to the supermarket for some stuff while it was pouring and when I got home it dried up. We went out to the courtyard with the camera and managed to catch this photo of one of the Curve Billed Thrashers just coming out of the nest with the six eggs.

There is a lot of activity around the nest and Damsel and I wonder if there could be more than one pair of Thrashers that laid eggs there. Six seems a lot for one bird. Click on the image to enlarge.

04 May 2015 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

Ocotillo Flowers Opening

Ocotillo FlowersMany of the little flower buds in this cluster on our ocotillo are now open. We saw them coming, but now they’re here. We have waited for quite some time for flowers since this specimen replaced the dead ocotillo last year.

This is one of three flower clusters currently opening on the ocotillo. There are seven or eight “canes” or stalks, but only two are showing flower clusters. The other cane with flowers actually has two clusters, one growing on a separate branch near the top of the cane.

Some of the more mature ocotillos we see around town and in the desert are showing flowers on nearly every cane. We’re hoping that our plant will follow suit in a year or two.

This picture was taken about mid morning when the light was fairly good to capture this view of the flower cluster. Click on the image to enlarge.

02 May 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Putting All Your Eggs In One Basket

Six Eggs

Damsel and I saw three eggs in this Curve Billed Thrasher nest earlier in the spring, but when we checked on them later, they were gone. We don’t know if the nest was raided or if the parents tossed non-viable eggs out. We did find a thrasher eggshell on the road nearby, cracked open and empty.

Now, however, it seems that the parents are serious about covering the odds of one or two survivors by laying a half-dozen eggs in the nest. I walked by the cholla cactus where this nest is located and saw blue in the nest. I got this shot by holding the camera out at arm’s length and pointing at where I thought the nest was located. I didn’t want to get stabbed by the spines. It was a lucky camera shot, it seems.

For now, we will give the Thrashers their space, not wanting to disturb nature in progress. If we’re lucky again, perhaps we can photograph some chicks in the nest after they hatch. Click on the image to enlarge.

01 May 2015 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

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