Early morning birding at Saguaro National Park (West side).
Sun's just coming up over the mountain
A male Gambel's Quail in a twisted tree
An expanse of Englemann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
Teddybear Cholla (choy'-ya) (Culindropuntia bigelovii or Opuntia bigelovii). Nothing soft and fuzzy about these plants. The spines easily imbed in skin, shoes, clothing and need a comb or pliers to be removed. Packrats pile up detached joints around their nests for protection. The joints will root when in contact with soil.
Another male Gambel's Quail
A Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
A pretty poor, fuzzy photos of a Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) sitting beside a prickly pear that was probably munched on by a javalina.
Can't get enough photos of saguaro
And, my Lifer Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens) - the female of the pair. After this initial sighting, I saw these birds everywhere!
Sun's just coming up over the mountain
A male Gambel's Quail in a twisted tree
An expanse of Englemann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
Teddybear Cholla (choy'-ya) (Culindropuntia bigelovii or Opuntia bigelovii). Nothing soft and fuzzy about these plants. The spines easily imbed in skin, shoes, clothing and need a comb or pliers to be removed. Packrats pile up detached joints around their nests for protection. The joints will root when in contact with soil.
Another male Gambel's Quail
A Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
A pretty poor, fuzzy photos of a Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) sitting beside a prickly pear that was probably munched on by a javalina.
Can't get enough photos of saguaro
And, my Lifer Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens) - the female of the pair. After this initial sighting, I saw these birds everywhere!
An imposing formidable looking environment that's for sure. Still there is life.....
ReplyDelete