Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
One in a long series of pictures exploring changing light in the desert, in this instance a kestrel eating a small rodent that didn’t quite make it to the relative safety of the night, growing shadows nearly enveloping them both.
📷: Sony A6600 | Canon 500mm | Canon 1.4X
🗓️: December 19, 2021
The Woodpecker Hotel is one of my favorite saguaros, quite the survivor to get this old and this big. I wonder how many animals owe their lives in part to the giant, from what must be hundreds of woodpeckers who were born in its arms to countless creatures who fed on its flowers and fruit. I hadn’t planned on photographing it on this occasion as Bear and I headed back to the car but I couldn’t resist when I saw the hawk perched on top.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: February 15, 2024
A long thin beak necessitates a long thin tongue. We had a ton of bougainvillea when we moved in years ago but had it ripped out as it was a nightmare to maintain. The local wildlife misses it as our backyard is rather sparse now but this is not entirely a bad thing with Bear around. I do miss gardening from our time in Portland but I don’t have the bandwidth for it here. Something to look forward to in retirement though I’ll need some lessons as I have no idea how to grow things in an area where everything stabs you.
📷: Sony A6500 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 12, 2019
The other evening as I enjoyed the gentle rain I noticed a quiet coil in the green space below. We’re on a slope so it’s a bit awkward trying to balance the telephoto while standing on the fence, this was the only picture that came out but I’ll take it as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. It’s so calming to watch a rattlesnake enjoying the rare bounty that falls from above, I’ve only had the opportunity once before.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: August 4, 2024
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to get up early and go out for a hike, you have the park mostly to yourself until families are done opening presents and the trails get busy. On this Christmas a few years ago I saw a kindred spirit as I looked back to the mountain behind me.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 24-200
🗓️: December 25, 2021
I named the two female tarantulas in the backyard Janeway and Seven so my initial thought was to name our new arrival Picard. However if he’s of age and ready to mate and Janeway invites him over … perhaps naming him Red Shirt would be more appropriate.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: July 20, 2024
It looks like one of our backyard tarantulas has gone missing and a male has taken over her home. He doesn’t seal off the opening to the nest every morning the way she did, I miss that. Amusingly though when he comes out after sunset he just sticks his legs out for a while before emerging completely, perhaps testing to see if the coast is clear while he can still beat a hasty retreat.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: July 20, 2024
My favorite California patch is in the north in Redwood National and State Parks, but this little California patch is impressive in its own right (assuming I identified it correctly).
📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: March 27, 2022
That this green lynx spider only had seven legs didn’t seem to be holding it back, as I’m sure this leaf-footed cactus bug would agree.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: March 18, 2022
A few summers ago I noticed the park was closing after sunset so I went out for a late afternoon hike, not expecting much, just wanting to be out in the desert. It was still plenty hot so I took my favorite trail as it’s an easy hike, stopping for a water break at my favorite saguaro. She seems the worse for wear every time I see her, damage spreading further down her arms. After we exchanged pleasantries I continued down the trail but stopped after a few steps, my brain telling me it saw something but couldn’t tell me what. I stepped backwards until I was in my original spot and stared for the longest time before I realized what first caught my attention: she was pushing out new growth from one of her arms.
She never gives up, this one.
📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: August 6, 2021
Boolie 