We love to look out our back window and see what new critters are out there to watch. Birdsrnare abundant. Wrens and Finches are common but we also get some more unique visitors. So,rnenjoy some armchair birdwatching.
- Cardinals
- Owl
- Roadrunner
- Hummingbirds
- Hawks
- Gambels Quail
- Quail Babies - AKA Fuzz Balls on Toothpicks
- Rosy-cheek Lovebirds
Lucky us, we have a mated pair of cardinals that have been with us for years. Their bright color is so unique among our desert brids
We put some old watermelon out and the femail seemed to enjoy it.
She shared it with the Gila woodpecker.
Yes, I know that owls are usually out at night, but someone forgot to tell they youngster that it was only mid-afternoon. I noticed him as I was sweeping the patio. He just calmly sat in the tree out back watching me, so we watched back. We believe there is a roost in a nearby palm, and over the years we have seen juveniles in this tree in October when they are preparing to leave the nest for good. Nice kid to let us take his picture.
Roadrunners really do not look like the one that Wiley Coyote is always trying to catch. First of all, they are not that big. And second, they do not go Beep Beep. They do like our yard however and we see them hunting on a regular basis.
They are really great at posing
All fluffed up to grab the sun on a cold day
Lizards just don't stand a chance
Yes, they do fly. Well, sort of
Showing off for his lady friend
There are 18 species of hummingbirds in Arizona. I have no idea how many come to my feeder but we managed to capture at least a couple in pictures. These little guys are really fast, and not at all shy around us. But they just do not sit still.
I think this is a Broad-tailed hummingbird
Another Broad-tailed I think
Possibly an Annas Hummingbird
Hawks are common in our area, but very hard to photograph because they have great disdain for our need to get them to pose. However, on a couple of occasions we managed to get a couple of shots through our kitchen window.
A young Harris Hawk. These guys are usually in family groups
A young Coopers Hawk just soaking his feet
The Coopers closeup
I think this is a Sharp Shinned Hawk. We had to get the shot through the blinds so we did
A young Red Tail Hawk
There were two stopping by in our tree
Very contemplative look on his face
Gambels Quail are one of the most abundant birds in our yard. They are so much fun to watch walking around with their little bobbing topknots, calling to each other. And the babies are just adorable. They look like little dust bunnies with legs when first hatched.
Mr and Mrs Quail bathing
One of the baby chicks
One of the males
Mom is just a bit more drab in color
Mom, Dad and kids
The quail and finch were just gong the same way
First let me explain about Mai Tiki. We bought it in Florida way back in 1987. The kids picked it out since it favored me when I am mad.
It's original home was in a pot by our pool in Florida where the weather rotted out parts of the top and bottom.
We love this guy, so before we moved it to Minnesota we cut off a portion of the bottom and the rotten section of his head. This last part left a large hallow area which we stuck a plastic plant in.
We brought it with us to Arizonam naturally. After our kitchen reno last yearTiki moved to the patio, where a less than brainy Gambel's Quail made a nest. This is not the ideal place since it is quite a ways down to the ground even if they can get out.
We watched for signs of hatching and our diligence paid off and when the chicks wer out of their shells we gently dumped Tiki over and herded all the little peeps out to join Mom & Dad.
Mai Tiki - you can see the foliage in his head.
The clutch of eggs. Quail lay about a dozen but can lay 20.
We managed a shot of Mom on her nest
The first of the babies. Quail hatch fully feathered and feed with the adults
More babies coming out. A couple took the plunge out the back but they were OK
Mom & Dad gathered all the babies - hard to see here because they blend in with the pati
Closer shot of Mom, Dad and kids
They stayed here for about 30 minutes before they all trooped off.
Yes, lovebirds. Who would have thunk?
Apparently there are substantial colonies of these little guys living all over the Phoenix metro area.
How? Well apparently sometime in the 1980s a monsoon destroyed an aviary in Apache Junction and the birds flew off into the wild. Then also in the 80s someone just got tired of his birds and released them.
Since then the little guys have thrived. They're native home of Namibia is quite similar to the Arizona area and the birds are doing well.
A pleasant viewing during our pandemic
