Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Turns out it is pretty easy to distinguish a black-tailed rattler from a diamondback. The former has - you guessed it - a completely black tail (no white rings) in front of the rattle. Photos by Carol Tornow taken on 5/3/11 from a safe distance. Seen between bridges 5 and 6. Thanks to the cyclists who alerted us to this beauty.

The Sign of Four

Click on photo for larger view (Ned Harris, 5/2/11)

These are also Canyon Tree Frogs, hanging out at 'Frog Rock'. Don't lick them.

A bird and a frog and a squirrel, oh my!

Black-throated Sparrow (Bob Wenrick, 5/2/11)

Canyon Tree Frog (Bob Wenrick, 5/2/11)

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Bob Wenrick, 5/2/11)

Examples of camouflage, too. (oh my!)

How hummingbirds really drink!

Costa's Hummingbird, male (Ned Harris)

This just in! Make sure to read the text below the video. Thanks to my husband for keeping up to date on things that interest me :-) (And he cooks, too!)

Bugs can be beautiful!

click for larger view (Ned Harris, 4/13/11)

According to Bug Eric (who has a very cool blog), this is a bush katydid nymph (genus Scudderia). (He can't tell which species until it grows up!) The flower is a desert chicory.

I've heard there are ducklings...

Rumors of 14 (!) darling ducklings at Bridge 4 (where the truck is; and truck rhymes with duck). Someone get a photo or two and I'll post for mother's day!

It's great to be blue!

Great Blue Heron (Ned Harris, 4/30/11)

Great Blue Herons are mainly fish eaters, but have been known to eat voles. How about that?