Who let the cat out?

Photo courtesy of Bill Kaufman 3/24/2014

Nice kitty!

And a bonus bee post from our favorite bug lady, Margarethe Brummermann. 

More Flower Power

Photo by Gene Spesard 3/26/2014

Photo by Gene Spesard 3/26/2014

Desert Pincushion Flower (Chaenactis stevioides)

Photo by Alan Kearney 3/26/2014

Whispering Bells (Emmenanthe penduliflora)

Nest is best

Photo by Bob Wenrick 3/27/2014

Photo by Bob Wenrick 3/27/2014

Yes, hummingbird nests are tiny. The sitting area of this Broad-billed Hummingbird's nest is about the size of a golf ball, cut in half. The nest almost looks woven and contains plant materials, webs, hair, fur - whatever she can find that's soft. Her eggs are about the size of Tic Tac mints. I won't reveal the location of this nest, but I will reveal the hummingbird banding schedule for Sabino Canyon. Go early for the best chance at having a hummingbird in hand. 

Lizards are wizards

Photo by Ned Harris 3/24/2014

Common Side-blotched Lizard 

Photo by Ned Harris 3/24/2014

Desert Spiny Lizard 

Flower power

Photo by Ned Harris 3/24/2014

Desert Honeysuckle (Anicanthus thurberi) is usually a smallish shrub. Sometimes scraggly. In the Acanthus family, as is Twin Seed (Dicliptera resupinata).

Photo by Ned Harris 3/24/2014

And Coursetia (aka Baby Bonnets) (Coursetia glandulosa) is in the Pea Family. Loads of these shrubs along the road into Sabino Canyon.

Make way for rattlesnakes!

Photo by Wayne Klement 3/23/2014

Wayne's been seeing Western Diamondbacks at nearly every turn. On 3/23, he relocated one out of a friend's yard. (Don't try this maneuver.)

Photo by Wayne Klement 3/24/2014

Photo by Wayne Klement 3/24/2014

The next day, he met up with this one at the start of the Phoneline trail.

Photo by Ned Harris 3/24/2014

Both Wayne and Ned sent photos of this beauty, seen on the main path by the visitor center.

Photos by Matt Ball 3/30/2014

And I made way for this Black-tailed Rattlesnake; nearly jumped out of my skin after I was rattled at. Was curled up under some plants on the trail in Ventana Canyon. Eventually crossed the trail and went far enough away so that we (and several other people coming and going) could pass.

Make way for ducklings!

Photo by Roger Rittmaster 3/24/2014

Mark Hengesbaugh writes:

On Monday morning [3/24/2014], we saw this Northern Mallard and 13 ducklings [8 of whom are in this photo] at Sabino Dam. Nearby, on the trail leading to the dam, we saw a Gila monster with a skinny tail. Drama may ensue.

Photo by Ned Harris 3/28/2014

On Friday, 3/28/2014, Ned, Lyn, and company saw at least one of the ducklings in the creek below the dam. Didn't see any Gila monsters, though, skinny or fat.