Wholly empty feeders, Batman!

My hummingbird feeder has been completely drained (of at least two cups of sugar water) at night for the past week. [I have plenty of hummingbird visitors (although fewer than last year), but I knew they wouldn't be feeding through the night.] I had a short list of possible suspects and last night I did a stake out. Alas, I don't have the necessary camera equipment to i.d. individuals, but I'm sure it looked something like this!
Still shots here; Movie here. Both links from Beth at fireflyforest.net

Before and After

Before

Before

After

All of the ocotillo ramadas have been repaired. Thanks, Bruce (and Bryna)!

Orange flowers for Susan

Mentzelia isolata

Copper  Purslane

In honor of Susan B, woman of unparalleled strength and a true blazing star.

Update on AZ Walnut

Anne (left), Arizona Walnut 9/22/10

Anne next to Giant Reed 9/22/10 (No, she didn't shrink.)
Photos by Carol Tornow

See the tree? It's tall.  See the reed? It's taller.

You'll note that the Arizona Walnut has grown a lot since the first post. The giant reed has grown, too. (The reed in this area previously completely blocked the sun from our little AZ Walnut.) The battle to reclaim Sabino Canyon's riparian area is not over. In order to meet the goal of complete eradication of giant reed by 2012, we must be persistent. Because you care about the canyon, please take a moment today to: 1) thank the Forest Service for their role in the fight against Arundo donax (aka giant reed), and 2) to stress the importance of continuing the regular herbicide applications, by sending Angela Elam (point person for the Coronado District on the Sabino Arundo eradication project) an email: aelam at fs dot fed dot us

Bruce's well-trained cutter ants

Cutter Ant Trail, 9/23/10

Bruce had his cutter ant team out on the Bear Canyon trail today, each one carrying a cut leaf twice his weight (the ant's, not Bruce's). Rumor has it that Bruce is having the ants build a ramada entirely of leaves. Photo by Bruce Garrett.

Today in snakes

Coachwhip, photo by Carol Tornow

Cloudy skies this morning didn't stop Carol T from snake spotting, but they did stop this normally-too-fast-to-photograph coachwhip, who remained motionless throughout the photo session. Carol and I ran into Marge K and Angie P on the way out of the canyon and told them about our sighting. They later saw this gopher snake waiting for breakfast by a ground-squirrel-sized hole. Thanks to Carol and Angie for sharing the photographs. 

Gopher Snake, photo by Angie Perryman

I'd like the checkered version, please!

Checkered Gartersnake

Jean and Mark Hengesbaugh saw this one along Sabino Creek this morning. Click on it for a larger view. Photo by Mark.