He's back!

Photo by Marty Horowitz 10/27/2014

The photo was taken on an overcast morning, but the evidence is clear: Our pal Luke is back for 2014! He may be the best documented individual bird in Sabino Canyon!

• Luke in 2013
• Luke in 2012
• Luke in 2011
• Luke in 2010

Happy Owl-o-ween!

Photo by Mark Hengesbaugh 10/7/2014

Mark writes:

Western Screech Owl in our neighborhood across the street from Sabino. Notice the serrated wing feathers [click photo for larger view], a characteristic of owl feathers that allows owls to fly silently. Serrations break up the air turbulence over the wing. Silent flight allows an owl to hear as well as see prey as it hunts and, of course, makes its approach a surprise. No wonder that for centuries humans believed owls had supernatural powers.

Anne says: Happy Owl-o-ween!

Mystery grasshopper

Photo by Alan Kearney 10/15/2014

I can identify maybe 3 different grasshoppers, but this beauty isn't one of them! (Love the colors. Very desert-y.) Please let me know, and I'll spread the word.

Rove with the sailor

Photo by Ned Harris 10/17/2014

A bumper crop of Snapdragon Vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora) is growing along the Bear Canyon bridge. Since this plant likes water and likes to climb, I prefer the common name Roving Sailor!

Which Datura are u-ra?

Photo by Ned Harris 10/13/2014

There are two species of Datura in Sabino Canyon. The one above is Datura discolor (Desert Thorn Apple). Click on the photo for a larger view and note the purple in the throat of the flower. The purple is always there in this species. I've noticed more of these this year, perhaps because of the 'late' rains. Look in the washes along the road, especially before you walk down the hill.

Photo by Ned Harris 10/2/2014

You're probably more familiar with this species, Datura wrightii (Sacred Datura). This species never has that purple in the throat, but it sometimes has some light purple around the edges of the fused petals. (The flowers of this species are generally a lot larger than those of D. discolor, too.) You can find this species all over in the riparian area above the dam.

Don't touch, smoke, eat, brew, etc. the leaves, flowers, or fruits of either one, though. All parts contains toxins that can cause harm, sickness, even death, depending on misuse.

Send in the paper wasps!

Photo by Ned Harris 10/13/2014

This paper wasp is Polistes comanchus.

Photo by Ned Harris 10/20/2014

And this one is Polistes flavus. Both on Wild Cotton (Gossypium thurberi)

Send in the damsels!

Photo by Marty Horowitz 10/20/2014

Sabino Dancer (How cool is that name?!)

Photo by Marty Horowitz 10/20/2014

Desert Firetail (Okay, this name is cool, too!)

Photo by Marty Horowitz 10/13/2014

Marty saw (and photographed) a male American Rubyspot for the first time. Note the bonus arthropod on the underside of the Willow Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia).

Photo by Ned Harris 10/20/2014

Then Ned did the same a week later. This one on Fendler's Globemallow (Sphaeralcea fendleri).