With Kelp Gulls in the background.
remarkable location to see this species, particularly at this time of the year
Thrasher parent(s) in-between shuttling food to nest.
The third photo might show a bird withdrawing into the chamber so the other parent could enter the box. It took them awhile to learn to coordinate.
The thrasher baby(s) public debut came 11 days later:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177299669
Blue-eyed baby thrasher
This was the first and probably only day that the thrasher baby(s) appeared in the birdhouse hole to have a first look at the outside world. The baby(s) took awhile to learn that perching in the entryway meant no parent bird landing and thus no food. I believe I heard multiple babies in the box in prior days.
Bird photos are from April 16, but the empty nest photo is from April 18. The nest was started by a cactus wren around November, which was out-of-season:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177586510
The box is designed for kestrels.
A separate observation from 11 days prior shows parent(s) in-between shuttling food to the nest:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177299186
Roadkill. Rufous patch on wing visible, as is black malar stripe. Lots of live birds in the area singing and feeding fledglings.
One of my favorite photographs of the trip, taken in an amazing location near the Arctic Circle.
Tadpoles EVERYWHERE still. This is the first spadefoot-let I've seen out of the water so far. I predict next week there may be many underfoot
Observed on the edge of Soda Lake.
Continuing bird first found on 10-9-20 between holes 6 and 8 in the mostly desert shrub habitat, but also on the grass of the golf course nearby a large saguaro with many arms. Viewed only from the desert washes and desert shrub habitat as the course you can't walk on the reseeded grass besides along the cart paths. Interior (Canascens subspecies) of Bell's Sparrow vs Sagebrush Sparrow is one of the toughest out there and one I'm not the best with either. Was confirmed as this species today after extensive research was done. This bird appears to have hardly any streaking on the back or very minimal visible.
Looks like 2 chicks. Same nest as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146739496
Male. At a large thistle patch at a road culvert.
With moth prey.
Initially in the same tree as the fledgling, so a nice look at her size!
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), 112_7545-Edit.tif
Inferred mountain lion feeding. Mtn lion killed the deer with apparent puncture wounds from canines in the back of neck. Probably last night before the rains. Coyote tracks apparent in the area so likely that coyote found it in the morning and dragged it away and fed on it. Found 1 fetus outside of canyon. Probably ate one earlier and took the other.
Bummer it was so foggy and dark, just in terms of photos, but no complaints!!
The bird displayed this stick for several minutes.
On exposed rocky ridge top amidst significant buffelgrass infestation. Never seen it in such a habitat.
Caught and released during mist netting surveys.
photographed as found
I finally got a Wyliea! I wasn't expecting them to big this impressively big-- I'd been picturing a Machimus-sized thing. Several of these perching on sticks and branches at this site along the Bursum Rd 1.7 mi E of the bridge in Mogollon. There were also Proctacanthus, Machimus, and Laphria engelhardti out flying. And Tragidion (another Pepsis mimic!) The Wyliea were rather wary and strong fliers. Specimen in collection. TAM_1463
Stumbled across this rare eastern warbler while looking at sparrows. Was gone in 15-20 seconds to no success of relocating as I lost where it went in general.
low herbs, lee side of low dunes
on Hapithus
Approximately 70cm long.
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) Co. Rd 12A, Yolo County, CA
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes (Yellow cups)
Tentative id based on the large amount of grey underbelly, distinct transition from brown to grey, the short tail with distinctly darker tip, and the overall size (subjective, I did not get a measurement). Habitat = open spruce forest about 300 meters below treeline.
It was -5 F. Shrew was crossing the road and had to do some searching to find a soft spot where it could get back under the snow. I wonder if its extremities are red due to increased blood circulation to keep from freezing. Normal subnivean temp should be around 28 F.
Bird day (mostly) along Feldspar Trail near Tom's Thumb trailhead
Juvenile on the nest
Found in our trash can at the nursery. First time we have recorded this mammal onsite.