Continuing, already counted.
Being submitted for the Gerald & goofy files, & yes he got his seed..... :)
The 'Unicorn' is back!!
this little guy was busy mouthing off at me, for whatever reason...(I didn't have my chickadee dictionary with me again!!)
Enjoying a snow cone!
Coming over to see Side Kick (the dog is on the edge of the shore just in front of the Goose). It's probably Mr.Cangoos. He was alone tonight. Maybe Mama is sitting already.
Mr.Cangoos honoring me with some close ups, while the Missus ate her din din.
In the second photo, the squirrel is nibbling on the terra-cotta planter for its minerals. Afterwards, it jumps up to the birdbath to to quench its thirst from the salty mineral nibbles.
Mr.Mrs.Cangoos, As soon as I called to them they left their nesting site, went over to their rock, then came over for their 1st din din this year.
Sooo good to have them back again!! This is the earliest they have ever returned...and I have no problem with that!!! :)
I wish we would get a nice sunny day so I could get some really nice photos of these characters, showing their true colors!
'Buddy'....Mommie the dish is still empty....and it's getting late....
Raven followed me down to the wetlands tonight. He was alone & had a whole lot to tell me...Unfortunaely I didn't have my raven dictionary with me...This is the first time he has landed in a tree & I could take a pic of him. The last picshows him in the very top of the pine tree, waaay across the wetlands.
He finally did take flight, but of course too many branches got in the way of any photos.
Loose or stray donkey (or pony?). We called animal rescue and they said they would pick it up. I still think it would qualify as wild though.
This is 'Buddy', & he wasn't interested in coming over tonight.
Best RBNU pic so far from me. Hopefully I can out-do this one! Needs to be sharper...
Palm Desert Civic Center Park, Palm Desert Civic Center, Palm Desert, Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California
Not sure what it's eating in the 2nd pic, but it dug a good hole to reach it.
Phainopepla with his long tail propped up on a branch--2nd photo. Phainopepla is most often seen in Catclaw Acacia and in Western Honey Mesquite where it finds mistletoe berries, one of its favorite foods. Link to Mesquite Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/199529614
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is a perching bird in the Silky-Flycatchers (Ptiliogonatidae) family. Length is 20 cm (7.5 inches). It has red eyes, an upward pointing crest, long tail and glossy black feathers. The name comes from the Greek words "phain pepla" meaning “shining robe,” in reference to the male’s plumage. Males are shiny black with prominent white wing patches visible in flight. Females and juveniles are overall gray-ish. Both have a conspicuous crest, long tail, and red eyes.
Phainopepla are unusual in that they migrate both north and south and east and west, having two broods per year (if conditions are right). In early spring they nest in Mesquite woodland, feeding mainly on insects and Mistletoe berries.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 326-327.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 424-425.
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/search_results?search=Phainopepla%20nitens
Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/phaino
Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Phainopepla-nitens
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https: (enter common name) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Phainopepla
Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/
Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php
Look at this curved-bill. Biggest curve I've seen on a Curve-billed unless this isn't a curve-billed??
I couldn't believe this one..I was taking photos of a dragonfly & suddenly this fellow came hopping out of the woods & right over to me! (And yes, my dog got an extra treat when we returned home, because he sat quietly & didn't chase the bunny away).
I hope the snow never melts.....
Just one of his 15 snow angels he made during our outing!
Someone is happy it's not too cold to go outside & play in the snow again...I thought he was going to roll right on down the steps in the last photo.
Verdin enjoy eating the pulp of a half orange or tangerine. The prickly stems of the Ocotillo are a favorite perch for them. These tiny little songbirds with orange shoulder patch are daily visitors in the desert garden.
Link to confirmed, more close-up observations showing the reddish shoulder patches: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194121654
and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143588682
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) is a small 4.5 inch, active, native perching bird in the Penduline-Tits (Remizidae) family that inhabits arid scrub habitats. At 4.5 in (11 cm) in length, it rivals the American bushtit as one of the smallest passerines in North America. There are several subspecies. Verdins "are usually seen singly or in pairs, flitting about actively in the brush, sometimes giving sharp call notes. Finely pointed bills are adapted for catching small insects. Adult has gray plumage, reddish-chestnut shoulders and a yellow head. The birds may build several spherical nests. The primary nest has a small entry hole near the bottom. Other nests nearby are decoys to detract predators. Male Verdin may build several nests, with female choosing one to use for raising the young. Nest is placed well out on branches of thorny shrub or low tree, or in cholla cactus, usually 4-12' above the ground. Nest is a conspicuous hollow oval or sphere, surprisingly large for size of bird, made of thorny twigs. Entrance is low on one side; interior is well lined with feathers, grass, leaves, spiderwebs, for good insulation. Nests built late in spring tend to have entrance facing toward prevailing wind, maybe to help cool the interior. Occasionally visits hummingbird feeders for nectar, but primarily feeds on insects." They also enjoy ripe cut-in-half oranges.
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/verdin
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 386-387.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 296-297.
Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/verdin/
Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Auriparus-flaviceps
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Verdin/
Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/
Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php
MALE. Link to Female Lesser Goldfinch for comparison: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197844034
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Is a small songbird, only 11 cm (4.5 inches) long. It is smaller and darker billed than the American Goldfinch. Both male and female have white wing patch at base of primaries. Adult male has and entire black crown. Underside, starting at lower bill, is bright yellow. Adult females and juveniles have dull yellow underside. There are several subspecies. Two color patterns occur in the United States. Males in some areas may be either green-backed or black-backed. Lesser Goldfinches gather in scrubby oak, cottonwood, and willow habitats of the western U.S., or visit suburban gardens for seeds and water. These finches primarily eat the seeds of plants.In bird feeders they especially enjoy nyger seeds.
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/search_results?search=Spinus%20psaltria
Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/lesgol/
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 442-443.
Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch
Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Spinus-psaltria
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)
Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/
Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php
(m) this was a total surprise----he was right at the door!
Must be a young one.
San Diego alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata ssp. webbii) is on the lam. This snake species has been hunting lizards preying on flies visiting my Stapelia gigantea blossoms.