המועדפים של mccreedy

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.

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.

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

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.

Tonto N.F. - Granite Reef Rec Area

Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Nest with single entrance in soft, sandy soil. No gravel mound present.
Many workers active. Some seen retrieving dry plant parts.
Not particularly aggressive.

This is the 3rd P. barbatus colony we have found at this general location.

Sunny
TEMP: 23°C/74°F
ELEVATION: 405m/1330ft

DLQ LOC: A19145