Desert Evening

A cholla forest 

Strawberry hedgehog

Gambel's Quail in Ocotillo

Beavertail cactus flower

There are a lot of black widows 

Elephant's tooth in the background 

Cactus wren nest

Little Things

There are so many things to see this time of year. I told the dogs we should look for a tortoise this evening and this is what we found...

Curious burros

Antlion craters

Caterpillar

A wall of barrel cactus

A brilliant jewel

Strawberry hedgehog in bloom

A chirping cricket

Black widow webs are usually a few unorganized strands unlike the intricate webs of some other spiders. The picture below shows a densely woven area at a protected edge of the web where the widow is housed. The blue arrow points to where she is hidden and you can actually see her in the enlarged image. Very cool to find them out here where I can leave them in peace.

Black widow

I thought we were skunked on seeing a tortoise when Tux came down from the slope and dropped this at my feet -- a little wet but unharmed. What am I going to do with this dog...

Tortoise in hiding

More Spring Things

I was checking the sprinklers that are set up to run while we're gone and this Costa's swooped right in for a bath. Unfortunately the camera's auto-focus has a mind of its own and focused beyond the bird but those wildly waving wings would have been a blur no matter what.

Costa"s hummingbird attracted to a sprinkler shower

Now for some of the yellows of spring.

I don't know what this is

Yellow Cups - An evening primrose that blooms in the morning

Something in the sunflower family

Brittlebush

The unknown shrub

Creosote

Ephedra - Mormon tea

Not yellow, but the color is luscious. This is a succulent growing in the protected area around the pool. This same succulent was eaten to oblivion in another part of the yard so I am delighted it is thriving in this location.

The Endeavour Leaves Homer - finally

It took three tries, but at 8:30 a.m. Friday, the Endeavour-Spirit Independence jack-up rig left the Homer Deep Water Dock.   (Link to story in Homer News)

The rig arrived in Homer on August 24 last year and was scheduled to stay only seven days. It spent 218 days at the Deep Water Dock accompanied by much controversy. We'll be happy not to have it in our view, but I predict within a few years this will be a common sight in Homer. Too many people in local government have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads over the $500,000 harbor fees collected. Then will come the big box stores and that will be the beginning of the end of this charming little fishing town and pristine Kachemak Bay.

Down the hole where Spider waits

Firsts

First tortoise of the season sighted today. It was jammed into the back of it's den. Tomorrow I'll carry a camera and hope to find it outside.

Another season's first. One I'm not so happy about. A black widow spider on the back porch. She made a distinctive web inside a large black dustpan leaning against the wall. There were two other spiders on the web that I think were males. I screeched and stomped them. Bob had to take care of the female. I can't stand the splat of a big spider. I know widows do a great service as far as eliminating other insects, but there is only so much spider-love I can manage and that is saved for tarantulas.

 This is a Paperbag Bush (Salazaria Mexicana). The seeds form in papery pods. The little antelope squirrels that look like chipmunks eat the seeds. 

Bigelow Monkey Flower

Flicker

What luck! There was a flicker looking for insects right in front of my window and it stayed long enough I could snap a few shots. They aren't the best quality photos - taken through the window- but still worth posting. It's a beautiful bird. A ladder-backed woodpecker has been hanging around, too.

 

  

Misc things

We're buttoning things down and getting ready to head north. The wildflowers (weeds?) are blooming like crazy. You might almost call it lush (for a desert). Critters are getting active, birds, reptiles, bats, rabbits, coyotes, burros, sheep and amazing insects of all kinds. Wish we were staying another month. I'd even like to see a rattler or two before leaving. (Yes, I must be losing my mind.) But Bob has been suffering with allergies and is wanting to go. He's had a rough winter after six weeks of migraines and now the allergies. If only he could live in a bubble....

Paper clay and paint

Agave parrasana (best guess)

Interesting coloration

Blue dots 

Clay women

Looking for rabbit in the pipe

Around the house

Mojave Aster

A little pincushion cactus

Oatman Fire Department

A few of Tom's horses

Ocotillo flower

Unknown cactus

Tiny daisy-like flowers carpet the desert floor

Barrel and strawberry hedgehog cactus

Barrel cactus

Blooming brittle bush with cholla cactus

Cactus Flowers

Luscious color!