Odds and Ends from the Backyard
Nov. 15, 2024 Visitors to my yard over the past few months
Here are some photos that haven't yet fit into any other previous email. On October 1, I saw the first Phainopepla of the season in my yard. It was still very hot out and this bird would arrive early in the morning to get a drink and then return again at the end of the day.
Around the same time, a Harris's Antelope Squirrel was running around the desert. It just seemed to be exploring. Many people see the stripe along its side and call this a 'chipmunk', but it is not a chipmunk, it is a ground squirrel. We have Cliff Chipmunks in the mountains around us. Cliff Chipmunks have a stripe on their face but not on their sides. https://tinyurl.com/yudftaex
House Sparrows live in the thick Texas Ranger plant in my front yard but they come to the backyard for the water. During breeding season the male has a dark black bib which becomes more faded at this time of year.
It is always a surprise when a Roadrunner comes through the yard. They never stay long enough for me but I enjoy seeing them. They often seem to be on their way somewhere!
Several minutes after the Roadrunner passed by, this Cooper's Hawk dropped in. You can tell it was hot by its open-mouth breathing. This was on one of our extremely hot, early October mornings. The Cooper’s Hawk remained on the porch for a while, then took a few drinks and then flew off.
In early August, a female Cardinal was going through her molt. Her young had fledged so now she had the energy to be able to focus on replacing feathers rather than just feeding her young ones.
In September, a Ceraunus Blue butterfly was feeding on a Gregg's Mist Flower plant. I hadn't seen as many butterflies this year as usual so each one that I saw was special.
An immature Costa's Hummingbird was just growing in its gorget feathers. You can see all the white pin feathers- those new feathers that are still wrapped tightly around the feather shaft. Soon the outside will wear enough for the feather barbs to unfurl. Once that happens, this Costa's entire gorget may glow purple as the one lonely feather is doing now.
