Archive for the ‘Catalina Foothills’ Tag
Curve-billed Thrasher at Patio Bird Feeder — Image by kenne
As I sit on our patio
watching birds land
in near-by mesquites
before flying to the
olive tree on the patio,
then gathering the nerve
to bolt to the bird feeders.
They are not pleased
that I sit on the patio
with a camera in hand.
Soon, the desire to eat
takes priority over fear.
— kenne
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Great Western Swallowtail Butterfly — Photo Essay by kenne
with one tail missing
the swallowtail stays on track
not missing a beat
— kenne
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Morning Walk In The Catalina Foothills — Image by kenne
Let me tell you a story of Nature
and my early morning walks in the
desert. The fragrance of cactus blossoms
and the starkness of its beauty beckon.
Or, is it the silence, like no other, interrupted
only by the hum of bees and tiny species
who materialize when you draw a handful
of sand to your eyes, viewing them as equals.
— from A Desert Walk by Constance La France
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Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly — Image by kenne
The great purple hairstreak, Atlides halesus (Cramer), is a fascinating butterfly. Although its preferred
and most frequently used common name is great purple hairstreak, it does not have any accurate purple
coloring. A few publications use the name great blue hairstreak, which is more appropriate.
I spotted this guy on our patio
— kenne
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Gila Woodpecker — Images by kenne
“I enjoy watching the woodpeckers. They don’t fly away until I come quite close to them.”
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Turkey Vulture — Image by kenne
This turkey vulture landed in a mesquite tree 25’ from our patio.
This was two days after my best friend, Tom Markey had passed away — an ominous sign.
Or, had the bird become a little disoriented because of the monsoon storms?
(My camera lens focused more on the branches than the bird.)
— kenne
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Morning Walk View Of The Catalina Foothills — Image by kenne
Early morning rains left behind some low-hinging clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains’ front range.
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Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly On Mexican Bird of Paradice — Photo-Artistry by kenne
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Potted Lemon Tree (August 7, 2022) — HDR Image by kenne
After almost losing our Meyer lemon tree last year, this year it has a lot of new leaf growth and about two dozen lemons.
— kenne
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Pyrrhuloxia On A Hot Day At The Feeder — Images by kenne
Dapper in looks and cheerful in song, the Pyrrhuloxia or desert cardinal is a tough-as-nails songbird
of baking hot deserts in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. — Source: allaboutbirds.org
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A Thirsty Hummingbird — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Water
Summer days are hot
Several gallons each day
Go in the fountain.
The olive tree shade
The fountain and thirsty birds
Nature at my door.
— kenne
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A Little Rain Overnight in The Catalina Foothills — Image by kenne
the monsoon clouds brought
a little rain overnight
maybe more to come
— kenne
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We haven’t seen too many Pyrrhuoxias coming to the feeder and fountain this summer,
but this guy is interested in cooling off from our triple-digit temperatures here in Tucson.
This Pyrrhuoxia looks like an immature male because of the dark bill. Adults have a yellow bill.
— kenne
Pyrrhuloxia (July 17, 2022) — Images by kenne
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One doesn’t usually see cooper’s hawk standing on the ground, so when I spotted this on the circle
curb I got my camera, first being careful not to spook the hawk.
Slowly, I moved closer, realizing this was an immature hawk that might be having problems
with our 110-degree temps and was spending time in the shade.
The cooper’s hawk watches me closely as I continue to narrow my distance from the bird.
I start to move to the hawk’s right trying to create a different angle to photograph this young bird.
Finally, the cooper’s hawk began to move toward flight. — Images by kenne
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Cactus Blossom — Image by kenne
I wait for the moment
I’ll return to the trails
as I did for twelve years
beneath Tucson’s blue sky
in some world of youth
and springtime. Give me,
Powers of the Universe,
the springtime but
spare me the child.
— kenne
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Becoming is Superior to Being 