Flora and Fauna of Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Broad Billed Hummingbird - III

Another Broad Billed Hummer:

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Flora and Fauna of Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Broad Billed Hummingbird - II

We see the Broad Billed Hummingbird daily throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Less so during the summer when they tend to move into the mountains where it is a bit cooler.

Broad Billed Hummingbird, Male

Flora and Fauna of Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Broad Billed Hummingbird - I

Next up on my alphabetical series on photos taken here at The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast is the Broad Billed Hummingbird.

Broad Billed Hummingbird, Male

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat XV

And finally a nice male just surveying the area:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat XIII

First, a welcome to viewers from Sierra Leone, the 124th Country to visit our blog. Thank you.

Usually Bobcats don't pay much attention to me. This time he actually turn to look at me as if to say, "Can I help you?" At which point I say, "You already have!"

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat XII

And now jumping down from the wall:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat XI

One of Christine's favorites, Bobcat sitting on one of our walls:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat X

Here's a sweet little guy among the Prickly Pear Cactus

Young Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat IX

An hour or so after his nap, he jumped over the courtyard wall, and strolled right by me (and one of our guests):

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat VIII

One morning I found this Bobcat fast asleep in the flower bed of one of our guest houses:

Bobcat Asleep in a Flower Bed

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat VII

I watched as this Bobcat caught a Desert Cottontail; then got my camera in hopes of getting a nice photo; never once did he look at me though; so this was the best I could do before he hopped over the fence and was out of sight:

Bobcat with Rabbit

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat VI

Love the spots on this young Bobcat:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat V

Resting under an African Sumac during a 110 degree day:

Young Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat IV

Here one just hopped over a fence, then turned to look behind him, not the least bit interested in me at the time:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat III

Here among the aloes:

Bobcat 

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat II

Here, strolling across our driveway:

Bobcat

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Bobcat I

And now for our most sought out visitor: the Bobcat.  We've been fortunate to have Bobcats come around often enough for some good -- even great photos. So for the next few days I'll share some of our best:

Here a female Bobcat with one of her two kittens up on our roof:

Up on the Roof

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Tail Jackrabbit

We have an abundance of Desert Cottontails and an occasional Black Tail Jackrabbit. But in April and May the Jackrabbit is here most every day to eat the mesquite pods from our many mesquite trees:

Black Tail Jackrabbit

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Widow Spider

Of course, we are most famous for our Tarantula's but evidently get a Black Widow every now and then. I say now and then because this is the only one I remember seeing in the past 13 years:

Black Widow Spider

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Tail Gnatcatcher

The Black Tail Gnatcatcher is not one of the more common visitors to The Azure Gate, but does show up occasionally:

Black Tail Gnatcatcher

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Racer

Returning to my series of photos taken here at our Bed and Breakfast, we come to the Black Racer. We've had 10 different snake species here, and this one is one of the most beautiful -- and definitely the fastest:

Black Racer

Whitewater Draw - Part II

Of course, no trip to Whitewater Draw -- no matter how often I go -- doesn't contain a photo or two of the Sandhill Cranes --- 30 to 40,000 of which call it their winter home.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Whitewater Draw

Whitewater Draw, 25 miles southeast of Tombstone is one of the premier winter birding sites in the US. It never fails to provide photos. Last week Christine and I picnicked and walked the dikes. Here are a few of the photos:

Ruddy Duck

Cinnamon Teal

Pied Billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

White Crowned Sparrow

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Common Gallinule

Pena Blanca Lake

The story continues:

Two days later, we made the same trip with some friends starting with a picnic at Pena Blanca Lake. This was more of a "hike" and sightseeing tour than birding/photo trip. Didn't get to the spot at Pena Blanca where the Rufous Capped Warbler has been hanging out. 

Although American Coots are everywhere, and I normally don't take photos of them anymore, I did get one this time of one begging for a photo:

American Coot

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: White Throated Sparrow

Continuing the story, Christine and I walked around the one mile loop of Arivaca Cienegas. Not much to report. Only one photo of significance -- but a good one. A White Throated Sparrow was enjoying a photo shoot:

White Throated Sparrow

Ruby Road - Arivaca

Ruby Road along the US/Mexico border is true wilderness; beautiful 360 degree views without a single sign of human civilization in sight; certainly well worth the drive. The road ends -- or I guess could begin in the little town of Arivaca. Christine and I hiked and birded Pena Blanca Lake last week then taking Ruby Road to Arivaca to bird the Arivaca Cienega (part of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge). 

Just before entering Arivaca we came across a male and female Mule Deer. The male ran across the road and hopped the fence while the female stayed behind. After hopping the fence the male turned around to wait for his partner. I backed up a bit, got out my camera and took a photo of the Buck. Soon the Doe ran across the road and hopped the fence.

Here are a couple of the photos:

Mule Deer Buck

Mule Deer Doe