Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part III

The Javalina's having been coming around fairly frequently of late. Here are a few photos:

Javelinas at The Azure Gate

Having five acres gives us a chance to see a little more "back yard" wildlife. 

The Javalinas are one such thing of the wild. They have been coming around a little more often, though usually at night. I always know when they have been here because they invariably knock over one of the bird baths. They could easily reach the water without knocking it over ... but the bird bath usually ends up upside-down on the ground with no water for anyone to drink.

They also make a soft bed by digging in the dirt. There are three places where they seem to like to bed down.

Last week they chewed into an irrigation line and we ended up with a mud bath. I've yet to get that fixed so they keep enjoying it.

A couple of days ago they tore into a bird seed block and chewed half of it leaving seeds and wrapping paper all over the place. And occasionally they dig up a plant (often a young agave) and eat the roots.

Yesterday morning five Javelinas came around a little after dawn. Again knocking over the bird bath and getting into a little mischief. Here are some photos from yesterday.

New Year's Babies: Javelina

Continuing with wildlife babies we come to the Javelina.

With Javelinas coming around our property frequently, I've been able to get quite a few photos. Here are some of my favorite Javelina Babies:

Birding Patagonia

There are lots of good birding spots in the Patagonia - Sonoita area.

In Patagonia there is The Paton House for Hummingbirds, the Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve, the Roadside Rest four miles south of town, and Patagonia Lake seven miles south of town.

In Sonoita there is the 25,000 acre Las Cienegas National Conservation area. 

Here are some photos, starting with Patons (Yes, I know it is the Paton Center for Hummingbirds and I took no Hummingbird photos. I was just "focusing" on other things). 

Brown Crested Flycatcher

Loved the Catepillar

Coneflower

Dull Firetip

Yes, a Javelina came up out of the wash while I was there

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

A Wild Day at The Azure Gate

We have a Wildlife Photographer here from Taiwan (our first guests from Taiwan. It marks the 30th country we have had stay with us). 

He got up early to go looking for birds to photograph. He returned just in time to see a large male Javelina rolling around in the mud:

Javelina

Javelina

Javelina

Then around 6:00 pm, while sitting in the office, our little Bobcat came around. First, she peaked in the door to see what we were doing, then -- as she has before -- jumped up on the wall by the office, walked along the wall, then jumped up on the balcony outside Christine's studio. And there she laid down, cleaned herself, and took a nap. She was there for well over an hour:

Bobcat

Bobcat

We also have a very nice mother and daughter from Oregon staying with us. They got to see and photograph the Bobcat.

And our guest from Taiwan was able to get photos of the Bobcat and the Javelina.


So it was a "Wild Day" at The Azure Gate. Our guest from Taiwan must think it happens daily in America.

Mount Lemmond: Javelina

While looking for birds a came across this lone Javelina in Rose Canyon:

Javelina

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part I

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is 25,000 acres of desert habitat. However, that doesn't fully describe the area very well. Parts of it are the typical scrub desert; parts are desert grasslands, parts are open prairie, there are a few small ponds, and there is a spring that holds water for about 100 yards creating a true riparian habitat.

Over the next couple of days I will show some photos I've taken the past week. For today, it's a Javelina. I was sitting quietly on a downed tree trunk in Empire Gulch waiting patiently for warblers, phoebes, waterthrushes, flycatchers, and anything else previously reported or not. While sitting there a Javelina came down to the spring, dug himself a "mud hole" and bathed in the mud for several minutes. Finally he stood up, shook off some of the water/mud, and slowly walked away and out of sight. I never moved an inch. He never saw me or even knew I was there. 

Javelina Visit

My apologies for not getting a post daily these past two weeks. I am in the process of revising my book on Butterflies of the World, trying to get it finished by the holiday. In the meantime, though, late yesterday afternoon (and for a couple of hours after dark) about 20 Javelinas visited us. It was difficult lighting at best -- and even more difficult to move around to find better lighting. The first photo is a female with two piglets that continued to walk away without looking back. The second was a Javelina that was very curious about me and actually walked slowly toward me-- and seemed to want to "hang out" with me.. Much later we heard some commotion outside and it was the Javelinas trying to get into our garbage cans (I tie them together for just this purpose). This morning I went out to survey any damage. They did manage to break a very nice bird bath and chew up some recently planted Indian Fig Cactus. They also dug several "beds" to rest/sleep in. And, in the process of doing that expose some underground electrical wiring. Oh well, life in the desert.

Javelina with piglets

Javelina

Javelina Nursing - II

When you live in the wilderness, often you don't need to go far to find wildlife. Now, while I wouldn't say we lived in the "wilderness" we have 5 acres of sonoran desert which attracts wildlife  -- especially Javelinas. The last of my "5" Star Javelina photos is again a mother nursing. This time two (a little older) young ones:

Javelina Nursing

Javelina Nursing

Here is another "5" Star Photo of a Javelina, this time nursing its young. The photo was taken just outside my office. I like the nice green color in the background and, of course, the fact that the baby seemed unaware of my presence. As you can see, mom kept a close eye on me, however.

Javelina Nursing

Day Old Javelina

The next "5" Star Photo is another Javelina. This time taken on it's birthday. The mother was squealing during the night before. The result was this little guy. He was barely six inches tall, and could hardly walk. 

Such a cutie!

Javelina Piglet

Javelina and Piglet

Back again to my series on "5" Star Photos. Still on Javelinas, this photo was taken just outside my office as a group of about 15 Javelinas came wandering though. Here a newborn "piglet" walking under the protection of his mother. Like many animals, the babies are adorable.

Javelina Mom with Piglet

Creekside Javelina

First, a Big Thank you to all of those who read my blog. It's pretty amazing. 106,000 views from 113 different countries around the world including every country from South America except Paraguay; 41 of the 50 countries in Europe; 29 countries in Asia; and 12 countries from Africa including:  Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Zambia.

Now, back to my series on "5" Star Photos. Another "5" Star Javelina photo today. This one I especially like since it was taken somewhere other than our "backyard." I was wandering up and down the Patagonia Creek mainly looking for birds when I came across three Javelinas. This one I just happened to "catch" as he walked into a small "sunspot".

Javelina

The Lovable Javelinas, or NOT

Next we come to the well-loved, or not so well-loved Javelina. Living in the Sonoran Desert means visits from one of its inhabitants, the Javelina or Collard Peccary. It is a pig-like animal weighing up to 60 pounds. So, we're not taking about a small animal here. We are also talking about an animal that usually arrives in large groups. The largest group we've had was 24. Many times we've had 15-20. Unfortunately, they like to eat  -------- anything. They've knocked over our garbage cans many times spreading garbage all over the property. I've tied our two large 96 gallon trash cans together but they still manage to knock them over. They also like to eat plants, especially the plants you just bought at a nursery. Yet, I have to concede that they were here first and are just trying to survive the desert. So, I can't get too upset. (There's nothing to do about it anyway, so why get upset?) This photo was taken near a tree that was on our sprinkler system. Oh yes, the Javelinas also like to eat through the watering hose to create a pool to play in.

Javelina

More Moms with Babies Deja Vu

So there I was, sitting at my desk thinking about my blog. I had started up Moms and Babies again, with Pronghorn and Javelinas as my first post, when I glanced outside my office and saw a mom with baby Javelina. So, camera in hand I tried to get some photos. Dad was around as well so first dad, and then mom with piglet.

Male Javelina

Female Javelina with Piglet

More Moms with Babies

Back by popular demand, more moms with babies. And to start, since I've been talking about Pronghorn and Javelinas:

Javelina with one-day old piglet

Actually, this is a Dad with a juvenile fawn

An Outing

Christine and I had a day off so left early in the morning to do a hike and picnic in Garden Canyon (on the Fort Huachuca Post). We took back roads to get there, driving through the Cienega Creek Preserve, which is a wonderful birding area. Passing through we found several Tropical Kingbirds, and to our surprise a couple of Javelinas. Evidently the flooding had caused some damage to the already 4x4 only road in Garden Canyon, so the Sawmill Trail was inaccessible. However, we did picnic there under one of the covered picnic tables. Then it was off to Ramsey Canyon to hike. Nice hike, but it was rainy and cold so birding wasn't great. In fact, no hummingbirds at all. Still a great place to hike. Here are the photos from Cienega:

Javelinas at Cienega Creek Preserve

Tropical Kingbirds at Cienega Creek Preserve