Visitors to The Azure Gate

Over the past week there have been a couple of visitors here that got my attention and was able to photograph. I am a little surprised that we have not seen a Gila Monster yet this year. I am most surprised that we have not seen a Tarantula yet this summer. Usually the rains bring Tarantulas out, but so far none. However, two days ago a Coyote trotted by mid morning; and later on that day a very beautiful Sonoran Gopher Snake came by. He was about five feet long.  At first glance you take caution since they look similar in coloring to our Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. But, the gopher snake is harmless -- well, unless you are a squirrel, mouse, or rat. Here are some photos:

Coyote

Sonoran Gopher Snake

Sonoran Gopher Snake Closeup

On to Snakes

Since the snakes are out and about now, I thought I'd spend the next couple of days with the Arizona Snakes. The first is the black racer. And, he is fast when he wants to be. One day, Christine saw him speeding down the driveway with a Gambel's Quail on his back and several others following behind. This time of year snakes and quail don't get along well together. Too many quail eggs around. The second photo is a Bull Snake roaming around our property a couple of years ago. The Bull Snake is the largest of Arizona's snakes in it a subspecies of the gopher snake. The third photo is another subspecies of the gopher snake, the Sonora Gopher Snake, taken in the Galiluro Mountains of Arizona. I showed you one of these a couple of days ago that was drinking from a water bowl here on our property.