Yellow-headed Blackbird
We then drove to the boat ramp area to check out what might be there and as we pulled into a parking stall and were getting out of the car, we noticed a Northern Cardinal on another vehicle in the row behind us. It was perched on one of the side mirrors of the vehicle, then it would hop down to the window edge and look at itself in the side mirror. Then it would fly to the next vehicle and do the same thing and it followed the same pattern onto the third vehicle. I have never seen a Northern Cardinal behave in that manner, so it was actually quite hilarious to think he was making sure he was looking good for the females!
Northern Cardinal
Right at the end of the parking lot, we found this Desert Spiny Lizard basking in the early morning sunshine. It is amazing how this species colors can vary from one area to another.
Desert Spiny Lizard
The trees were alive with the sound of music, Bell's Vireos to be more precise. We had adults and recently fledged young just about everywhere we went today. As usual, not always an easy target for the camera, but did manage a couple of photos and I thought this one was a bit unique.
Bell's Vireo
Another very common bird we found today were Black-tailed Gnatcatchers and in many instances parents were feeding newly fledged offspring. Below are a couple of photos that definitely show they truly do have black tails. I think the photos are of a juvenile and not an adult.
Black Tailed Gnatcatcher
Black Tailed Gnatcatcher
Just had to capture a photo of a Common Raven as we had a couple let us approach fairly close without taking off.
Common Raven
The final photo is one of a Zebra-tailed Lizard. It blended into the sand and gravel so well that if you took your eyes off it for a short time, it was hard to find again. At least until in moved again in the search for insects on the ground. When it stopped it would flash its zebra striped tail in the air.
Zebra-tailed Lizard
The Arizona heat started warming up around 9:30 and that is when we decided it was time to call it a day. We have already decided that this is a place worth revisiting in cooler temps and maybe we might even attempt to hike down to the campground if the road is still closed to vehicles.
Nice work Gordon! This looks like a swell place--I'd never even heard of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Vireos and Gnatcatchers. It's funny you mentioned the Cardinal because recently I saw both a Cardinal and a Carolina Wren engaging in very similar behavior with car mirrors. Curious stuff...