Hanging Out In The Shade

Curve billed Thrasher

Before monsoon began, I seriously had to force myself out in the wild and attempt the impossible.  Birding during the midafternoon heat.  When I say that it was dead and not a single lizard, bird or insect was out, I mean it!  I had thought about going home in the 106 degree weather since the butterflies weren't out and about like I had thought they would be.  So I went into the shade for relief....and listened.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

No one was around and I was the only guy in the gardens which was actually quite nice.  What I discovered was that the world was indeed very active but only in the shade.  It wasn't obvious at first but after sitting and listening to my surroundings, I was able to locate a lot of critters.

 These colorful bugs are the immature, wingless nymphs of the Giant Mesquite Bug or Leaf-footed Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus).

While looking at some art, I discovered some "natural" work(above pic).  I thought it was fake at first until I took a closer look.  We have some cool bugs in this desert...especially during the monsoon season.

And birds aren't dummies.  This Cardinal was hiding in the reeds.  Unfortuneatly his red gave away his location.  His girlfriend was also there but didn't stick out like this guy.

Even this Anna's Hummingbird played it safe as she flew and hovered around flowers in the shade.

Queen Butterfly

I did find this Queen butterfly on the Texas Mist.  I was hoping for more shots, but this is okay.

And water from the fountain was quite popular with the birds.

Stay cool!

 More tomorrow....

Alien Bugs

Black Witch Moth(This one is for you Ragged Robin:)

Here's a collection of interesting bugs I've found around Southern Arizona. The above was a great find.  This moth is found mostly in Mexico but it does make it's way up into Southern Arizona and what a find!!!  The name alone is fun:) It is considered a harbinger of death in Mexican and Caribbean folklore.  Glad I didn't touch it:)

And while the monsoon brings on the rain, you'll see many many beetles flying around our parts.  Some I like.  Some I don't.

Blue Mud Dauber Wasp

But this Blue Mud Dauber is something.  Here's why you don't squash this one.  The blue mud dauber is a metallic blue species of mud dauber wasp that preys primarily on black widow spiders. It does not build a nest, but uses nests abandoned by other mud dauber wasps. Like other mud daubers, it is rarely aggressive. Blue mud dauber wasps are generally considered beneficial, because they help to regulate the population of black widow spiders.

Giant Mesquite Bug

When I first met this bug, I thought, "Is that real?"  And yes.  Yes it is. They are harmless and don't bite.  And you can hold them in your hand.

Palo Verde Beetle

And this one.  This is the grand daddy of them all.  I'll tell you a short story for this GIANT bug.  This one looks like a cockroach, but it's not.  Here's one for the books.  I first discovered this alien bug while moving here in '96.  It was during monsoon and the thing flew into our apartment window.  I had thought it was a bird at first.  I opened the door and it got into our place.  I began to scream because I had never seen a beetle that big.  I would NOT put this guy in your hand at all.  They don't bite, but they do click and could pinch your skin.  But that's not my story:)  One of my friends came to visit from the Midwest during the summer.  They drove with their windows down probably listening to the Macarena.  It was evening time when these bugs like to come out and of course one flew into my friend's car.  Let's just say that a car crash almost happened from all the screaming and swirving on the road from this Giant Bug.  It was on Speedway and the monsoon storms were getting started:)  Thankfully no one was hurt and a hilarious memory still surfaces today in conversations:)  "Do you remember that time when that alien bug entered your car?" Evil laughs follow. And you should have heard her describe this beast.  It was the funniest thing ever. If you have friends in Arizona, ask them about the Palo Verde beetle and see what their reactions are:)  I've come across so many people with great stories of their first encounter because it's rather traumatic:) 

Figeater Beetle

Horse Lubber Grasshopper

This actor played Johnny Rico from the movie Starship Troopers which was a violent movie about humans fighting alien bugs. One of his lines was, "I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all!" His very American accent wasn't quite convincing to play someone from Argentina so I'm not sure his words should be taken seriously:) Everything has a purpose. More tomorrow.....

Cicada-when they emerge from their exoskeleton, you'd swear there was an alien in the garden somewhere

 Carpenter Bees(above).  They seem scary, but they're not:)

Peach Trees In Tucson

Hey hey hey!!!  Have you heard?  The peaches are here....the peaches are here.  This year at Presidio all 3 varieties (Red Baron, Elberta and Babcock!) have produced delicious peaches.  The reliable peach over the past two summers has been the Elberta (producing plenty!).  And this year 2 more surprises!  The Red Baron and Babcock both have peaches on them!!!

Babcock Peach

These pictures were taken on 6/30 and they should be ready to eat now.  A couple things to note about growing Peach trees in Tucson.  Like any fruit tree, they will need plenty of water if you are going to have plump and ripe peaches:)  They also surprisingly will take our sun if watered well.  I placed all 3 in different locations around the property.  Two had almost full sun along a water line and the second(the Red Baron) was in some shade.

Red Baron Peach

Now about placement.  Put them along a water line.  All of these trees are dwarf trees which means they'll only grow to about 12 feet.  Perfect height for picking peaches:)  Another reason to plant peach trees?  In Spring, when it's cold(for the desert) and there's nothing on the branches, the first sign that spring is around the corner comes in the color of blooms!!!!  Depending on the variety, the blooms will be red red or a bright pink.  Each bloom represents a peach so protect from winds during this time period.

And what about wildlife vs. the peach?  You all know I am an avid fan of birds and everything else.  Some people have suggested putting brown paper bags over the fruit and leaving a few out for the birds.  Surprisingly it wasn't the bird I had to be weary of.....it was a huge shiny alien green beetle known as the Figeater(I'm calling it Peacheater)!  I came back from my trip last year in July and found that they ate about HALF!!!  the crop.

Elberta Peach

So keep an eye open for these critters in the Tucson area.  A reliable fruit tree for the desert.  Chill hours are the lowest for this particular fruit tree.  Apricots and Nectarines also do very well here.  For two years I've had a few green apricots on the trees but they seem to disappear....hmmmm......now I think a bird may be responsible for these disappearances:)

I look forward to tasting the 3 different peaches as they ripen.  What fruits are growing in your garden?  Would love to hear your favorite seasonal fruit right now or what fruit you've had success with?  More tomorrow....

This Figeater should be called Peacheater:)

The Dark Knight Rises

All things Bats from Las Aventuras on this special knight.....

"Quick, the Batsignal!!!"

Nature....

Tucson.....

 Even the fabulous Julie Newmar. I'm a huge fan.

 I don't know if you've heard but there is a major event tonight........

 ....here in the US.  It's all inspired by bats.

 People have clearly gone bat crazy.

 Even my brother is on the action!

"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I can be both."

I didn't feel too well today, but I went to get the mail and surprise surprise!!!  The most awesome gift ever arrived and it really turned my day around.  Thank you Tracy so much for making my day.  Here is a shot with my own "Catwoman".  She is not so happy.  I LOVE bats whether they are in caves or hiding inside underpasses.  The final installment of this trilogy begins at midnight tonight at 12:01 AM. 

At 3:44 AM this morning, we returned from this amazing movie, but were saddened by the news of those killed and wounded at a midnight screening in Colorado.  My heart and thoughts go out to all of the families, friends and loved ones who have been affected.  Why does this happen? I can't even sleep now by this terrible news.   I hope the ones in the hospital come through.  Send your positive thoughts and prayers their way.

Las Libélulas

Flame Skipper

I have many favorite words in Spanish.  Today, here's one of them.  "Lee-bay-loo-lah".  Now go ahead, say it outloud. It's fun, isn't it?  It's your Spanish word for the day and our photo theme.  Some of us love getting pics of birds or butterflies or people.....but the one thing I think I've seen in almost everyone's post is the magic of a dragonfly.  It's the one unifying factor of the blogger world.  No matter how hard I try not to film them, it always seems to backfire.......because quite simply, they are amazing.  These shots were taken from June up until now.  For more fun info on them, check out Jill's post on their historical significance with people.

Blue Dasher

Mexican Amber Wing

Blue Dasher

12 Spotted Skimmer

Common Whitetail Skimmer

Just Be

"You can travel the world but you can't run away

from the person you are in your heart

you can be who you want to be

make us believe in you

keep all your light in the dark

if you're searching for truth

you must look in the mirror

and make sense of what you can see

just be

just be

they say learning to love yourself

is the first step

that you take when you want to be real

and flying on planes to exotic locations

won't teach you how you really feel

face up to the fact that you are who you are

and nothing can change that belief

just be

just be"

                                                 
Deep thoughts with my Goldfinch shoot on Mt. Lemmon. Something I discovered about myself while travelling places and never settling down.  Lyrics by DJ Tiesto. More tomorrow....

Swoop! There It Is!

Common Whitetail Skimmer

We had visited the Woodland Dunes during the winter months this past year so I thought it would be great to revisit this place during the summer.  

Tree Swallow

On this visit, I couldn't help but notice all the Tree Swallows and Dragonflies.  There were so many of them flying around that I stood at one particular point and tracked their flight patterns.  They live here in Tucson, but they fly so high up into the sky that it makes photography a little tricky.

In fact, while on our trip to Wisconsin, I was able to observe all swallows close up.  There was the Barn, Tree, and Cliff Swallow.  But the one that shimmers above them all is the Tree Swallow.  As an amateur birder, I was faced with the challenge of identifying the differences between the Tree Swallow and Purple Martins.  It still takes me a sec to figure it out.

Red wing Blackbird

Red wing Blackbirds are everywhere.  And no matter how hard I try not to film them, I never succeed.  This particular bird was very territorial and squawking at my other half to get moving.  The bird followed Pat until the end of the pier.  And I followed with my camera from the good angle capturing him flying up and down. 

The Red Wing was so close that I got this great shot below!

Finally, there were so many butterflies around the area and I filmed this one below.  Why is it called a Snout?  Look closely at the front of the "face".  Butterflies, like birds, are amazing creatures.  They all are....every single one of them.  And that's what makes Woodland Dunes a great place to visit.  It's open to the public and it has many trails throughout the preserve.  It's off of 310/Hawthorne Ave. and one of the few last untouched areas of my hometown besides Point Beach State Forest.  These places look the same as they did when I was kid. 

American Snout Butterfly

Below is a shot from the butterfly garden at Woodland Dunes.  I feel safe here when I visit and it's one area that makes me happy.  If you ever make a stop in the Two Rivers/Manitowoc(aka the "Lakeshore Area"), stop and check this beautiful preserve out. More tomorrow....