A Few Local Critters

I actually thought there would be more opportunities for some types of pictures here. I know there it's just that they've not come my way. It is the dry season and it is dry. I have seen one species of toucan's once. Fleeting glimpses of a gecko. These sound like a bird at night. The ones I've been around made no noise. Butterfly's and dragonfly's have not even given me a chance to turn the camera on.

Fleeting glimpses of small lizards. Did see that huge garrobo and the little one here at the place. The only reason I got these two pictures is that this bird allows you to get fairly close like 20'. Other than that my camera has a tough time. This is the same bird in both pictures. In most light conditions it is very intense blue.

The local type of land snail.

This is a termite nest and there are a few around. They are built in trees but not far from the ground. The termites are small maybe a 1/4" long or so.

One of the resident kitty's hopefully laying in wait.

Some pretty intense color here and he was easy to see. Not quite a 1/2" long.

There are leaf cutter ants not far away. Something new to me and I find it interesting to see little pieces of green moving along the ground from say 10-15' away.

You need to stop and begin observing the ground. Eventually you will see one and then you bedin to see more and more.

I've taken a number of pictures over two days. This is the best of the bunch. It was the very first one. The rest are throw aways.  

Visitors

Knocking on the door. (click on the pictures) (twice)

Nobody home - let's move on boys and girls.

Stretch was resting.

From just  a bit ago. Quail are cool little birds as well. First time I've seen them here. There is also nearby a family or two of burrowing owls. No way can I even get an illustrative picture of these birds. Their flight is something to see.

I hope the quail come back a bunch more.

From Father's Day Weekend

Went for two criuses this weekend and found a few interesting things. Did not fish so one was not had and have none for the year as I've not fished. Some of these are not too good and are illustrative mostly. The prickly pear were in bloom depending on the elevation.

When there are a lot of these they are very pretty.

I found a place where there are so many of these ball cactus. Some were 5" across and I did not do a good job capturing these where there were more than one close together. Most of the time they are not that far out of the ground and I don't have a clue what they are. It might not be much but I sure enjoy see these plants and especially in big numbers. I'm going back there when there's better light.

Most of the time you gotta take the picture when there's a train to be had. Actually went down here to look at dinosaur tracks somewhere to the right of where the train is. The wind was howling between 30&40 so I passed this time.

The cemetery outside McCoy,Co. I've driven down this road hundreds of times and I swear I did not notice this until just last week and I like to think that I'm fairly observant. I must have been losing it years ago and didn't even know it.

This may have been the best picture taken all weekend if it weren't for the weed.

Click on this to get a pretty decent view of some yearling elk. They get so brown this time of year.

This is the best picture I have of a turkey buzzard. I kinda like these birds. With strong winds the last several weeks there has been a lot of soaring going on with these guys and the ravens. Fun to watch and wasn't able to get something good on video. The buzzards can crank up the speed when they want and do they all ever have fun. That's what this guy was doing was waiting for a gust to come up as his two buds had just taken off before I got there. It was nice he stuck it out so I could take this.

This is at a cemetery called Deep Creek NW of Steamboat Springs. Not too bad of a picture but it's the caption that makes it real and Henry will live on for many years to come. I did as told as I don't need a hex on me.

These last two are of an old drilling rig/platform or what have you but it must be 75 years old anyway would be my guess. I found it interesting.

That's about it and I guess if there was a moral to this it would be you never know what you will run across when you go for a ride around here. That and have your camera ready always!

Hovenweep National Monument

It seems much of the time here there are ravens. The one close up is actually out of focus but I like it. The others are ones you've maybe seen before but from a different angle. I'll take the little one under the rock.

Hovenweep Link