Side-blotched Lizard
This Side-blotched Lizard was the smallest reptile we found on Saturday.
Posts from the ‘Fauna’ Category
Mar 29
Mar 28
Gila Monster
Monster is right! He hissed and snarled at us as we were trying our best to photograph him and gather data for the Reptile survey. CLICK HERE if you want more information about this dangerous creature. Be sure to click the link on the page that features the sounds the Gila Monster makes. It’s exactly what we heard! This is only the third time I’ve seen one in the wild in the sixteen years we’ve lived here. It was exciting 🙂
Mar 27
Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the day with Herp expert Bryan Hughes. With permission from the City of Scottsdale, we roamed a wash and within two hours we came across a female Crotalus molossus aka Black-tailed Rattlesnake. I’ve only ever seen Diamondbacks around here so it was a real treat. Doubly so since Bryan said he rarely sees them! He said she was an old female and she might be filled with babies. Since the snake was facing Bryan, I’m guessing he got a fantastic shot. I didn’t want to move so I was happy with this view 🙂
Mar 24
Fruit Fly
Here’s another shot from our rainy day Monday. This fly on the Blackfoot Daisy was about an 1/8th of an inch long. I used my 100mm Macro with a 25mm extension tube to capture him and then cropped the image to enlarge him more. I haven’t been able to ID him yet but based on his patterned wings, green eyes and especially his size, my guess is he’s a fruit fly of some kind. I don’t have fruit trees so maybe he was just getting a drink of water 🙂
Mar 21
Herping 101
Besides being part of the Flora survey for the Preserve, I also decided to take part in the Herpetological survey. As part of the training class, we were encouraged to show we weren’t afraid of snakes by handling a small Gopher snake. In this photo, Mike had just handed the snake to Tom when the snake decided to go elsewhere. Thankfully, our teacher was right there to re-direct him and we all had a chance to hold this beauty. (Like the Flora Survey, the Herp Survey will be conducted over a 3 year period so stay tuned for my sightings of any and all reptiles during that time 🙂
Mar 18
Canyon Tree Frog
Yesterday, I led fellow wanna-be botanists Judi and Joyce and our birder friend Phil on a hike to Camp Creek Falls. What a day! Wildflowers were few and very far between but having Phil along, we were able to further our bird education. Thanks Phil! Besides the flowers, birds and waterfall, another highlight was coming across a Canyon Tree Frog. It jumped just as Phil walked by or we wouldn’t have seen the little 2 1/2 inch guy. Click here for my last sighting of this tiny creature. L-R: Joyce, Canyon Tree Frog, Judi
Mar 17
Capturing Cloe
Getting a head shot of Cloe is tough. Like me, she’s extremely camera shy 🙂 Droidx capture of Cloe on her favorite boulder.
Mar 7
Sounds of Spring
Cactus Wrens and other birds have been nest building for the last few weeks and I’ve been hearing lots of peeps/chirps recently. It reminded me of a photo I took last year up in the North Access area of the Preserve. I set my compact camera to shoot an exposure bracket sequence of three shots; turned off my flash (didn’t want to freak the babies out!) and positioned the camera slightly inside the nest opening. I then used Photomatix to blend the exposures. Not perfect or in sharp focus but very cool! (By the way…..I had second thoughts afterward about disturbing them so I haven’t done it again).
