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Arizona: Beetles, Bugs, Birds and more
arizonabeetlesbugsbirdsandmore.blogspot.com
3
Adventures and observations of a biologist and watercolor painter in Arizona's deserts and mountains by Margarethe Brummermann Ph.D.
#334880 in All

Evening Walk with Cody, Snakes, Lizards and Hawks

On the evening of Memorial Day my dog Cody and I took a walk into the State Trust Land to the north of our property. A little rattler by the side of the road enjoyed the evening sun - the day had bee...

1 day ago

Unicorns Do Exist

Hi, Im a Unicorn Mantis from Molino Basin, Catalina Mts, close to Tucson, Arizona. I am having a small identity crisis. Im still a nymph, even though Im more than 5 cm long, or would be, if I ever st...

4 days ago

Scary interlude

Two days ago before breakfast we went to visit the Red-tail nest. Something was different: the female wasnt  as usual high up in the sky, but in a saguaro close to the nest. Sporadically she scr...

21 may 12

Incubation Sonoran Desert Style

Yesterday I watched a male Curve-billed Thrasher bringing food to his nest in a Cholla Cactus. I was surprised to find the female actually on the nest, even though the chicks were clearly big enough ...

16 may 12

The last chick to fledge

On May 9th wildlife biologist and photographer Bruce Taubert set up a blind in our backyard. At this time only one kestrel chick remained in the nest. Although it was constantly chirping and begging,...

14 may 12

A Rescue

This afternoon the male kestrel was hanging around, not moving much, just intently staring. From the nest hole came begging sounds, but much weaker than before. I could see only one chick, and after ...

09 may 12

Growing Red Tail Chicks

The little Red-tailed Hawks have made great progress over the last week: they are standing upright, surveying their surroundings with keen raptor eyes. Both have inherited their fathers light colorat...

08 may 12

Raptor update

The young Red Tails are still in their down feathers. They sit absolutely motionless and only the blinking of those huge eyes betrays that they are alive. Theres one chick to the right -The other one...

06 may 12

Saguaro Kestrels

The nesting cavity is in the left arm of the right Saguaro. The female Kestrel is sitting in the dead Palo Verde on the left There is another raptor family that is even closer to my heart than t...

03 may 12

News from the Dark Red-tail Female

Last year we happened upon a red-tailed hawk nest in a Saguaro not far from our house. Two nearly grown chicks were raised by a female on her own. At least we never saw a male around. But the chicks ...

28 apr 12

Cutworms are beautiful

In fact, I am absolutely smitten with their velvety texture and beautiful, delicate patterns in soft earth tones highlighted with metallic accents. It didnt start that way. In early spring, when...

20 apr 12

Master Blister Beetle Procession

Walking with our dogs along the Santa Cruz River in Cortaro, we found dozens of 1 1/2 inch beetles crossing the road. All of them seemed to be determined to reach some unknown better place. They were...

16 apr 12

Backyard Ant Hills

Mounds of the Leaf-cutter Ant, Acromyrmex versicolor, left and right.  Middle: Smooth Harvester Ant Messor pergandei In our backyard, numerous colonies of ants build structures that look like mi...

12 apr 12

Brittle Bush Bee Heaven

 Last year a late, very strong freeze kept many Brittle Bushes in the Tucson Mountains from blooming. In March it felt as if all kinds of interesting bees had found their way into our protected ...

13 mar 12

Of Pollen Pigs and Faithfull Bees in Saguaro National Park West

There are a few nice Poppy fields in Saguaro National Park West right off Picture Rocks Road, just where I cross the Tucson Mountains when I drive to the University. Randy and I consider this commute...

07 mar 12

Catalina State Park in March 2012

On March1, in Catalina State Park, we took the Southerland Trail to find beautiful golden fields of California Poppies. Randy and our dogs rested under the dramatic backdrop of Push Ridge and posed f...

05 mar 12

Urban Society (of Insects)

Last Friday my colleague Gene Hall showed me some Monarch caterpillars that are growing up on Desert Milkweed plants on campus.The plants are snug against the south-exposed brick wall of the Chemistr...

21 feb 12

Cedar Waxwings at Agua Caliente in Tucson

Super Bowl Sunday at Aqua Caliente in Tucson: The Plague Birds (Pestvogel) are here. Thats what the beautiful waxwings were called in Holland where I first saw them, the Bohemian Waxwing in that case...

10 feb 12

Sure Signs of Spring

An old pecan grove at the Pinal Airfield used to be a great attraction to migrating birds, a so called migrant trap. But the irrigation of that grove has been so reduced over the last years that most...

07 feb 12

Packrats in our Compost Bin and in Science

 In all biological questions, my husband usually refers to me. The latest was: "what do you want to do about the rat in the compost bin?"In kitchen and yard, we religiously save all scra...

04 feb 12

Wintering Birds in Avra Valley and Santa Cruz Flats

 Pima Cotton, Sorghum and Alfalfa: the Avra Valley north of Marana is flat, fertile, irrigated and heavily used for agriculture.Dust, pesticide and herbicide bombardment and unrelenting sunshine...

03 feb 12

Of Cactus Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of chollas, prickly pears, saguaros, queen of the night and barrel cacti are strikingly beautiful but delicate and very short lived. If an individual bud opens in the early morning or eve...

17 jan 12

Water and Song Birds at Sweetwater Wetlands in January 2012

On January 7 2012, I joined the Sweetwater excursion of the local Audubon Society led by Janine Spencer. Thank you Janine it was a delightful morning! It was cold and sunny, so the light was beautifu...

11 jan 12

Grasshoppers

Here are just some images that I put together for a proposal. Ill let them speak for themselves

08 jan 12

A new Backyard Dove

Here is a strange addition to our backyard fauna: I think it is a leucistic Eurasian Collared Dove. Last year one lonely Eurasians moved in and tried to make friends with resident Mourning Doves. Now...

08 jan 12

Birding in Sulphur Springs Valley

A winter trip to Sulphur Springs Valley has become a tradition that even Randy and the dogs look forward to. We cruise through the SE Arizona grasslands, pass Tombstone and then head for Whitewater D...

29 dec 11

White Christmas in Tucson?

Not really in Tucson, but on our local Mount Lemmon. Its more than an hours drive from our house because we have go across town before driving up Mt Lemmon Highway, the road that climbs in wide, swee...

26 dec 11

Of Migrants, Aliens and Mutants

A disclaimer first:  Being part of at least two of the above categories, at the Gilbert Water Ranch, in the heart of Sheriff Arpaio s Maricopa County territory, I made sure to carry my green-car...

19 dec 11

More bug life from the Santa Cruz River in December

Chrysomela sonoraeEven December, fresh green leaves of the willows along the Santa Cruz river support several species of leaf beetles. Here is a single freshly eclosed Chrysomela sonorae. I...

14 dec 11

Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids in December in Arizona

Dry grassland and yellowing cottonwoods, but still some green along the creekBefore it gets really cold in the desert, which can happen any time between late October and late March or not at all, ins...

13 dec 11

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