Garden Visitors

[greysrigging]

Not really what I wanted to find on the front verandah table...but nonetheless pretty cool !

Wonder what species he is ?

[Daryl]

Not my garden, but a fellow palm lover who lives locally...

 

 

 

[greysrigging]

This pesky bird is called an Orange Footed Scubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt). They are mound nest builders and habitually cause garden chaos in and around the Darwin suburbs with their constant earthworks and building activities.
Not only that, they don't seem to need any sleep, thay cackle, chortle and howl all night long....well thats not a huge issue out in the bush.....but I have a resident pair that have decided to roost on my back veranda right outside my bedroom window....bloody things !!! haha.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

The Queen returns with food for her brood..  After i clear out the leaves from where her burrow is located. 

As mentioned in the past, this big, intimidating-looking Wasp is completely harmless.. While carrying around the Cricket, trying to relocate the entrance to her burrow, she climbed all over the camera, and my hand before flying off a short distance and circling back to where her burrow was.

Steel Blue Cricket Hunter ( Chlorion aerarium )

[D. Morrowii]

3 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

The Queen returns with food for her brood..  After i clear out the leaves from where her burrow is located. 

As mentioned in the past, this big, intimidating-looking Wasp is completely harmless.. While carrying around the Cricket, trying to relocate the entrance to her burrow, she climbed all over the camera, and my hand before flying off a short distance and circling back to where her burrow was.

Steel Blue Cricket Hunter ( Chlorion aerarium )

She maybe harmless but she looks mean!

[Silas_Sancona]

3 hours ago, D. Morrowii said:

She maybe harmless but she looks mean!

A steely, Blue-Green badazz for sure.. Tarantula Hawks (Pepsis sp.) = The Queen of Savage..  Definitely don't want to bother them.. Pack one of the most painful stings among insects.

[Foxpalms]

Spotted a yellow sac spider on one of the cannas.

Edited August 25, 2022 by Foxpalms

[JohnAndSancho]

Some kind of very green beetle on my queen

[Silas_Sancona]

Better picture would be better to id but probably this:   https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57665-Cotinis-mutabilis

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Better picture would be better to id but probably this:   https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57665-Cotinis-mutabilis

Or it's close relative:  ( ...Which is more common there ) https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118538-Cotinis-nitida

[JohnAndSancho]

17 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Better picture would be better to id but probably this:   https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57665-Cotinis-mutabilis

Yep. That's the one, with the brown spots on it's butt. 

[JohnAndSancho]

On 8/25/2022 at 6:38 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Better picture would be better to id but probably this:   https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57665-Cotinis-mutabilis

I guess it came back. It's almost like a green chrome on it's belly, pretty cool looking critter. 

[ZPalms]

I like when spiders set up home on my palms because it's like defense against the pest

[Little Tex]

21 hours ago, ZPalms said:

I like when spiders set up home on my palms because it's like defense against the pest

thats why I like the anoles and geckos, but nothing sets up shop on my maurelli even though that thing is covered with ants

[ZPalms]

17 minutes ago, Little Tex said:

thats why I like the anoles and geckos, but nothing sets up shop on my maurelli even though that thing is covered with ants

I'm hoping some of those reptitles will find their was into my backyard eventually, I see those guys every once in a while on the front porch but hoping when I get more lush foilage and flowers and cool stuff going I'm hoping they move in and enjoy the enviroment

I was at the North Carolina botanical garden a while back and I saw one of the lizards just relaxing on a banana leaf, the way it looked back at me is funny to me

[Silas_Sancona]

Southern AZ Garden Critters:

6- legged things:

Eleodes obscura, one of the Darkling Beetles:





Hesperotettix viridis, Snakeweed Grasshopper, Colorful example, but not the most exotic looking Grasshopper sp. we have here:





NOID Fuzzy 'Pillar.. Good rule of thumb with Caterpillars: If it is fuzzy, spiky,  ..and you're not familiar with the species, Observe, but don't handle..



Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii  watching me, watch them.





Broad-Billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris  one of the more common  ...of the exotic-colored Hummingbird species in the U.S.   Turns up at feeders around Phoenix every so often, more of a regular backyard visitor in Tucson, and, more recently, may exploring / establishing new territory in parts of Southern California, and around the San Francisco Bay Area. One of my favorites and first time observing the species in habitat. Crosses between this species and Anna's Hummingbird, and this species and Violet- Crowned Hummingbird have been reported in some areas.  Other Hummingbirds in a couple of the pictures may be different species.


























"Raven O. Poe" hanging out on the information sign near the entrance to Las Cienegas..

[Silas_Sancona]

Not as many butterflies around ( the house / neighborhood ) this year but at least the Snouts, are out.  Guess it's time to get my butt out east to see if they're swarming again this year.

American Snout, Libytheana carinenta. Won't have to go far to access their host plant over the coming years after planting a Desert Hackberry the other day.

[Silas_Sancona]

A collection of critters observed in Madera Canyon. Unfortunately, by the time i reached an area where i could cross off a couple special things on the " to observe" list, i'd exhausted my camera battery, but somehow got lucky enough to grab crude pictures of both critters.. Better pictures of both, ..and then some, will be  a top priority on the next trip.

6-legged things:

Blue or Pleasing Fungus Beetle, Cypherotylus californicus



Horse Lubber Grasshopper, Taeniopoda eques. Not exactly pleased with being captured and examined by some other critter, lol.







Butterflies:

One of the many Orange / Sulfur/ Dogface species in AZ



Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia  One of several butterflies that use Hackberries, Desert Hackberry in particuar as a host plant.



Bordered Patch, Chlosyne lacinia  hanging out on Arizona Sunflowerweed ( Tithonia thurberi )





Red Bordered Satyr, Gyrocheilus patrobas. Mid and higher elevation forest clearings, S. AZ to Central America.  For a moment when i first encountered one, i thought i was seeing an unrelated, species of butterfly that rarely wanders north from Mexico.






Arizona Sister, Adelpha eulalia  An excellent lunch time companion.








Exotic Dinos...

Ornate Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus A little surprised to see these occur at a higher altitude.



Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii..

Both Yarrow's and Clark's Spiny Lizard ( S. clarkii  ) occur in the Canyon but Clark's tends to be duller in color overall. Head and neck markings are different as well.  2nd only to exceptionally vivid Eastern Collared Lizard specimens, Yarrow's Spiny has to be the most exotically colored Lizard in Southern AZ, if not the entire state..  Greater Earless Lizards might be " top dog " if Belly coloration is taken into consideration, but, for overall coloration, this species and the Eastern Collard Lizard are the most eye catching.

Watching specimens encountered, the scales across the back and flanks will change color a bit depending on how the lizard is positioned..  Bright, Copper- toned green or blue-ish in sun, a duller yellow-ish green or Olive Green in shade.  While adults exhibit the most color, even fairly young specimens were quite vivid.  First time observing the species.















Extra special, Southern AZ specialties...


Rivoli's or Magnificent Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens.. While the picture doesn't do it justice, Rivoli's is probably the most exotic looking of the Hummingbirds you'd regularly see in the U.S. Depending on how the sun is hitting it, throat changes between bright Emerald and a Turquoise- tinted Blue Green. ( somewhat visible in the picture ) Top of the heat is bright  Purple. As is typical in the Hummingbird universe, Females ( one on the left side of the feeder ) are less colorful, though in Rivoli's, the female still wears bright colors.



BIG for a hummingbird too, roughly 2or 3x the size of Anna's, Black-Chinned, and/ or Allen's. Call is about as exotic as they look, ..a strange mix of metallic-y, almost robotic notes, jumbled warbles and scratchy notes like someone scratching glass with a meal-haired brush. When they fly by, it sounds like a drone.

Mainly a mountain dweller, they do occasionally show up at feeders in the lower elevations, especially around Tucson.. Lucky them!



White-nosed Coati, Nasua narica... One of the larger recent " exotic " animal migrants to the state and Southwest from Central America and Mexico. Is it related to Dogs?  Monkeys? Anteaters maybe?  ..Closest cousin in the U.S. is the scrappy Racoon..  Unlike their cousins, Coati are fairly active thru the daytime hours and often travel in Troops.

I'd  hoped to see some roaming the woods while hiking but ended up seeing this one at a bird watching area at a lodge in the canyon.. It was this point in the day's trip that the battery on the camera was exhausted and i was lucky to get at least one picture before it wouldn't take any more. ...Ironic because this particular Coati decided to casually roam around among a group of wild Turkey that frequent the bird feeders at the lodge, then made it's way out into the parking lot, and over to some Hummingbird feeders roughly 10ft from where i was seated. He ..or She... then proceeded to enjoy all that sugary goodness from one of the feeders ( and get the rest all over itself like a 3 year old kid ) before a staff member at the lodge came out and sent it on it's way..  There must have been half a dozen other people watching/ getting pictures the Coati at the same time.. Someone standing nearby mentioned that the same animal was roaming a nearby campground thru the day and a camper had shooed it off..

While Coati aren't known to be aggressive and are one of the more charismatic animals one can encounter here, you never want to encourage any wildlife to become too familiar with humans, or human created situations where there could be conflict. While not a common sight in backyards that border open areas up around Phoenix  yet,  they are occasional visitors to yards in Tucson.

Overall, the species continues to expand it's range across the state, in New Mexico and parts of Southwestern and southern Texas. In time, it is possible that Coati find their way to... and establish themselves in neighboring areas including California, Nevada, S. Utah, and southern Colorado.

Camera will be charged when we meet again my friend ...



Grr Camera, haha..


 

[Hillizard]

38 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

A collection of critters observed in Madera Canyon. Unfortunately, by the time i reached an area where i could cross off a couple special things on the " to observe" list, i'd exhausted my camera battery, but somehow got lucky enough to grab crude pictures of both critters.. Better pictures of both, ..and then some, will be  a top priority on the next trip.

6-legged things:

Blue or Pleasing Fungus Beetle, Cypherotylus californicus



Horse Lubber Grasshopper, Taeniopoda eques. Not exactly pleased with being captured and examined by some other critter, lol.







Butterflies:

One of the many Orange / Sulfur/ Dogface species in AZ



Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia  One of several butterflies that use Hackberries, Desert Hackberry in particuar as a host plant.



Bordered Patch, Chlosyne lacinia  hanging out on Arizona Sunflowerweed ( Tithonia thurberi )





Red Bordered Satyr, Gyrocheilus patrobas. Mid and higher elevation forest clearings, S. AZ to Central America.  For a moment when i first encountered one, i thought i was seeing an unrelated, species of butterfly that rarely wanders north from Mexico.






Arizona Sister, Adelpha eulalia  An excellent lunch time companion.








Exotic Dinos...

Ornate Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus A little surprised to see these occur at a higher altitude.



Yarrow's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii..

Both Yarrow's and Clark's Spiny Lizard ( S. clarkii  ) occur in the Canyon but Clark's tends to be duller in color overall. Head and neck markings are different as well.  2nd only to exceptionally vivid Eastern Collared Lizard specimens, Yarrow's Spiny has to be the most exotically colored Lizard in Southern AZ, if not the entire state..  Greater Earless Lizards might be " top dog " if Belly coloration is taken into consideration, but, for overall coloration, this species and the Eastern Collard Lizard are the most eye catching.

Watching specimens encountered, the scales across the back and flanks will change color a bit depending on how the lizard is positioned..  Bright, Copper- toned green or blue-ish in sun, a duller yellow-ish green or Olive Green in shade.  While adults exhibit the most color, even fairly young specimens were quite vivid.  First time observing the species.















Extra special, Southern AZ specialties...


Rivoli's or Magnificent Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens.. While the picture doesn't do it justice, Rivoli's is probably the most exotic looking of the Hummingbirds you'd regularly see in the U.S. Depending on how the sun is hitting it, throat changes between bright Emerald and a Turquoise- tinted Blue Green. ( somewhat visible in the picture ) Top of the heat is bright  Purple. As is typical in the Hummingbird universe, Females ( one on the left side of the feeder ) are less colorful, though in Rivoli's, the female still wears bright colors.



BIG for a hummingbird too, roughly 2or 3x the size of Anna's, Black-Chinned, and/ or Allen's. Call is about as exotic as they look, ..a strange mix of metallic-y, almost robotic notes, jumbled warbles and scratchy notes like someone scratching glass with a meal-haired brush. When they fly by, it sounds like a drone.

Mainly a mountain dweller, they do occasionally show up at feeders in the lower elevations, especially around Tucson.. Lucky them!



White-nosed Coati, Nasua narica... One of the larger recent " exotic " animal migrants to the state and Southwest from Central America and Mexico. Is it related to Dogs?  Monkeys? Anteaters maybe?  ..Closest cousin in the U.S. is the scrappy Racoon..  Unlike their cousins, Coati are fairly active thru the daytime hours and often travel in Troops.

I'd  hoped to see some roaming the woods while hiking but ended up seeing this one at a bird watching area at a lodge in the canyon.. It was this point in the day's trip that the battery on the camera was exhausted and i was lucky to get at least one picture before it wouldn't take any more. ...Ironic because this particular Coati decided to casually roam around among a group of wild Turkey that frequent the bird feeders at the lodge, then made it's way out into the parking lot, and over to some Hummingbird feeders roughly 10ft from where i was seated. He ..or She... then proceeded to enjoy all that sugary goodness from one of the feeders ( and get the rest all over itself like a 3 year old kid ) before a staff member at the lodge came out and sent it on it's way..  There must have been half a dozen other people watching/ getting pictures the Coati at the same time.. Someone standing nearby mentioned that the same animal was roaming a nearby campground thru the day and a camper had shooed it off..

While Coati aren't known to be aggressive and are one of the more charismatic animals one can encounter here, you never want to encourage any wildlife to become too familiar with humans, or human created situations where there could be conflict. While not a common sight in backyards that border open areas up around Phoenix  yet,  they are occasional visitors to yards in Tucson.

Overall, the species continues to expand it's range across the state, in New Mexico and parts of Southwestern and southern Texas. In time, it is possible that Coati find their way to... and establish themselves in neighboring areas including California, Nevada, S. Utah, and southern Colorado.

Camera will be charged when we meet again my friend ...



Grr Camera, haha..


 

Thanks for always supplying the genus & species for these critters! Love the lizard pixs!

[Silas_Sancona]

26 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Thanks for always supplying the genus & species for these critters! Love the lizard pixs!

Plant ..or Animal.. pictures, without an ID attached, even if not 100% perfect,  are just pictures..  Plus, identifying things gives someone who might take a trip elsewhere  -to explore an area for themself-  a base to start from when seeking out any extra special things on a " hope to see " list they might want to observe with their own eyes.

I should mention, while i didn't see any ( mixed feelings on whether a good ..or not so good thing ) some hikers asked if i'd seen any Black Bear as we passed each other on the trail we were on. Fairly sure some of the " trails" i ended up on before starting back were made by Deer ..or Bears, lol.  Madera Canyon / overall Santa Ritas are one of the 3 Jaguar hot spots in the state as well.

Edited September 13, 2022 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[Hillizard]

6 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Plant ..or Animal.. pictures, without an ID attached, even if not 100% perfect,  are just pictures..  Plus, identifying things gives someone who might take a trip elsewhere  -to explore an area for themself-  a base to start from when seeking out any extra special things on a " hope to see " list they might want to observe with their own eyes.

I should mention, while i didn't see any ( mixed feelings on whether a good ..or not so good thing ) some hikers asked if i'd seen any Black Bear as we passed each other on the trail we were on. Fairly sure some of the " trails" i ended up on before starting back were made by Deer ..or Bears, lol.  Madera Canyon / overall Santa Ritas are one of the 3 Jaguar hot spots in the state as well.

Catching a shot of even a fleeing Jaguar would make my day/month/year. I hope you post one here if you ever do! 🐆

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Catching a shot of even a fleeing Jaguar would make my day/month/year. I hope you post one here if you ever do! 🐆

That would certainly be a life time event..  No recent sightings up there but El Hefe, a Male Jag. who has roamed the area, was spotted again in Sonora not too long ago. Pretty sure i posted the article a month or two ago here.

Roaming through the woods up there, it's real easy to imagine taking a break next to the creek that runs through the canyon, or walking along a trail and catching sight of one moving in and out of sight nearby.  Wish they were common enough again that signs cautioning campers / hikers of their presence were a regular sight. Hopefully that will happen in the near future.

[JohnAndSancho]

So I'm doing what I normally do this time of day....sitting on the patio with my palms. I noticed one of my Queen fronds was really droopy and saw this grasshopper hanging out and enjoying the palmy vibe. 

[steve99]

 I've been trying to get some good pics of this male Satin Bowerbird for the last few weeks but he just wont sit on my carefully placed perch long enough for me to get the shot I want.    I'll keep trying because I know I'll get the shot I want with a little more time and effort.   This pic was taken today and is my best for the week.

[Silas_Sancona]

8 hours ago, steve99 said:

 I've been trying to get some good pics of this male Satin Bowerbird for the last few weeks but he just wont sit on my carefully placed perch long enough for me to get the shot I want.    I'll keep trying because I know I'll get the shot I want with a little more time and effort.   This pic was taken today and is my best for the week.

That's a pretty good picture, imo..  I wonder if they ( the Bower Birds ) can become more accustomed to human presence over time ..Like some Jays and Mockingbirds can here in the states.

[steve99]

11 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

That's a pretty good picture, imo..  I wonder if they ( the Bower Birds ) can become more accustomed to human presence over time ..Like some Jays and Mockingbirds can here in the states.

Most birds around here become accustomed to humans over time, but some more than others.    Bowerbirds and Pale Headed Rosella, for example, are usually quite timid and will quickly fly off as soon as they're approached.  And the other hand, Kookaburras, Rainbow Lorikeets and Sulphur Crested Cockatoo will allow you to get very close - that close they will take food out of your hand.

Edited September 21, 2022 by steve99

[RyManUtah]

Not necessarily a garden, but a rare surprise nonetheless. Equally surprised to see me. Tonaquint area. 

[RyManUtah]

 

[RyManUtah]

 

 

[greysrigging]

The tree is a yellow Tabebuia, I never realized our local Lorikeet parrots feed on the flowers.

Edited September 26, 2022 by greysrigging

[Silas_Sancona]

After striking out on past visits, finally caught sight of a couple Pronghorn roaming by at Las Cienegas. Not the greatest pictures, but more than happy just being able to observe the species for the first time -anywhere-.  Can only imagine witnessing an entire heard wander past.







More than likely the " American " subspecies, Antilocapra americana ssp. americana, but could be a mix of both the American and Mexican subspecies ( ssp. mexicana.  There is also a on going discussion regarding an iNat observation of what the observer thinks may be the highly endangered Sonoran subspecies made nearby. That subspecies is normally only encountered in far S.W. AZ out by Ajo and near Tanaca.

No doubt animals have no boundaries and as wet as it was in that area this year, totally possible a few could have explored territory beyond their assumed range.




Some Queens enjoying one of their favorite nectar sources, Gregg's Mist Flower at Tohono Chul Park.





Young Desert.. -or Clark's-  Spiny Lizard who decided to be reasonably cooperative.



 

[steve99]

King Parrot  (male)

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

4-Winged Dragons...

Flame Skimmer



Possibly a Western Pondhawk..





Red-Tailed Pennant

[Silas_Sancona]

After waiting all summer to see if they'd find their favorite nectar source, Queens finally found the Mist flower.





Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis iole

[RyManUtah]

[Silas_Sancona]

Some critters at Oak Flat:

Black Swallowtail, Papillo polyxenes



NOID True Bug sp. Nymph stage.



Eusattus reticulata, One of the Darkling Beetles.



Rock Wren, Scalpinctes obsoletus

[Silas_Sancona]

In 2022, it's both funny ...and sad ( ..Real' sad.. )   that this even has to be mentioned..  Guess there are still more dingbats around than i would have assumed... 🤣🤦‍♂️

🤔  ...Maybe Toads should sue for being  violated    ...." Judge, We Toad him we weren't comfortable being licked.. "🤣

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/please-stop-licking-psychedelic-toads-national-park-service-warns/ar-AA13S3Yn

 

Edited November 11, 2022 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[Silas_Sancona]

14 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

In 2022, it's both funny ...and sad ( ..Real' sad.. )   that this even has to be mentioned..  Guess there are still more dingbats around than i would have assumed... 🤣🤦‍♂️

🤔  ...Maybe Toads should sue for being  violated    ...." Judge, We Toad him we weren't comfortable being licked.. "🤣

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/please-stop-licking-psychedelic-toads-national-park-service-warns/ar-AA13S3Yn

 

AZ Man #1:  

Lickin' Toads with my gurrl on a Friday night.. feels so right..

AZ Man #2: 

Nah Brah,  Hold my Natty Light:

https://www.azfamily.com/2022/11/11/police-dui-suspect-payson-was-meth-driving-with-owl-inside-his-car/  🤣

Quote from the Payson PD below 2 side by side pictures of the Owl  is a hoot...

 Harry Potter impersonator perhaps??  🤔 One ( ...of many ) reasons to stay out of Payson, Arizona 🤦‍♂️

@kinzyjr I wasn't kidding about having our own flavor of " Florida Man " 

[kinzyjr]

4 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

I wasn't kidding about having our own flavor of " Florida Man " 

No, you definitely weren't ... Homo sapiens var. Floridensis has migrated west.

[amh]

19 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

No, you definitely weren't ... Homo sapiens var. Floridensis has migrated west.

Homo sapiens var. Austrailiensis is another contender in this race to eschew sophistication.