May Day

Moon Over Piestewa Peak
Full moon over Piestewa Peak, Earth Day 2024

Well, here we are, I meant to make 2 posts in April because I missed March but that never came to pass so here’s a little catchup. I’ll start with cat stuff, mostly my cat, Ferguson, although we have several others, because he is the one with an Instagram page and the most cooperative subject.

Ferguson Becomes a Sun Devil
Newest Arizona State University Sun Devil (my alma mater)
An old cowhand from the Rio Grande
Ferguson, Cat of the American Southwest
A true cat of the great American Southwest

And now I will transition into the few bird photos I took this past month…

Thrasher in Palo Verdes
Curve-billed Thrasher with palo verde blooms in background
Posing with Palo Verdes
Incoming
White-winged Doves, our summer visitors from Mexico and beyond
Verdin in a Sunbeam
Verdin in Pine
Verdins, a true southwestern bird
Anna's Hummingbird Snack and Drink
Anna’s Hummingbird having a snack and sip

And I will finish it up with several photos of Rosy-faced Lovebirds who are actually feral in the greater Phoenix area in addition to being part of the pet trade, too. The story goes that back in the 1980s, a pet shop owner either accidentally or intentionally released several and they flourished so that we now have thousands around. They are native to Africa and found the climate here beneficial. They love sunflower seeds and gobble it up way too fast ($$$).

Lovebirds on Feeder

Immature ones have the black spot on their bills and more subtle coloring:

Almost Nailed It!
Almost nailed it!
1 of 3. Rosy-faced Lovebird Takeoff
2 of 3. Rosy-faced Lovebird Takeoff
3 of 3. Rosy-faced Lovebird Takeoff
Take-off sequence

And that’s about all I have for the past few weeks…starting to heat up here in Phoenix so that means either trips out of town or a lot more cat pics to follow…keep cool if it’s hot where you are and, if it’s lovely and pleasant, enjoy your summer as it’s just beginning…