CactiGuide.com

Rodents are their primary prey, but they go for birds too.

Daily sightings of the Red-tailed Hawk continue.

4 KILLDEER EGGS


A CARDINAL

here are some i took at one of the phoenix zoos.

@ Jeff - nice find on the eggs. Did you just look in the opposite direction that the mama was going?

That is one ugly cardinal!

I have no idea what these are. I haven't seen anything like them around here. I just got back from a short trip to southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas this afternoon. I took these last Friday in the Pea Ridge National Battlefield east of Rogers, Arkansas. They must be some sort of hawk or falcon. I was standing on the top of a ledge and they were coming close to catch the updraft. I was just pointing and shooting, so they are taken at some strange angles.

I would say turkey vultures on those. Wings in a "V" shape and appear to be soaring. Hard to say from the pics, but that is a lead anyway.

I second that; looks like Turkey Vultures to me.
Dean

A first-time visitor to yard. Watering plants, I happened to look up and there (s)he was watching from atop wall. Eventually (s)he dropped down into landlady's backyard. Investigated a bush and then flitted back up on wall. Luckily (s)he was very curious and allowed me time to get camera.

Any comments on how common this is? I'm not on edge of Tucson but about 5 or 6 blocks east of University of Arizona campus in residential neighborhood amid major east-west and north-south traffic.

They live in all the western states and are fairly common round here, but you only get the see the backside for a second. Meeep! meeep!

Fantastic!

Like Tony says, usually, you only get a fleeting glimpse (out of the corner of .. wait, sorry about that). Although I was fortunate to have a similar "close encounter" like you did where the Road Runner was climbing around in some vines on a stucco wall. I only wish I would have been able to get pictures like you did.

Great pics! Roadrunners have a very pre-historic look to me. I see them around here occasionally, usually the tail feathers going away.

Jackrabbits also have a knack for showing only their hindquarters.

Last time I saw one of those was at the movies. May have been when we went to see "Despicable Me". Anyway, Roadrunners and Coyotes are fun in 3D. But I think a real live sighting would be a bigger thrill.

Ahh Roadrunners. Will always be associated with a coyote falling a 1000 feet to his non death.

Glad to share the roadrunner pictures. Most people just don't give a hoot. That's why this thread is so great. Hope it has a long, long run.

Its coloring seems to provide great camouflage in most situations.