Uncategorized – Page 45

Palmer’s agave (Agave palmeri). Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona.

Plum blossoms at Ramsey Canyon Preserve. The plums in the canyon are naturalized descendants of trees planted by settlers who built a small mining camp here.

A hummingbird rescuer releasing a fledgling Anna’s hummingbird at Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

The newbie hummer had been dislocated from its nest before it was able to fly, and required dropper feeding. The bird’s

gape flange (at the base of its bill) is still showing the red coloration that stimulates parental feeding behavior. If the fledgling survives the bill will continue to lengthen and darken. The baby is already a strong flier, so it’s chances are good.

Untitled.

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona.

Remnants.

Bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum) holding on to last year’s leaves at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona. .

Red-shafted northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona. I don’t know if this bird was communicating with a rival or a prospective mate, but his calling was constant and loud. You can hear a recording of flicker calls here, but crank up the volume for full effect.

Light painting Ramsey Creek: bright sun, slow shutter, shaky hand.

At Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona. Please click photo for an enlarged view.

Pointleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) in bloom at Ramsey Canyon Preserve in Cochise County, Arizona.

Yesterday was my first day for hiking after a long month of restricted duty, and I was afraid I had missed seeing manzanita in flower. Spring seems to be in such a hurry here in southeast Arizona.

Bark.

Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii), at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cochise County, Arizona.