Uncategorized – Page 91

Last look.

Western screech-owl

(Megascops kennicottii), at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Untitled.

American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Please click photo for an enlarged view.

Disapprobation.

Western screech-owls (Megascops kennicottii), allopreening in an acacia tree at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Among birds, mutual feather preening is a way to help a mate get at those hard to reach spots, but also a behavior that reinforces the pair bond. Like mutual feeding between adult birds, it looks a lot like love.

Dem bones.

Scaring on a saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), deep enough to reveal its woody skeleton. At the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Dasher.

Blue dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Untitled.

Western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii).

There were three screech-owls roosting in an acacia tree along my path at the Desert Botanical Garden yesterday. I thought at first that they might be brood mates that hadn’t separated, but after looking at my shots and getting a better view of their plumage, I think now that they were a mated pair of adults and a recent fledgling. This little fuzz ball is the baby, still expecting some attention and supervision from Ma and Pa Screech.

It was a great day for owl sightings. More photos will follow.

Patio visitor.