Critters, tiny and HUGE

I finished up my birthday cards and drove into Deming so I could get them to the post office in time for Graydin's and Drew's birthdays.  While I was in town, I went to Walmart and stocked up on things again.  I'll tell you, Walmart is my new Costco - I just can't get out of there without spending more than $100.  When I got back to Rockhound, I dumped the tanks, filled up with fresh water and stopped by the showers.  It's nice to get everything done at once.

Katie and I are sooooo tired today.  Something was going on in the kitchen last night. Behind the drawers.  Katie was up and down, wagging her tail, barking, back to bed, up again, over and over again.  I pulled out the bottom drawer and didn't see anything or any evidence of critters.  I have some rat traps with the glue on the bottom and I put a couple of them on the floor behind the drawers, put the drawer back, and went back to bed.

Thankfully all is quiet today. Katie doesn't seem to hear anything, and there's no noise that I can hear.  Either it went back outside, or it's dead, stuck on the rat trap and I'll find it another day.  I didn't want to look back there and find a dead animal today.  :(

I saw some cool critters today - I just love this place.  It has everything!  It was definitely a good photo day.   Here they are - we'll start with the tiny and end with the HUGE:

Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird - he is in a weird position.  I think I have a photo from another place with the hummer in this strange shape while feeding, so maybe it's how they eat.  I have a new feeder with a perch, maybe that will help him out.

Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird

I'm not sure what kind of hummer this is, he has so much green, unlike the hummingbirds in my book. Anyone?

This little guy just shone in the sunshine.  Bright, bright, green.  Look at the beak on him! Not sure what kind he is, either. 

NOTE:  Thanks, Hazel and Judy, this little guy is a Broad-Billed Hummingbird. :)   I always appreciate it when you help me out. That was a great ID, there is no Broad-billed Hummingbird in my Birds of Arizona Field Guide, but after getting the name from you both, I checked my Sibley Field Guide, and there he is.  (Of course, I'm not in Arizona any more, am I?)

Turkey buzzard - I first saw these guys at Bluewater Lake, just soaring in the drafts, like the birds did today.

Turkey Buzzard

Western Kingbird - look at the stripes on his tail feathers.

Western Kingbird in bush, clutching the branch with his little feet.

This next photo was a happy surprise. I was driving down the road toward Deming and saw some cattle standing and lying around off the side of the road.  I love cow faces, and wished I had my camera handy, but my battery was low and it was charging in the dinette area.

Then I saw this large horned steer a little further into the field, looking right at me, and I had to stop and get the camera.  I pulled off on the side of the road, got the camera, focused and snapped his photo as I realized he was mounting a cow.  I didn't see the cow until I zoomed in close and clicked.  I sure got more than I expected.  Sorry, I'm not posting that photo.  I was thinking about posting it and using the title, "Parental Discretion Advised."  Kind of like my nudist photo at Quartzsite - you just never know. :)

He appeared so loving to her, if a steer can be loving.  He kept licking her sides, nuzzling her, laid his head on her rear end for a minute; he definitely liked this cow. 

Check out the huge horns.  (Now I know where the word "horny" comes from. )

He just loved this cow. :)

Yes, you guessed it - The End.  And that's a lot of Bull, for sure!

From me and Katie, have a great Tuesday evening, everyone!  :)