Critters around the campsite

I'm actually looking forward to heading back to New Mexico where there are lots more interesting critters, and many beautiful birds.  There aren't nearly as many here, at least that I've seen, but I've gotten some pretty good photos of the critters in and around our campsite, and here are some of them.  (Don't get me wrong, I love Arizona!  When I've been in New Mexico for six months, I'll be anxious to get back here.  That's just the way it works!)

First the little round-tailed ground squirrel - he has the cutest face. 

The birds all fly away when he comes on the scene, but this little white-crowned sparrow was bravely waiting nearby for the squirrel to leave:

A bit of a stretch to get the seeds in the red part:

Juvenile white-crowned sparrow:

Adult white-crowned sparrow:

This is the view out the dinette window, so I get a good view of any critters around this large bush:

It's been hard to get a photo of these butterflies because they move pretty fast, but I finally got one:

And Katie's all time favorite critter - I got a quick shot of this lizard before he scurried into the underbrush:

Noticed this guy in the bush the sparrows always hang out in.  I saw the flash of yellow and grabbed the camera because most of the birds I see are sparrows.  I've only seen this bird once - a yellow-rumped warbler:

And there are doves here, too.  This is an Eurasian collared-dove way up in a tree, and I've seen some scurrying around in bushes, too:

The little squirrel was so funny yesterday - I snapped a bunch of photos and will show you in another post.  I also got some good hummingbird shots - bright, bright iridescent red - and will include them next time, too.  :)

Did I ever tell you how I made this great low-tech seed feeder?  I wanted something to put on the top of my hummer feeder pole.  The pole is open at the top,  and the small stakes on the solar lights fit perfectly into the opening.  So first I had a solar light there, which was good and I liked it until it burned out.  Then I did this:

I had a couple of Kentucky Fried Chicken side order containers - they are great for storing small amounts of leftovers.  I put the lid on the ground with the container on top of it and pounded a large nail through the middle.  For the pole feeder above, I just put the nail into the hole on top and it stayed there just fine.  But since I haven't gotten out the feeder pole here at Hot Springs, I simply nailed it into the ground.  It's perfect.

 In the photo below, look at the toes on the squirrel's back feet.  Cute like a cartoon?  or Creepy?

I like this little home-made feeder because if it's on the pole, birds can fly to it and if it's on the ground they can stretch up to get the seeds on the red lid or sit on the edge and nibble - and squirrels fit just fine inside, too.  It's small enough that I'm not wasting seed, it works great, and it's FREE.  Super easy to store while on the road, too.  :)
  
I remember my first year at Hot Springs I got some pictures of roadrunners, but so far I haven't seen any this year.  I forgot to tell you, though, on my drive here from San Diego as I was tooling along the highway, no other cars in sight, all of a sudden a big roadrunner came out onto the road and scurried across.  Then he flew over the bushes along the edge of the road - I've never seen a roadrunner fly before.  It was all so clear, right in front of me, no bushes in the way.  Obviously too quick to get my camera turned on, but that scene is embedded in my  mind forever.  He was beautiful.

A big WELCOME to our new followers:

Charlene Swankie, who doesn't have any information listed. Sometimes people don't show their blogs for various reasons, but if you do have  blog that I can list, let me know.  :)

Jana Shelby also has no information shown.  Again, as above, if you have a blog, Jana, let me know and I'll give you a plug.  :)

The Maura Bedard, who says in her profile, We are Pete and Marua Bedard, just starting our full time RV adventure along with our dog Fraser a.k.a. Mutton Chops.  We are traveling in a 22ft travel trailer pulled by a ford van."  Her blog is Bucket List or Bust, which she just started in January.  She's got a lot of great photos, too - check it out!

The Awesome's - this is also a new blog started in January named Awesome's on the Road.  The family either travels in their camper or around the country for her husband's job. They have three kids and an English Mastiff puppy. Their kids are home schooled and they are all about organic gardening and living a sustainable life.   I love the following that Ashley, "Mrs. Awesome," wrote as reasons she started her blog:  "And blogging is so much cheaper than shopping on Amazon.  I'll post little diddies about our travels, attempts at gardening, surviving 'smalltown life,' tons about homeschooling and some recipes that I've come up with."  Its a fun blog!

Thank you all for following along with me and Katie - Welcome Aboard!

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