Well, here I am again for four nights (they've set a limit of four nights per motor home) waiting for an appointment at Camping World. I was sitting here this morning reading blogs and movement out the front window caught my eye. I looked up and there were TWO ROADRUNNERS! My favorite bird, but one I seldom get to see. IN A PARKING LOT??? Amazing. So here are the best of the photos I took, some of them are fuzzy, but I liked the running and different body positions. I sure wish they were all clear as a bell:
They were walking and running all over the parking lot and center areas with the bushes, trees and rocks in between the parking spaces. Right in front of The Palms.
Racing across the street:
This is the only shot of the two Roadrunners together - then they ran off in different directions.
When Roadrunners are running their tail is down, then when they stop, they raise their tail in the air. This time, he raised his rail up high, then started wagging it from side to side. I've never seen that before:
Here's the "tail in the air" from the rear, with this little head looking to the right in front of his tail. I thought the feather detail was pretty - I've not seen the underside of their tail feathers close up before. Do you think he's mooning me?
Fast running:
Some small birds landed up ahead in his path, and he crept into these grasses and hid until they were gone:
Then they ran across the last parking area and jumped up on the planted area between the parking lot and the golf course.
Bye little guy - I hope you come back!
They sure put on a show for me - nothing like a Roadrunner sighting to make my day!
From me and Katie, have a great Saturday, everyone! :)
Wow, a Roadrunner Bonanza! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteYour roadrunner's sighting would make anyone's day! I think your photos turned out great, especially the "moon" shot. That would make a good "The End" photo for future blogs!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and a great subject. I love roadrunners. We used to have them on my place but too many people have moved in around me and they seemed to have disappeared. Good post.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they were having some fun! Cool that you got to watch it and got some pics. They must have sensed that a Roadrunner lover was inside there. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh Yes! I LOVE your photos! Makes me kinda homesick for NM.... my "adopted" state. Great photos of a fascinating bird.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Gosh, I miss New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly funny little birds. They don't make it this far north so I've never seen them, except in photos. Do they actually fly or just run?
ReplyDeleteThey do fly, but I've only seen them run. :)
DeleteWhy, oh why must you post all those photos of the cutest bird alive? And here we are in South Dakota where probably the most people have knowledge residents have of Roadrunners is in the cartoons? I csnnot tell you why I love Roadrunners, but I sure do love those rascals.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that roadrunner went into the tall grass to stalk those smaller birds. I saw a roadrunner take out a thrasher once.
ReplyDeleteOh! Judi I'll bet you're right. I was wondering why they, a much bigger bird, would be afraid of those smaller birds. In fact, that tail wagging back and forth happened right before he went into the grass, I wonder if that was a hunting thing.
DeleteCould you hear them say...beep, beep?
ReplyDeleteI love the roadrunners too. You definite'y got some great photos.
ReplyDeleteLove Roadrunners--they have so much character! Your photos are great!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures showed color in the tail feathers that I've never noticed before!
ReplyDeleteI love watching roadrunners, they seem to have great personalities.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the roadrunner was in the grass for "hunting" purposes. Getting a thrasher . . . WOW . . . the biggest I've seen is a sparrow. As for flying, they usually fly down, rather than up. They must get up there somehow, but mostly I see them jump off a rooftop or a tree limb and float down to the ground. Once in a while, I will see one "fly" up over a low fence.
ReplyDeleteVirtual hugs,
Judie
No, Judie, I didn't see a Thrasher, just some little birds I didn't see well enough to identify. They didn't go after anything while I was watching, and if they caught any birds or critters, it was when they were out of my line of sight. I don't think I'd want to see a Roadrunner catch and eat a Thrasher. :(
DeleteI figured out today that the Roadrunners WERE hunting - there are little lizards all over that area, running from bush to bush. They are very small, with turquoise tails and heads. Really pretty, and probably a very tasty snack for a Roadrunner. :)
ReplyDelete