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Birding Flowers and Plants Herps Insects

Heading West

I’ve gone as far south as I’m going to. Now I’m heading west. I stopped at Valley of Fires for a couple of nights. There was only one campsite open and it was directly across from the restrooms/showers. Not a good spot, people coming going all day and night. Now, I’m at Granite Gap and as usual, it is quiet and peaceful. I’ve been here since Sunday. It is a little hotter than I’d like but it is tolerable. Cool weather is on the horizon.

I keep the cooler in the shade of large juniper behind the camper. Last night, I went out to get some food and was startled by the buzzing rattle of a startled Black-tailed Rattlesnake. I didn’t have my flashlight as the full moon put out plenty of light. I didn’t have any trouble spotting the snake about 5 ft. away, backed up against the rocks behind the cooler. Naturally, I got the camera and put on the flash and took some photos.
I’ve got three species of hummingbirds coming in, this one is a juvenile Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
One very pugnacious Rufous Hummingbird.
Most of them are Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Males are difficult to get a photo of that shows the black and violet gorget. This one turned out pretty good.
This Warbling Vireo has just caught a leaf-footed bug.
A Cassin’s Sparrow that was surprisingly cooperative, usually they are very sneaky outside of the nesting season.
Indian Rushpea, Hoffmannseggia glauca. Several Native American tribes ate the tuberous bulbs raw, boiled or roasted, including Pima, Apache, and Pueblo.

3 replies on “Heading West”

I sure am glad you could hear that rattler!
Beautiful hummers, the pictures are so good, I can see every detail.
Have you tried eating Indian Rushpea?

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