Howdy Herpers, 6 July 2011
Ahem. Getting back to where we were. The Twin Saguaro GOMO burrow has been occupied by one of them there GOMO things every winter since 2002. See Pic 3.
Pic 03: This is GOMO the magnificent. He moved into the burrow in November 2010, and did not clear out until June 18, 2011. This is another sign of dry times. He normally egresses in early March.
Pic 4: CRAT # 121, Tracy, as viewed on 15 May 2011.
Pic 5: Tracy again, same day, different angle. Note the open area surrounding her.
Pic 6: Tracy again, 12 June 2011. If I had backed off a little further with the camera, this would have been the impossible "Where's Waldo" shot.
Pic 7: Tracy again, 25 June 2011. This one WILL be a "Where's Waldo" shot in the future. It was her, not me, that broke the funnel spider webbing above her.
Pic 8: CRAT #131, 15 May 2011. This is our newest female, and is looking fat and sassy, like she might be pregnant.
Pic 9: CRAT #131 again. Sigh. She was in this posture on 21 May, and did not seem to have moved a muscle 24 hours later. On 28 May, it was noted that she had moved over 300 meters, and entered a badger burrow. We have not seen her since, and she has remained in that badger hole. This is yet another indicator that all was not well this spring. While there is still hope, we're pretty sure she is dead. And we are getting mighty discouraged.............
Pic 10: We may be discouraged, but we won't be ending on a sour note. One of the two living regal horned lizards seen this year. Both have been on our plot, and neither was found by me. Both have been juveniles. We can thank Jeff Smith for this one. Thanks Jeff! 22 May 2011.
Pic 11: We're going to get off track a bit. This is an image of a Texas Horned Lizard found near Willcox AZ on 2 July 2011. Pretty little rascals, aren't they?
Pic 12: Let's make it an even dozen. I am willing to be corrected, but I believe this is a young Black Hawk. Its parents were circling above me as I took the image, and they were screaming their displeasure. Check out its "Count Yorga" features. Magnificent in its ugliness--no?
That's about all that is fit to spit for now. I hope that our rainy season will be a good one. Quite a few of you will be out here in a couple weeks to see for yourselves how things are fairing. Keep your finger crossed, and keep up with the rain dances!
Best to all, roger