Skip to main content

Not All Animals Enjoy Early Morning

 There is no denying that the holidays this year are very different.  Holiday parties, rushing into stores, and a long line of gifts waiting to be wrapped wasn't something that was part of my holiday this year.  I am a rather extreme optimist and so I look toward the positives of this holiday.  I envisioned a very relaxed holiday with plenty of time to just enjoy the season.  Surprisingly this holiday didn't feel less busy and it sort of snuck up on me in a way that had me putting up my tree just a week and a half ago.  My escapes into nature were limited this month but I did carve out time early one morning to explore and was met with some rather grumpy characters who made me smile.




Spoon-bill Duck in Water

This spoon-billed duck was full of determination and while I don't think that he was swimming directly at me to get me to move, he didn't seem thrilled that I was present or perhaps he just couldn't believe that it was morning already.  I backed up some but this serious and rather grumpy expression didn't leave him.  I was very happy to see him as he is a recent winter arrival to the deserts of Arizona and he was the first I spotted this season.  


Desert Hare Photo

Then there is this guy who is clearly a morning bunny and fully in the holiday spirit.  He was a very large desert rabbit and I spotted him hanging out behind a scrub bush.  He didn't move at all nor did he seem to mind my presence.  He reacted to very little going on around him as if he couldn't believe that he was awake so early and decided to just stare and rest before facing the world.  He is probably one of the largest desert bunnies I have ever seen.  I am thinking that he might have been an older bunny or just puffed up in the cool early morning air.  Perhaps his serious approach to life has allowed him to survive.  




Water Bird Photo

Lastly is this large bird who didn't seem grumpy so much as determined to stand on one leg yet just didn't have the balance on this particular morning.   He shifted from one leg to another trying to balance and stand tall like his friends but after almost five minutes of trying, he gave up and flew away.  He not only gave me a smile but made me realize that everyone even wild animals can have their challenges with coordination in the morning.  
 Welcome Mat Now Available in Our Zazzle store
                          by natureinfocus


I am very much a morning person though I have not always been.  It was refreshing to not only take a break and visit my animal friends but also to see that not all animals are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed early in the morning.  Some lack coordination, others just sit and watch the world go by for a bit, and some are just downright grumpy.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saguaro Cactus Towering Desert Giant

 Saguaro Cactus Towering Desert Giant Did you know that the saguaro cactus grows only in certain parts of Arizona, Mexico, and California?  I became instantly enthused with the saguaro cactus when I moved to Arizona 16 years ago.  In fact, my enthusiasm has become something of a household joke as my family is so accustomed to seeing saguaro cacti in our daily lives.  Neighbors have the towering saguaro standing like sentinels in the front yards though in reality, the cactus was likely there long before the home was built. Protected Desert Plant Saguaro cacti can live a very long time.  Over 150 years old is not at all uncommon and the arms you see growing out from the cactus usually don't start to appear until the cactus is 75-100 years old.  Like all cactus plants, they grow very slowly and are not easily replaced when one is lost.  They are actually a protected plant species in Arizona.  When a new road is being put in or a housing development starts wandering into what once was
Post a Comment
Read more

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates  Last week, I talked about the hungry sparrows feasting among my jujube trees.  Apparently many have not heard of a jujube or red date before and are curious what to do with them besides just eating them from the tree.  Just to recap in case you have not read my previous post, when mostly yellowish in color they taste a little like a dry apple.  They get sweeter as they turn a reddish color and as they turn completely red and start to wrinkle slightly, they are closer to a raisin or a date.   No matter how you eat them, don't forget that there is a pit in the center.  I find that cutting them close to the pit around each side is the easiest way to rid the fruit of the pit. The Varied Uses of Jujubes The light green to yellow jujubes are easily shredded and used any time apples are called for.  I have used them in breads, muffins, and mixed with pear or apples for a fruit crisp when shredded right from the tree.   I have mixed them in pancake batter in
Post a Comment
Read more

Thorns, Needles, and Spikes Thrive in Arizona

  When most people think of Arizona they tend to think of desert and cactus.  Southwestern cactus bring to mind long needles and plants that can be admired but steered clear of.  While we do have a huge variety of cacti in our state, cacti are not the only plants to use needles, thorns, or spikes to protect themselves.   Barrel Cactus Pillow Available in Our Store by southwestcreations So why does a cactus plant have needles?  The obvious answer is to protect themselves but why do they need so much protection.  Cacti are made up of a huge amount of water.  The mighty saguaro for example can be caused to topple from too much water.  A cactus will soak up water and store it allowing it to get through our long periods of drought.  Animals seek out water and so a quick meal on a cactus pad can provide needed water for animals.  While the needles keep away some animals, there are others that are very adapted to life in the desert.  Javelina for example will munch on a cactus plant
Post a Comment
Read more