What a Venomous Wildlife Day at Our House!

My friend Diana came over to check on our baby hummingbirds and as we were looking at the nest, one flew out.  It flew about 20 feet, sat for a while, gathered itself together and took off for a nearby mesquite tree.  That was the first time I had ever seen a baby bird take its first flight.

 

Then the UPS man delivered a package with a warning about a large Gila Monster in the driveway.  It had already nestled next to our wall by the time I got this picture.

 

 

And an hour after that, I walked out of the garage and saw this Western Diamondback rattlesnake. This isn't a great picture, but then I didn't want to get any closer - and the snake was too long to zoom in on.  There was no mistaking the striped tail, however. 

 

 



Oops - only 2 hummingbirds

We all thought that we saw 3 beaks but on closer look, there were only 2.  Here are some new pictures of the babies.
4/16/2013

4/21/2013

Looks like one is getting ready to venture out.

 

Hummingbirds, hiking, and another national championship

An update on our hummingbird nest. Look closely and you can see 3 beaks pointing straight up.  I don't know where the mom spends her time now, as she'd  be impaled if she tried to sit on the nest.

 

Bart and David O'Loughlin won the Canadian national squash doubles 70+. Bart won the US Century tournament too this year, which brings his national titles to 3 for 2013.

Last weekend we took a 6+ mile hike into Pima Canyon.  Lots of wildflowers and a small dam that had been constructed by native americans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Broad-billed hummingbird and U S National Squash Doubles

A broad-billed hummingbird has made a nest in one of our pomegranate trees.  We can peer down into the nest and see tiny movements once in a while - there are 2 babies in the nest.  Imagine how small a baby hummingbird must be!  They were born earlier this week.

 

From the kitchen porch we see the mom sitting on the nest from time to time.  Not sure if I'll be able to get any pictures opf the babies, since they are barely visible now.

 

 

Last week Bart and his partner, Don Mills, won the US National Doubles Championships (70+).

 

 



Birthdays, Skiing and Lots of Fun

Bart and I just spent a great week at Keystone, CO with Wendy, John, Henry, Mae, Lucy, Jil, Isa, Josie, Tilly, and Chance.

 

First we celebrated Lucy's 9th birthday (her 2nd celebration) with a tatami room sushi dinner,

followed by cake and ice cream at home.

We skied!

We went for a sleigh ride dinner - well the dinner was after the sleigh ride.  The sleigh took us to and from dinner.

Some of us were silly.

Some donned hats at the Frisco Historical Society Museum.

Guess who's under this sheet.

 

This did not happen in Colorado, but it's a nice picture of Conor at the White House for the Easter Egg Roll.