CA ~ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve - con't

After sitting and visiting with the other birders for a while, I decided I would walk one of the trails and see what other birds or perhaps butterflies I could find before heading back to the resort.

there were lizards all over the trails

Lorquin's Admiral

Becker's White

Off to Florida

Pied-billed Grebe

Jacque, Bernie and I are in Orlando, FL for a conference of the American Diabetes Association for the next 4 days.We arrived this morning and have some time to explore.While the girls were napping I came out to see if there was any interesting finds of nature.  Out back is a marshy area where I had great looks at a Pied-billed Grebe and Common Gallinule. I have only seen the Common Gallinule once before so was happy. After going back to the townhouse I saw some lizards outside.  Watching them was quite interesting.

Common Gallinule

Native - Carolina /Green Anole

Cuban Brown Anole Lizard (Invasive)

CA ~ Sights around Desert Willow

Afternoons are spent up at the pool as this years temperatures have been anywhere from about 98 to 105F.  Usually at some point during the afternoon I take a break from the pool and go off in search of birds and nature to photograph.  It's a photographers delight here especially as there are good numbers of hummingbirds - both Costa's and Anna's.  The surprise of this afternoon was the Cooper's Hawk that landed along the railing of the pool area.  Later this evening he was out hunting birds for his dinner.

Costa's Hummingbird

Lizard sunning on rodk

Western Tiger Swallowtail