2022!

Very wet start to the new year.  This morning we work up to a rain/wind storm.  Once it stopped this was the "lake" in our backyard.  It should drain today because tonight's low will be about 25 degrees and we could wake up with a skating pond in the backyard tomorrow!

We were able to take a nice walk yesterday, between storms.  All the birds were out and happy to see some sunshine, as were all the retired snowbirds.  We got pretty close to this curious Roadrunner.

And even this shy Vermillion Flycatcher cooperated for his photoshoot.

 

Christmas lingers on

Still Christmas around here.  These are shots from across the street, and this isn't even one tenth of her decorations.  But you see how people abuse their cactus.

The styrofoam cups are there to prevent damage to the tops of the cactus during our cold (about 35 degree) evenings.  Not that the snowman has been disposing of his hot chocolate cups.

 

Golf Cart problem

One of our neighbors, about three blocks away, had a major fire a few weeks ago.

From what I've heard, the entire garage burned due to the golf cart catching on fire.  I have no idea how it happened, but you don't usually see something like this in the compound.  So naturally we had to take a walk to investigate it.

Our first Cardinal spotting of this season.  I have to be better about replenishing the bird feeders.  

This fellow and his mate were only on the ground briefly, getting seeds.  We still love seeing these birds whenever we can.  I wish they would nest in our backyard.

 

Golf Cart Parade

This is the first time we've been able to watch the parade of golf carts.  There were probably 40 carts that were all decked out for the parade.  It was very festive and fun to walk amongst the carts as they lined up and prepared to make their journey around the compound.

We were even treated to Christmas songs ala accordians.

A view of the well lit clubhouse.

 

Owls!

 We had to drive a few miles out of the compound to find this pair of owls.  We startled one of the owls which meant he/she left the nest.  I got a photo of what was in the nest.  Three eggs!  They look as big as chicken eggs.

Morning Rainbow

March can be a little unpredictable with the weather.  This morning's walk had a few sprinkles and some nice rainbow activity.

 

New Rare Animal Footage

We were happily surprised to find these animals walking near the animal camera, late one night.  The first is the Arizona state mammal - the Ringtailed cat - though it's not really a cat.

This animal is a skunk, maybe the Hooded Skunk.  I think there are five varieties of skunk here.