Some Fall Insects
(click on a photo to enlarge)
While down in the wash photographing butterflies, one can’t help but notice the abundance of other insects on the Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus). Some are seeking nectar, others are using the stems for basking or are chewing on the leaves. Others lie in wait for some unsuspecting insect to get just a little too close.
Case in point — below is a photo of what looks like a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) visiting a flower. Look closely near the head of the butterfly and you’ll see that a small and cleverly camouflaged member of the Ambush Bug family, Phymatidae, has caught the unsuspecting butterfly. These predators wait motionless for a prey item to come near them. Then they grab it with their strong front legs and with piercing and sucking mouthparts suck fluids from their victim. They also inject a poison which paralyzes the victim and makes it easier to handle. This enables them to capture prey much larger than themselves.
Ambush Bug (Phymata sp.) with Variegated Fritillary
Ambush Bug (Phymata sp.) poised to strike
Another predator, and one which is familiar to everyone, is the spider. In the fall, the orb weavers seem to become much more abundant. This is certainly true of this colorful weaver, the Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata) which constructed its web right in the middle of one of the rabbitbrush bushes. The banded topside looks entirely different from the deeply colored underside.
Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata), top view
Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata), underside
The Banded Argiope is common throughout the U.S. and has different color variations depending on location.
Grasshoppers are both common and diverse here in the Apache Highlands grasslands. I’ve only just begun to delve into their identification and am still building a photo collection. Below are a few of the grasshoppers identified so far (thanks to the kind people on BugGuide.net).
Plains Lubber (Brachystola magna)
The Plains Lubber is a large, robust grasshopper. The adults are flightless (note the vestigial wings). The eggs of this grasshopper require two over-wintering periods before they hatch.
Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus thomasi)
M. thomasi is only found in SE Arizona and parts of New Mexico and Texas. It’s definitely one of our more handsome grasshoppers.
This basking Lakin’s Grasshopper shows off its blue legs.
Lakin’s Grasshopper (Melanoplus lakinus)
One last photo of a visitor to the rabbitbrush before returning to birds. A beautiful wasp not yet identified but worthy of a spot here. I’m told they’re very hard to identify to species.
Wasp (possibly Steniolia sp.)
When Rabbitbrush Blooms
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October light brings the Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus vicidiflorus) into bloom. It is a highly anticipated time for those of us interested in pollinators, especially Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).
Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus vicidiflorus)
Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus vicidiflorus)
The wash that runs through our land is populated with many rabbitbrush shrubs. They must like the extra moisture that accumulates there. I keep a portable chair handy so I can sit at a bush in peak bloom and observe visitors to the flowers. Sometimes you see more this way than trying to cover a lot of ground. I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the insects that are attracted to these golden flowers.
By far, the most abundant flying insect in the wash this October was the day-flying Veined Ctenuca Moth, a member of the Tiger Moth family. Just like butterflies they seek flower nectar. Hundreds of these colorful moths could be found on a single shrub. The upper side of the wings of this species is a deep blue-black with three orange veins, the middle one forked at the end. There is a broken white fringe on the wing edges. The head is red and orange and the body shows a blue sheen. It has to be one of the more spectacular looking moths.
Veined Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha venosa), upperside
Veined Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha venosa), underside
Below is a small sampling of some of the beautiful butterflies that frequent the blooming rabbitbrush in our wash.
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Checkered White (Pontia protdice), female
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile)
I’ve seen 38 species on the property so far. The following have been observed on the rabbitbrush in the fall:
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia)
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Queen (Danaus glippus)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia)
Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
Desert Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus philetas)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)
The next post will cover some other insects that frequent the wash.
Published by Arlene Ripley on November 15th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Butterflies, Cochise County, Dragoon Mountain Ranch, Insects, Nature, Plants | Comment now »
The Sparrows of Treaty Hill (part 5)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO
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This post concludes “The Sparrows of Treaty Hill.” I’m sure there are more sparrows to be found but I’ve not seen any new sparrow species in over a week so am assuming I’ve now photographed all of the “regulars.” Thirteen species is not bad at all for a relatively short period of time.
In the murky light of dawn I often find a rather pudgy looking sparrow skulking in the Bear Grass. It occasionally darts out for some seed and eventually to drink and bathe in the bird bath. If it is alarmed it runs rather than flies for cover. The most prominent features of this unmistakable sparrow are the rufous cap, large white eye ring, short wings, longish rounded tail and gray eye-stripe. The Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Amophila ruficeps) is a year-round resident of southeastern Arizona.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Amophila ruficeps)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Amophila ruficeps)
One of the larger sparrow species and another with unmistakable markings is the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). They have showy black and white head stripes, a yellow-orange bill and gray breast. They also have a lovely song which can be heard even on their wintering grounds.
Adult White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
First-winter birds (below) resemble adults except they have a rusty brown color on their heads where the adults are black and gray where adults are white. This species migrates to Arizona for the winter.
Immature White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
On October 27 a single Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) visited the feeding station and hasn’t been seen since. I thought this was the first arrival and the pack would follow but this hasn’t been the case. It remains to be seen if a junco flock will overwinter near Treaty Hill.
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
The Sparrows of Treaty Hill (part 4)
SAVANNAH SPARROW, LARK BUNTING, LARK SPARROW
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I almost missed the fleeting appearance of a single bathing Savannah Sparrow. Didn’t even realize I’d taken this picture until downloading photos on to the computer later in the day. The most distinctive feature visible here is the yellow around the eye area (supercilium). This marking is typical of a Savannah Sparrow.
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Savannah Sparrows overwinter in central and southern Arizona and breed in the northern third of the state and as far north as Alaska.
How different a bird can look in winter! Below is a male Lark Bunting in winter plumage. In breeding plumage the male is almost completely black with white patches on the wings. Below him is the female. She keeps her coloration year-round. Lark Buntings are winter visitors to southern Arizona.
Male Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Female Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Another sparrow with “Lark” in its name but unrelated to the bunting above, is the Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). Southeast Arizona hosts this species year-round. Despite the fact that mesquite savannah is part of their habitat, this species has made but one appearance at the feeding station.
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
Published by Arlene Ripley on November 7th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Dragoon Mountain Ranch, Nature | Comment now »
The Sparrows of Treaty Hill (part 3)
BLACK-CHINNED, CHIPPING AND BREWER’S SPARROW
Oddly there have been only two observed visits from the handsome Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) at the feeding station despite the fact that this is the sparrow that I’ve seen more than any other while driving around the Ranch before moving here. Perhaps it isn’t all that interested in free seed and water. We’ll see. If only all sparrows were this easy to identify!
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
Black-throated Sparrows are year-round residents in Arizona.
I’ve already mentioned Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) in a previous post but since some members of the genus Spizella have similar plumages, I thought it a good idea to discuss them in more depth.
The adult Chipping Sparrow is quite easy to identify. A small sparrow, with a notched tail, rusty cap, whilte superciliary (area over the eye) stripe and a blackish line through the eye.
Adult Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
They are also the only sparrow possessing a gray rump. In this photo the bird was preening after a bath so the rump feathers are all puffed out — not normally the case. The notched tail is also clearly visible.
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
The confusion begins when first-winter birds are present. In winter and juvenile plumage, the Spizella sparrows (Chipping, Brewer’s and Clay-colored) can be quite difficult to tell apart. Some of the Chipping Sparrow’s features such as the dark eye line are not always prominent and the crown can be dull with only a hint of rufous color. Naturally there are always more of these present than adults. Chipping Sparrows are year-round residents of SE Arizona.
Chipping Sparrows in winter plumage (Spizella passerina)
Southern Arizona is a wintering spot for another Spizella sparrow, the Brewer’s (Spizella brewerii). Here’s a sparrow that’s easy to miss in the fray of Chipping Sparrows. I seem to have startled it with my camera in this shot.
Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
Brewer’s Sparrow showing brown rump
Another small, slim sparrow, the Brewer’s has a streaked crown without a distinct central stripe. It lacks the gray rump of the Chipping Sparrow. The supercilium varies from pale dull gray to dull white. There is no dark stripe through the eye but the eye ring is a bit more distinct than the Chipping Sparrow. The rump is brown rather than gray. These birds tend to flock in winter just like Chipping Sparrows. They can also hybridize!
The third similar Spizella, the Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida), is not a winter visitor here so I won’t discuss it’s features unless, of course, it happens to wander into my yard!
Published by Arlene Ripley on November 5th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Dragoon Mountain Ranch, Nature, Plants | Comment now »
The Sparrows of Treaty Hill (part 2)
TOWHEES
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Towees are large birds (up to 9″ long) compared to the other sparrows so it’s not surprising they were among the first sparrows I noticed.
The Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus) was first seen poking around nearby vegetation. Initially wary, it was soon comfortable at the feeding station. The Canyon Towhee’s name is a bit misleading as it can be an urban bird as well as a denizen of scrub, desert scrub and pine-oak woodlands. Field marks include an overall brown color with a rusty crown and vent (under-tail), buffy throat and a dark mark in the middle of the breast. Canyon Towhees are ground feeders using their feet to expose seed and are permanent residents of SE Arizona.
Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus)
Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus)
The second species of towhee was not at all interested in having its picture taken but I’m sure you can guess what it is from the colorful back view.
Yes, a Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus). By the next day, it looked right at home in the birdbath and put on quite a show.
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
This bird of sagebrush and piñon/juniper habitat winters in weedy scrub and dry arroyos. Sexes are similar with females being a bit duller than males. They are smaller (up to 7″ long) than Canyon Towhees and nest only as far south as central Arizona. The bird above is either a migrant on its way to Mexico or will spend the winter in here.
Published by Arlene Ripley on November 1st, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Dragoon Mountain Ranch, Nature | 2 Comments »The Sparrows of Treaty Hill (part 1)
LINCOLN’S AND VESPER SPARROWS
(click on photos to enlarge)
Living in the shadow, so to speak, of Treaty Hill (a local name for the hill from which Cochise’s son, Naiche, waved a white flag indicating the signing of the Broken Arrow Peace Treaty), I’m guessing that most of the sparrows I’m now seeing habituate on or near the grassy slopes of this conical hill on the western slope of the Dragoon Mountains. Early morning walks have revealed a lot of sparrow activity in the surrounding grasslands but opportunities for long, leisurely views are almost non-existent. It was definitely time to set up a feeding station near the house. It took only a day or two before the birds found it. Twelve species of sparrows have been observed at the feeding station. Two of them are discussed here.
Most mornings I set up my camera in a garage window which makes a perfect blind to watch and photograph the sparrows and other birds that have been attracted to the seed and water. They are far more interested in the water than the seed right now. In the last post I mentioned the Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) and this morning the count was up to 35 from last week’s high of 18. It’s obvious that we need to put in a more permanent, in-ground watering hole for them as when the “chippies” show up, space at the birdbaths fills up quickly.
Eventually something more secretive will slip in and the first “different” sparrow turned out to be a Lincoln’s.
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
I’ve been thrilled to observe the presence of two Lincoln’s in the early morning hours. They are undaunted by the many Chipping Sparrows, although they sometimes seem to prefer the less-used birdbath next to the clumps of Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa).
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
Lincoln’s Sparrow contemplating another dip in the pool
Ah, that felt good!
Another more reclusive bird lured in by the prospect of a drink is the Vesper Sparrow. This species is larger than the Chipping Sparrow with a streaked breast and back and conspicuous white eye-ring. This wary bird spends just a few minutes quenching its thirst or a quick bath before ducking back into the grasses.
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
Note the pale center of the auriculars (cheek patch) framed by darker feathers in the bird below.
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
Also note the rufous lesser coverts on the shoulders of this bird. This marking is rarely observed as the feathers are not usually exposed, except in flight. The other field mark used to identify this sparrow is the clean white outer tail feathers, most easily observed in flight.
Both the Lincoln’s and the Vesper Sparrows are winter visitors to our area. They move north to nest.
Published by Arlene Ripley on October 30th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Dragoon Mountain Ranch, Nature | 1 Comment »
Back to Nature
(click on photos to enlarge)
It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been in our new home just three days shy of a month. I won’t say it’s been all fun as we still have piles of stuff to sort and mucho landscaping to complete but in between the domestic stuff we’ve taken some time to enjoy our natural surroundings. Hummingbirds continue to visit the feeders although their numbers are waning along with the overnight temperatures. In early October we began to notice bats swooping in on the feeders at night and I managed one decent shot of a Mexican Long-tongued Bat. We’ve since learned that early October is the peak of bat migration. Next year we’ll be more prepared. In fact, I can hardly wait!
Mexican Long-tongued Bat (Choeronycleris mexicana)
Twenty-eight bat species occur in Arizona and we have plans to put up one or more bat houses by next spring. Here is a great poster of the Bats of Arizona.
On October 13, the night of the “Hunter’s Moon,” we watched the moon rise right in the center of the saddle of the Dragoon Mountains. We never tire of this view, day or night.
Hunter’s Moon over the Dragoon Mountains
We finally moved the location of our birdbaths and seed to an easily watched spot outside of our walled garden. Nothing was finding the seed or water! It turned out to be a good idea. I’m now sorting through lots of photos of sparrows. We apparently live in sparrow heaven! There are many of over-wintering non-breeders here and the most abundant right now are some old friends commonly seen in Maryland — Chipping Sparrows.
Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina)
An unusual treat has been the appearance of a leucistic (partial albino) Chipping Sparrow that appears but once first thing in the morning and then not seen again until the next morning.
Leucistic Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
One interesting observation has been that the birds are much more interested in the water than the seed. Apparently grass and other seed is abundant now but natural water sources are scarce, so our little birdbaths are extremely attractive to thirsty wildlife including pack rats!
White-throated Wood Rat (aka Pack Rat) (Neotoma albigula)
Lots more sparrow photos in the next post!
Published by Arlene Ripley on October 22nd, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Mammals, Nature | Comment now »Settling In
The long hiatus from posting here can be attributed to the pure exhaustion of packing up everything one owns and then unpacking it all again within a very short time frame. The rewards, however, are great. It was a smooth move, really, and we had the most perfect weather. Our first morning we woke up to sunrise over the Dragoons.
It got even better after this. A pair of Great Horned Owls flew across the back of the house and landed on the roof where they engaged in quite a conversation. Then one of the owls flew down to the swimming pool and landed on one of the rocks where it sat for a good five minutes. Had I been able to locate a telephoto lens and flash, I might have gotten a photo but we just had to settle for a beautiful memory. Since then we’ve heard the owls calling in the evening along with a Common Poorwill.
The hummingbird feeders have been very popular with Black-chinned, Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds, all on their way to Mexico for the winter. I’ve noticed in the past few days fewer birds than last week when we saw as many as 8 at a time.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
We continue to be amazed at the scenic views we enjoy here. The west side of the house looks out at the distant Rincon Mountains and the foreground reminds me of the African savanna.
View to the West
Moving Day At Last!
It’s the eve of the Big Day — tomorrow morning the movers arrive and by afternoon we’ll be on our merry way to the next county over and our new house in the Dragoon foothills. We’re so glad we had a whole year to experience the Sonoran Desert and look forward to many more visits to this special place. Adios Tucson!
Sunset at Starr Pass, Tucson
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 24th, 2008 Tagged Nature | 2 Comments »
