Sun Scorpion Saturday

July 19, 2014July 19, 2014 Timothy Price38 Comments

Better known as a Camel Spider, the Sun Scorpion seems to be something between a spider and scorpion, but it’s neither. They are solpugids, of which there are 50 species in the southwestern US. This one was in the catio and about 1 1/2 inches long, but they commonly reach 6 inches in length and can supposedly run at speeds up to 10 mph. They eat insects, small lizards, beetles and scorpions that they catch and kill with their jaws, as they are non-venomous.

A blue damselfly landed close to me, and I noticed it was eating an ant when I got it in focus under my macro lens.

Grapes Gone Wild

July 18, 2014 Timothy Price22 Comments

The garden got about 3/4 inch of rain over the past few days, and with a good soaking from the irrigation, the grapes have gone wild (along with most of the plants on the property), and climbed into the apple tree, where they are dangling among the apples. I’m sure most self respecting winers would not allow their grapes to mix with their apples, but when we get a little water in our dry climate, grapes (and a whole lot of other stuff) happen!

DSCF0911 — Our irrigation gate with a note from the ditch rider

DSCF0915 — With all the rain, the irrigation water was the color of chocolate milk

DSCF0935 — Grape vines spilling out of the apple tree

DSCF0938 — Mama Manx practicing her “show kitty” stance by the edge of the flooded garden.

Hummers

July 16, 2014 Timothy Price7 Comments

Adult and juvenile hummingbirds feeding on trumpet vine and taking breaks from buzzing around chasing each other.

Cat in the Grass / Snake in the Window

July 15, 2014 Timothy Price14 Comments

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been enjoying the tall, wild grasses, while the garter snake has been coming back and hanging out on our window sill.

Outside Looking In

July 13, 2014 Timothy Price14 Comments

Laurie got close to the window in the bedroom to try and get better reception on her phone and discovered a cute little garter snake in the ivy outside the window looking in.

A Bug in a Hand is…

July 11, 2014 Timothy Price4 Comments

A sweet stag beetle…

Forty Legged Shower Mate

July 9, 2014 Timothy Price17 Comments

This six inch long centipede which may be everything that nightmares are made of scurried out of the drain when I got in the shower this morning. But I think the art was me, completely naked, doing macro shots of a wet centipede in the bathtub. Since he couldn’t scurry around as much because he was wet, he made defensive gestures by raising his rear prongs into striking position as I got the lens close to him. After I finished photographing him, I scooped him up and put him outside where he can find roly poly bugs and other pests to eat.