The most unusual sighting this week is definitely the fork-tailed Chuckwalla. We found this mighty handsome lizard at Joshua Tree National park. It's always a great surprise to see one of these huge desert lizards but to see one with a fork-tail was a FIRST!
I love finding lizards especially the ones in the desert. The next great find of the day was another big lizard, the Desert Iguana. He caught our attention by the rustling noises in the underbrush. Eventually, we found out who was making the noise when he cautiously emerged from his shelter.
The most beautiful bird we found "off the hill" was the Vermillion Flycatcher. Unlike the East coast, where the beautiful red Cardinal is a common sight, there are few birds in the southwest dressed in red.
When migrating birds start passing through and the birds of summer show up, you know Spring has arrived. For us, it started with the migrating Rufous Hummingbird. This beautiful hummer annoyed our resident Anna's Hummingbird by his presence but after a couple of days, he departed. Early in the week, we spotted the Violet-green Swallow which helps take care of the insect population all summer. A couple of days ago, the orange and yellow breasted Black-headed Grosbeak showed up at our feeder. He will fill the early morning hours with his beautiful American Robin like song.
Welcome, Spring!!
