Birds, cacti, etc.......

I'm just going to throw some things together here.  I don't want to spend a lot of time at the computer and I don't like Mike's laptop.

 This is a new bird for me.....a Bronzed Cowbird.  That red eye is so noticeable even from way down below.

 A Cactus Wren.  Notice the little flower buds beginning on the Saguaro cactus.

 Gila Woodpeckers.  

 We went to the Desert Museum, which is a wonderful place to visit.  My favorite thing by far, was the Hummingbird area.  I don't usually get a chance to photograph different hummingbirds or see their nests.  I'm not good at identifying them, so I think I will leave them unidentified.

 This nest was way over my head, but Mike could get a photo.....it has 2 babies in it.  You can see the little beaks sticking up.

 This one is working on her nest.....it is very shallow at the moment.

 Even with a nice side view....I have no idea on which kind.  I'm just tickled to see them.

 Love this one.

 Tucking bits into the nest.

 Sort of a back view, but I like how the little cup of a nest just fits and the tail sticks up.

 Phainopepla male

Gambel's Quail male

 The Saguaro cactus are just beginning to bloom.  We saw a lot of buds, but not too many flowers yet.  Maybe next week!

 Hedgehog cactus...I think.

 Cholla come in lots of colors......I've seen orange, pink, redish, etc.

 Ocotillo

 Prickly Pear

 This Saguaro had the most flowers that we found so far.

Teddy Bear Cholla

Hope I got all the names and spelling correct!  If the cactus get more blooms this next week, I will get more photos.  

We've tried to do outdoor things the last few days because the weather had been cooler then normal for this time of year.  It is going to get hotter every day for the rest of our stay.  I'll do more posting after the weather drives me indoors.  Went to a Greek Orthodox Monastery......a real oasis in the middle of the desert....yesterday.  Photos later.