Female Bobcat

Female Bobcat

Female Bobcat (Felis rufus)
Location: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, near Tucson, Arizona, USA

This photo was taken a few months ago when I visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, near Tucson, Arizona.  One of the nice aspects of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is that animals are displayed in habitats that are authentic and spacious, rather than in cages.  Among the mammals displayed there were several species of wild cats.  This is a Bobcat (Felis rufus).

When I first arrived at the habitat, I spotted a sleeping pair of Bobcats curled up together in a cavelet near the top of a rocky cliff.   I waited for quite awhile to see if either of them would wake up and show themselves.   I was rewarded for my patience as first one and then the other awoke and came out into the light.  Here is the female Bobcat -- still a bit drowsy from her snooze.

Update: Here are two more photos of this Bobcat, with her mate.

Sundance Hibiscus

Sundance Hibiscus

'Sundance' Hibiscus
Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is another of the 28 varieties of hibiscus we have in our garden.  This variety is called Sundance.   It is a cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.   If you look closely, you may be able to spot a small green insect (species unknown!) in the throat of the blossom.  I didn't see the bug when I was taking the photo.   I only noticed it after I looked at the enlarged photo on my computer monitor.

Male House Finch

Male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicana)

House Finch - male (Carpodacus mexicana)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Yesterday I posted a photo of a female House Finch (Carpodacus mexicana).   Here is a photo of her mate.   Like many other bird species, the plumage of the male House Finch is much more colorful than that of the female.  For this species, the color of the male's head and breast can vary from pale orange to bright red, like this individual.

Female House Finch

Female House Finch(Carpodacus mexicana)

House Finch - female (Carpodacus mexicana)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This morning when I was walking through my garden, camera in hand, a pair of House Finches (Carpodacus mexicana) cooperated by posing for me.  Here is the female, with her head cocked slightly - probably listening for my footsteps on the gravel path.  Tomorrow I will post a photo of her mate.

Coming Attractions: Royal Poinciana Buds

Buds on a Royal Poinciana tree

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

A few days ago when I was roaming around my garden, I was happy to see that one of our Royal Poinciana trees had many flower buds.  These will turn into brilliant red blossoms very soon.  When the blossoms appear, I'll post some pictures of them.

The Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) is native to Madagascar, but is very popular as an ornamental tree here in Hawaii.   In addition to the brilliant blossoms, it also has lush foliage all summer, providing shade as well as beauty.

Garden Spider with a Beautiful Web

Garden Spider (Argiope appensa)

Garden Spider (Argiope appensa)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This Garden Spider (Argiope appensa) is fairly common here in Hawaii.   It is a member of the Orb Spider family (Areneidae), named for the classic wheel-shaped webs that they spin.  As far as I know, it is not venomous.

This is a relatively large spider, with a body about the size of my thumbnail.  As spiders go, I think this one is quite good looking.  Check out the intricate design on this spider's back.

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria (Plumeria rubra cultivar)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is a nice bouquet of Plumeria blossoms, just as they grow on a tree in our garden.  This hybrid variety, called Lueang Sakhon, is a cultivar of Plumeria rubra.  You can compare this variety to the Rainbow Plumeria that I posted last month.  The petals are similarly shaped, but the color of the blossoms is quite different.

The flowers usually have five overlapping petals, but this particular tree bears several six-petaled blossoms every season.   (We have no idea why!)  I will post a photo of one of the six-petaled blossoms at a later date.
 The tree is deciduous, dropping its pointy green leaves for about half the year.

Lizard Face

Phelsuma laticauda laticauda

Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda)
Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Meet the Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda).  This is arguably the most colorful and photogenic of all the gecko species that live here in Hawaii.  Don't you love its blue 'eye shadow'?

The Gold Dust Day Gecko is native to Madagascar.  They were introduced here in Hawaii several decades ago when, according to legend, several were intentionally set free in Honolulu by some college students.   They reproduced and spread to several of the other islands over time.

We have several of these critters living permanently in our garden.  They're easy to find again and again, because once they are established, they stay within a relatively small range.   This one lives in the herb garden near our back lanai.  Several others make their home in our palm garden.

This is the first photo of this lizard species that I have posted to this blog, but it won't be the last.  I photograph them whenever I have the chance.  In case you are wondering, this individual is about four inches (10 cm) in length.

Rock Rose Ice Plant with Honey Bee

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on Rock Rose Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia)

Rock Rose Ice Plant (Aptenia cordifolia) + Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

One section of our garden is on a steep hillside.  One of the plants we use for a ground cover there is the Rock Rose (Aptenia cordifolia), a succulent in the Ice Plant (Aizoaceae) family.  All morning long, the pretty red flowers on this plant attract honey bees (Apis mellifera).

A Wary Gray Francolin

Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)

Gray Francolin  (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This Gray Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) is approaching the ground feeder in our garden, but there is a bit of hesitation in her step.  She is wary, because she notices that Buster the cat is watching her -- and she probably sees the photographer, too.  In the end, hunger overcame fear, and the bird went to the feeder for its breakfast of sunflower seeds and millets.

Buster On Watch

Buster the cat

Buster, the cat
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here's a close-up shot of our cat, Buster, on watch in the garden.   I first introduced Buster back in March, and I mentioned then that he supervises everything that goes on in our garden.  (What goes on inside the house often seems to revolve around the kitty's needs, too, but that's another story.)

What do you suppose Buster is watching so intently?  Stop by again tomorrow, and I'll show you.

Update: Okay, here is what Buster was watching.

White Bougainvillea, Blue Sky

White Bougainvillea

White Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea sp.)
Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Our garden has hedges of Bougainvillea in several colors.   This was an unruly branch that was sticking out from the rest of the hedge.  I liked the contrast between the blue sky and the white bracts.  The branch was pruned shortly after I took this photo.