Jojoba flowers

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)

Location: Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA

These are flowers on a Jojoba bush.  Eventually these flowers will morph into a nut-like fruit.  The Jojoba is native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.  I photographed this example in the Sonoran Desert, south of Tucson, Arizona.

These flowers were on a wild Jojoba bush, but the plant is cultivated commercially as well.  The nuts produce an oil that is used in cosmetic products.

Boot Hill Graveyard at Tombstone, Arizona

Boot Hill Graveyard

Location: Tombstone, Arizona, USA

In honor of Halloween, I chose a photo of the famous Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona for this week's Ruby Tuesday entry.  (Note the ruby red car parked outside the fence, heh heh.)  I visited the historic town of Tombstone during a trip to Arizona with some friends earlier this year.

Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica)

Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica)

Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

This delicate blossom is known as the Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica).  The plant has its origins in Baja California, but I photographed this one in Tucson, Arizona.  Although this shrubby plant grows wild, I was told that people sometimes add it to their gardens to attract hummingbirds.

Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Location: near Tucson, Arizona, USA

The Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is said to be one of the most widely distributed birds in the world.   I photographed this one at the raptor free flight display at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, near Tucson, Arizona.  When I took this photo (and several others) the owl was perched on its handler's gloved hand.  As you can see, I was able to get quite close to it.

Here is another portrait of a Barn Owl, and a photo of a Barn Owl in flight.

Cholla Cactus

Cholla Cactus (Opuntia bigelovii)

Location:  Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA

This Cholla Cactus (Opuntia bigelovii) is sometimes called the Teddy Bear Cholla, because its dense spines make it look rather fuzzy, especially from a distance.  This cactus is native to the Sonoran Desert.

Prickly Pear Cactus - Close-up View

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia engelmannii)

Location:  Sonoran Desrt, Arizona, USA

Yesterday I posted a photo of a Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii), from the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.  Here is a close-up shot of the Prickly Pear.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia engelmannii)

Location: Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA

The Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii) is another common cactus found in Arizona's Saguaro National Park.   Unlike the Giant Saguaro, which grows very tall, the Prickly Pear grows in shrubby clumps.   Its spines are long and straight, like needles*.   In the spring, the Prickly Pear bears bright yellow flowers.

* Here's a macro photo of the Prickly Pear, showing its long spines.

Giant Saguaro

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

Location: Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA

The Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is a large tree-like cactus found in the Sonoran Desert.   In fact, the Saguaro cactus grows naturally only in the Sonoran Desert.

I took this photo while hiking in the Saguaro National Park, located in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, Arizona.  According to information on the Saguaro National Park website:

An adult saguaro is generally considered to be about 125 years of age. It may weigh 6 tons or more and be as tall as 50 feet. The average life span of a saguaro is probably 150 - 175 years of age. However, biologists believe that some plants may live over 200 years.

This specimen was about 20 feet tall.

Sonoran Desert, Arizona

Sonoran Desert plant life

Location:  Arizona, USA

The Sonoran Desert covers most of the southern half of Arizona, the southeast corner of California, and stretches into northern Mexico.  This is not the kind of desert that is covered by a vast expanse of sand dunes, devoid of plant life.  The Sonoran Desert is lush with with many species of cactus, succulents, and shrubs.  This scene, shot in southern Arizona, shows a typical variety of plant life in the Sonoran Desert.

Bobcat Pair

Bobcat (Felis rufus)

Location: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, near Tucson, Arizona, USA

Yesterday I posted a photo of a female Bobcat.   These photos, taken during the same visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, show the same individual with her mate.  In the first photo here, the female has begun to groom, while her mate watches.  In the second photo, taken a short time later, the male begins to groom, too -- with a little help from his mate.

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.

Smile for the Camera, Mr. Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Location: near Tucson, Arizona, USA

Okay, just one more shot of the very photogenic Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), and then we'll move along to other subjects.  This is the same individual that was posing in profile in the previous photos, and flying in the one before that.  All of these photos of the Ferruginous Hawk were taken at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's raptor free-flight display.

For this shot, the elegant Mr. Hawk was nice enough to look directly at the camera.   I think he smiled!  Note the spiffy feathered leggings, too.  He was only about four or five meters away from me, perched on his handler's gloved hand.

Ferruginous Hawk Close-up

Ferruginous Hawk  (Buteo regalis)

Location:  near Tucson, Arizona, USA

The previous photo showed a Ferruginous Hawk in flight.    Here are some close-up photos of the same individual.  The common name, Ferruginous, refers to the bird's 'rusty' color.

The photos here, taken in quick succession, show the hawk while he was perched just a few meters away from me.   I posted both photos for a reason: If you look closely at the first, you will see a small drop of moisture at the tip of the bird's beak.  This is a product of respiration.   In the second photo, the droplet is falling, because the bird has moved its head to watch something.

I took both of these photos at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's raptor free flight display.  Here is another photo of this individual, smiling for the camera!

Ferruginous Hawk in Flight

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Location:  near Tucson, Arizona, USA

This is a Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), another bird of prey featured in the raptor free flight display at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, near Tucson, Arizona.

I managed to capture this image of the hawk in flight, using my camera's Sports mode to freeze the action of this fast-moving subject.   In hindsight, I wish I had used the Shutter Priority mode, because I would have chosen a faster shutter speed than the camera's program selected.  Of course, a complicating factor was that it was very overcast, so it might have been tricky trying to balance the fast shutter speed with the amount of available light.  The bird was flying now, so I didn't have a lot of time to tinker with settings, thus I let the camera's program figure things out.

Related:

• Ferruginous Hawk Close-up
• Smile for the Camera, Mr. Hawk

Barn Owl in Flight

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Location: near Tucson, Arizona, USA

Here is another shot of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) that was in the previous photo.   In the earlier photo, the owl was perched.  This time it is flying -- or, more correctly, gliding.

This owl was part of the raptor free flight display at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, located outside Tucson, Arizona.  The raptor free flight display gives visitors an opportunity to observe birds of prey in their natural habitat.

The Barn Owl - Not just another pretty face

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Location:  near Tucson, Arizona, USA

This is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba).  One of this owl's distinguishing features is its lovely heart-shaped white face.  The Barn Owl is said to be one of the most widely distributed birds in the world, occurring naturally on every continent except Antarctica.

I photographed this individual at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, outside of Tucson, Arizona.  One of the most interesting outdoor exhibits at the museum is a raptor free-flight demonstration.  The Barn Owl is one of several birds of prey included in this demonstration, in which raptor species native to the Arizona desert are displayed in their natural habitat.

Update: Here is a photo of the Barn Owl in flight, and another portrait of the Barn Owl, in profile.

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

While I was in Arizona in February, I saw many birds that we don't see here in Hawaii.  This one is a male Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus).  I was told that this species is common in the western Unites States.   I saw him in Tucson, and he was kind enough to pose for me.

Stagecoach at Tombstone, Arizona

Replica Stagecoach

Location: Tombstone, Arizona, USA

And now for something completely different!

I went to Arizona with some friends this past February, and one of the places we visited was Tombstone, known as a 'wild west' mining town in the late 19th Century.  Tombstone, which calls itself "The Town Too Tough to Die," is the home of the Boot Hill Graveyard, and the O.K. Corral, scene of a famous gunfight.

Nowadays, the historic area of Tombstone is closed to motor vehicles during daylight hours, making it easy for tourists to roam the streets, which are lined with shops and restaurants.   Replica covered wagons and stagecoaches, like the one in this photo, offer narrated rides around the town to tourists.

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)

Location: near Tucson, Arizona, USA

In February of 2008, I went to Arizona with some friends.  One place we visited together was the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, outside of Tucson.   It was a nature photographer's paradise.

One of the excellent displays at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a hummingbird aviary in the form of a large screen house filled with trees and other plants to form a hummingbird-friendly habitat.   The hummingbirds fly freely within the aviary.   Visitors can enter the aviary and walk around among the trees and birds.

We saw several species of hummingbirds in the aviary, including a few that were actively nesting.  The one in this photo is a Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).   I think it's a female, because the male of the species has a black patch on its throat, giving rise to the common name.

These cute little birds are less than four inches long.  Their natural home is southern Arizona and northern Mexico.