Backyard inhabitants

Its 105F today, but backyard wildlife continues to flourish. We have had some small birds, finches perhaps, fluttering around the plum tree while we have been outside, and even while the cats have been outside. These birds seem oblivious to any danger in the backyard. I am watching one bird periodically flying into a hanging planter but I think nothing of it. Later, while watering some plants, I see some slight movement in the hanging planter. I thought maybe it was the bird, but upon closer inspection there is a nest with at least 3 very tiny baby birds in it. I tried to get some photos without disturbing them too much but they are quite sensitive and think I am bringing food every time I try to get close to take a picture.

Later there were lots of bees around our "butterfly" bush, and a small green lizard decides to make his presence known.

Albuquerque, NM

Spent the last couple of weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Was there about 12-14 years ago so had some good memories. Was there on business, but was still able to take advantage of the location. We did the Sandia Peak Tramway, we took a dinner trip to Santa Fe, taking the back road back through Madrid, and took a couple of trips to the Petroglyph National Monument. It was very dry this year, with extreme forest fire danger and in fact many of the public lands were closed. There was an extremely dangerous fire encroaching on the Los Alamos National Laboratory which resulted in a fairly large scale evacuation.

Here are a few shots that capture some of the sights. The jackrabbits were running around the petroglyphs. It was so dry there was very little wildlife. I think I saw a total of 4 lizards. We also took a trip around the backside of the Petroglyph NM where there are a series of very old volcanoes.