You wouldn’t believe how big and tough they are, these mountain raccoons. Sometimes tourists mistake them for bears. The last time they came through, shoving grapefruit-sized rocks off the bird feeder to get at the seeds, they left this evidence in the mud. That was also the last time the ground was damp enough to [...]
Llano Quemado
I found that steer skull out on the mesa—in a tree.
It’s finally arrived! No wait, the sun just went behind a cloud, never mind. That’s the way it is around here, on the edge of slamming cold any day of the year. That’s why the sun is so important, otherwise no one could live at 7,000 feet. And yes, that is a big elm tree [...]
This little guy is almost on his way
Another dirty window hummer portrait! This time I caught one twisting around to flee from me. This is the moment just before he let go and zoomed off. We’re getting a lot of these black-chinned hummingbirds just now, and other new birds as well. Just saw an indigo bunting, for example. You don’t soon forget [...]
Black-chinned and others rolling in now
The window is dirty. That’s what just a little bit of rain and blowing dust will do. I stand there in the kitchen with my telephoto lens and drive the autofocus mad as the little buggers dive and whiz. This guy has some mighty shoulder action. It pulls me in. You think a hummingbird is [...]
Looking SSE from upper Llano Quemado
It’s very simple, really. Dust and cactus at your feet—watch out for that broken bottle, geez that wind is cold—and then you raise your eyes. (“AwRIIIGHT!”) You are also broke or will be soon, and the toilet doesn’t work. The official state insect is a fucking wasp. Natives have been here for thousands of years [...]
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