Wild Life in the Desert

One of the things I do love about where we live is the wildlife.

I love the tarantulas. See my latest pics HERE. So Cute!!

I love seeing the coyotes and bobcats - no pictures to share as they are too quick for me.

The rattlesnakes scare me to death - no pictures, I'm too busy screaming. Although here are some pics of another snake HERE

I adore all the wild bunnies - see HERE

But one of most majestic of the desert wildlife are the hawks. A couple days ago, I was sitting in my little office, which looks out onto the front of our house. We have a few very big old mesquite trees. And a wonderful visitor came to hang out for a while. I took a LOT of pictures, hope you enjoy them. He (she?) never took his eyes off of me. I think he was trying to decide if I was too big to eat. I talked softly to him the whole time, and he just sat there. I walked away before he flew away.

He's probably about 2 feet tall.

I think he is a Harris Hawk, perhaps a juvenile (due to his spotted breast).

Amazing.

Harris Hawk

He's back again. He likes to sit in my tree, just outside my window.

According to Wikepedia, this hawk can be anywhere from 18 to 30 inches tall, and generally have a wingspan of 3.6 feet.

The biggest bird that usually sits in our trees is a woodpecker, maybe 7 inches tall.

This hawk is huge. And he is a predator. He eats mice, cats, small dogs....

A raptor.

Watch out!

Hawk

Can you see him? This picture was taken from my little office window, and the hawk - easily 2 feet tall, landed in a mesquite tree just outside. I love this about living in the southwest.

Winter in Tucson Arizona