Critters, we have critters

While taking our morning walk yesterday (11-22-08) along the walking path, we heard some coyotes barking or wailing or whatever they do. As we came around to the golf course side of the walking path we could see a coyote barking and her young (we think) answering. We have seen others near there and can hear them at night when they put up quite a ruckus.

We knew when we moved to Arizona that there would be "critters" some different from what we'd seen in Idaho and some the same. Here are a few of the ones we've seen since moving here.

We are usually looking up to see birds, but sometimes we do look down and we find interesting things there also.

We came upon this Tarantula while on a walk one day.

Below is a Diamondback Rattlesnake that was in front of a house just three doors down from us. All the neighbors came out to look at it, and some of us (Bob) took pictures. It was the first rattlesnake we'd seen since moving here.

When we first moved here, we found this beauty in our backyard. It is called a Coachwhip snake. These aren't poisonous, but they will bite if cornered.

We've had three scorpions in the house. Just small ones; one was dead the other two still alive and kicking or whatever they do. Bob just got them on a piece of heavy paper and put them over the fence. I didn't even think about getting a picture.

We've seen a number of lizards while we've been here. Some really large and some really small. We haven't seen any Gila Monsters yet, but we would like too.

Some of the "critters" we've seen are beautiful. There are dozens of different butterflies here, but most don't stay put long enough to get a picture.

And there are thousands of grasshopper. This guy was sitting on the back of a chair at the pool. We have heard of Bobcats in the area but hadn't seen one. The picture below was taken by a neighbor from their patio window.

We haven't seen a Havalina yet, but they are around. We see their scat everywhere.

Today (11-23-08) on our walk, we saw one of my favorite birds, the Roadrunner. Again, I didn't have my camera. When I have it there's nothing to see if I don't we see all kinds of neat things.