You Are Not Going To Believe Your Eyes!!

Sometimes I get lucky and sometimes there's a little skill involved with photography.  For the most part, you just have to be in the right spot at the right time.  

Early yesterday morning I was outside in the cool air (about 85 degrees) taking pictures of the Mexican Bird of Paradise plants in my back yard, always keeping an eye out for the slightest movement.  It's usually a bunny or Gambles quail scurrying through the underbrush.  

It was the color that caught my eye first.  This isn't one of my pictures, because that oriole flew so fast across the yard there was no way I could focus in before he was gone.  I guess they migrate here?  He sure was a beauty!! 

About that time, not watching where my feet were going, I tripped over the patio rocks and almost went down with a crash that would have awoke the neighbors.  Just as I stood back up and collected myself, this guy landed on the ground in front of me.  I'm guessing it's some kind of cardinal, one I've never seen before.  He was just beginning to stretch his wings out when I snapped this picture.

THEN I SAW HER ..... sneaking up to the water was the most beautiful kitty ... a large Bobcat.  OH MY HEAVENS!  I've heard tell of this elusive creature ever since I've been visiting here, but never in a million years did I hope to catch a glimpse.  I froze.  She didn't see me.  Suddenly something in the pan scared her and she jumped straight up in the air like a kitty cat, which of course she is.  I stifled a laugh!!

Since she has no predators in this area, she wasn't too concerned about keeping an eye out.  I slowly raised the camera and snapped away.  After a long drink and lots of lip smacking, she headed right for me.

I'm madly focusing and clicking while not moving even a fraction of an inch.  This is the first time I've ever seen a bobcat in the wild ... and she's right in MY back yard.  How cool is that???

She walked straight ahead before finally turning at the last second and slinking off to the left.  Look at those back feet!!!!!  It seems all the critters come up from beyond the railroad tracks and wander off to the left of my house.  It must be a game trail of sorts to their hunting grounds, or maybe just a way around all the houses.  Patty said it best ... this makes my house worth a million dollars!!  How could I be so lucky!!!!

Ten minutes later, the coyote stopped by to say hello.  I must have a sixth sense because every time I looked out the window, there was another critter.  THIS time not a favorable one!!  I spotted something moving, but couldn't really tell what it was.  It looked like a squirrel until I saw it's tail flip up in the air.  RATS!!!  It's a HUGE pack rat!!!  Drinking at MY water station!!  Well that's not good at all.  You just stay way out there in the desert little buddy!!

Not to be outdone by all the attention Jessie has been getting, Cooper decided a trip to the vet would be a good afternoon pastime.  Last evening after being outside, he made a beeline for the door before I could get the glass slider open.  BAM!!!  He hit it head on.  Really, it didn't seem to bother him at the time.

In the morning however, I could tell he was really hurting.  He has a history of pinched nerves in his back, so off we went to meet Miss Amy at the Vets office just one mile a way.  Very convenient!!  She checked him out from stem to stern and thought he would be just fine.  It's how you and I would feel if we took a tumble ... probably a big headache and sore back.  With no neurological signs and a couple of pill bottles in hand, we headed home.  This morning he's back to playing the ball game, so he must feel better.  

My short time here has come to an end, as I head out tomorrow morning early to beat the heat.  Not that that's going to happen, but hopefully Mother Nature will keep it under 105 for my trip back to California.  I'm sad to be leaving the critters, but happy to be heading to cooler temperatures in the 90's.  AHAHAHAH!!