What wildlife do you see on your rides?

[emily_in_nc]

Today a big bird flew RIGHT in front of me as I whizzed down a flat road. I was able to id it after it passed and headed into the woods. A pileated woodpecker! Made my day.

[azfiddle]

Cool- Pileated Woodpecker is a very special bird- not something we see in Arizona.

We had a lot of birds on our ride today too- Gila Woodpeckers, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture- and many we could just identify by hearing them along the way- Cactus Wren, Canyon Towhee, Lucy's Warbler, Bell's Vireo, Cardinal, Black-throated Sparrow, Cassin's Kingbird, Barn Swallows, House Finches, Broad-billed Hummingbird, White-winged Doves, Mourning Dove.

[emily_in_nc]

Cool- Pileated Woodpecker is a very special bird- not something we see in Arizona.

We had a lot of birds on our ride today too- Gila Woodpeckers, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture- and many we could just identify by hearing them along the way- Cactus Wren, Canyon Towhee, Lucy's Warbler, Bell's Vireo, Cardinal, Black-throated Sparrow, Cassin's Kingbird, Barn Swallows, House Finches, Broad-billed Hummingbird, White-winged Doves, Mourning Dove.

Great list! Would love to see a Gila woodpecker! I did see many other birds as well, mostly cardinals, mockingbirds, robins, one hawk, and some other small birds I couldn't ID. We had Pilated woodpeckers nesting on the property we sold last year, so it was a real treat for me to see the one here in the new 'hood.

[PamNY]

One of the hawks I watch died over the weekend. We suspect he ate a poisoned rat, but necropsy results aren't back yet. The Parks Dept. found his body on Sunday, but didn't tell anyone, so we spent a miserable few days searching and worrying.

He was the father of newly hatched babies (about 10-14 days old) and it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the mother to raise them alone. I just visited the nest; the mom hawk is still calling for him. We can't know what birds feel, but I can tell you the humans who have watched this pair for years feel very sad.

Here's the last photo I took of Riverside Dad, showing a little bit of his brood patch.

[emily_in_nc]

Awwww, Pam. That is such sad news. I grieve over things like that. Poor Mama Hawk. Nature is so very cruel.

[azfiddle]

Saw a whole herd of javalina today at Saguaro NP. Last week, I was just a minute too late to see a Gila Monster.

[redrhodie]

Not as exciting as javalinas, but today I saw 5 bunnies, and a family of geese with 3 goslings. They were so cute, even the cars stopped for them. They were crossing the road, of course.

[carolync]

I saw a turkey vulture and a great blue heron flew right in front of me, it looked like it was going to turn around and fly back, but it ended up landing 5 feet from me.

[PamNY]

I would so love to see javalina(s). Nothing is more wonderful than goslings.
Great blue heron is a cool thing to see, too!

[Heazgoody]

I saw a yellow bellied marmot on this morning's ride

[azfiddle]

Cool- where was that?

[OakLeaf]

Yesterday I saw six great blue herons ... one flew across the road right in front of me ... remembering Gil Scott-Heron who died on Friday.

[azfiddle]

Nice reference on the herons....

Wednesday, I saw a Gila Monster pointed out by the park ranger at Saguaro NP.

Today a Cooper's Hawk was keeping pace with me for a while. Saw an American Kestrel, too. Last weekend I noted over 30 species of birds along my 49 mile route, which was mostly urban and desert but also included a brief stop at a pond.

[Catrin]

While not wild, today I saw 5 male reindeer and 3 females while on my ride. Also saw a few Llamas and some goats along with other interesting and exotic creatures not usually found in central Indiana

Last year they only had two males, the "baby" boys are getting pretty darn large - their antlers are quite impressive already! My assumption is they were born last year and not brought in. Hoping to get pics next time, this time I was fighting such a strong headwind that I did not want to stop...and a hill was coming.

[redrhodie]

The chipmunks are so crazy these days! They keep running in front of me. They're so cute; I'd hate it if I ever hit one.