Some desert stuff

[gb6491]

Just thought I'd post some stuff I see when out and about here in the desert southwest.
I like sunrise (these are all shot with the "HDR Paint" effect on my camera).
http://i59.tinypic.com/ml18w9.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2e4mcsw.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/29ljvoj.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/f3f6yx.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/9vdv5u.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

In keeping with the early morning theme, I came upon the following one morning near the edge of the desert.
It was still dark at the time and at first it looked like a couple of folks had set out to watch sunrise in style.
I was about to drive on past, but didn't like how the one on the left arms looked so I stopped to see if they needed help.
It turned out to be damned creepy. Took some photos in the dark, but they didn't show the detailwell or convey the feeling, so I took some more on my return trip a few hours later:
http://i60.tinypic.com/6z11l4.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/10r2xcl.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2jh01e.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2mc8015.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/bjadjp.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

http://i60.tinypic.com/2u5q6x5.jpg
You wouldn't want to step here of morning:
http://i59.tinypic.com/24az6nk.jpg
Still, they are a little lethargic if it's chilly enough:
http://i59.tinypic.com/k9ujkk.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2vkg9hy.jpg
They do get going eventually:
http://i62.tinypic.com/s6k9w5.jpg
Here's another that was sunning himself on the road:
http://i59.tinypic.com/nbrzwy.jpg

[jeepster09]

Very cool....I however think only a dead snake is a good snake.

[jeepster09]

Just thought I'd post some stuff I see when out and about here in the desert southwest.
I like sunrise (these are all shot with the "HDR Paint" effect on my camera).
http://i59.tinypic.com/ml18w9.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2e4mcsw.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/29ljvoj.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/f3f6yx.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/9vdv5u.jpg
Regards,
Greg

Awesome pictures!

[gb6491]

Here's a Red Tail hawk
http://i58.tinypic.com/11sp8wh.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/6f7f9x.jpg
There's also one at the top of this butte:
http://i59.tinypic.com/1125w0l.jpg
I tried to film it as it was calling (the video is a little shakey, but if you turn up your volume you can hear it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz9c3XrdsfI
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Awesome pictures!
The subject matter deserves all the credit, but thank you kind sir:)
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Vultures (kind of creepy in their own right):
http://i57.tinypic.com/6qzi8m.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/t5k2dy.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/15g40wp.jpg
The object of their affection:
http://i61.tinypic.com/28t3xv.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Southerngunner]

In keeping with the early morning theme, I came upon the following one morning near the edge of the desert.
It was still dark at the time and at first it looked like a couple of folks had set out to watch sunrise in style.
I was about to drive on past, but didn't like how the one on the left arms looked so I stopped to see if they needed help.
It turned out to be damned creepy. Took some photos in the dark, but they didn't show the detailwell or convey the feeling, so I took some more on my return trip a few hours later:
http://i60.tinypic.com/6z11l4.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/10r2xcl.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2jh01e.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2mc8015.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/bjadjp.jpg
Regards,
Greg
Great pics. Did you make sure the old woman didn't have a body under all of that;) Desert folks seem to have special sense of humor. I love it.

[gb6491]

An Indigo bush:
http://i60.tinypic.com/2a6nn0n.jpg
Bees were having at the blossoms:
http://i60.tinypic.com/2eoi45i.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/keyamd.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/8vx18y.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2s9zz2t.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Reckon there's probably snakes in that field of flowers (poppies?) too huh.

Beautiful country, can almost smell the sage etc, but I can surely do without them snakes. My ears don't work so good to hear them rattles, and I got an extremely low tolerance to getting bit by serpents.

I've heard you don't bother them they won't bother you but heard the same about bees and I got stung twice in one day last year minding my own business too. They just weren't civil and it smarted some too.

Reckon a snake bit smarts much worse.

[gb6491]

Great pics. Did you make sure the old woman didn't have a body under all of that;) Desert folks seem to have special sense of humor. I love it.
Yes sir, I know what you mean about the sense of humor and I did check. The eyes on that one were done really well, seemed to follow you as you moved around it.:eek:
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Reckon there's probably snakes in that field of flowers (poppies?) too huh.

Beautiful country, can almost smell the sage etc, but I can surely do without them snakes. My ears don't work so good to hear them rattles, and I got an extremely low tolerance to getting bit by serpents.

I've heard you don't bother them they won't bother you but heard the same about bees and I got stung twice in one day last year minding my own business too. They just weren't civil and it smarted some too.

Reckon a snake bit smarts much worse.
Boss, in my experience they pretty much will leave you alone if you leave them alone, just don't startle them or be too close when you do.
That not being too close works well whatever their demeanor.
The bees around that bush were pretty much live and let live, but I don't trust them a bit....been stung a few times myself.
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

My dog Jack is going about his business seemingly unaware of the assassin above him:
http://i61.tinypic.com/2qd068j.jpg
And it's just not the precariously perched rock:
http://i59.tinypic.com/1zcoa5j.jpg
Wonderful camouflage:
http://i61.tinypic.com/95qzqd.jpg
Jack did want to discuss the matter with another one, but it wasn't of a mind too:
http://i59.tinypic.com/34fmvkm.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/10oe16c.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

There's some deer out this way as well, but I have a hard time getting any decent shots of them:
http://i61.tinypic.com/b6sd45.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/14bnv6f.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/2imgk7.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/29qb6o9.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/2z6askj.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

The deer raid the fields around the Gila River bed at night:
http://i57.tinypic.com/25jioo9.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/5ese1j.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2m7vgnm.jpg
They head back into the more difficult places of early morning;
http://i59.tinypic.com/34f1l4w.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2lbowev.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/t66xiu.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/iyiyhx.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

http://i60.tinypic.com/334u0w6.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/2q9f8fc.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/241tou8.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/105cnsg.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2ewf8yv.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/t0ol0k.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/33emqgz.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Some of them trees and bushes look like they could use a little water. Still awful pretty country. Not sure I could handle the heat but I guess you get used to it if you try hard and long enough.

[gb6491]

Just some odds and ends and I'll stop:
Uncle Sam got his money's worth with this survey marker (on post since 1912):
http://i60.tinypic.com/2aad342.jpg

Loco weed:
http://i61.tinypic.com/xcp5ip.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/azjszs.jpg

Some Indian petroglyphs from the Sears Point site:
http://i58.tinypic.com/2ag917o.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/2ut2am8.jpg


Lastly, I'm happy to have my CW45 back:)
http://i62.tinypic.com/zxwt3q.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2iqjp14.jpg

Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Some of them trees and bushes look like they could use a little water. Still awful pretty country. Not sure I could handle the heat but I guess you get used to it if you try hard and long enough.
The thing about getting used to the heat is that you looking for a jacket when it's 84 degrees in the morning.:der:

[Southerngunner]

The thing about getting used to the heat is that you looking for a jacket when it's 84 degrees in the morning.:der:

Thats the truth ,its easy to tell the locals from the snowbirds because when it gets to 75 degrees they show up and we put on long pants and get our jackets out while they walk around in t shirts and shorts all winter.

[CJB]

Looks like Hillary Clinton and Johnny Depp out together (again)!

[AIRret]

gb………I love it!!!!!

We should have been out your way last winter………bit Lord Willing we just might make a tour of the South West next winter!!!!!

Thanks for sharing those photos, they made my day!

[Bawanna]

Yup, I know several snow birds and they say the same thing. They go down there and get sick near every time.

The locals as you say grab a sweater when the sun goes down but it's still way hotter than we are accustomed to.

Where we fish ever summer (about 3 weeks away) it often gets 100 during the day but it cools down to 40 and 50 at night so a body can sleep. Kind of nice.

We used to fish all night on the dock and we'd wear snowmobile suits and gloves and near freeze to death and then it'd be 100 the next day.

[AIRret]

Yup, I know several snow birds and they say the same thing. They go down there and get sick near every time.

The locals as you say grab a sweater when the sun goes down but it's still way hotter than we are accustomed to.

Where we fish ever summer (about 3 weeks away) it often gets 100 during the day but it cools down to 40 and 50 at night so a body can sleep. Kind of nice.

We used to fish all night on the dock and we'd wear snowmobile suits and gloves and near freeze to death and then it'd be 100 the next day.

Sounds like a personal problem….just saying!!!!!!!

Just kidding!

[wyntrout]

Neat, Gary. Thanks for sharing. We saw a Red-Tailed Hawk fly over in front of us when we were coming back from Illinois a few weeks ago. I remarked that I could actually see the red tail.

Wynn:)

[b4uqzme]

just a few feet outside our back door... waiting to raid a robin's nest.

[gb6491]

Thanks for the comments folks!

CJB, you might be on to something there:)

b4uqzme, that's pretty neat having one so close, thanks for sharing!

I do want to share another photo, especially since I got "photo bombed" by one of my dogs:D
http://i62.tinypic.com/t9w3k8.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[ltxi]

Thanks, Greg. I love the desert!

[mr surveyor]

as a surveyor, the pic of the stone monuments (aka rock piles) were pretty cool, as was the 1912 capped monument. I'm also a big fan of hawks, no matter what variety. And the sun rise....sun set .... dogs..... maybe not the freaky dummies in the lounge chairs....

Any info on the rock piles, or were they staged?

[DavidS]

Took this shot from the front porch one evening just before sunset. Would often see it after dark up on the yard light pole or underneath the light grabbing up goodies.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/DSCN0708_zps4df1455a.jpg

[DavidS]

A little bit scary .......

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/IMGP1900r_zpsdc1a049b.jpg


... but not really!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/IMGP1900_zps87c39016.jpg

[SGT5711]

Awesome pics Greg! You're quite the photographer.

[berettabone]

Nice pics everybody.......................I swear that the couple looks like my neighbors.

[340pd]

Greg, those are some really great photos. Thanks very much. The couple sitting in the chair reminded me of a Cialis ad I saw during a golf tournament.

[Alfonse]

Fantastic photos. Makes me want to visit down there again sometime.

[TucsonMTB]

Just thought I'd post some stuff I see when out and about here in the desert southwest. . . .

http://i57.tinypic.com/2e4mcsw.jpg

Regards,
Greg
Thank you for sharing, sir.

Even here in the more populous Tucson area, the sky and nearby Pusch Ridge take on the appearance of a child's drawing often enough to amaze me.

Maybe it is because we were transplanted only a little more than a decade ago, but I never tire of the views.

Life is good!

Thank you again for the timely reminder.

[BEARDOG]

Beautiful country and awesome photos Greg!
I am a live and let live kinda guy too, but I hope that CW45 has some snake shot in it just in case! I'd be afraid my dog would find and wanna sniff that mean looking thing and end up getting bit!

[yqtszhj]

Thanks for sharing the photos all.

Greg and Tucson, I love your location.

[kwh]

Thanks, enjoyed all of them. Beautiful and professionally done.

[tv_racin_fan]

A little bit scary .......

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/IMGP1900r_zpsdc1a049b.jpg


... but not really!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/IMGP1900_zps87c39016.jpg

Have a variety of them around here. I killed quite a few of em in the house.

Walked up to the porch one day and noticed something a bit off. I stood still for a few seconds and one of them things went to scurrying towards the door. I watched as he/she climbed up the wall under the sliding door frame then into the crack between frame and door. I quietly moved to the door and opened it watching carefully and the thing scurried inside and found a crack to hide in right away.

One of them stung my daughter in bed. Freaked the wife out and she called poison control, luckily the ones around here are about the same as a wasp sting. Poor girl has my luck.. she got bit by a spider in bed.. doctor claims it was a Brown Recluse. She went on a vacation with my sister and came down with shingles which the doctor my sister took her to did not diagnose.

[DavidS]

Have a variety of them around here. I killed quite a few of em in the house.



Pretty much the same here. My wife and I have both been 'bit' a couple times, no spider bites yet.
Ever catch one and put it under a black light in a dark room? :madgrin:

But this one with babies is just plain creeeeepy!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/DScholten/IMGP1578_zpsafc0eba5.jpg

[Ikeo74]

Great bee pictures. You must have an expensive camera to get that quality. I take photos but haven't got any that crisp and clear of Bees.

[wyntrout]

My first wife, children, and I were about to leave the house on vacation in Abilene, Texas, late 80's(?) and I went to put something in the front closet. There was a 3" scorpion. I put it into a jar with a ventilated top and away we went. When we returned it was covered with babies like that!

We had seen a few others... 2-3"... one in the kids' bathroom sink! No stings, though.

I used to turn over stuff to look for critters when walking in Colorado and Arizona... lots of interesting things!

Wynn:)

[Barth]

I grew up in the Mojave desert.
Roadrunners and Mojave green rattlers.
These strange burrowing owl’s.
And of course lots of jackrabbits and ground squirrels.

The actual location was Antelope Valley CA.
But I never saw a single antelope...

Summertime thunderstorms were breathtaking.