Arizona Naturalist

Sonoran Desert Naturalist: Plants Birds Insects Arachnids Herpetology Ecology Environment Wildflowers Nature Animals Lizards

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

NWS:
Yesterday's high in Phoenix (113F) not only 
became the hottest October day on record, it also was 
the first time a temperature of 110F or above was recorded in 
October since records began back in 1896.  The previous latest 110F day was September 19th.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@erogravity @BLMArizona @azgfd @dornhaus @Tiffany_Shedd Is there a clear macro-photo?

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Mother Anna's Hummingbird was pulling web from crevices in my stucco wall. The strong silk of the Black Widow Spider is best for holding her nest together and securely attaching it to a branch.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Cold rain in the Sonoran Desert. The Saguaro cactus are taking a long, deep drink after many, many months of almost no rain. Refreshing and renewing.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@bomengidsnl That plant is not from the Sonoran Desert. Appears to be a member of the madder family.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Lots and lots of very green shrubs but few are in bloom. Wrong season.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@doritkitfox Certainly picking insects or larvae.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Cliff swallows have returned to Glendale Arizona today.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Climate change is happening. Spring flowers in November: https://t.co/pXod5QEGm2 #climatechange

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Buffle Grass next to hwy is blooming crazy. That's a bad thing!

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

The wettest October on record in the Sonoran Desert. What is nature doing about it?

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@JoshuaTreeNPS @outwestamerica I don't think it is reasonable to disseminate inaccurate information. The vast majority of bees in Joshua Tree never swarm. Swarming has nothing to do with obtaining water. The first thing to tell visitors is that most kinds of bees never sting humans and are not aggressive.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@FaceTheNation @marcorubio John @jdickerson asked if Sen. Rubio "believes" in climate change. "Belief" is the wrong word. It's not a religion. Words matter. Better: "Do you accept the evidence for human contributions to climate change?" "Is climate change a hoax?"

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Fabulous displays of summer poppies are now showing n.e. of Fountain Hills and Scottsdale, AZ.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

@TomsBirdFeeders It is called Toadflax Penstemon, Penstemon linarioides. Sorry for delay - I am not a frequent twitter user.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

I figured out why the pigeons in Phoenix all have diarrhea! They've been eating figs.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

I'll visit a riparian area today. How severely has our extended drought become? Anything blooming?

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Found a big borer (Prionus) in a lantana crown. Usually in Palo Verde roots.

[Arizona Naturalist @arizonensis]

Some Cliff Swallows have returned to the Sonoran Desert as of a few days ago.