The blink of a hummingbird's eye...

caught in a pair of images, capturing the moment when the nictitating membrane extends across the eye.

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).

The opaque nictitating membrane extended across the eye, for about 1/60th of a second.

A long and windy pilgrimage...

to another remote petroglyph panel occurred yesterday, with seven good friends of Rory Tyler hiking eight miles with his remains, dispersing them at this site where he had his epiphany in rock art interpretation.

Longtime friend of Rory’s, BH explains some of the symbols and their interpretations at the panel.

The first hummingbirds...

arrived yesterday and they’re already zooming the feeders. This one is taking a rest after doing the aerial sexy dance for a while, displaying for a female at one of the feeders.

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)

The greening of Castle Valley...

is occurring right now, with more wildflowers showing off their colors, despite the low soil moisture.

View northward from near Round Mountain. Click on image to expandify.

Utah penstemon (Penstemon utahensis).

Narrow leaf yucca (Yucca angustissima).

Munching on a locust seed pod...

out in the open, this squirrel is clearly mocking me. This is Number Four, having deported three others so far this season to other locations during the ongoing varmint war. They’re very cute but they can be very destructive.

Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus). Click on image to enlarginate.

FOLLOWING DAY UPDATE: Number Four is going for a ride. Couldn’t resist the grapes and peanut butter in the live trap.