More prehistoric wildlife of the back porch
A centipede, a solifuge, now a dinosaur: all have recently made an appearance on our back porch.
Just now, I was sitting in the den with the sliding door open, when suddenly a winged dinosaur landed on the bricks right outside and ran up to the screen-door, its tail held high behind it like a velociraptor.
Greater roadrunner (Photo A.Shock)>>
Although my camera was inches from my feet, I couldn’t move without spooking the creature, so I sat still and watched it forage for a few minutes, searching around the furniture, planters, and nooks just outside the door for goodies. Goodies like centipedes and solifuges, I suppose, and geckos, all of whom might be hiding in their concealed day roosts.
When the bird moved away, I grabbed the camera and followed, only able to get a blurry shot as it looked down at me from the palo verde tree by the wash. Greater roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) are fairly common in the Phoenix area, but we see them in our yard only occasionally — not every week or even every month. It’s always a surprise and a thrill when one swings by.
How I would love to see a roadrunner in my yard! I never have; I suspect that I’m a bit too urban.