December 19, 2019
I was in what I have named The Thicket, a dense area of Palo Verde
and Mesquite north of Ajo. This Barn Owl flushed from a tall tree and
landed a short distance away, long enough for some photos.
Not more than 30 minutes later, I spotted this Long-eared Owl roosting.
It is rare to get a clear shot like this of a Long-eared
Owl (almost clear, there is one branch in the way).
It never flushed, just watched me very carefully.
A lot of people are afraid of rattlesnakes, getting lost, javelinas, smugglers, or illegal
immigrants when in the desert. My biggest worry is Africanized bees.
Here is a swarm of them. If one gets too close to a hive, they will
attack and have been known to sting people to death. I have never had a
problem with a swarm like this, but I prefer to avoid them. I am always
on the lookout for a hive. The only defense if they attack is to get
away from the hive as fast as possible.