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Tag: wildlife

21 October 2022

Catching up with who’s been visiting including the moon

moon over machine Skull Valley AZAfter three weeks away from home I’m catching up on everything yet struggling with travelers Montezuma’s Midwest’s revenge.  I started off strong and then went downhill fast.

flying over Grand Canyonflying over Grand Canyon

labeled flying over Grand Canyonlabeled flying over Grand Canyon

Tuesday, October 4th I left Sandee’s house at 4:30am for the Chicago O’Hare airport.  I tried catching up along the way by working on possible photos for the Geogypsy 2023 calendar.  Not easy with the limited space in flight.  Besides, more fun to look out the window.  Flew over Grand Canyon on the way to Los Angeles, then a four hour layover and on to Phoenix, followed by a three hour shuttle ride to Prescott.  Literally ran through the grocery store before driving the last 30 minutes home to arrive just after 7pm.

Sierra & Gaelyn Skull Valley AZSierra was happy to see me and get her late treats.  So nice to sleep in my own bed.

JackrabbitT180

                                                                            Jackrabbit by trail-cam

Nice to wake up to my much loved familiar view though it would take a while catching up to reset my biological clock, even with naps.  It was only slightly warmer than Illinois and Michigan but much dryer.  The tall weeds ranged from green to gold and all covered with something that sticks to clothes.

view E sunset clouds moon Skull Valley AZI got right to work catching up on the blog with the first of two posts asking for help to choose the final photos for the calendar.

trees rainbow clouds Skull Valley AZFinished and scheduled the second blog post the next day.

FoxFox

FoxFox

                                                                                   Fox by trail-cam

Also made a video catching up on a meetup for November’s lunar eclipse.  I’ll most likely be in the desert somewhere.

Late light clouds Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZ

dbl rainbow Skull Valley AZSpent Friday catching up with friends and family, downloaded photos and video from the trail-cam, and enjoyed a little rain that left rainbows.

JavelinaJavelina by trail-cam

JackrabbitJackrabbit by trail-cam

SkunkSkunk by trail-cam

I eventually made a video from the wild and not so wild life that was caught on the trail-cam.  That shows much better than these stills.

Sierra cat on bed Skull Valley AZI needed to share the bed

Saturday, the previous weeks started catching up with me.  I was exhausted.  Took several naps.  Tried to eat my “normal” food choices, be they good or bad.  Nothing worked.  I had traveler’s revenge really bad, and nothing at home to solve the problem.  Plus no energy to go into town.  So I took more naps and went on half a BRAT diet for diarrhea.  Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast but only had the last two in the house.  Spent the next five days feeling like shit.

full moon rise Skull Valley AZTried unsuccessfully to shoot the full Harvest moon as I was too tired to drag out the tripod.  Plus there were clouds.

moon set Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZ

moon set Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZActually better moon shots in the morning as it set behind Brushy Mountain.

FoxFox

                                                                                     Fox by trail-cam

Home for a week and finally had barely enough energy to go to town.  Started a regime of strong probiotics to reset my poor gut.

bird headBird by trail-cam

So I’m still catching up and working on the calendar in between naps.  I’ll work on catching up more next week.

CowThe end by trail-cam

Calendars are available for order at $25 each including shipping in the US.  Please let me know how many you want.

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trail-cam full moon, recovery, trave, wildlife 20 Comments
09 August 2022

August brings high humidity to Arizona

Brushy Mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZHigh heat and monsoon rain left a relative humidity beyond what’s normal or tolerable in Arizona.  So I’ve stayed inside and stayed busy spending too much time at the computer while watching wildlife with the help of a new toy, planning a journey, and thinking about a meetup.

sunset Skull Valley AZAll that lovely monsoon rain has turned the golden grasses to green and raised the humidity to Florida levels.  Really, 86% at 86° is almost raining, but not quite.  I use the AC just to get rid of the stickiness.  Did get a little rain, at least on the east side of the RV, but most headed northeast.  High humidity also brought out the bugs, including mosquitoes.  Also something I don’t normally see at high elevation in the South West.

berm trees Brushy Mt cloud Skull Valley AZThere were some days with rain.  Clouds seem to split around this valley, moving over the mountains to my east and west.  As they rumble along I occasionally feel the thunder.

Gray-breasted Jay bird bathing Skull Valley AZGray squirrel Skull Valley AZ

                    Gray-breasted Jay                                                           Gray squirrel

Spending so much time inside at the computer, I am glad to have wonderful window views.  Various birds and squirrels put on skits for my entertainment.  A much needed distraction while editing posts, photos, and especially videos.  Over the 12 days visiting Grand Canyon I took almost two hours of videos, plus 100s of photos, and then took three days to create a 8:30 minute final video project.  Don’t think I get paid enough for this. But it was a little more fun and I really like this one.  I continue to see improvement.

trail camIf I don’t spend enough time with photos and video, a new camera’s been added to the mix.  Thanks to a patron, I now own a trail cam.  It was surprisingly easy to set up and mount with a strap to the ladder on the back of the 5th-wheel.  Has solar panels to charge the built-in lithium battery, plus backup of four AA-batteries.

domestic cat

foxfox

Mostly I have photos and videos of me walking on the berm.  But the second night out it caught a stray cat followed the next night by a fox.  Not the best quality photo even at 36mp, but it’s infrared after dark.  And, I can check it with an app on my phone.  I’m pretty excited.

 

https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/07a-VID_20220804_154516847-Flicker-bird-at-RV-window-Skull-Valley-AZ.mp4

Flicker bird Skull Valley AZ

And really glad it didn’t get mounted before a crazy Flicker visit to the same ladder.  That bird must have seen its reflection in the dark tinted windows.  It postured and danced for almost five minutes (which I only caught on video) yet never once touched the glass.

Gray=breasted Jay bird Skull Valley AZThe trail cam hasn’t caught any birds yet and one morning missed a coyote that I saw probably too far away for its 65 foot range.  I look forward to taking it to the desert this winter, or anywhere else I’m lucky enough to travel.

Sierra stripped shadows Skull Valley AZBut maybe not on the next trip.  Sadly, I had to cancel the summer road trip plan, first to the north, then east to arrive in Illinois for my 50th High School reunion mid September.  Of course I was bummed.  I considered flying yet need a cat-sitter.  Sierra does like sitting on laps that she knows but gets really stressed when there’s nobody around.  It’s a cat thing.  Problem solved when Joann offered to stayCATion at my place not far from her Prescott job.

wood boulders mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZHoly shit!  When did it get so hard to make reservations?  I travel, but not frequently by air.  Of course I’m a cheapskate budget conscious and found RT prices under $200 but do not include any luggage, even overhead carry-on.  A checked bag is almost the same price as the passenger.  All I need is a carry-on.  I got hot and stressed, even with AC, and would have gone outside in the shade if not for the humidity and mosquitoes.  After half a day, I managed to muddle through it for a week in the Chicago suburbs where I’ll happily being staying with Sandee.  Now to find a dress.

old bus cardbus card

Travel plans reminded me of a need for new business cards.  I’ve designed my own cards for decades and am almost out of the last version.  I’d usually print them myself but the printer ink costs more than an order of 100 cards.  Plus I’d like to have them in-hand before next month.

logo idea drawingOne thing leading to another, I should have a logo.  So after I finally found some paper and a pencil, I started to draw.  And though it’s a fun concept, it’s also way to busy.

digitized B&W truckcamper Instead I played around online until happy with a photo-to-B&W illustration of the truckcamper then used that to also design business cards.  Even with a bit of learning curve it was a much faster process than my old way.  Yet another work in progress.  Such is life.

Geogypsy hat in RVWhile in Illinois I also hope to visit with some cousins still living in the area.  That plan is in the works.

golden aspen tree tunnel FR219 Kaibab NF AZ

sunset from Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZAlso in the works, is the idea for a Meetup somewhere in Arizona during October.  A Meetup includes me, you, and others.  This will be camping/boondocking in a beautiful place.  One possibility is the Kaibab National Forest near Grand Canyon’s South, or preferably North Rim.  (Also note the new tab under the header photo for Geogypsy Journeys.)

fall Cottonwood trees Skull Valley AZ

first light Brushy Mt full moon set Skull Valley AZOr, maybe, here on the ranch in Skull Valley.  October brings golden color to Arizona.

tree clouds BLM Ghost Town Rd Congress AZ

tree desert mts sundog clouds sunset BLM Ghost Town Rd Congress AZCongress AZ

I am open to suggestions.  Check out my video invitation.  I’d love your feedback on this idea and hope you’ll join me.  You know, through 14 years of blogging I’ve met many wonderful people from around the world.  Yes, some are virtual.  But I’ve also met a lot of people in real time.  Some of you in fact.  And if we haven’t met yet, well why not?  Let’s not blame it on the humidity.

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03 August 2022

Active week of monsoon rain end of July

light & shadow Weaver Mts storm clouds Iron Springs Rd AZThe rumbles of possible monsoon rain brought water to the washes, toad song, puddle reflections, lower temperatures, and high humidity.  But mostly it just teased us with stormy skies that skirted around the valley I live in.

berm trees fog Skull Valley AZBrushy Mt obscured

Aridzona needs monsoon rain, yet there’s a fine line between not enough and too much.  A little over a week ago the rains came, sometimes harder and longer than others.  The ground tends to dry out rapidly.  On the ranch the soil is mostly decomposed granite, the kind of stuff people love for yard landscaping.  It provides for good drainage.  But of course the land isn’t flat around here so there are washes, usually dry, and both natural and human made drainages.

Cattle Skull Valley AZThe berm you see in many of my photos was created long ago when this was an active ranch with more cattle than the current three.  Natural water flow is encouraged to gather in a low spot.  I live opposite that low spot and haven’t yet seen water pool there.  Just cows.

flowers toad pond clouds Skull Valley AZI also hadn’t yet seen water flow in the wash that crosses my driveway.  So when the rain stopped I went to see and was drawn in like the pied-piper by a song I didn’t know, and here’s the video.

flowers pond Spadefoot toad Skull Valley AZ

flowers pond Spadefoot toad Skull Valley AZBack home I started researching the sound of frogs.  I wasn’t sure what they looked like but discovered they were Spadefoot Toads, capable of surviving underground for years until there’s enough rain.  Then they court, mate, lay eggs, and tadpoles grow within about a week to bury themselves digging in with their spade-like rear legs, then they wait.  They are a non-poisonous toad, lacking the parotoid gland that can produce toxins.  Though rarely seen being only 2-3 inches long, they inhabit a large territory in the western US.  There is also a European species of Spadefoot Toad.

spadefoottoad by Bruce TaubertOK, now you know more than you wanted, but I did the research.  And borrowed a photo because I couldn’t get any.  (Photograph by Bruce D. Taubert  https://brucetaubert.smugmug.com/ )

reflections Skull Valley AZSlices of a Cottonwood tree

I went out again later to no sound and discovered other puddles with reflections, not something I see often in the deserts of Arizona.  But bring on that monsoon rain and pretty soon there will be green grass and bugs.  After dark the toad song returned.  And the bugs were out, so hope those toads were hungry.

wash RV Skull Valley AZMy 5th-wheel (center), truck parked behind me

The next morning under sunny skies the ground was dry and hard so I figured it was a good time to move my truck and park on the uphill side of the driveway and currently dry-wash.  Nothing happening at the new to me toad pond.

grass bush low clouds Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZ

https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/09-heavy-rain-Skull-Valley-AZ.mp4

Just before 11am, the monsoon rain began, gentle at first with lots of rumbles all around.  Soon the tempo increased as the temperature dropped.  I could feel excitement building as I circled the windows to watch the show.  Suddenly lightning cracked right overhead and wind blown rain raced by sideways. I love the exhilaration!

Prickly Poppy flowers in pond Skull Valley AZBy 2:00pm when I walked to the toad pond the ground was dry and the air steamy.  No song, and only a wee bloated toad being pushed around by water beetles.

clouds over Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZSuch is life on the ranch.  Another day of clouds in motion, mostly teasing and grumbling but bringing very little monsoon rain.

Thunderhead over Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZYet heavy rain warnings continued for the week.

Bradshaw Mts low clouds Iron Springs Rd AZRain overnight left the surface ground moist and the 64° felt cool on my skin.  I had a morning doctor’s appointment, just routine checkup if I actually went routinely.  With a 90% chance of heavy rain I took my rubber goulashes along in case I had to ford the wash to get back home.

dead rattlesnake Ferguson Valley Rd Skull Valley AZrattle snake bones Ferguson Valley Rd Skull Valley AZ

Saw this dead rattlesnake (about 3 feet long) on my road on the way out and only bones on the way in later.

creek trees reflections redrock Prescott AZ

grass & creek Prescott AZAfter the doctor proclaimed me healthy, Joann met me and drove to the Granite Dells with Watson Lake.  Because monsoon rain began in buckets we didn’t hike.  But it stopped by the time we made another stop along a sweet little creek.  More reflections and flowing water.

Gaelyn in tophatBefore heading home I stopped at the thrift store and just couldn’t resist yet another hat.

Bradshaw Mts light on Thumb Butte storm clouds Prescott AZThe drive home was as cloudy beautiful as the morning drive in.

RV reverse sunset clouds rainbow Skull Valley AZAnd the day ended with a most colorful sight.

boulders low clouds Brushy Mt Skull Valley AZBack to life on the ranch and another day of afternoon monsoon rain with clouds dancing around the feet of Brushy Mountain.

mushrooms Skull Valley AZI can’t believe all the mushrooms popping everywhere.

shrinking pond Skull Valley AZNo toad action at the slowly shrinking pond, just well watered prickly flowers.

rainy Bradshaw Mts storm clouds Iron Springs Rd Prescott NF AZ

Prescott valley storm clouds Iron Springs Rd Prescott NF AZSadly I had to return to Prescott the next day, but for good reasons.  I picked up my new glasses, actually just replaced lenses, and had a bone density test.  I also grocery shopped and spent a lot of time in the truck waiting out the monsoon rain in between.

water in wash Ferguson Valley Rd Skull Valley AZFortunately, my wash didn’t look like this.  So I drove across to home for easier unpacking.  Besides, I didn’t figure to go out again for a while.  I took my chances.

storm clouds Skull Valley AZSo, once again, back to life on the ranch and more monsoon rain clouds.

last light cliffs Bradshaw Mts Skull Valley AZI took almost all day to create a 20 second video that will lead most all new YouTube videos.  It’s an intro of sorts.  Please let me know what you think.  I used it at the beginning of another video that took three days to create.  More later, but you can watch it here.   And PLEASE, Share, Like, and Subscribe.

Brushy Mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZ

trees boulders sunset clouds Skull Valley AZ

trees sunset clouds rainbow Skull Valley AZThat night the sunset colors were 360° with a rainbow thrown in to the south.

storm clouds Skull Valley AZSuddenly it’s the last day of July. Where has this summer gone?

Kestrel bird metate Skull Valley AZI tried unsuccessfully to get shots of a Gray-breasted Jay bathing in the metate water and then a Kestrel flew in and I got lucky with that. WOW! My first closeup of this beautiful bird.

storm clouds Skull Valley AZThe month finished off with more monsoon rain that came down hard but didn’t usually last too long.  That’s a good thing.  That hard monsoon rain is what causes flooding which means I can’t drive across the wash.  The gentle female rain is just enough to make the grass weeds green.

boat Skull Valley AZBTW, This is on my side of wash.  Wonder if it floats?

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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