By Dan Weisz
Here is another collection of different subjects that I’ve run across recently, all in the Tucson and surrounding areas.
A young Pied-billed Grebe chats with its parent on a pond on a golf course, probably begging for food. These birds are fairly wide-spread across the country. Adults have that multi-colored (pied) bill during breeding season while the juveniles have a very unique striped pattern to their heads.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-01.jpg)
This Common Gallinule was at Sweetwater Wetlands. It was tiptoeing across a floating reed, but already had duckweed sprinkled on its body. The beak, made of keratin, has a hard outer surface that turns red during breeding season. It looks like candy corn at this time of year.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-02.jpg)
A Mallard Duckling swam out from the reeds. Part of a large family of ducklings, they will grow up very quickly.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-03.jpg)
An immature Black-crowned Night Heron flew over the marsh. That red eye lets us know this bird is at least a few years old.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-04.jpg)
At Fort Huachuca, one morning the parade grounds were filled with White-tailed Deer and wild Turkeys.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-05.jpg)
And I had a White-tailed Deer in my yard and driveway this week too. See that gray hair between her eyes? I’ve got a gray hair in the exact same spot!
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-06.jpg)
A Common Kingsnake lives near me. Lately, he’s been around hunting during the mornings.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-07.jpg)
Female Desert Spiny Lizards develop an orange head during breeding season.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-08.jpg)
Clark’s Spiny Lizards are seen in riparian woodlands of the Sky Islands surrounding Tucson. This one was in Madera Canyon basking in the sun.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-09.jpg)
Also in Madera Canyon was this beautiful Elegant Trogon. Even hearing this bird is a treat. We were lucky to be able to locate it and watch it calling.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-10.jpg)
Back home, this Pyrrhloxia was calling from atop a blooming saguaro cactus.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-11.jpg)
And late one afternoon, a Costa’s Hummingbird sat still long enough for me to take its picture.
![](http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190619-12.jpg)