Tag: Nevada

Whatever Weds. A Coyote Tale

Posted in Coyote, Hawks, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , 38 Comments

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Saturday morning after I’d finished Wordle and Strands I shared my results with my sister. We trade results and talk about where we struggled or where we felt it was easy. We talked for a bit and then I got up to make a second cup of tea this was about 7A.M. I just caught out the corner of my eye out back a Coyote streaking by. I moved to the backdoor to see where it was going and here came another one streaking by following the first one! That was neat. I thought they were probably heading back to the den since the sun was up already.

Fast forward 50 minutes and when I looked up from reading there out at the edge of the golf course was a Coyote with its back to me gazing out across the flood plain. Oh! I raced to get my camera that was in my retreat. I wished as I was racing that it would still be there when I got back. It was!

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Coyote Gazing across the field.

As I opened the sliding glass door and screen it heard me and turned to see what the noise was. It soon realized I was no threat so turned its gaze back to the field. Above is exactly what I saw that had me run for my camera.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com

Then I guess it decided there was nothing to worry about or going on so it laid down in the cold grass.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
I think my neighbor came out to look and as it seems to be looking that way rather than at me.

After a few minutes something caught its attention out in the field and it got up to look. I looked too. Oh! There out in the field further west was another Coyote! Perhaps these two were the two I had seen running by an hour before?

Here’s Number Two out in the field looking back at Number One. This is cropped in a bit.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com

Next, Number One started making its way across the golf course closer to me! Curious perhaps or had it heard the birds?

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
It kept coming closer then below me a Cooper’s Hawk swooped in low over the Sagebrush just behind my fence! The Sparrows and Quail all dove into the Sagebrush and got really quiet. The Hawk landed up on a branch in my neighbor’s tree. The Hawk was watching the approaching Coyote not the birds. I was watching them all.
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Cooper’s Hawk

Coyote Number One got to the bottom of the hill below me but, I couldn’t see him anymore. Then he started up the golf cart path headed east and soon was out of sight.

Number Two couldn’t see Number One I think, so came up to the edge of the course. It spotted me. Our eyes met. Then it turned to look east after its buddy, and off it went after it head down on the scent.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

I watched it until it was out of sight then looked up and there out in the distance were 3 Hot Air Balloons rising. I hoped they’d float my way, but they never do. Prevailing winds tend to head east. This morning was no different they all floated east behind the mountains out into the great Nevada desert.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

I watched until the last balloon slid behind the mountains and out of view. It was my turn to turn away from the view. I went to get my forgotten cup of tea now cold then headed to the kitchen to make a fresh cup. Happy with the way my day started and counting my blessings. I was thinking how wonderful it is to have all this nature and wildlife here and I was very thankful to be home Saturday morning to see it all.

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Aurora’s Amethyst Sky

Posted in Low Light Photography, Night Sky, Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , 44 Comments

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Monday I got an alert from my Aurora App that said it might possible to see the Aurora as low as Northern Nevada. There was a pretty large CME -solar flare on January 19th that I read about in Spaceweather and it mentioned the Aurora Borealis could be really good and perhaps wide spread. I was on a hike when my app pinged me Monday afternoon saying that it was looking good where I live to see some of the Aurora. When I got home I charged up my batteries, switched lenses, and got my gear ready. In the evening close to the peak KP index reading per my app I put on my thermals, coat, toe warmers, then gathered my hand heating pouch, tripod, gear bag, red headlamp, and walked out into the 35 degrees F night air. I headed down the street to photograph the sky over my neighbors ranch.

The stars were bright, and clear, and the air cold, and brisk. It was just me and a horse in the stall kicking and making that sound they make when the blow raspberries through their nose, and lips. I suspect it heard me and saw my red headlamp. Then it got really quiet.

The horse and I settled in for a bit. I set up my tripod, and camera then got my focus dialed in and made a few tests shots. Then I made this shot when it was supposed to be “peak KP index (6.67)” for my area.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
It was very light pinky purple with maybe a little green.

There’s light pollution from Carson City to the north.

Way out on the top of hills in the distance is a bright white light. That’s an ATV of some kind making its way to the top of the Pinenut Mountains. I wondered if they were going to a great view and maybe a darker sky?

I read the Aurora’s were spectacular in parts of Europe and some of the images I’ve seen are fantastic.

This Aurora wasn’t as strong as the one that we saw here in October 2024 see my post here , but anytime I get a ping saying maybe I’ll see an Aurora in No. Nevada I’ll be out with my camera.

Happy Mid Week Everyone!

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends-Cooper’s Hawk

Posted in Backyard Birding, Friday's Feathered Friends, Hawks, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , 68 Comments

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

January 2nd a Cooper’s Hawk came to look for breakfast at my neighbor’s house. I quietly opened the back door and grabbed what are the first Hawk images of 2026. Here’s one.

I’m taking that as a sign that it’s going to be a good year of birding.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Cooper’s Hawk

This winter has started off a bit bumpy on the home-front. Our heater went out just after Christmas on a Sunday. Fortunately, we were able to have our preferred heating and air company come out that afternoon and fix it.

Then I discovered we have a leak in the garage. We had a roofer out and they found several broken tiles. Errant golf balls no doubt. Our house gets hit a lot. I wish they…the golfers would learn to hit toward their other right!

The roofers sealed up the cracks and we’re scheduled to have the tiles replaced at the end of the month. I welcome the rain and snow, but not the leaky roof.

We’ve had several storms so I haven’t been out birding, but today the weather looks cold, but sunny so I’ll be birding with the group this morning. I’ll be late getting to your blogs and comments.

Fun Facts:

  • Dashing through vegetation to catch birds is a dangerous lifestyle. In a study of more than 300 Cooper’s Hawk skeletons, 23 percent showed old, healed-over fractures in the bones of the chest, especially of the furcula, or wishbone.
  • A Cooper’s Hawk captures a bird with its feet and kills it by repeated squeezing. Falcons tend to kill their prey by biting it, but Cooper’s Hawks hold their catch away from the body until it dies. They’ve even been known to drown their prey, holding a bird underwater until it stopped moving.
  • Once thought averse to towns and cities, Cooper’s Hawks are now fairly common urban and suburban birds. Some studies show their numbers are actually higher in towns than in their natural habitat, forests. Cities provide plenty of Rock Pigeon and Mourning Dove prey. Though one study in Arizona found a downside to the high-dove diet: Cooper’s Hawk nestlings suffered from a parasitic disease they acquired from eating dove meat.
  • Life is tricky for male Cooper’s Hawks. As in most hawks, males are significantly smaller than their mates. The danger is that female Cooper’s Hawks specialize in eating medium-sized birds. Males tend to be submissive to females and to listen out for reassuring call notes the females make when they’re willing to be approached. Males build the nest, then provide nearly all the food to females and young over the next 90 days before the young fledge.
  • The oldest recorded Cooper’s Hawk was a male and at least 20 years, 4 months old. He was banded in California in 1986, and found in Washington in 2006.

I wish you all a great week-end!

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends- Greater Roadrunner

Posted in Birding in Nevada, Friday's Feathered Friends, Nature, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , 56 Comments

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Last month about a week before Thanksgiving I went on a quick road trip to Las Vegas/Henderson with a girl-friend. She was wanting to see her parents who live in Vegas, and I was wanting to go to Henderson which is just 20 minutes south of downtown Vegas to do some birding. So we got a plan together and went. While she was hanging out with her parents I was birding at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. I was hoping to see the Long-tailed Duck that is back this winter, alas, I did not see it, but I had a fantastic meeting with a Greater Roadrunner.

I was walking up a path and turned a corner and there it was standing in the middle of the path. I stopped. It jumped back and looked at me. There we stood eyeing each other up. When it was apparent it wasn’t going to flee and be flighty I started making photographs of it. After a minute it approached me! I backed up to keep it in my focal range. It was too close!!! Such a problem to have right? 😂 This profile is the best image I made showing its colorful skin behind its eye. The colors say Southwest to me.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Greater Roadrunner

I didn’t back up enough because as you see I nearly cut off his feet!

Here it is showing me its lovely long tail.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Greater Roadrunner- I backed up more for to make this image.

I can’t tell if it is a male or female. I do know it’s an adult though. It stayed on the path walking back and forth in front of me, and crossing the path from side to side for nearly 5 minutes! I have quite a few images of it. I think it must have had a nest nearby guarding it perhaps? Anyway, I figured I’d better get moving and let the Roadrunner get back to doing whatever it does. I thanked it for such a lovely encounter and as quietly as I could walked up the path then when the Roadrunner thought I was too close it darted into the bushes.

That was only the 3rd Roadrunner I’ve ever seen and by far the best encounter with one ever!

Fun Facts: Gleaned from AllAboutBirds.org

    • For a generation of Americans, the familiar “beep, beep” of Warner Brothers’ cartoon Roadrunner was the background sound of Saturday mornings. Despite the cartoon character’s perennial victories over Wile E. Coyote, real-life coyotes present a real danger. The mammals can reach a top speed of 43 miles an hour—more than twice as fast as roadrunners.
    • Roadrunners have evolved a range of adaptations to deal with the extremes of desert living. Like seabirds, they secrete a solution of highly concentrated salt through a gland just in front of each eye, which uses less water than excreting it via their kidneys and urinary tract. Moisture-rich prey including mammals and reptiles supply them otherwise-scarce water in their diet. Both chicks and adults flutter the unfeathered area beneath the chin (gular fluttering) to dissipate heat.
    • Greater Roadrunners eat poisonous prey, including venomous lizards and scorpions, with no ill effect, although they’re careful to swallow horned lizards head-first with the horns pointed away from vital organs. Roadrunners can also kill and eat rattlesnakes, often in tandem with another roadrunner: as one distracts the snake by jumping and flapping, the other sneaks up and pins its head, then bashes the snake against a rock. If it’s is too long to swallow all at once, a roadrunner will walk around with a length of snake still protruding from its bill, swallowing it a little at a time as the snake digests.
    • Based on banding records, the oldest roadrunner was at least 7 years old.
    • Roadrunners hold a special place in Native American and Mexican legends and belief systems. The birds were revered for their courage, strength, speed, and endurance. The roadrunner’s distinctive X-shaped footprint—with two toes pointing forward and two backward—are used as sacred symbols by Pueblo tribes to ward off evil. The X shape disguises the direction the bird is heading, and is thought to prevent evil spirits from following.

Isn’t that folklore about its X shaped footprint interesting! I didn’t know that until I read the fun facts. 😊

I hope you all have a lovely week-end. Beep, beep!

more to come…

“Silver Belle” 2025’s National Christmas Tree

Posted in Christmas, Holidays and Observances, Photography, Travel and TourismTagged , , , , , , , 43 Comments

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

This year for the first time in Nevada’s history a tree from The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will be traveling to Washington, D.C, and the United States Capitol Building to be The People’s Tree aka The National Christmas Tree.

The tree is named “Silver Belle”. She’s 53 feet tall (1.615.44 cm) and it’s a Red Fir tree.

After she was harvested she was taken to get ready for her journey across the country. There she was decorated, and placed in a special trailer that will be driven to Washington, D.C. She made her first stop in Carson City on November 1, 2025 in the Nevada Day Parade. There are windows so you can see just the top of the tree.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
The Christmas Tree logo was designed by Stan Can Design of Reno, NV

Since early summer Nevadans have been making ornaments for National Christmas Tree. I heard the call was made for 10,000 ornaments, and Nevada delivered and more! The extra ornaments will be used on companion trees that will be placed in other Federal Buildings.

While getting the National Christmas Tree ready they made a tree cookie and discovered the tree is 50 years old, has a 20 inch diameter, and 16 inch crown spread.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Fun Facts about “Silver Belle” the People’s Tree.

After the National Christmas Tree left the parade the truck and National Forest Park Rangers made their way down the street to the Toyota Dealership where the tree was on display for 3 hours. We were able to sign the banner, take photos, and see Smokey the Bear.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
I signed the banner.

A tree skirt depicting all 17 Nevada counties was made. I have to show you in four parts as it’s so large and not laying flat.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com

I have several favorite panels on the tree skirt. Douglas, of course it’s my county, and it’s full of stars. I also like Eureka, Pershing, and Washoe’s panels a lot. I’m not sure if this will be on the lawn under the tree or in a building under one of the companion trees? Most likely indoors.

The truck and National Christmas Tree will be making its way across the country making 13 stops along the way. You can sign the banner, buy official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merch, take loads of photos, and learn more about Nevada’s National forest. Here’s the list of scheduled stops.

Saturday, Nov. 1- Nevada Day Parade, Carson City, Nevada

Sunday, Nov. 2- Lovelock, and Elko, Nevada

Monday, Nov. 3- Ely, Nevada

Tuesday, Nov. 4- Las Vegas, Nevada

Friday, Nov. 7- Flagstaff, Arizona

Saturday, Nov. 8- Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sunday, Nov. 9- Amarillo, Texas

Monday, Nov. 10- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Tuesday, Nov. 11- Lenexa, Kansas

Wednesday, Nov. 12- St. Louis, Missouri

Friday, Nov. 14- Paducah, Kentucky

Saturday, Nov. 15- Lexington, Kentucky

Thursday, Nov. 20- Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative began in 1964. One of the 154 national forests provide a tree to serve as the Nation’s Christmas Tree.

This is the first time in the program’s history that a tree has been selected from the Humboldt-Toyabe forest.

It’s pretty neat that Nevada was chosen this year and I was able to see it and be there for its first leg of the historic journey to Washington, D.C.

If you’re near or in one of the cities it will stop I hope you are able to see it too. All events are free and open to the public.

Notes- It’s really cool that the National Park Service worked so hard during the shutdown to make sure the National Christmas Tree got to the West Lawn.

I blurred the faces of a lot people in the background of several images because there were kids, and people who may not want to be included in my blog post. I hope you didn’t find it too distracting.

Information gleaned from the Official 2025 Nevada Day Program| NevadaDay.com

Have a great week-end!

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends-Virginia Rail

Posted in Birding in Nevada, Friday's Feathered FriendsTagged , , , , , , , 35 Comments

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

This is a bird I don’t think I’ve shared often as they’re very elusive and shy.

Last month while birding up in Washoe County we were thrilled to see this one come out of the reeds to forage in the shallow end of the lake. This one is a juvenile which is why it was foraging in the open for sometime. There was another one behind in the reeds tut-tutting…probably an adult.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Virginia Rail

Fun Facts:

A secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Virginia Rail often remains hidden in dense vegetation, but its loud grunting may give away its presence. As it slowly pokes its way through the marsh, you might get a glimpse of its reddish bill, black-and-white barred sides, and its twitching tail, showing off white tail feathers beneath. It possesses many adaptations for moving through its nearly impenetrable habitat, including a laterally compressed body, long toes, and flexible vertebrae.

  • The forehead feathers of Virginia Rails are adapted to withstand wear and tear that results from pushing through dense and often sharp marsh vegetation.
  • The Virginia Rail is more adept at walking on soft mud than swimming, but it occasionally swims across wetlands and even dives underwater, propelling itself with its wings.
  • As a group, rails have the highest ratio of leg muscles to flight muscles of any bird, which may explain their propensity to walk rather than fly.
  • The Virginia Rail builds numerous “dummy nests” in addition to the one where eggs are actually laid.

Fun Facts gleaned from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Virginia_Rail/overview

I’m birding this morning so will be late to your blogs and comments. I hope you all have a Happy Halloween, and great week-end.

more to come…

Whatever Weds. A Little Fall Color + 2 more…

Posted in Autumn, Fall Color, Nature, Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , 32 Comments

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

I’ve been seeing fall colors here and there while hiking and birding the last couple of weeks. Here are three of my favorite views so far this fall.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Mountain Splash
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
A Spot of Color above Lake Tahoe
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
A Bright Beginning

The little tree in the last image was the only tree in full Fall Color. All the huge Cottonwoods only had their tippy tops yellow and the rest of their leaves were green still.

Last Friday after a 5.5 mile birding hike myself and several friends went to an early lunch at the Squeeze In. I had a great salad loaded with bacon, chicken, blue cheese, red peppers, romaine lettuce, and a little balsamic vinaigrette the salad is called The Bleu Moon. I ate the whole thing.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com

Speaking of food reminded me of drink. Here’s the mug I’ve been using for my tea all this month.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Unlike Rascal Todd’s Boss Bernie I do wash my mug out daily.

I watched No Country for Old Men from the beginning and I didn’t like the ending at. all. I guess after all these years there will be no sequel to give me the happy ending I was hoping for.

I’m reading Dan Antion’s book Bridge to Nowhere, A Rascal Todd Mystery. I already have the next book in the series ready to read when I finish Bridge to Nowhere. It’s a good series!

Our lows have been in the mid 30’s here so we’re getting ready for winter, and my gloves and heavy coat have already been called into service. We’ve had some rain too. Can you believe it’s already October 15th!? Time isn’t flying by, it’s racing by!

I’ve got some errands to do in town this morning so I may be a little late getting to your posts, and responding to your comments.

Happy Hump Day!

more to come…