Critters in our backyard

When Susie and I returned to El Paso this summer, we got to meet a variety of animals outside our back door, including squirrels, rabbits, deer, and a variety of birds. At night, we can often hear coyotes howling and yodeling.

We saw a couple families of quails grow up, from very small chicks to mature birds. Here are some of the quail in adolescence, with their mother, hanging out on our back fence.

The most remarkable animal was a roadrunner, who would stand, bobbing, at our back door. Sometimes it would present its latest catch, such as a large bug, like a cat leaving an offering at the door. The most amazing time was when it stood there holding a fairly sizable lizard!