This roadrunner was down by the mule pen yesterday when James spotted him and called me to the back window. To our delight, he ran straight up to the house - James ran for the camera - the bird ran past and then perched on the fence by the front door!

Larger versions can be seen at James' photography website Here and a couple are going to be up at Fre-ecards.com here in about ten minutes ;)

We got some wonderful photos of the coyote - he, too, ran right to the house from the mule pen area and right past us. One of our wild bunnies was in his mouth (sigh) but he doesn't seem to have even investigated the goats. A few weeks ago I heard the coyotes right around the house at night and found a place where they had tried to dig under the goats fence and failed - hopefully they've just given up on that.

I am thrilled to death with both sightings. Both these predators will kill snakes - so I'm hoping that we will not have as many rattlesnakes this year as they were saying were at the ranch last year.

The birds have finally discovered my feeding station - now that it is down by the mule pen - and the dove flock has tripled in size. Mostly White Winged Doves, but also some Mourning Doves. The other day I heard quail for the first time. This is truly a wonderland.

Good birding!