Beep beep and accelerate
Greater Roadrunner
[Geococcyx califomianus]
The lesser roadrunner species lives in Mexico.
Member of the Cuckoo family. One of the hallmarks of the cuckoo is the two toes forward and two toes back, making them ideal claws for grasping prey.
They are both comical at times and deadly efficient hunters. My wife and I, observed both sides, when we lived in Arizona. Two would play tag around a desert cholla and later could be seen chasing down fast moving lizards with cold cunning accuracy.
Still, if you are like us, when you see these fast running (20 mph) desert birds (who can fly by the way), you can't help think of Wiley Coyote and his cartoon nemesis, the Roadrunner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 day road trip. My wife and me. Camping in the back of our pickup
truck at times, getting a motel room at others.
This was a "wife trip". I owed her for all the wonderful hikes and backpacking trips she has done with me the last few years (though she enjoys them too). So ... no hiking on this trip AND plenty of stops at casinos where my wife could spend a small amount of money playing her beloved penny slot machines, while I would grab my non-fiction travel adventure book, I always carry with me and read.
We made stops in Reno and Las Vegas on our way to Arizona, where I must admit, I liked walking about, people watching while my wife "invested" her pennies in the glitzy penny slot machines.
The highlight of the trip was a family get together in Arizona with all three of our kids and with our daughter-in-law. We hadn't been together in years and we really had a great time. It was fun too "staying with the kids".
After our family reunion in Arizona, we headed for the south rim of the Grand Canyon (caught it in fading light); then to Cottonwood Creek Canyon in Southern Utah where we "sagebrush" camped and watched the sun come up "Navajo style" (the back of our truck canopy camp facing east to greet the morning sun.
Then through the southern portion of Zion National Park; Great Basin National Park and one more stop for the wife: Jackpot, Nevada - where we got a nice room for the night.
We managed to have meals at two of our very favorite cafes along this 8 day looping road trip: The Cracker Barrel (Flagstaff and Boise) and The Black Bear Diner (near Bend, Oregon).
No hiking gear went on this trip and I didn't take a lot of photos, but of the photos I did take, I hope some of you will enjoy them. So here they are.
Comments and faves
*wildbio*, OldDogNewTrick, 54vintage, ColourPixie, and 23 other people added this photo to their favorites.
*wildbio* (20 months ago | reply)
What a great action capture and a cool bird!!
OldDogNewTrick (20 months ago | reply)
He is a sleek looking little runner.
Mojumbo22 (Matt) (20 months ago | reply)
Great write up, glad you got to enjoy your family visit. Love these birds they hunt like those raptores in Jurassic Park! haha
ColourPixie (20 months ago | reply)
Totally fantastic!!! Looks like a speedy runner and dangerous with those feet!
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
cascades nomad - - Thank you! Ironic that your latest photo post on Flickr is of "Wiley Coyote". Thanks for the photo visit. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Bernie - We have watched them chase lizards down and the Roadrunner can turn on a dime and have a lightening quick stab and grab action with that sharp beak of theirs. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Thank you much Matt. It is easy to see the "dinosaur" in Roadrunners. Hate to have a six foot high version chasing me. Enjoy the baseball playoffs! OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Thanks ColourPixie. Sharp beak and sharp talons...and much faster than most lizards and insects. Deadly predators even if they do look comical at times. OMT
curtisirish (20 months ago | reply)
I think that speedy bird is late for an appointment.
LAP75 (20 months ago | reply)
Excellent catch here OMT!!
dbushue (20 months ago | reply)
beep beep is right...and I just loved watching that show; have never seen one of these in the wild, so thanks for sharing; I can just picture their antics and how entertaining it must be to watch them. Sounds like a great road trip....looking forward to more pics :-) have a wonderful weekend!!!!
Jessica Kirste (20 months ago | reply)
Excellent capture!
Congrats on EXPLORE!!!
--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
@PAkDocK / www.pakdock.com (20 months ago | reply)
GReat!!
An awesome idea and realization.
Congratulations
Tirolina23 (20 months ago | reply)
hehe, cool
This photo was invited and added to the ◄♣♦♠♥ Together ♥♠♦♣► group.
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Curtis - - When Roadrunner do decide to make up for lost time, they do it in a heartbeat. They really are quick. I'm certain he made it to his appointment on time (perhaps with a pretty lady Roadrunner). OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
LAP75 - I know you like your "bird" photos so I'm glad you like this one. Perhaps we should import some roadrunners over to the Palouse. HA. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Darlene - - thank you. Since you just got back from your latest Yellowstone adventure, you know how many things need doing upon returning home. We were gone 8 days and have plenty to do (in between watching football and baseball on TV and posting Flickr photos. HA).
Thanks for your comment. Roadrunner cartoons have a special place in many of our childhood memories. Beep beep and have a great weekend. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Thank you Jess! Any friend of the Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote, is a friend of mine. Beep beep....zoom. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
pakdock de espana. Muchas gracias. Voy a visitar tus fotos tambien. Ten un buen dia, buena suerted y gracias. Esteban.
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Tiolina23 from Hungary - - Nice to have a photostream visit from a country so far away. Thanks! OMT
Steve_Gregory (20 months ago | reply)
Meep Meep....................... !!
andersonjean70 (20 months ago | reply)
wonderful shot
congrats on explore
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Steve - - They DO look comical (unless you are a lizard being pursued by one of them). Wiley Coyote certainly had his paws full with this mischevious, faster than a bullet, desert comic. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Jean from Scotland - - THANK YOU. You couldn't ask for a photo subject with more character. I'm just I had a camera in hand with a fast shutter response. They ARE fast. OMT
bunnyfrogs (20 months ago | reply)
wow what a fantastic shot of this bird! And you're right... can't help but think of the cartoon.
I've never seen a better shot of one of these, honest!
I tried taking one one time, only got the back of his head LOL
coachsingleton (20 months ago | reply)
I lived in New Mexico for year.. Miss these little guys in Wisconsin... They are great to watch...
Great shot
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
bunnyfrogs - - It was the adorable mountain Pika, who always seem to move quickly when you try to photograph them, that inspired me to finally by a DSLR camera with their fast shutter response time. The Canon XSi certainly made this photo possible, because once these comical birds get up and running, they do move fast. OMT
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Mark - Thanks! When we lived in Southern Arizona we fell in love with three of the local birds: Gambels quail; Gila Woodpecker; and the Roadrunners. The quail in Arizona are always creating their own crisis (crossing the road at the last minute; getting seperated and lost and crying about it from a rooftop; or leading a string of marble sized young around). The Gila Woodpecker show off their drilling prowess by doing a jack hammer imitation on the vent pipes on the roofs of people's homes (like ours). First time this happens it is quite unnerving. AND, then there are the "beep beep" speed merchants that show off their speed and turn on a dime abilitiy. I know where you are coming from when you talk about them being "missed". OMT
BlahqBerry [deleted] (20 months ago | reply)
Beep-beep! xD
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Beep beep indeed BlahqBerry (Little Bee). I can still picture Wiley Coyote stapping a rocket to his back and lining up to give boost assisted chase to the roadrunner in the old cartoons. Glad the coyote never caught the roadrunner on those cartoons. Roadrunner fame lives on. OMT
pixie1339 (20 months ago | reply)
Cool! I hope I can spot one of these guys some day.
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Lisa - If you make a trip to Southern Arizona be certain to take in the desert museum (actually a wildlife park with some really knowldegable people working there), just west of Tuscon, Arizona. You will see a lot of the desert critters and a fine stand of saguaro cactus. Do it. OMT
pixie1339 (20 months ago | reply)
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
Lisa - I guarantee you will enjoy the visit and will certainly learn a lot of the desert flora and fauna. Here is the link for the Arizona- Sonora desert museum outside Tucson:
desertmuseum.org/
OMT
elizabetha.broady (20 months ago | reply)
W ow r u n run
This photo was invited and added to the Exquisite group.
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
elizabetha.broady - - and a high ho "Beep Beep" to us all. OMT
N♥BILL (19 months ago | reply)
love this birdy :)
oldmantravels (19 months ago | reply)
Natalya - Many more people have seen the roadrunner in the Walt Disney cartoons than in real life. It is always a thrill to see these comical looking birds. Though they may look funny they are deadly and successful predators. OMT