Bobcat for lunch

We are expecting a week of cold, wet weather. Ok, cold for southern AZ this time of year (daytime highs in the 60s). When we sat down for lunch, we opened the door to the back porch to watch the storm roll through.

 

 

We live along a wash (a dry river bed) that runs from the Tucson Mountains down into the Santa Cruz River. It is a natural corridor for wildlife to move from the mountains to the river in search of shelter, food, and water. Our neighborhood is a certified backyard habitat zone. So, we have regular visits from butterflies, birds, hawks, quail, road runners, rabbits, ground squirrels, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpions, javalinas, coyotes, and bobcats. As we ate lunch, we watched this guy settle in for a nap.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, the photo was a quick smartphone snapshot. I was not expecting him/her to stay around. And, of course, I wanted to keep a safe distance.  Why he picked us today or why he stayed so long, I have no idea. It was a wonderful lunchtime special.