First, I noticed that our saguaro cactus is doing quite well in our front yard. Here's a look at it:
It has interesting needles, with one spike much larger than the rest:
Also present in the garden were roses and a type of daisy:
As I admired the flowers, I heard a pigeon cooing and strutting to woo its mate:
The really big surprise, however, awaited me when I got down to the pond. Standing there on the shore was a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, a species we've never seen at this location before.
That was quite a treat – just one of those unexpected pleasures! It's especially unexpected when you consider the range of the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck:
