ellarien | A walk by the river (Reply)

This afternoon I went for a walk along the bank of the Rillito, through the long narrow park that runs all the way to the mall.

I'd gone only a few yards along the path when I spotted my first humming bird, just lighting atop a prickly pear. It looked dull enough at first, but then it turned its head and its throat and cheeks lit up with ruby fire. The one a few yards further down that posed for me on a twig didn't seem to have the colour -- maybe they were male and female.

The place was alive with ground squirrels, whisking away down holes or sitting up in their front doorways to watch, or chasing across the path. I don't think I've ever seen so many in such a short time. Later on, I sat on the bus and watched a whole family of them playing tag around the picnic area at the bus station.

There were plenty of flowers, too.