The Azure Gate

Back to Nesting

2012-01-30T04:43:00.000-08:00

Unlike Morning Doves, many other bird nests are difficult to find. I suspect that's nature's way of trying to protect birds when they or their chicks are most vulnerable. Canada Geese range through most of North America -- although rarely in Southern Arizona. They breed in Canada and the Northern US. The Common Loon, also called the Great Northern Loon, spends its summers in inland Canada and Alaska, and winters on both coasts of North America. They can occasionally be seen during migration in the inland US on their way to the coast. Sandhill Cranes winter here in Southern Arizona. Right now there are probably 40,000 in the Whitewater Draw area. However they breed in the north, mostly Canada but also in the Rockies. They typically breed in open marshes or wetlands -- which is where I found the one below.

Canada Goose in Columbia Valley, Central British Columbia, Canada

Common Loon at Island Lake, British Columbia

Sandhill Crane at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

More from the Tucson Botanical Garden

2012-01-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Last post on this trip to the Tucson Botanical Garden and their wonderful live Butterfly exhibit (which runs October through March).

Emperor Swallowtail from tropical Africa

Indian Dead Leaf from tropical India to Japan

Malachite from the tropical Americas

Priamus Birdwing from tropical Australia and South Pacific

Spotlight Catone - Male, from the tropical Americas

Blue Morpho

2012-01-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

As you enter the greenhouse where the butterflies are (at the Tucson Botanical Garden) the first thing you notice -- other than the 93 degree heat and 95 degree humidity -- are dozens of large blue butterflies flying around. The Blue Morpho is a resident of the Central and South American Tropics. Their wingbeat is decidedly slow so they almost look animated. They never seem to land anywhere -- although there are many that have. You just don't see them land. When they are at rest their wings are closed and you would never know that the dorsal side of the wings are blue. If you are patient, occasionally you can find one with its wings open as in the first photo. But as with the second photo you can see how intricate its ventral (under) wings are with several "eyespots". (If you click on the photo you can see it enlarged).

Blue Morpho

Longwings

2012-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

The family of Longwings produces some strikingly beautiful butterflies. As you can see, these butterflies have relatively short bodies with long wings -- hence the name "longwing". Their slow, lazy, fluttering flight is designed to show off their bright colors, signaling to predators that they are bad-tasting and should be avoided.

These butterflies have several interesting behaviors. For example, they eat pollen in addition to nectar, and
they sleep in groups at night, perching on thin, hanging twigs.

Here are several from my trip to the Botanical Garden on Tuesday:

Cydno Longwing

Doris Longwing

Golden Longwing

Sapho Longwing

Zebra Longwing

A Break from Nesting: Butterflies

2012-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

I'll come back to Nests in a couple of days. In the meantime, another trip to The Tucson Botanical Garden produced some wonderful butterfly photos. I'll start today actually with two moths:

The African Moon Moth is, well, from Africa -- east coast of South Africa. It is a beautiful looking moth with a very long stringy tail; spots that look like eyes; and, well, it looks more like a "kite" than an animal:

African Moon Moth

The Atlas Moth found in Southeast Asia, is considered the largest moth in the world with a wingspan of 10 inches and wing surface of 62 square inches. In India, they are cultivated for their silk.

Atlas Moth

Nests - Part VI

2012-01-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

Something about those Sycamore Trees that make such good nests. Here a Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher in it's nest.

Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher

Nests - Part V

2012-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Like the Elegant Trogon, Owls often nest in hollowed out tree trunks. The first photo shows a Western Screech Owl nest in a Sycamore tree just like the Elegant Trogon. The second photo is of two baby Great Horned Owls in a Eucalyptus Tree just across the street from us.

Western Screech Owl in Sycamore Tree

Great Horned Owlets

Nests - Part IV

2012-01-22T04:40:00.000-08:00

Some nests aren't obvious and can only be found by seeing a bird go into the nest. The Elegant Trogon is a migratory bird that arrives in the Madrean Sky Islands of Southern Arizona in March and April. Males begin looking for a female on arrival and usually nest by the end of Spring. They stay here until September or so, then head back to South for the winter.

I remember hiking along Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains looking for Elegant Trogons. They are most easily found by following their "call." Their call is a very distinctive "bark", like a seal. Four to six very loud bursts. One April I followed the barking until I saw a flash of red disappear in the hole of a Sycamore Tree. I parked myself about 25 feet away and waited. I was rewarded with both male and female poking their heads out of the nest:

Male Elegant Trogon in nest of Sycamore Tree, Chiricahua Mountains

Female Elegant Trogon in same nest, Chiricahua Mountains

Male Elegant Trogon in Gardener Canyon (Huachuca Mountains)

Male Elegant Trogon near Patagonia Lake

Nests - Part III

2012-01-21T05:05:00.000-08:00

Hummingbird nests. There are 15 species of hummingbirds that live or visit Southern Arizona. Some are rare, but many nest here. Each hummingbird species is different in their nesting. Some nest high in tree tops, while others may nest only 8 - 10 feet off the ground. The type of tree they nest in also varies. Anna's Hummingbird is a year round resident of The Azure Gate. It will nest anywhere from October to April. The nests are an architectural and engineering work of art. They are woven into a tree branch so tightly that they will not move even in the strongest of winds. They are about two and a half inches deep and two inches wide. The walls are very thick providing important insulation (given that winter temperatures might reach 30 degrees or so at night). The Anna's will lay two to three eggs which are "stacked" on top of each other to some extent such that they fill the nest cavity. The female then acts like a "lid" on top of the nest. Here is one nesting in a Palo Verde Tree:

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird with chicks

Nests - Part II

2012-01-20T05:12:00.000-08:00

There are people who love photography and take photos of anything that strikes them as worth a photo. Most "photographers" have a specialty: Portrait, Landscape, Architecture, Industrial, Wildlife, etc. But each category can have it's own specialties. The Portrait Photographer can specialize in Weddings for example. For the Wildlife Photographer it might be flowers, plants, butterflies, birds, or animals. Even within those categories there can be further "specialization." Nests, for example. What I realized in starting this Blog Topic is that I never really thought of "Nests" as a category. So, while I have many "nest photos" to show, there are many that I have deleted over the years because they didn't rise to my ever-changing standard of "quality." Case in point, I was looking for my Great Blue Heron and Great Egret "Rookery" photos. Nope, couldn't find them. They nest in the tops of very tall trees near wetlands -- or some water source that provides food. Some rookeries are shared by both the Herons and Egrets. The Egrets nest first (February or March) followed by the Herons three or four weeks after the Egrets leave their nests. It really is quite a sight since the average rookery contains 150 or more nests. I have found and photographed rookeries in Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, and Arizona, but I can't find a single photo. So, I am going to make it a point to increase my "nest portfolio". In the meantime, there are some woodpecker nests to share:

Acorn Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Nests

2012-01-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Most bird nests, like almost all animal dens, are difficult to find --- which is nature's way of saying "Do Not Disturb." There are a few exceptions. Doves nest anywhere: kitchen windows, eaves of roofs, outdoor furniture, literally anywhere. (Must be nature's way of saying "There are too many doves in the world please take one.") But, here some more "natural" dove nests:

Mourning Dove in Saguaro

Mourning Dove in Pine Tree

White Winged Dove (with chick) in Palo Verde Tree

Bumping Heads - Part II

2012-01-16T04:41:00.000-08:00

Saturday's post was about males jousting. Today we have a different kind of "bumping heads". Here it is done out of affection:

Bear Cubs

Wild Burros

Javelinas

Moose

Bumping Heads

2012-01-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, like the "civilized" world I suppose, wild animals fight. They fight to establish dominance, territory, or the love of a female. As in these photos, though, it is usually done with little harm to the other. The photo of Bighorn Rams fighting was one of my first photos with an early model APS camera (1995 I believe). The format eventually died, as well it should have given the quality of my photo. The wild horses fighting was quite a thrill. I had driven 100 miles on a Canadian dirt road looking for them. Six hours into the trip I found them.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Rams: Cascades, Washington

American Bison: Western Montana

Elk: North Central Colorado

Wild Horses: Central Alberta, Canada

Pronghorn: Northwestern Colorado

Patience is a Virtue, Luck? That's Even Better.

2012-01-13T04:53:00.000-08:00

I have been asked many times about the patience required to be a wildlife photographer. It's true. I spent five hours in 2010 standing and waiting for a Moose family that was 300 yards away, hoping to get close enough for a photo. I didn't know whether they would get even 10 feet closer let alone 275 yards I wanted. (They did, and I got some wonderful photos). On the other hand I have made many trips to places with high concentration of Mountain Lions specifically to get a photo. Other than a few photos of paw prints, no luck. I've made 6 trips to the White Mountains in Arizona looking for any of the 40 or so Mexican Gray Wolves that live there. No luck yet. I've spent a total of 10 days in the Florida Mountains of Southwestern New Mexico looking for Persion Ibexes. Other than seeing one through a spotting scope, no photos, no luck.

I just came back from my third trip to San Rafael Valley in Arizona looking for Short Eared Owls and Rough Legged Hawks that have been reported there over the last few weeks. Altogether, about 10 hours looking. No luck. My trip yesterday -- a 300 mile, 10 hour journey produced all of three photos - only one of which I am willing to show anyone. It is a Savannah Sparrow. (Click on the photo to enlarge.) I love the color of the background and the detail of the plumage. It's not at all a "rare bird" but it is a nice photo:

Savannah Sparrow: Rafael Valley, Arizona

sleeping Through it All: Part II

2012-01-12T05:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the other photos of mammals laying down:

Elk: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Javelina: Our Bed and Breakfast

Moose: Near Maligne Lake, Alberta, Canada

Mountain Goats: Mount Evans, Colorado

Mule Deer: Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Pronghorn: Eagle Creek, Arizona

White Tail Deer: Mt. Elden, Arizona

Sleeping Through it All: Part I

2012-01-10T06:04:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, on my wildlife excursions I come across an animal sleeping -- or resting. Often in these situations the animal is content to remain laying down provided I don't make any sudden movement. The result is usually a nice photo op. The Bison was actually "wallowing" and was back on his feet in about 30 seconds. The Coyote saw something to eat -- not sure what it was since the wild grasses were so tall -- but quickly jumped up and pounced on whatever it was. The others remained resting for quite a while, and in fact I left them before they got up. I have a few more I'll post tomorrow. But for today:

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: Western Montana

American Bison: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Black Bear: Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Bobcat: Asleep in our Flower Bed, Tucson, Arizona

Coatimundi: Galiuro Mountains, Arizona

Coyote: Laying in Wildflowers, Western Wyoming

Desert Bighorn Sheep: Trigo Mountains, Arizona

Said with Tongue in Cheek

2012-01-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile I change my desktop photo. And, two days ago I had such an urge so was looking for a new photo and decided on the Bobcat photo below. I have been looking at that photo on my desktop for a two days now. And this morning I wondered how many different mammal photos I have where I can see their tongue. (Okay, I admit I must not have anything important to do --- or, that I am feeling lazy and am procrastinating the important things). Nonetheless, I found ten such photos. My idle mind then thought, I have been doing my Blog for 28 months now, why not a Post on "Tongues?" Soo .....

Bison

Black Bear

Bobcat

Coatimundi

Coyote

Elk

Hooded Skunk

Moose

Mule Deer

White Tail Deer

Whitewater Draw Revisited Again

2012-01-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

So, as promised on to the American Bittern. The American Bittern is a wading bird in the Heron family, feeding in marshes and ponds on amphibians, insects, fish, and reptiles. It winters here in the Southwest but is uncommon and not easily found -- seen. One thing that makes the Bittern unique is how he reacts to presumed threats. The Bittern stands straight up stretching his neck and head toward the sky in order to blend in with the reeds. He remains motionless for several minutes until the threat is gone. Here is such a photo:

American Bittern "hiding" in the reeds

Here is what you were looking for if you couldn't find him in the first photo.

Whitewater Draw Revisited

2012-01-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I headed out to Whitewater Draw hoping to find some Barn Owls in their nesting area. Then, of course, the Sandhill Cranes should be there in big numbers by now. Well, no Barn Owls. Not sure why they haven't shown up the last two years. It was just four years ago that there were 25 - 30 of them. And, there were only a couple thousand Sandhill Cranes. The count two years ago was 42,000. I didn't hear a count for last year. But even those that were here this time were much too far for a good photo. So, I was about to leave when I saw a Virginia Rail dabbing in the weeds right by the trail. As I was quietly and carefully getting into position for a good photo I noticed an American Bittern. It's funny how disappointment can turn into excitement in the blink of an eye. So, today the Virginia Rail, and tomorrow the Bittern.

Madera Canyon - Part II

2012-01-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Continuing with our little day trip to Madera Canyon: In addition to the Squirrels, there were about 15 Wild Turkeys running around. They crossed the road a couple of times. This prompted our grandson Noah to ask why do the turkeys cross the road? "To get to the other ..... " no, I am not going to say it. Instead, a couple of photos:

Madera Canyon

2012-01-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

We have had our two daughters and their beaus and family here for the last several days. Yesterday, we drove the back road through Box Canyon to Madera Canyon. It was a perfect day: Blue sky, plenty of sun, and about 80 degrees. Water was running through the canyon which provided great fun for the grandchildren. And, while I didn't expect to photograph anything unusual, an Arizona Tree Squirrel provided some fun and photos for everyone:

San Rafael Valley, Arizona

2012-01-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

Well, a little catching up to do. After starting the Advent Calendar in December I made a little trip down to San Rafael Valley where some Short Eared Owls have been spotted (reported). They have been seen around sunrise which makes it difficult for me since I owe people breakfast every morning. I passed by Parker Lake where some Common and Red Breasted Mergansers had been reported. I hike a portion of the lake but didn't see any. Saw some grebes from too far away for a photo, but got a nice Great Egret in flight. But continuing on through San Rafael Valley, although no Short Eared Owls, I came across about 15 Wild Turkeys, and a Merlin who was kind enough to sit still for about 10 seconds for a photo:

Great Egret

Wild Turkey

Merlin

With a New Year, Comes New Life

2012-01-02T05:56:00.000-08:00

The New Year brings hope, life, and love:

Here I am with daughter Erin (from 1970)

Baby Red Tailed Hawk

Javelina Piglet less than 24 hours old

Advent Calendar - December 31st

2011-12-31T05:05:00.000-08:00

The sun is about to set on 2011. So it seemed appropriate for my last photo of the year to be the sun setting over Continental Divide, separating east from west in the Canadian Rockies.

It was December 1999 (as the millennium was about to end) and I was coming over Vermillion Pass from Banff National Park into Kootenay National Park. There in all it's splendor was a sunset lighting up the sky and making the Vermillion River look like it was on fire. The Vermillion River feeds the Kootenay River which feeds the Columbia River and 1200 miles later the Pacific Ocean. I quickly pulled off the road, got out my camera and tripod and started snapping photos. So as the 2011 sun sets, I hope 2012 is as wonderful for you as 2011 has been for us!

River of Fire

Vermillion River at the Continental Divide between British Columbia and Alberta, Canada

Advent Calendar - December 30th

2011-12-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

This Mule Deer Buck always makes for a good Christmas Card. I found him in South Central Oregon on the way to Hart Mountain one year. He seemed so proud of the way he looked. He wanted to make sure I got a good photo. I think I did:

Mule Deer Buck in South Central Oregon

Advent Calendar - December 29th

2011-12-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

I was driving through Wells Gray, British Columbia in December of 1998, primarily looking for Moose, Wolves, and Lynx. I love Wells Gray. There are several waterfalls, which are iced-over in the winter. In September they have an amazing salmon run at Bailey's Chute where the rapids are too steep for the salmon. They try in vain to get over the chute but can't. It is an amazing sight. Wells Gray has an abundance of mammals: black and grizzly bear, wolf, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, wolverine, moose, deer, mountain goat, caribou, plus a host of smaller mammals such as fisher, marten, mink, weasel, squirrel, etc. The northern half of the park is accessible only by boat and then on foot. We're talking wilderness here. So, my search this particular occasion didn't find Wolves or Lynx. I did find Moose and Deer. But I thought I would share with you another. A Red (or Pine) Squirrel:

Red Squirrel in Wells Gray, British Columbia

Advent Calendar - December 28th

2011-12-28T05:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I am going to cheat a bit today. It wasn't December, but actually April. However, April in the Canadian Rockies is like December in many places -- like Mount Lemmon today here in Tucson. This Mountain Goat, one of my favorite wild animals, and one of the most beautiful, was willing to pose for me. I was able to get to it from above so you could see some of the mountain terrain below. You can see that she is just starting to shed her winter coat. Mountain Goats need to be respected and approached very quietly and carefully without arm movements. Once she saw I meant no harm she continued to eat the little patches of vegetation that was exposed by the melting snow.

Mountain Goat in Canadian Rockies

Advent Calendar - December 27th

2011-12-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

On both sides of the central Oregon/California Border are the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges which include Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWR. Established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, Lower Klamath Refuge is our nation’s first waterfowl refuge. This 46,900 acre Refuge is a varied mix of shallow freshwater marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that are intensively managed to provide feeding, resting, nesting, and brood rearing habitat for waterfowl and other water birds. A marked ten mile auto tour (with photo blinds along the way) gives visitors year round access to great wildlife viewing opportunities. Here wintering waterfowl come by the thousands, including these Tundra Swans:

Tundra Swans on Tule Lake, California

Advent Calendar - December 26th

2011-12-26T04:12:00.000-08:00

This little Wood Duck certainly seems out of place. He's a year round resident on the Pacific Coast and south Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. He is seen occasionally in inland parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. But in December, it is rare to see him inland. This photo was taken at Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon.

Male Wood Duck at Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Advent Calendar - December 25th

2011-12-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I guess Santa was able to get the Reindeer together. Here he is on the Polar Express Railroad with some pretty wild animals: Grandson Noah and Granddaughter Ruby.

Santa Claus, DEN, Noah, Ruby, Daughter Erin

Note: the Polar Express goes from Williams, Arizona on the line to the Grand Canyon, although it only goes about 30 miles to an isolated area where lights have been setup to look like the North Pole. Santa comes through the train cars with cookies, hot chocolate, and small gifts.

Have a wonderful Holiday

Advent Calendar - December 24th

2011-12-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve. You know what that means? It's time to gather the Reindeer.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen. Don't know where Rudolph is though, guess it's not foggy enough yet.
(Caribou on Medicine Lake, Alberta, Canada)

Advent Calendar - December 23rd

2011-12-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Now over to South Central Oregon. I was on my way to Hart Mountain looking for Pronghorn, when I saw this small herd of Mule Deer on the right side of the road up ahead. That side of the road was pretty wide open, while the other side headed up into the mountain forest. It occurred to me that the Deer would probably cross the road and then hop the fence as I approached. So, I rolled down the window on the driver's side, got my camera ready, drove foreword, and viola! They didn't disappoint:

Mule Deer in South Central Oregon

Advent Calendar - December 22nd

2011-12-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

Today, we go to Western Montana where I came across a small herd of Pronghorn one December morn. I was able to get many photos, but this one seemed to have an almost "silk painting" like quality:

Pronghorn inWestern Montana

Advent Calendar - December 21st

2011-12-21T05:36:00.000-08:00

On one of my first trips to Alberta, Canada (in 1995) I was driving up to Maligne Lake. Looking through the trees to an open field -- covered in snow -- was a brown spot. Seemed odd. So I stopped my Jeep and walked through the trees to get a better look. Wow! A Moose just sitting there right in the middle of this open field. I walked to within 30 feet of her, stopped, sat down, and started taking photos. This was film days, so I went through a couple of rolls of film. She just continued to sit and look at me. After about 30 minutes, my coat not nearly as warm as hers evidently, I got up, said thank you, and headed for the warmth of my Jeep. Here is my favorite of the bunch:

Moose Cow, Alberta, Canada

Advent Calendar - December 20th

2011-12-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

It was minus 11 degrees on Medicine Lake, Alberta, January 13, 1999. And there he sat:

Bull Elk in Snow

Advent Calendar - December 19th

2011-12-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

I love Coyotes. I think they are beautiful. The cartoons and movies always picture them as scraggly or mangy. Not my experience at all. This photo, taken on the Columbia Icefields in front of 11 glaciers is a perfect example. Does he not look beautiful as he walks across the ice?

Coyote on the Columbia Icefields, Alberta, Canada

Advent Calendar - December 18th

2011-12-18T05:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm cheating just a bit on this. This is not a December photo. It was actually taken in May in Alberta Canada. However, it looks like winter -------------------- doesn't it?

Black bears do not hibernate like Brown Bears (Grizzlies, Kodiak) or Polar Bears. However there are metabolic changes that allow black bears to remain dormant for months without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating. Biologists have redefined mammalian hibernation as "specialized, seasonal reduction in metabolism concurrent with scarce food and cold weather". Under this definition Black Bears qualify. However, if the winter is mild enough, they may wake up and forage for food.

Black bears enter their dens in October and November. Prior to that time, they can put on up to 30 pounds of body fat. Hibernation in black bears typically lasts 3–5 months. During this time, their heart rate drops from 40–50 beats per minute to 8 beats per minute. Unlike Brown Bears and Polar Bears, their body temperature does not drop significantly and they remain somewhat alert and active. A hormone is released into their systems, to suppress appetite. Because they do not urinate or defecate during dormancy, the nitrogen waste from the their body is biochemically recycled back into their proteins. This also serves the purpose of preventing muscle loss, as the process uses the waste products to build muscle during the long periods of inactivity. Females give birth in February and nurture their cubs until the snow melts. During winter, black bears consume up to 40% of their body weight. When they awake, they seek carrion from winter-killed animals and the new growth of plants and trees. In mountainous areas, they seek southerly slopes at lower elevations for forage and move to northerly and easterly slopes at higher elevations as summer progresses.

Black Bear in Tree, Alberta

Advent Calendar - December 17th

2011-12-17T05:03:00.000-08:00

The Skagit River helps form "Fir Island" in Western Washington. Rich soil creates fertile farmlands -- and welcome resting places for migratory birds. This particular site is the winter home for 10 - 15,000 Snow Geese from Siberia. I took great care to compose this photo, ensuring that Mt. Baker was the top-center, the farm was mid-center, and the Snow Geese in front. What I didn't count on was the perfect spacing and centering of the four flying Snow Geese in front of each of Mt. Baker's peaks. Life brings the photographer a few wonderful surprises sometimes.

Snow Geese and Mt. Baker, Washington

Advent Calendar - December 16th

2011-12-16T06:14:00.000-08:00

Every winter hundreds of Bald Eagles come to poach salmon on the Skagit River in Western Washington. The Skagit River runs from a mountaintop of the Cascades to the Puget Sound. The Skagit floodplain is one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. Tideflats, estuaries and farm fields draw tens of thousands of Wrangel Island (Siberia) Snow Geese (tomorrow's post) each winter, as well as trumpeter swans and countless shorebirds on their great migrations. What brings people, though, are the Bald Eagles. Last year's count on December 15th was 285 Bald Eagles. The highest count last year was 410 on December 22nd. On January 7, 2009 there were 859 counted. (The count includes only eagles that are actually seen by experienced personnel & include those seen in areas inaccessible to the general public.) What brings the Bald Eagles are the Salmon, mostly Kings (also called Chinook) which come up the Skagit each winter. Here's a Bald Eagle standing on what appears to be a 25-30 pound salmon:

Bald Eagle with King Salmon

Advent Calendar - December 15th

2011-12-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

I love my winter trips to Canada. It is partly because the setting is so different and the white of the snow provides wonderful contrasts. Here a lone Bighorn Ram stood on a mountainside pushing the snow away with his horns and nose to get to some grass below. He gave me "the look" every now and then. But in most of these wildlife photo ops, I try to be very still with no big hand motions to let the animal know I mean no harm. That allows them to continue to eat without fear. Photo taken along the Columbia Icefields:

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Ram in Snowy Alberta, Canada

Advent Calendar - December 14th

2011-12-14T06:02:00.000-08:00

It was a snowy day in December of 1998. I spent the afternoon and the following morning looking for Bison in Western Montana in and around the National Bison Range (National Wildlife Refuge). They don't get a lot of visitors there. In fact, I was the only one for several days. In the afternoon I saw a small herd on the side of a mountain but had no way of getting close to them. Late the following morning as I was coming around a corner and up over a small hill, there he stood -- all 2000 pounds. Just him, all by himself near a creek. With the snow falling, I slowly, carefully walked toward him to get a good photo. He looked at me and then, snap. I have the photo I wanted:

American Bison

Advent Calendar - Well, not Quite

2011-12-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Wish I had thought to start this December 1st. Oh, well, here's December 13th:

Anna's Hummingbird - And, yes this was taken at The Azure Gate, a very rare snowstorm.

A couple more babies

2011-12-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Most wild animal mothers keep their young as far from civilization and danger as possible. In some cases, though they realize it's hardly necessary. In fact, quite the opposite. This Elk figured the safest place for her fawn was in the middle of the little town of Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park.

Elk and Fawn

In most cases, however, mothers must rely on mother nature who has given the young some advantage. In the case of Pronghorn for example it is eyesight and speed. Young fawns learn to run almost at birth. They can detect movement from 4 miles away. And, Pronghorn can reach speeds of up to 70 miles an hour. They are the fastest land animal in North America. --- Although not faster than a speeding bullet. Pronghorn once roamed the west -- and in huge numbers. Now, their distribution is essentially Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. While their numbers are way down, there are reliable "pockets of opportunity" to view them. Western Wyoming is the exception. If you drive on US 191 through Western Wyoming you can't help but see pronghorn every couple of miles feeding on ranch lands.

Pronghorn Fawn

Babies come in all shapes and sizes

2011-12-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

Continuing with wild animal babies.

This Bison Calf probably weighed about 30 pounds, a far cry from the 2,200 pounds when he reaches maturity.

Bison Calf

This Coatimundi youngster will weigh about 13 pounds as an adult.

Coatimundi Youngster

And, this Javelina Piglet, which probably weighed about one pound, will grow to weigh 60 to 80 pounds as an adult.

Newborn Javelina Piglet

More Babies

2011-12-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

The increase in the Deer population throughout North America, among other things, means more frequent sightings of young fawns. I wrote in September about the newborn Coues White Tail Deer I came across in the Chiricahua Mountains. This little guy I mistook for a Jackrabbit at first -- until I realized he was too small to be a Jackrabbit. He wasn't much bigger than a house cat. The Mule Deer photo was taken in Yellowstone Park and the White Tail Deer photo was taken in Glacier National Park. In all three cases there were two fawns with their mother.

Coues White Tail Deer Fawn

Mule Deer

White Tail Deer

Hoofed Animal Babies - II

2011-12-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

I love finding and photographing wild animal families. The first photo was taken near Cameron Pass (10,000+ feet) in Northwestern Colorado. The young Moose was the smallest -- youngest Moose I have ever seen. If the mother and father weren't around, I am not sure I would have even known what it was. The Feral (wild) Burro family was taken at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge on the Arizona side of the Colorado River 50 miles north of Yuma. The young Burro Colt didn't look real; looked more like a "stuffed animal" from FAO Schwartz.

Moose Family

Feral Burro Family

Hoofed Animal Babies

2011-12-07T01:58:00.000-08:00

Bighorn sheep are most vulnerable when young. Predation primarily occurs with lambs which are hunted by Coyotes, Bobcats, Lynxes, Bears, Wolves, and Mountain Lions. Golden Eagles will also try to cause lambs to fall from great height. Adults are more dangerous and predation is generally restricted to Mountain Lions.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Lambs

Mountain Goats occur at higher elevations and in colder climates and thus their predators are fewer in number. They will come down from higher elevations in the Spring to look for "salt licks". This is when they are most vulnerable to predation. But, as a general rule they spend most of their time at higher elevations than their predators. Even still, like with the Bighorn Sheep lambs, Golden Eagles will try to cause the lambs to fall to their death.

Mountain Goat with Kid

From Taking Life to Giving Life

2011-12-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Although predators must take life to survive, they also give life. Most predators are very careful about exposing their young. Bear cubs seem to be the easiest to find. But finding Coyote or Wolf or Mountain Lion cubs you almost need a den in your backyard. But, here are a couple that I like:

Black Bear with her two cubs.

Bobcat with one of her two kittens.

Predators with Their Prey: Raptors

2011-12-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

Raptors don't have an easy time of it either. However, they succeed often enough to survive.

Bald Eagle with 30 pound Salmon

The rare Gray Hawk with a bird of some kind

Osprey with 24 inch Rainbow Trout

Sharp Shinned Hawk with Mourning Dove

Yes, and a Turkey Vulture with a Coyote

Predators with Their Prey

2011-12-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Life of the predator is not easy. Often unsuccessful, they keep trying until they capture their food. I have seen Coyotes gang up on a rabbit without success. I have seen Bobcats chase after rabbits without success. But, often enough they succeed. Here are a few photos:

American Marten with Squirrel

Bobcat with Desert Cottontail

Coyote with some Carcass

Gray Wolf with Bison Carcass

Grizzly Bears with Elk

Northern River Otter with Salmon

Agua Caliente

2011-12-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

Up at dawn this morning and it occurred to me I didn't have to make breakfast for anyone. So I hopped in the Jeep and headed over to Agua Caliente -- Hot Water. Or, the name of a regional park about four miles from us. There is a pond of, at most, 10 acres but it attracts water birds. I have seen Great Egrets, Green Herons, Black Crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons, an Osprey, Belted Kingfishers, Peregrine Falcons, Great Horned Owls, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks, and an assortment of small birds like Vermillion Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, Orioles, and Cedar Waxwings among others. But, today one Great Blue Heron and some of the winter ducks:

Great Blue Heron

Mallard Duck

Ring-necked Duck

American Wigeon

Javelina Visit

2011-11-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Often we get a whole herd of Javelinas (collard peccaries), sometimes as many as 20 (once I counted 24). Most of those are females and juveniles. Javelinas are omnivores and will eat small animals, roots, grass, seeds, fruit, and cactus although their most cherished food comes from our garbage cans; oh, and any plant we buy from a nursery. Javelinas have scent glands below each eye and another on their back. The scent glands are used to mark herd territories. They also rub up against each other to mark members of a herd. So, while each Javelina has it's own scent, each herd also has its own scent. The scent is strong enough that humans can easily pick it up -- probably why Javelinas are also referred to as "skunk pigs."

Every once in a while a male struts through by himself. Males weigh as much as 88 pounds. What is interesting is that when nervous, their hairs stand up and shiver. Yesterday afternoon, while sitting at my desk a male came through. I grabbed my camera and got a couple of photos before he "got away," although I never really got close enough for a good photo. You'll notice the hairs standing up on his neck:

Javelina

Harris Hawk

2011-11-28T06:04:00.000-08:00

We have had five Harris Hawks around for the past two weeks. Two of them were in our aleppo pine tree the other day and let me get up on the roof and fairly close for some photos -- as you will see below.

The Harris Hawk is a medium-large raptor whose range is from the southwestern United States south to Chile and central Argentina. Birds are sometimes reported at large in Western Europe, especially England but it is a popular species in falconry and these sightings almost certainly all refer to birds that have escaped from captivity. The Harris Hawk is unique because it hunts cooperatively in family groups while most other raptors hunt in solitary.

Individual Harris Hawks range in length from 18 to 30 in and generally have a wingspan of about 3.6 ft. The females are larger by about 35%. They have dark brown plumage with orange shoulders, wing linings, and thighs. The white on the base of the tail is a dead give-away in flight. They have long, yellow legs. The vocalizations of the Harris's Hawk are very harsh sounds. Christine and I have been "scolded" by them on more than one occasion.

The diet of the Harris's Hawk consists of small creatures including birds, lizards, and large insects, although mammals are they favorite prey. They nest in small trees, shrubby growth, or cacti. The nests are often compact, made of sticks, plant roots, and stems, and are often lined with leaves, bark and plant roots. They are built mainly by the female. There are usually two to four white to blueish white eggs sometimes with a speckling of pale brown or gray. The nestlings start out light buff, but in five to six days turn a rich brown.

Since about 1980, Harris's Hawks have been increasingly used in falconry and are now the most popular hawks in the West (outside of Asia) for that purpose, as they are the easiest to train and the most social. In one of our favorite movies, the Clive Owen "King Arthur," one of his knights, Tristan carries a Harris Hawk with him (even though Harris Hawks were not present in Europe at the time of King Arthur). We have a wonderful dear friend that stays with us every year that tells us of a similar story in Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" where the opening scene is of a Turkey Vulture making a sound of a Hawk. Turkey Vultures don't make any sound at all. When she confronted Clint about this, his reply was "Darling, nobody will know the difference."

Very often, there will be three hawks attending one nest: two males and one female. The female does most of the incubation. The eggs hatch in 31 to 36 days. The young begin to explore outside the nest at 38 days, and fledge, or start to fly, at 45 to 50 days. The female sometimes breeds two or three times in a year. Young may stay with their parents for up to three years, helping to raise later broods.

Here are the latest photos:

Butterflies - Part VII

2011-11-27T10:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, just one more Butterfly post of my trip to the Tucson Botanical Garden a couple of days ago:

Malachite

Red Lacewing

Rusty Tipped Page

Mating Transandean Cattleheart

Butterflies - Part VI

2011-11-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

I must have talked myself into another trip to the Tucson Botanical Garden -- because, off I went to see this year's Butterfly Magic. Here are some of my NEW Butterfly photos:

Banded Bamboo

Blue Morpho

Brown Clipper

Next is the Indian Dead Leaf which looks like a deaf leaf in the following photo:

Add caption

But notice how the Indian Dead Leaf looks when he spreads his wings out:

Indian Dead Leaf

Butterflies - Part V

2011-11-24T05:07:00.000-08:00

Still more butterflies from the Tucson Botanical Garden:

Tiger Longwing

Scarlet Mormon

Small Postman

Zebra Longwing

You would think this one wouldn't be hard to identify. But, I can't find it anywhere. Appears to be a Swallowtail of some kind.

Butterflies - Part IV

2011-11-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

The Butterflies keep coming:

Red Helen Swallowtail

Orange Lacewing

New Lacewing

Postman Heliconian

Red Banded Pereute

Butterflies - Part III

2011-11-22T04:51:00.000-08:00

Still more Butterflies from the Tucson Botanical Garden:

Golden Birdwing

Leopard Lacewing

Julia Longwing

Indonesian Batwing

Butterflies - Part II

2011-11-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

More Butterflies from the Tucson Botanical Garden:

Cairns Birdwing (male on left, female on right)

Cairns Birdwing mating

Friar

Citrus Butterfly

Giant Owl Butterfly

Butterflies

2011-11-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

Although our "Butterfly Season" is essentially over, it has just begun at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. TBC has a Butterfly Magic Festival each year from October 10th to April 30th. Each month a new group of Butterflies from some part of the world: Africa, Asia, the Tropics, the Americas, Australia, etc. are brought to the Gardens.

Plants native and important to those Butterflies also are brought in. All of the butterflies in the Gardens’ exhibit are hatched from eggs and live as caterpillars in butterfly farms in tropical parts of the world. When the caterpillars change into the pupae or resting stage, they are carefully counted, labeled and packed. In the pupae stage of the butterfly life cycle, no food is required so they can survive the two or three day trip to Tucson. Once they arrive at the Gardens they are housed in a climate controlled environment which allows them to emerge naturally from their pupae. (This emerging room is visible through a glass window). They are then transferred to the Greenhouse where they are released to fly free in a beautiful tropical environment.

It is here where you can walk amongst them. Great care is taken as you enter and as you leave to ensure that none of these "non-native" butterflies escapes into our Southern Arizona world.

This is a photographer's paradise -- especially, if you are just learning or beginning to shoot wildlife photos. These Butterflies certainly aren't hard to find, there are hundreds of them. They will land on your head, shoulders, or a pant leg. Their colors are often brilliant; they sit still for photos; and they are often on or near beautiful flowers. What more can you ask for?

Here are a few that I have taken over the past few years:

Asian Swallowtail

Blue Clipper

Blue Morpho

Atlas Moth

Arcas Cattleheart Mating

Banded Orange

Sharp Shinned Hawk

2011-11-19T10:59:00.000-08:00

I am still trying to get back to normal here, but a quick post. It was three days ago this Sharp Shinned Hawk swooped down into our "oasis" and caught a Mourning Dove and flew up into a nearby mesquite tree. He let me get close enough for the following photo:

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Where have I been?

2011-11-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

The answer is NOT as much fun as it could have been. My computer went down Saturday, November 12th and needed to go back to The Apple Store for repair. Just got back from picking it up. I'll try to get back to my posts tomorrow.

Sweetwater Wetlands - just a couple more photos

2011-11-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Made a quick stop at Sweetwater Wetlands, another place that seldom disappoints. Although not rare or unusual, I did get what I thought were a couple nice photos. One of a Pied Billed Grebe, and the second a Northern Shoveler. (click on the image to enlarge)

Pied Billed Grebe

Northern Shoveler

Daily Visitor

2011-11-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

I took a walk around our property today, camera in hand looking for something to photograph. I could not find even a dove or quail.I wondered what was going on? So I came back to my office and sat outside in my "rocking chair," and watched the lack of birds even on the feeders. After a couple of minutes a Sharp Shinned Hawk flew into the Mesquite Tree by the office about 20 feet from me. There I was holding my camera. Wow! I really didn't have to move an inch to get this photo:

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - IV

2011-11-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge has three components. The largest is right along the Mexican/US border where the Visitor's Center is. This is the grassland I mentioned in Friday, Saturday, and Monday's posts. It's Pronghorn and Deer country with a wide variety of raptors usually present.

But there are two other sections of BANWR that shouldn't go unnoticed. One is along Arivaca Creek just West of the town of Arivaca. Just east of the town of Arivaca is Arivaca Cienega (also part of BANWR).

These two areas are the better birding spots. Here are a few photos of Arivaca Cienega:

Horned Lark

Vermillion Flycatcher

Dusky Capped Flycatcher

Thick Billed Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - III

2011-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

On one visit to BANWR, I was greeted by a pair of young Great Horned Owls. The grasslands are home to a lot of small mammals. The result is that it is also home to a lot of raptors. Here are photos of some of the raptors taken over the years:

Great Horned Owlet

Red Tailed Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - II

2011-11-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Whenever I go to BANWR I seem to always be greeted by several Mule Deer. They hang out in the tall grasses before you get to the visitors center. They also seem to be along the first two or three miles of Pronghorn Drive (a dirt road that loops around inside BANWR). After those two or three miles the land opens up more and you are more likely to see pronghorn than deer; almost like they have their own territories.

Here is one of the Mule Deer photos taken as I entered the refuge once:

Mule Deer in the tall grasses

Then another a mile or so down Pronghorn Drive:

Mule Deer

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

2011-11-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

A tad over 90 miles southwest from us is Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. I love our National Wildlife Refuges, but that's another Blog. BANWR is 118,000 acres of grasslands flanked by mountains. It is home to 325 bird species, 53 reptile and amphibian species, and 58 mammal species. BANWR is probably best known for its endangered Masked Bobwhite. Also present and endangered are the Sonoran Pronghorn, the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, the Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and the Chiricahua Leopard Frog. There has been evidence -- though no photos of Jaguars on the Refuge as well.

Let's start with the Sonoran Pronghorn. I would guess two out of every three visits I can find the Sonoran Pronghorn. They are usually found in herds of six or more. They are very leery of humans so are difficult to get close to. Their eyes are high on their head and in a word: huge. They can detect movement from 4 miles away. They are the second fastest land mammal in the world. Second only to the Cheetah. However, they can sustain their speed longer than the Cheetah. Unlike deer they are unable to jump. So they go "under" fences instead of over them. In areas with high populations of the more common Pronghorn, such as Wyoming, there are efforts in place to have ranchers remove the barbs on the lowermost wire to reduce the damage to Pronghorns.

Here are three of my favorite Sonoran Pronghorn photos from BANWR.

While on the Subject of Saguaro National Park

2011-11-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Saguaro National Park has it's typical array of Sonoran Desert Birds. Here are a few:

Black Throated Sparrow (not as common)

Northern Cardinal (common but not abundant)

Verdin (again common but not abundant)

Bendire's Thrasher (common)

Raven (common, but again not abundant)

Juvenile White Crowned Sparrow (seasonal)

Phainopepla (common, not abundant)

House Finch (common and abundant)

White Winged Dove (abundant in season -- April through September)

Swainson's Hawk Chick in Nest

More from Saguaro National Park

2011-10-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

The saguaro is a large, tree sized cactus native to the Sonoran Desert. The saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.

Saguaros have a relatively long life span. It takes 50 to 75 years to develop their first arm. The arms themselves are grown to increase the plant's reproductive capacity.The growth rate of saguaros is strongly dependent on precipatation; saguaros in drier wester Arizona like Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson. In the Catalina and Rincon Mountains, it may be 50 years for their first arm. In Organ Pipe or Cabeza Prieta NWR along the Mexico border it may be 75 years. In Saguaro National Park East it is not at all unusual to see Saguaros with 20-25 arms. Some specimens may live for more than 150 years and can can grow anywhere from 15 to 50 feet. They grow slowly from seed, and not at all from cuttings. Whenever it rains, saguaros soak up the rainwater. The cactus will visibly expand, holding in the rainwater. It conserves the water and slowly consumes it.

Saguaros can not self pollenate. Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination as there are numerous ovules. A well-pollinated fruit will contain several thousand tiny seeds. The ruby red fruit ripen in June. Each fruit contains around 2000 seeds plus sweet fleshy connective tissue. The fruits are highly edible and prized by local people. The O'odham tribes have a long and rich history of saguaro fruit use. Native birds such as Gila Woodpeckers, Gilded Flickers, Purple Martins, and House Finches live inside holes in saguaros bored by the woodpeckers. Flickers excavate larger holes higher on the stem. The nest cavity is deep, the parents and young entirely hidden from view. The saguaro creates callus tissue on the wound. When the saguaro dies, and soft flesh rots the callus remains behind, a so called "saguaro booty" which was used by natives for storage.

The major pollinators are bats, primarily the Lesser Long Nosed Bat, feeding on the nectar from the night-blooming flowers, which often remain open in the morning. Doves and bees appear to be the primary daytime pollinators.

Here is a Saguaro with about 20 arms.

View from Saguaro National Park looking north toward the Catalina Mountains

A few of the dead Saguaros, which provide wonderful skeletons:

On to Saguaro National Park

2011-10-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

Saguaro National Park has an East Side and a West Side. The East side is larger and has many more trails. The Saguaros are older and have more "arms" (fire on the West Side some 90 years ago). Since the East Side of Saguaro Park is just five - ten minutes from us, it's the one we go to. We had a very early "continental" breakfast the other day, so went out to the park for a hike after breakfast (round 7:00 am). What a delight! We were first met (on the Shantz Trail) by three large Black Tailed Jackrabbits. They delighted us with their antics for a good 10-12 minutes. They were interested in eating the pods from a less common species of Mesquite Tree (red pods). So, they would stand on hind legs to reach the pods. Every once in a while they would wander around -- or, chase each other around.

Black Tailed Jackrabbit getting Mesquite Pods

Here's another one.

One was sitting by a Saguaro which I thought made a good picture.

As I was snapping photos, another one came running right in front of my camera.

This one I just had to add. It shows the difficulty sometimes in Wildlife photography -- same with sports photography -- of getting the moving target in the frame. What a great --- okay --- ALMOST great photo, though.

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part VII

2011-10-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

And, now for some of the birds photographed at Agua Caliente:

Vermillion Flycatrcher

Western Tanager

Male Gila Woodpecker

Female Gilded Flicker

Great Tailed Grackle

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part VI

2011-10-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

In preparing for today's blog on Agua Caliente, I realized that there are so many ducks at Agua Caliente that I haven't taken a lot of photos of them. I guess after coming from the Northwest ducks become like quail and doves here. So, out of habit, I walk right past them looking for something more unusual. But, I did pull out a few that I particularly like. The first is my favorite:

That's our grandson, Noah taken about 5 years ago. He was so thin that putting a belt on him would be like trying to put a belt on a pencil. (You'll have to click on the photo to enlarge ).

Ring Necked Duck

Mallard Close-up

Mallard Chicks

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part V

2011-10-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Continuing coverage of Agua Caliente, a "Warm Springs" and Park about four miles from us, there is the occasional raptor. Typically, I don't go to Agua Caliente to photograph raptors. It's normally waterbirds and flycatchers. But once in a while:

There is a Cooper's Hawk looking for one of those flycatchers, or the more common desert ground birds (doves and quail).

Osprey at rare to Southern Arizona, but this one found a fish dinner at Agua Caliente.

There are a pair of Great Horned Owls that seem to nest in the large palm trees each Spring. This is probably the mom.

And, here is a very young Owlet in the nest.

agua Caliente, Arizona - Part IV

2011-10-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

And, now the Great Egrets from Agua Caliente:

This one is my favorite -- and one of my favorite photos period!

Here is a Great Egret with a fish he just caught.

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part III

2011-10-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Now for the Green Heron at Agua Caliente:

I was very fortunate to be able to get very close for these last two photos. I took them lying down on my stomach using my elbows as tripods:

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part II

2011-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here some of the Black Crowned Night Heron photos from Agua Caliente:

First, the juveniles:

And, now the Adult Black Crowned Night Heron:

Agua Caliente, Arizona

2011-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Agua Caliente is a small "recreation" area about four miles from us. This 101-acre park features a natural warm spring and pond that is home to an exceptionally rich mix of plants, wildlife, and historic features in the backdrop of the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains. There are several historic buildings that have been renovated and are now used as a "visitor's center." There is a mesquite tree estimated to be about 300 years old. The spring itself lies within a grove of palm trees, at the east end of the park, near some picnic tables. The spring bubbles out of the ground at about 87 degrees F, crystal clear. The water flows downhill in a small creek, surrounded by dense palm tree growth. Within the water live several types of fish, and a variety of water insects. The water eventually flows into a large pond, frequented by several ducks and other waterfowl. Below this largest pond, the water flows into two more ponds. Trails link all these ponds together.

Here is some of the History:

5500 Years ago. Archaic projectile points found within the park boundaries suggest that the site was used by hunters and gatherers.

1150 AD. A Hohokam village, referred to as the Whiptail Site, was established.

1853-1870s. The spring was used as an army encampment following the Gadsden Purchase. It became a stagecoach stop on which came the palm trees; which are now 150 years old and big enough that it takes five people to get their arms around one.

1875. James P. Fuller purchased "Agua Caliente Rancho" and established an orchard and cattle ranch on the property.

1880s-1980s. Various owners operated the ranch as a cattle ranch and resort.

1984. Local businessman Roy P. Drachman donated over $200,000 toward the purchase of Agua Caliente. The donation provided the incentive for Pima County to proceed with the acquisition. Agua Caliente Park, a Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Facility, opened on January 19th, 1985.

July 9, 2009. Agua Caliente Ranch Historic Landscape was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the years I have photographed at Agua Caliente the following: Great Blue Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Great Horned Owls, Cooper's Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, many different kinds of ducks, turtles, lizards, and a wide variety of other birds.

Here are a few of the Great Blue Heron Photos:

Not a great photo but he got that fish down his bill by flipping it until it was head first.

As you can see, Great Blues make for Great Photos in the right setting.

Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Arizona

2011-10-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today, another picnic and hike. This time Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. We started out around 8:30 and went up the canyon along the creek taking both side loops. Then, took Hamburg Trail and its switchbacks up the mountain. It was another great hike. Here are some photos from the hike:

White Tail Deer

Younger White Tail Deer in Ramsey Canyon Creek

The Endangered Ramsey Canyon Spotted Leopard Frog

Red Naped Sapsucker

One of about ten Wild Turkeys foraging around on the side of the Canyon

Another of the Wild Turkeys

Cochise Stronghold: Dragoon Mountains, Arizona

2011-10-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

First some wonderful history:

Cochise Stronghold is a canyon on the East side of the Dragoon Mountains of Southeastern Arizona 50 miles from the Mexican border. This rugged natural fortress was, for some 15 years, the home and base of operations for the famed Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise. Cochise and about 1,000 of his followers, of whom some 250 were warriors, located here. Sentinels, constantly on watch from the towering pinnacles of rock, could spot their enemies in the valley below and sweep down without warning in destructive raids. No man, woman or child within a hundred miles was safe from these attacks.

Born in present-day Arizona, Cochise led the Chiricahua band of the Apache tribe during a period of violent social upheaval. In 1850, the United States took control over the territory that today comprises Arizona and New Mexico. Not hostile to the whites at first, he kept peace with the Anglo-Americans until 1861, when he became their implacable foe because of the blunder of a young U.S. Army officer, Lt. George Bascom. In that year, Cochise and several of his relatives had gone to an encampment of soldiers in order to deny the accusation that they had abducted a child from a ranch. The boy was later proved to have been kidnapped by another band of Apaches. During the parley, Cochise and his followers were ordered held as hostages by Bascom, but Cochise managed to escape almost immediately by cutting a hole in a tent. Bascom later ordered the other Apache hostages hanged, and the embittered Cochise joined forces with Mangas Coloradas, his father-in-law, in a guerrilla struggle against the American army and settlers. The capture and murder of Mangas Coloradas in 1863 left Cochise as the Apache war chief. The U.S. Army captured him in 1871 and prepared to transfer the Chiricahua to a reservation hundreds of miles away, but he escaped again and renewed the resistance campaign. The following year after negotiating a new treaty with the help of Thomas Jeffords, his only white friend the band was allowed to stay in their homeland.

The portion of the Butterfield Stage Line run from Fort Bowie to Tucson crossed just off the northern tip of the Dragoon Mountains. This line was a favorite target of Cochise's warriors, they killed 22 drivers in a 16 month period. The Butterfield Stage Line established a station stop on the north end of the Dragoons in 1858. It was called the "Dragoon Springs" station due to the natural springs located there. A massacre occurred at this site on September 8, 1858. On October 5, 1869 a Col. John Finkle Stone, the 33-year-old president of Apache Pass Mine, near Ft. Bowie, headed back to his home in Tucson aboard a mail coach. He had an escort of four soldiers. When they approached the abandoned stagecoach station at the north end of the Dragoon Mountains, a group of Apaches came out of a gully and hit them fast and hard, killing everyone. (The ruins of the station stand today although the springs were rerouted by mother nature in an earthquake in the late 1800's.)

Cochise is reputed to have been a master strategist and leader who was never conquered in battle. For ten years Cochise and his warriors harassed the whites by raiding lonely ranches and attacking stagecoaches and miners. Cochise retired. He died peacefully on the newly formed Chiricahua reservation in 1874. His son, Taza succeeded him as chief. Upon his death, he was secretly buried somewhere in or near his impregnable fortress -- what is now called Cochise Stronghold. The exact location has never been revealed or determined.

There are both picnic grounds and campsites located at the trailhead. A very short walk takes you around several kiosks where the history (a longer version of the above) is explained. There is a half-mile nature trail with spurs for longer trails, including one - the historic Indian Trail -- that goes over the mountain to the west side. The elevation gain is about 1100 feet. These are wonderful hikes with spectacular views.

Christine and I have hiked there 6 or 7 times. I must say that I have never been very lucky finding wildlife to photograph though. Still a great hike. Typically, we are met by a dozen or more Acorn Woodpeckers at the picnic/campgrounds. Both there and as you begin the hike the woodpeckers are joined by Mexican Jays. Since parts of the hike are rocky, there are always lots and lots of lizards. On parts of the hike I always expect -- well, hope -- to come across a black bear, but that has never happened. The canyon which has varying degrees of water would attract coatimundi, but that has never happened either (for me, anyway).

Yesterday, Christine and I picnicked there and hiked about 5 miles. Not a lot to report, but here are a few photos:

Acorn Woodpecker

Another Acorn Woodpecker

Mexican Jay

Yarrows Spiny Lizard

Rockfellow Dome

Muleshoe Ranch, Galiuro Mountains, Arizona - Part II

2011-10-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

In addition to the Long Eared Owl, there were a variety of other photo ops:

This Sacred Datura nestled among weeds and grasses.

A Pipevine Swallowtail was one of hundreds of butterflies fluttering around Hot Springs Wash.

And, here in a dry part of the wash, a White Tail Doe with her fawn.

Finally, a Red Naped Sapsucker seemed insistent on drilling in this cottonwood tree along the wash.

Muleshoe Ranch, Galiuro Mountains, Arizona

2011-10-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Muleshoe Ranch is in the Galiuro Mountains of Southeast Arizona and jointly owned by the Bureau of Land Management (US Guv), The Nature Conservancy, and a private co-operative. For the last ten years it has been one of my favorite places to visit. As the crow flies it is about 25 miles from us. However, because the Rincon and Catalina Mountain ranges, and the San Pedro River are between us and Muleshoe --- and, because I can't fly, it's a 90 mile trip by car. 2 hours door to door (30 miles of which is a dirt road).

Over the years, I have photographed the following at Muleshoe: coatimundi, bobcat, pronghorn, coyote, javelina, mule deer, white tail deer, black tail jackrabbit, antelope jackrabbit, hognose skunk, striped skunk, gila monster, cooper's hawk, black tail hawk, zone tail hawk, gray hawk, and a too many butterflies and other birds to list.

Yesterday I went again hoping to find coatimundi. Although I found lots of tracks of coatimundi I was unsuccessful in finding one. But, as often is the case, the wilderness did NOT let me down. It often presents something unexpected. While I would have loved to have seen a mountain lion, bighorn sheep, or black bear that are also in the Galiuros, I was VERY pleasantly surprise to find a Long Eared Owl. So, today it is the Long Eared Owl. Although found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, it is endangered in many areas. (It prefers dense woodland forests which are in decline). Here then is the best of my Long Eared Owl photos from yesterday:

Long Eared Owl

More from Patagonia Creek Preserve

2011-10-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

In addition to the Coues Deer, there were a few other interesting photo ops on our little outing. The butterfly garden where we picnicked was a week or two past prime, but a nice Cabbage White and Gulf Fritillary happened by. On our hike in Patagonia Creek Preserve we came across a large Green Valley Grasshopper. Aside from the fact that he is green, the red legs are the tell tale sign. And, then finally Patagonia Creek is lined with 150 year old Cottonwood Trees - some of which five people couldn't get their arms around. And yet, they produce these wonderful delicate little flowers as seen in the last photo.

Cabbage White

Gulf Fritillary

Green Valley Grasshopper

Here he is again, not quite so camouflaged

Flower from the Cottonwood Tree

Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve

2011-10-13T13:57:00.001-07:00

Christine and I got away yesterday for a picnic by the Butterfly Garden in Patagonia and then a nice leisurely 3 mile hike through the Preserve. As often the case, the Coues (pronouced "cows" after Elliott Coues, 1942-1899, army surgeon, historian, and ornithologist), white tail deer were around and available for photographing. This pair was standing in Patagonia Creek:

sacramento National Wildlife Refuge - Part II

2011-10-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

A few other bird photos from Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge:

Long Billed Curlew Wading

Long Billed Curlew Flying

White Faced Ibis Wading

Sandhill Cranes Flying

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge at Sunset

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

2011-10-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

Another favorite place -- that I haven't been to in ten years -- is Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge which is about 90 miles north of Sacramento. There are actual five different wildlife refuges in this complex totaling about 35,000 acres of wetlands.

I have been there seven or eight times and each time has been different. On one occasion I saw a beautiful male Ring Necked Pheasant in a grassy field. Looking closer, about 25 yards away was an American Bittern. Neither seemed especially bothered by me, although I kept my distance for a while. After a couple of minutes I noticed that their eating patterns were bringing them closer together. So I waited. Maybe ten minutes later they were side by side and viola and nice photo of the two together.

Here they are:

Ring Necked Pheasant

American Bittern

Ring Necked Pheasant with American Bittern

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

2011-10-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Since moving to Arizona in 2002, getting to some of my favorite places has been a little more problematic. When I can get away from the B&B for more than a few days (on a photo trip) I tend to head to Colorado or Wyoming. Of course there is the obligatory stop in Flagstaff to see our grandchildren -- well, their mom and dad too. But, I am usually in search of Mountain Goats or Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on Mount Evans, or Moose in Northwestern Colorado, or Grizzlies and Wolves in Yellowstone.

So, some of my favorite watering holes have been neglected. One such favorite is Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge which is along the central Oregon/California border.

Winters there are the best time -- but, of course -- our busiest time and so impossible to get away. Hundreds of thousands of birds flock to the icy shallow lakes: ducks, geese, and swans en mass. Here are some photos:

Ross Geese

Tundra Swans and White Fronted Geese

Tundra Swans

However, with all the birds come the predators! Bald Eagles are like the Mafia here, waiting for the right time to kill. For them "it's not personal, it's just business." Of course with all the Swans, Thanksgiving Day Feast comes every day for the Bald Eagle.

Tundra Swans with Bald Eagles in Background

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle Close-Up

Tundra Swans Flying

Lone Tundra Swan "hiding" among Canada Geese

Could Mushrooms Be Fine Art?

2011-10-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

I have spent five or six hours out in the wilderness, 150 miles from any civilization, and not seen anything larger than a squirrel. Why is that? Wildlife is supposed to be abundant. After a couple of hours I start thinking I need a dictionary to get a better understanding of the word "abundant" because I thought I would see deer prancing all around, bears in trees eating nuts, moose drinking from the delightful little brook, and wolves howling to the moon -- oh, and butterflies on my shoulder. I guess that only happens in Walt Disney cartoons, zip-a-dee-doo-dah.

So, what do I do? I looked for something else in nature that I may have overlooked -- or, at least not appreciated as much as a bear or moose. Once I started looking I noticed all the different mushrooms there are in wilderness forests. After some really bad photos, I experimented with close-ups and angles. And, after a while I got to a point where photographing mushrooms was FUN! Now, I must admit that I haven't been able to add very many mushrooms to my "collection" since moving to Southern Arizona. Nonetheless, here are a couple of my favorites --- both taken in British Columbia many years ago:

Butterflies to Dragonflies

2011-10-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

Although they don't have the beautiful colorful patterns of the butterflies, dragonflies can also be photographed in "fine art." These next two photos both have soft green backgrounds and one element to offset the dragonfly itself: in one case a broken branch of a tree and in the second a blade of grass. The Red Skimmer in the second photo provides some color, while the unidentified dragonfly in the first photo is almost a silhouette with just enough light green behind it to provide some contrast.

Unidentified Dragonfly

Red Skimmer Dragonfly

Fine Art Wildlife Photography -- Butterflies

2011-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Butterflies make wonderful photographs. There is a difference though, between a wonderful butterfly photo that shows all its colors making it easy to identify and one that I would consider "fine art." .I have decent photographs of 155 different butterfly species. Many like the first one are very nice and show great detail:

Blue Morpho

But beyond the detail and color of the butterfly, flowers can add additional color but in a contrasting way. Backgrounds can be soft focus providing additional contrast and making the butterfly stand out more. And, of course, the composition can provide a uniqueness that says, this isn't just a photo for identification purposes. Here are a few of my favorites:

Leopard Lacewing

Apricot Sulphur

Banded Orange

Cloudless and Dogface Sulphurs

Cooper's Hawk Visit

2011-10-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

We often have Sharp Shinned and Cooper's Hawks hanging around. I suspect it is the 100 or more Doves and another 100 or more Quail that hang out here on a daily basis which brings them. With that much food, why leave the restaurant? Anyway, I was able to get fairly close to an adult Cooper's the other day, so got a nice photo to share with you:

Adult Cooper's Hawk in Mesquite Tree

For comparison purposes, here is a Juvenile Cooper's Hawk I took here several years ago. Notice how the plumage changes. The breast becomes more "orange" in color the the streaks change from vertical to horizontal. Also the wings change from brown to gray. (click on either or both photos to enlarge).

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk (also in a Mesquite Tree)

Ivyleaf Morningglory - revisited

2011-10-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

How about a Pipevine Swallowtail on an Ivyleaf Morningglory?

click to enlarge

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

2011-09-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

In addition to the Ivyleaf Morningglory at Patton's I did take a few hummingbird photos. Patton's is the place to find and photograph the Violet Crowned Hummingbird. There is no other site that I know of where the Violet Crowned is a sure thing. What makes it stand out is the red bill and the pure white throat and breast. Patton's has 10 hummingbird feeders along the south side of their home. There is a tent with chairs set up for viewing. But behind the tent facing the Patagonia Creek wilderness area there is a feeder buried (well not quite buried - let's say "nestled") in the wild vegetation. Many people who visit don't even see it. Because it faces the wilderness area it gets a lot of hummingbirds too. Now, while I don't normally photograph hummingbirds on feeders, because of this unusual setting I couldn't resist. Here are three I particularly liked. (If you click on a photo you can see it enlarged).

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Ivyleaf Morningglory

2011-09-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite wildflowers to photograph is the Ivyleaf Morningglory. I think that is partly because of its soft "pastel" color; partly because of its shape; and partly because it usually stands alone in a forest setting. A few days ago I posted with a title "Wildlife Fine Art Photography". For some reason my eye can see these beautiful wildflowers as fine art. My trip to Sonoita and Patagonia yielded several such photos. First at the Patton's of Patagonia "the hummingbird site" and secondly at the Roadside Stop along Patagonia Creek.

While there were other people at Patton's watching and photographing the hummingbirds, this Ivyleaf Morningglory caught my eye:

Ivyleaf Morningglory from Patton's of Patagonia

The last two photos were from the Roadside Stop 7 milers south of Patagonia and along Patagonia Creek. Because these wildflowers were along the creek there was plenty of green vegetation which provided a wonderful "out of focus" background of sea green.

Ivyleaf Morningglory along Patagonia Creek