Gorgeous Photo of a Killdeer

After Lake Cochise, I went down to Whitewater Draw wondering what I might find (during its "off-season). The short answer is not much as there was only a small amount of water. But I did find four Javelinas, and a Killdeer. 

Admittedly, I don't usually get excited about Killdeer. (They are NOT a hard find). But, what the hey, I wasn't finding much of anything to photograph. I did get glimpses of a few warblers but they just weren't very sociable that day.

As a Wildlife Photograph you have to make the best of what you have. So, it was Killdeer. I was able to get quite close to the Killdeer by talking with it. When I mentioned how beautiful he was, he spread his wings so I could see the color. Wow! And what a photo. Turns out to be one of my favorites of the year:

Killdeer

Lake Cochise

In addition to the four Herons seen at Lake Cochise (and shared in the last two posts) here are a few other finds:

American Avocet

Black Necked Stilt

Loggerhead Shrike with catch

Western Meadowlark

White Faced Ibis

Yellow Headed Blackbird

Four Heron Day

Lake Cochise in Willcox, Arizona provides respite for waterbirds in search of --- well, water.

In the last post I shared photos of the Little Blue Heron that was at Lake Cochise. But I also found three other herons: the Great Blue, Green, and Black Crowned Night Heron. 

Here then are some of those photos:

Two of Eight Black Crowned Night Herons at Lake Cochise 

An adult BCNH in flight

I just missed getting these four adults and one juvenile standing on the rock.

I've not often seen a heron actually swimming but here is the evidence.

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron atop a willow tree

Little Blue Heron at Lake Cochise, Willcox, Arizona

As a Wildlife Photographer I'm always interested in rare birds that have made an appearance in Southern Arizona. So I check ABA's Birding News for sightings in Arizona on a daily basis.

Two days ago there was a report of a Little Blue Heron at Lake Cochise in Willcox (about an hour and 15 minutes southeast of Tucson). 

The Little Blue Heron is a "coastal" bird primarily along the Gulf of Mexico including the US, Mexico, Central America, and further south to Uruguay. It is also found on both sides of the Gulf of California and south to Peru.

Where did this little guy come from? Hard to say for sure, but most likely the Gulf of California since it is much closer.

Juvenile Little Blues are white and very similar to Snowy Egrets. As such they sometimes "flock" together. The juvenile then turns dark blue as an adult and becomes more solitary.

When wading it is in search of small fish and crustaceans. Along the shore its diet is mainly grasshoppers and other insects. 

My trip was successful as I did find the Little Blue. In fact, it was a "Four Heron Day": Little Blue, Great Blue, Black Crowned Night, and Green Heron. I will show the Little Blue today, with photos of the others next.

Today, the Little Blue Heron

Here he is on a small "island" in the middle of Lake Cochise with some American Avocets and a Black Necked Stilt:

 Here he is along the lakeshore looking for grasshoppers:

And here he is flying back to the other side of the lake: 

Dawn at Sweetwater Wetlands - Part IV

More from Sweetwater Wetlands this week:

Red Winged Blackbird

Red Winged Blackbird

Green Heron

Green Heron

Verdin

Common Yellowthroat

Dawn at Sweetwater Wetlands: Part II - Common Gallinule

Common Gallinules (previously Common Moorhen) are often present but hidden in the Cattails. Usually when seen it is early morning. Such was the case last week:

Dawn at Sweetwater Wetlands - Part I: Raccoon

In my days before the Bed and Breakfast when my wildlife photography "focus" was large mammals, I would try to be at the place with the most potential prior to dawn.

With that in mind, I headed out just before dawn to Sweetwater Wetlands. And, I was rewarded. First, some wonderful photos of Raccoon siblings. I took over 100 photos in about 20 minutes. Here are a few of my favorites:

Miscellaneous Birds of Southern Arizona - Part III

Continuing with some of last week's photos:

Stellar Jay

Turkey Vulture

Yellow Eyed Junco building nest

Miscellaneous Birds of Southern Arizona - Part II

Part II of miscellaneous birds photographed last week:

Mexican Jay

Red Faced Warbler

Stellar Jay

Miscellaneous Birds of Southern Arizona - Part I

I've put together a few odds and ends -- photos of birds seen at various places during the past week. Here's part one: 

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Elegant Trogon

Singing House Finch

Birds of Sweetwater Wetlands - Part III

Continuing with typical birds of Sweetwater Wetlands:

Vermillion Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Western Tanager

White Crowned Sparrow

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Birds of Sweetwater Wetlands - Part II

Continuing with typical birds of Sweetwater Wetlands:

Lesser Goldfinch

Red Eared Slider (I know it's not a bird, but I like this tiny one)

Red Winged Blackbird Female

Roadrunner

Tropical Kingbird

Verdin