Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - X

Cooper's Hawks are relatively common. We often see them here at The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast.

This particular Cooper's Hawk likes one of our bird baths. He sits in it frequently and lets us -- and our guests watch and take photos:

Adult Cooper's Hawk

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - IX

Up next in my favorite photos from last year, the Common Yellowthroat. While more abundant, these little warblers are also very secretive, moving around in weed beds. Best viewing time is during the early spring when they are searching for mates.

Common Yellowthroat

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - VIII

I found this Common Gallinule (another misnamed bird) early one morning at Sweetwater Wetlands. They are usually solitary, moving in and out of the weed beds:

Common Gallinule

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - VII

Every March there is a "Hawk Watch"  in Tubac, Arizona along the Santa Cruz River, 15 miles north of the US/Mexico border to see hundreds of raptors migrating into the US.

You bring a chair, your breakfast (or lunch), water, binoculars, and camera to get a glimpse of some of the rarer raptors: Common Black Hawk (US population 300 nesting pairs); Zone Tailed Hawk (US population 300 nesting pairs), and Gray Hawk (US population 100 nesting pairs).

Last March I joined the crowds and got this photo of a Common Black Hawk. Ironically called "Common" as if they were everywhere:

Common Black Hawk

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - VI

Here a male Cardinal taken in the mesquite bog at Patagonia Lake:

Cardinal

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - V

A female Cactus Wren with her juvenile sitting on a Century Plant stalk here at The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast:

Cactus Wren

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - IV

Buff Breasted Flycatcher among the Douglas Firs on Mount Lemmon's Upper Sabino Canyon Trail:

Buff Breasted Flycatcher

Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2018 - III

Broad Billed Hummingbird taking nectar from a Western Coral Bean plant in Molino Basin on the way up Mount Lemmon:

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Favorite Wildlife Photos from 2018 - II

Here is a Black Crowned Night Heron that didn't mind my photographing him:

Black Crowned Night Heron at Lakeside Park

Favorite Wildlife Photos from 2018 - I

I thought I would share my "favorite" wildlife photos of 2018, so ...


First up, a Belted Kingfisher :

Belted Kingfisher at Lake Cochise

American Kestrel

First let me welcome Gambia, the 139th country to visit The Azure Gate Blog. Thank you all.



Driving with guests in the grasslands southeast of Sonoita, Arizona we came across an American Kestrel sitting on a wire. Moments later he moved to a fence post.

I'm quite please with how the photos turned out.

Winter Landscapes XVIII: Winter on the Wenatchee

Finally, the Wenatchee River on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State:

Winter Landscapes XVII: Wells Grey Provincial Park, British Columbia

Wells Grey is one of my favorite wildlife viewing spots. I remember one (minus 11 degree) winter  sleeping in the back of my truck, waking up in the morning, and trying to brush my teeth; couldn't, tooth paste was frozen. In fact, everything in the back of my truck was frozen ...... except for what was in my Ice Chest!

Nonetheless I was determined to find some moose that day. As I went to the outhouse to take care of my necessities I found a photo:

Oh and I did find moose too. (Not in the outhouse).

Winter Landscapes XVI: Out our Back Door

We don't get much snow in Tucson. But Mount Lemmon in the Catalina Mountains gets enough for skiers. Here are a couple of photos taken from our back yard looking at the Catalinas: