Catching Up: Savannah Sparrow

Just a note to mention that we had our first visitor from Angola, which makes it 130 countries around the world that have visited this blog. I find it encouraging that people from countries with political, religious, cultural, and language differences have one thing in common -- a love of nature and wildlife.

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This Savannah Sparrow was hanging out at the shore of Lake Cochise which is in the middle of desert grasslands -- the perfect setting for many sparrows.

Savannah Sparrow

More from San Rafael Valley

On this same trip as the Harrier Hawks, I walked away with several other nice photos:

American Kestrel

Montezuma Quail

Montezuma Quail

Phainopepla

Pronghorn

Savannah Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlark

White Tailed Kite

A Great Day at Sweetwater Wetlands - Part II

While at Sweetwater Wetlands last Thursday, I did find some other nice photos, including the less often seen/photographed Common Yellowthroat.

Common Yellowthroat

Orange Crowned Warbler

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Savannah Sparrow

Verdin

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Sweetwater Wetlands and Christopher Columbus Lake

I had a late start yesterday, so didn't arrive at Sweetwater Wetlands until 11:00 -- or more importantly until it was 104 degrees. The consequence was a very quiet visit. I did see a Green Heron fly in a weed bed and a Belted Kingfisher heading somewhere cooler. Probably my best photos were a Savannah Sparrow and a couple of Mexican Mallards:

Savannah Sparrow

Mexican Mallard

Juvenile Green Heron

 I didn't fare any better at Christopher Columbus Lake. The few birds there were stayed pretty much deep inside the trees where they were foraging. The best there was this Yellow Rumped Warbler:

Yellow Rumped Warbler

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

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