Whitewater Draw - Part II

Of course, no trip to Whitewater Draw -- no matter how often I go -- doesn't contain a photo or two of the Sandhill Cranes --- 30 to 40,000 of which call it their winter home.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Continuing with my "5" Star Photo series we get to the Sharp Shinned Hawk. The SSH is very similar to the Coopers Hawk, but slightly smaller. This makes positive identification sometimes difficult, especially with full size Sharp Shinned and younger Coopers.

This Sharp Shinned photo was taken at Whitewater Draw in Southern Arizona where 30 to 40,000 Sandhill Cranes winter. The area 'draws' lots of birds which means both Sharp Shinned and Coopers will be around.

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Sandhill Crane - IV

Sandhill Crane number Four taken at Whitewater Draw in Southern Arizona:

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - III

Sometimes when you go to Whitewater Draw (Southern Arizona) the Sandhill Cranes are too far away for a good photo. You can get some nice landscape photos with them -- after all there are 30 to 40,000 of them. But, if you go often enough, your chances of getting a really good photo -- "5' Stars are greater. Here is close up taken as a group were flying right in front of me:

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - II

At times the Sandhill Cranes are far away, but can give you a good idea of their numbers. And, at times they can be seen up close and personal. Here's one not only close but making some noise as well:

Sandhill Crane - Waterwater Draw

Lake Cochise - Whitewater Draw

I had an opportunity to check out Lake Cochise and Whitewater Draw yesterday (hence no post for yesterday). Very little to report at Lake Cochise, mostly Northern Shovelers and Coots; no egrets, avocets, black necked stilts, white face ibis, white pelicans, phalaropes, etc. Only thing interesting was a Black Crowned Night Heron asleep in a tree that was impossible to get a good photo of. So, I headed to Whitewater Draw through Sulphur Springs Valley. Along the way I got a great shot of a Ferruginous Hawk:

I was hoping to find Barn Owls roosting at Whitewater Draw -- maybe even a Long Eared Owl. No luck there either. There was a Great Horned Owl in the Roost area though:

No Sandhill Crane photos this time. Those that were at Whitewater Draw were much too far away to photograph (exactly the opposite of my last trip a month ago where they were the closest they had even been). But, I did get a good photo of a Says Phoebe and a Loggerhead Shrike:

All in all, the Ferruginous Hawk photo was worth the trip. 

Whitewater Draw Bobcat

Yesterday, we took a little picnic to Whitewater Draw (here in Arizona) which I have talked about before. While there were several thousand Sandhill Cranes and other waterbirds, the highlight was this bobcat. He was a little too far for a "great photo" but nonetheless a wonderful reminder of the trip. We could not get any closer because we had reached the beginning of the marsh. We hung around for a while hoping he would head in our direction. I would have been willing to wait several hours if necessary. However, he saw something behind him, turned around, and then disappeared in the high grass -- presumably into his crouching/attacking mode. We waited quite a while but never saw him again. Fairly typical of the wildlife photographer. You never know.

Wintering Sandhill Cranes

25,000 Sandhill Cranes make quite a sight. And, quite a lot of noise as well. They are not small birds by any stretch. Taller than bald eagles with wings almost as long, when they move "en masse" they can darken the sky. Typically, wintering cranes will head out during the day to neighboring farmlands to feed, returning late in the day. At Whitewater Draw in Arizona, though you can usually find several thousand of them all day long. Some come. Some go. But, usually plenty to see.  Whitewater Draw is about an hour and 20 minutes southeast of Tucson.  January, February, and March are it's best times. Sandhill Cranes, Ross' Geese, Snow Geese, White Faced Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Great White Egret, many varieties of sandpipers, Killdeer, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Long Eared Owl, Burrowing Owl, and the southwest's own Vermillion Flycatcher. Oh, and Cooper's Hawk, Sharp Shinned Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Northern Harrier Hawk, and Red Tail Hawk. Once in a while a Bald Eagle. Sound like a good trip? It is.

Whitewater Draw White Faced Ibis

Another "find" at Whitewater Draw is the White Faced Ibis. An awkward looking bird -- something from a Count Dracula film, maybe. They are about the size of a snowy egret. Males and females have identical plumage. They nest in low lying trees like other wading birds. Being named "white faced ibis" is somewhat misleading. The adult, when breeding has a white border around its eye. So much for the "white face." But also when breeding, its plumage turns to an iridescent burgundy color best seen when flying. The white faced ibis spends its summers in northern California, Nevada, and Utah; wintering in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico. I have usually found them in numbers of 5 to 50, always where water is present. This can include farm lands that have been turned and watered recently. This often makes finding insects -- their main diet -- easier.

Owls of Whitewater Draw-Part Two

Typically, when the owls are nesting, the sandhill cranes are around in huge numbers; 25,000 is not unusual. With that many cranes making noise, visitors "flock" to see them (my apologies for the too obvious pun). Many of those visitors don't realize that barn owls and long eared owls are nesting a couple hundred yards away. The owls, rarely move around and make no sound at all during the day so are easily overlooked. Although the barn owls are more easily spotted if you are looking for them, the long eared owl is quite the opposite. While the barn owl likes branches nearer the top of the tree and further out from the tree trunk, the long eared owl likes to be close to the trunk. Even in winter when there are few leaves on the trees the coloration of the owl and of the tree make finding them difficult. I probably took 40 photos from every angle to get this one. You have to be quiet and careful not to disturb them as you move around. Christine was with me at the time. I tried to explain to her where to look. After five or more minutes she lit up like a Christmas Tree, obviously finding this quite beautiful owl staring at her (probably the entire time she was looking for it). Owls are one of my favorite birds to photograph. I think it is because they are typically still and stay in constant eye contact with you. Something about that feels like a relationship developing. And, of course, the photographs with those big eyes looking right at the observer recreate that feeling.

Owls of Whitewater Draw

Another attraction of Whitewater Draw is the owl nesting areas. Whitewater Draw consists of Chihuahuan desert grasslands and ponds in the heart of Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona. Most of the attention goes to the 20-25,000 Sandhill Cranes that winter on the site. In fact, I had not even explored the willow trees just to the south of the ponds the first visit. The willows provide nesting for Barn Owls and Long Eared Owls. I counted 12 Barn Owls two years ago. I was told there were as many as 24 that year. (I'll talk about the Long Eared Owl tomorrow). Barn Owls are fairly easy to spot. The white face is a sure give-away. The area is "roped" off to caution visitors about disturbing the nesting site. So, getting a good photo is chancy, at best. Often there are too many trees or branches in the way. But when you can get a photo -- such as the one above -- you feel good. Even though it is a photo the owl looks like he is looking directly at you -- that intimate relationship I always try to capture in my photography.

Whitewater Draw, Arizona

Another unexpected event -- a little one this time. Our guests needed to leave first thing yesterday morning, so: no breakfast. This allowed me to get off early to look for a photograph or two. I decided to check out Whitewater Draw about an hour and 30 minutes from us. It's about 20 minutes past Tombstone. There a several shallow lakes that provide winter homes for Sandhill Crane, Snow and Ross' Geese. It is also a nesting area for Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing, and Long Eared Owls (January, February, and March). But, here it is mid December so I'll need to wait a month or so for the owls to start arriving. However,  a couple thousand Sandhill Cranes had arrived. Sandhill Cranes are very noisy birds. You can hear them from a mile away. And, of course when there are a couple thousand flying at one time it is quite a sight. Also a couple hundred Geese and this Great Egret that allowed me several wonderful photos. Also present a pair of Buffleheads - uncommon in Southern Arizona. Unfortunately, they just were not going to come close enough to me for a good photo. Also got a nice photo of a male Vermillion Flycatcher and the much more common Killdeer. I checked out Lake Cochise as well, although not much there. Did get a decent Great Blue Heron, but disappointed that White Pelicans, White Faced Ibises, and Cattle Egrets hadn't arrived yet. But, that is the "nature" of the wildlife photographer.