Mexican Poppies

So, here are some Mexican Poppies I promised. I think it was our first year in Southern Arizona. We had gone down to Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge on the Mexican border looking for pronghorn and anything else we could find. (With some luck by the way). Driving back through the little town of Arivaca (where there is a second section of BANWR -- this one a birder's heaven). About five miles past Arivaca we started seeing these wildflowers everywhere. Finally, we thought a photo was appropriate. With all the rain we've had this year we expect to have a beautiful wildflower season (late March through April). We'll see. I learned that I can only make one weather prediction with absolute certainty: JUNE WILL BE HOT!

Sharp Shinned for a Rainy Day

Hard to believe, but it is another rainy day here in Tucson. It seems like we have had more rain this year than all of last year. The good news is the wildflower and cactus blooming season (mid-March to June) should be fantastic. Mexican poppies everywhere. Maybe tomorrow a photo? But even in the rain the birds are out. This sharp shinned hawk is sitting in a mesquite tree just waiting for a nice little sparrow, finch, dove or quail to come by. Will he be lucky? Don't know for sure.

Northern Cardinal

As I was sitting in my office a few minutes ago I noticed our male cardinal feeding from our "cardinal feeder." The cardinal feeder is an ingenious device with counter weights measured to the weight of a cardinal: the equivalent of seven quarters. If a bird is too light the perch will not lower enough to get food through the window. If a bird is too heavy the perch will pass the opening and again nothing. But, like life there is always someone trying to get away with something (cheat, steal, etc). Such it is with our cardinal feeder. The Gila Woodpecker has figured out how to grab ahold of the side of the feeder with one leg, and then put just the right amount of weight from his other leg on the perch to get to the food. Nothing is foolproof.

Learning Wildlife Photography

So, there I was at the Grand Canyon's edge with 53 million other people. Okay, that's an exaggeration, it was probably not more the 45 million. Anyway, I am there looking for California Condors. After a couple hours of staring up in the sky, (and feeling dizzy with a little pain in the neck) I spot two Condors coming my directions. I get so excited as they pass overhead, turn to see if I can get a couple more photos and swiftly without a moments notice fall on a bolder and down I go. $1,500 damage to my lens and camera. And cuts and bruises up and down my leg and arms. And, if that weren't bad enough, I had my family with me including son-in-law Andy, who is an avid outdoor spokesperson for the Sierra Club. They were at the visitor's center while all of this was taking place. When they got back to the Jeep, there I was, covered in blood. Oh well, I can laugh about it now. But there is a lesson: Pay attention to your surroundings. Always, always know exactly where you are. So, here you have it: a not very good $1500 photo.

As Inspector Clouseau, would say: "The Mystery is Sol-Ved."

From time to time a dove or a sparrow -- once even a quail -- slam into one of our windows. Maybe a third die from a broken neck (sorry to say). But, one morning I heard a much louder crash out side my office, but no sign of anything. A day or two later Christine heard the same thing outside the kitchen window. A day later once again outside my office came this big crash. This time I saw a Cooper's Hawk fly away. I thought I would hate to have one of those beautiful hawks die from such an "accident." But, the next day the mystery was solved. I was looking out the window watching doves eat seed that had been spilled from the bird feeder above when I saw a Cooper's Hawk dart down pick up the dove and deliberately smash the dove into the window killing the dove instantly. The Cooper's Hawk then flew away with his catch to a nearby tree and spent the next hour plucking feathers and eating. The term "birdbrain" may work for some birds, like doves and quail (which is another story) but for some they are quite ingenious.

Fighting Bald Eagles

One of the keys to wildlife photography is research; putting yourself in the place of most potential. Where in the United States --or Canada -- do I have the best chance of seeing whatever: bighorn sheep, elk, black bear, grizzly bear, caribou, wolves, mountain lions, etc. Then of course it is what time of the year is best? Bear in May and June when they are just out of hibernation and looking for fresh vegetation to eat (and with cubs!); Bull Elk and Moose you want later in the season when their antlers are the largest. Some, like Caribou are more difficult to find except in the winter. Many animals like pronghorn, coatimundi, elk, deer, coyotes, tend to herd together for the winter. And, finally what time of day. Morning or late afternoon work best for some, but I have had better luck with Mountain Goats more during midday. Having said all of this, there is still and always will be a factor of luck. So even when I am on my way somewhere I am always on the lookout for opportunities. And, many times I have been pleasantly surprised like this pair of bald eagles fighting in mid air. A joy to watch and a joy to photograph.

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.