"Common" Loon

I find it interesting that in many cases a bird is named, "Common ..." such as the "Common" Loon. Common Moorhen, Common Snipe, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye also come to mind. Also, in the animal world Common Porcupine. It is also true of butterflies like the "Common Mormon" which is only found in southern Asia.  I would think that if something is called "common" it is plentiful -- and "common" throughout the world.  In reality, it seems like that is NEVER the case. Nonetheless, today's "5" Star Photo is a Common Loon. This photo was taken while fishing in British Columbia. I like the fact that the loon was nesting, is a close up, and has an offsetting green background.

Common Loon

Incinerator Ridge, Mount Lemmon, Arizona

Yesterday I spent about 5 hours on Incinerator Ridge, Mount Lemmon. It is a very peaceful spot (mid-week), especially this time of year. Lots of birds, including a Tennessee Warbler that is rare to Arizona.  Here are some photos from the trip:

Stellar Jay

Red Tailed Hawk

Olive Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Yellow Eyed Junco

Townsend's Warbler

Common Loon

Continuing with my "5" Star Photos we come to the Loon (Common). I took this photo while fishing on Island Lake in British Columbia. Island Lake is one of the great "trophy" lakes in BC. It isn't easy fishing but the reward is wonderful: minimum 3 pound Kamloops Rainbow Trout, average somewhere between 4 and 5 pounds. But like all lakes in BC, it seems as though there are resident Loons that you must feed with your first catch. This particular Loon waited right by my float tube until I hooked a fish. Then he dove down, chased the fish, and finally took it. I like that the purple in the neck stands out as well as the red eye and black iris. It's one of my favorites.

Loon

Long Eared Owl II

I was hiking in the Galiuro Mountains of Southeastern Arizona looking for Coatimundi without much luck. However, as is often the case, I found something else that I was not expecting. And, not only that but some good looks and good photos. It was a Long Eared Owl. A nice treat indeed.

Long Eared Owl

Long Eared Owl

The Long Eared Owl is a beautiful owl that is a year round resident in Southern Arizona. Southern Arizona also gets some migrants from the southern Canadian Provinces.  It is widespread however, with populations in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. It has very distinctive orange eyes and long ear tufts. The photo below was taken at Whitewater Draw in Southern Arizona. It was pretty well camouflaged and didn't move an inch in the hour and a half I was there. It was a challenge to find an angle that would give me a good photo. But as you can see, eventually I found one:

Leucistic Mourning Dove

Next up on my series of "5" Star Photos is our Leucistic Mourning Dove. This was a dove that probably hatched five or six weeks ago. He can now be seen daily around The Azure Gate. Albinism is a genetic mutation that prevents the production of melanin in the body. Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin from being deposited normally on feathers.  Leucism is a very rare condition that affects 1 in 550,000 birds. Typically birds with abnormally white feathers do not survive long because they are so much more visible to predators. Those that do survive may have trouble attracting a mate. Consequently, the mutated genes that cause albinism and leucism are less likely to be passed on to a new generation. However, we are hoping that this little guy will have a nice long life here at The Azure Gate. It is quite beautiful, and looks completely white when it flies. 

Leucistic Mourning Dove

Lesser Goldfinch III

The third of my "5" Star Lesser Goldfinch photos is a male sitting on one of our pomegranate trees that happened to be flowering. I especially like the composition which puts the goldfinch off center but balanced with the flower:

Lesser Goldfinch Male