Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part V

As I mentioned there are several different habitats within the 25,000 acres of Las Cienegas. One such is Empire Gulch. Most of the Gulch is dry except for heavy rains. However, there is a spring that flows year round that creates a riparian area for about 100 yards. This past week I birded the spring had photographed the following:

Blue Grosbeak

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black Phoebe

Female Summer Tanager

Yellow Breasted Chat

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part IV

Wilderness areas often provide an unexpected photo. While not unusual for there to be snakes at Las Cienegas, it is unusual to come across one. This Sonoran Bull Snake was crossing the Discovery Trail as I was passing by:

Sonoran Bull Snake

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part III

Las Cienegas also has a small population of Pronghorn wandering around its 25,000 acres. I have had great luck finding them and being able to get close for a photo. On one of my trips last week I found two Pronghorn a little too far for a great photo, but here it is nonetheless:

Pronghorn

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part II

Las Cienegas, with its varied habitats, also has varied wildlife. In additional to the Javelinas, there is a Prairie Dog Town with the endangered Black Tailed Prairie Dog. Once you find the site, you can return day after day watching these little guys. It's almost mesmerizing:

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part I

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is 25,000 acres of desert habitat. However, that doesn't fully describe the area very well. Parts of it are the typical scrub desert; parts are desert grasslands, parts are open prairie, there are a few small ponds, and there is a spring that holds water for about 100 yards creating a true riparian habitat.

Over the next couple of days I will show some photos I've taken the past week. For today, it's a Javelina. I was sitting quietly on a downed tree trunk in Empire Gulch waiting patiently for warblers, phoebes, waterthrushes, flycatchers, and anything else previously reported or not. While sitting there a Javelina came down to the spring, dug himself a "mud hole" and bathed in the mud for several minutes. Finally he stood up, shook off some of the water/mud, and slowly walked away and out of sight. I never moved an inch. He never saw me or even knew I was there. 

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge - Part V

I arrived at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge at dawn and the first thing I was compelled to do was take photos of the Sunrise:

Sunrise at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Sunrise at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Sunrise at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge - Part IV

And a few other birds along the Green River complex at Seedskadee:

Yellow Headed Blackbird

Spotted Sandpiper

Killdeer

Northern Flicker