Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Widow Spider

Of course, we are most famous for our Tarantula's but evidently get a Black Widow every now and then. I say now and then because this is the only one I remember seeing in the past 13 years:

Black Widow Spider

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Tail Gnatcatcher

The Black Tail Gnatcatcher is not one of the more common visitors to The Azure Gate, but does show up occasionally:

Black Tail Gnatcatcher

Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast: Black Racer

Returning to my series of photos taken here at our Bed and Breakfast, we come to the Black Racer. We've had 10 different snake species here, and this one is one of the most beautiful -- and definitely the fastest:

Black Racer

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

Whitewater Draw

Whitewater Draw, 25 miles southeast of Tombstone is one of the premier winter birding sites in the US. It never fails to provide photos. Last week Christine and I picnicked and walked the dikes. Here are a few of the photos:

Ruddy Duck

Cinnamon Teal

Pied Billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

White Crowned Sparrow

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Common Gallinule

Pena Blanca Lake

The story continues:

Two days later, we made the same trip with some friends starting with a picnic at Pena Blanca Lake. This was more of a "hike" and sightseeing tour than birding/photo trip. Didn't get to the spot at Pena Blanca where the Rufous Capped Warbler has been hanging out. 

Although American Coots are everywhere, and I normally don't take photos of them anymore, I did get one this time of one begging for a photo:

American Coot

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: White Throated Sparrow

Continuing the story, Christine and I walked around the one mile loop of Arivaca Cienegas. Not much to report. Only one photo of significance -- but a good one. A White Throated Sparrow was enjoying a photo shoot:

White Throated Sparrow