White Faced Ibis - I

I have three White Faced Ibis that I call "5" Star. This first one was taken at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona. The White Faced Ibis is a migratory wading bird that can pretty much be found Spring, Summer, and Fall here in Southern Arizona:

White Faced Ibis

White Eared Hummingbird - II

Another "5" Star White Eared Hummingbird photo:

White Eared Hummingbird

The White Eared Hummingbird, more common in Mexico and Central America, is a very rare summer visitor to West Texas and Southern New Mexico, but a little more frequent in Southeast Arizona. That's not to say they are abundant and easy to find. When seen they are always reported in the ABA Birding News. The best place to see them is at Beatty's Orchard, Miller Canyon, in the Huachuca Mountains of Southeast Arizona. That may mean less than 20 days a year.

White Eared Hummingbird

Whiskered Screech Owl

Continuing with my alphabetical series of my "5" Star Photos we come to the Whiskered Screech Owl. It's range is primarily Mexico and Central America, yet occasionally wanders into the Madrean Sky Island of Southeast Arizona. This photo was taken in Madera Canyon:

Whiskered Screech Owl

Birding Juan Bautista de Anza Trail

"Now, a few words on looking for things. When you go looking for something specific, your chances of finding it are very bad. Because of all the things in the world, you're only looking for one of them. When you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good. Because of all the things in the world, you're sure to find some of them." Daryl Zero, the Zero Effect

Yesterday, I arrived early at Montosa Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains in hopes of finding the Black Capped Gnatcatchers. Very, very quiet, though. No Black Capped Gnatcatchers. So I headed further south to the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail just south of Santa Gertrudis Lane. There I was hoping to find either or both the Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes. Although I saw many Lark Sparrows, a few Lucy's and Wilson's Warblers, I didn't find the specific birds I was looking for. 

So what was I to do? I didn't want to come home empty handed so I found a couple of non-bird photos that turned out quite nicely:

Western Tanager

Up next, the Western Tanager which is found throughout Western North America. They breed here in Arizona, usually in coniferous forests. Being close to Mount Lemmon, they stop by at our place occasionally. They stay in the trees foraging for insects and occasionally fruit.

Western Tanager

Western Tanager

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

From wildflowers to rattlesnakes. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake's range is from Arkansas to California and into Mexico. Typically it grows to about 4 feet, less than half the size of a bull snake. Yet, obviously a bit more dangerous. 

If you believe what you see and hear at the movies, they are everywhere in the desert and you have to kill them before they kill you. We just watched a delightful movie (Fools Rush In) where the male lead goes with his hispanic wife's brothers into the desert where he finds himself surrounded by a dozen rattlesnakes. Maybe there is a place/situation like that but I've been hiking and photographing in the Arizona desert for 12 years and never seen more than one rattler at a time. And, never ever had to kill one.

We have them living on our property although rarely see them -- maybe four times a year. For the most part they stay underground. Nonetheless, I always marvel at their beauty and significance when I see them.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake