June 27th, 2011   Tags: , ,

White Mountains: Reptiles and more

Bee-sp-Walnut-Creek-11-0624-01While in the White Mountains I was able to get photos of a wide range of wildlife… birdsbutterflies and dragonflies. Here’s everything else, from lizards to grasshoppers. [...]

June 19th, 2011   Tags: , ,

Sweetwater Wetlands

Common-Kingsnake-California-Sweetwater-11-0619-02The main highlights were reptilian. We found a snake, a six foot COMMON KINGSNAKE of the California Kingsnake variety. Unfortunately it didn’t hang around for many photos but it was nice to see. Amazingly, this was the first live snake I’d seen this year. Hopefully it won’t be the last. [...]

June 12th, 2011   Tags: , , , , ,

June Fun Birding Workshop

Streak-backed-Oriole-Patagonia-Lake-Estates-11-0612-03We pulled up outside Alan’s house and, as luck would have it, the STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE flew in and landed briefly. We waited a while and over time got fantastic views of this gorgeous rare bird. We met top photographer Charles W. Melton, which is always a pleasure. As usual, Charles got the best photo. [...]

May 28th, 2011   Tags: , , , ,

Continental, Madera Canyon

Common-Black-Hawk-Madera-Canyon-11-0528-04Our highlight was undoubtedly a COMMON BLACK HAWK soaring over the lower reaches of the Carrie Nation Trail. Could it be one of the birds seen at Patagonia Lake recently? Another raptor, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, pushed the Black Hawk close for bird of the day. This was much higher up the Carrie Nation Trail. [...]

May 27th, 2011   Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Madera Canyon, Rio Rico, Patagonia

Magnificent-Hummingbird-Madera-Canyon-11-0527-01At the Paton’s house, we were entertained by a couple of COMMON GROUND-DOVES, several GRAY HAWKS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LARK SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK and BROAD-TAILED, BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS. [...]