Finally!!! This early spring I had a difficult time spotting certain birds reported around the area. However, during a warm and hot day in Madera canyon, I was finally able to get the shots. But first, check out this colorful character shedding that old skin.
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| Sonoran Spotted Whiptail Lizard |
Of course it was during my hummingbird challenge that I would finally spot birds that I had specifically gone to see earlier. BUT that doesn't matter. The important part was that I could finally capture these lovely birds in their natural settings. The shot below almost didn't happen. The corners of my eye spotted movement and I turned around slowly and just in time to snap this shot. It was just one pic and it turned out! The birds that I'm about to show you are very skittish around people and the camera. I've seen them in person but by the time, I had the camera ready, they were gone.
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| Hooded Oriole |
The pic above was exciting! I've never seen this kind of Oriole before. What a treat!! I love the yellow head. I sat with 3 very kind birders. Quiet and maybe a little clannish, but they weren't mean at all. It looked like a mother and father. The father lacked social skills, but the mother was really nice. And their daughter...who was in Jr. High? knew so much about birds. I was impressed. At one point, I think I had spotted a Violet Crowned Hummer and asked the young lady in a whisper if that's we she saw as well and replied, "Yes, I think it was." And the camera equipment they had on them!!! This little girl pulled out what looked like a machine gun of a camera. Talk about putting some muscle into the shots.
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| Young Blue Grosbeak |
And then, I looked up. Finally. Thank you! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! A splotchy young Blue Grosbeak sat just long enough for me to snap off a couple shots. There are several Grosbeaks that are pretty common and don't mind people around them.....but this particular Grosbeak is very secretive.
I barely noticed it but I felt a presence in the force and luckily looked up. Anyhow, while the hummingbird search was a bust for new species, it wasn't a complete loss with both these additions....which were life birds for me. And that's what I love about birding......you never know when someone will pop in for a visit. The summer is just warming up. Wait until you see what I have in store:) Muggy hot but some of the best wildlife happening right now with all the rains going on around Southern Arizona. More tomorrow.....
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I barely noticed it but I felt a presence in the force and luckily looked up. Anyhow, while the hummingbird search was a bust for new species, it wasn't a complete loss with both these additions....which were life birds for me. And that's what I love about birding......you never know when someone will pop in for a visit. The summer is just warming up. Wait until you see what I have in store:) Muggy hot but some of the best wildlife happening right now with all the rains going on around Southern Arizona. More tomorrow.....
Another good look round.
ReplyDeleteLove the lizard
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail Lizard is a wild guest to your blog, great photos.
ReplyDeleteOh man - that hummingbird. That Lizard! I'm coming down to Tucson and just follow you around taking these fabulous photos. :)
ReplyDeleteThat Oriole is spectacular Chris, plus a Grosbeak, a good day then :-)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your last comment on my blog mentioned a gallery of birds I have photographed. Well, as it happens I am in the process of putting together a gallery of all birds photographed on my patch.
The gallery can be found on my home page, click the link on the top right hand side of the home page ''Pittswood Bird Gallery''. ( its with other links) Ive got all the species in alphabetical order, where possible I have included both sexes and young birds - it is unfinished yet, but I have got up to the letter 'R' so far :-)
More lovely photos Chris - I really love the first one of a lizard - incredible! Well done on the new birds you spotted - the Hooded Oriole is really beautiful. Love the metal "dragon" sculpture - I'd love one of those :)
ReplyDeleteHi dear Kreesh, am home in the province and it's raining hard again so gardening is not possible. But between breaks some birds still tweet and i saw two species, however my lens cannot do justice to them. So i just listened to the very nice varieties of songs from the Oriental magpie robin.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have really taken them beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you've got the room for it in your yard, but plant some California Fan Palms. Washingtomia filifera. Oroiles love utilizing the thin strands of palm fibers and weaving their beautifully woven nests inside the dead fronds.
ReplyDeleteThere are also nectar feeders which look like the hummingbird variety but with bigger holes for access. Do you have Western Tanagers there ? They love the fruit as well.
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Chris, congrats on your lifers. The Grosbeak is a beautiful bird. I would love to see the hooded Oriole. The lizard is cool too. When I am out "birding" I am looking at everything, the birds, flowers and the critters. Awesome photos, have a great Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI know you're focusing on the birds right now but we don't have any lizards where I live so I am enchanted by your first photo. The last picture you posted is cool, the bird looks like a mottled version of the sky behind it :)
ReplyDeleteYou have amazing patience, more then me that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteYes camera envy, it raises it's nasty head everywhere doesn't it? LOL.
Great shots, love the colors.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
the blue grosbeak would be a thrill for me, too!
ReplyDeleteAn awesome collection. All great shots!
ReplyDeleteWell done Chris, nice work! You certainly meet some interesting people while you're birding don't you. It's definitely worth while enlarging the Hooded Oriole to get a closer look, wonderful markings.
ReplyDeleteNice grosbeak. You are so patient when it comes to photographing birds. I am usually Way too slow.
ReplyDeleteTHe Hooded Oriole is quite a pic! Never seen one before.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are seeing a great variety of birds. Nice shots!
ReplyDelete"The father lacked social skills." You crack me up!!! I can almost always match my socially awkward students to their socially awkward parents. Maybe the girl was adopted. You saw an oriole? Dang!! I've been trying to attract those for years. I just get big pooping blackbirds. :o)
ReplyDeleteReally nice bird shots! Orioles sure are beautiful! We only get them around here in passing in the spring. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteHi Chris... thanks for all your lovely comments on my blog. How wonderful to get the shot of the lizard shedding its skin and such beautifully coloured birds you get... very nice! :)
ReplyDeleteI will have to look back at my pictures to get the date, but there is one time of year that the hooded orioles always come to my humming bird feeder. I'm so glad you got pictures of two new birds!
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