Patient Observations

Greater Roadrunner

As we approach April, I find myself with 212 birds on the list for this year.  Now that's pretty good, but if you're playing this as a game or competition, it's not good enough:)  While on my journeys, I've really found some wonderful birds up close and personal.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Of course, some I see often, but I can't help but take their pictures.

Northern Mockingbird

With spring in full force down here in Tucson, we're finding lots of birds displaying courtship behaviors.

Many of these birds are singing out on the limbs of trees and bushes trying to find the love of their life.

Pyrrhuloxia

This really has allowed me to get closer to the birds and snap the shots.

Gila Woodpecker

If you just sit, like I did with Kathie, the birds will come right up to you.  And that's when these normally difficult to film birds come out and jump very close to us.  We had so much fun snapping shots of sparrows, towhees and quail!

Black-throated Sparrow

We've been attracting attention lately observing birds.  Tourists find us and ask us questions like, "Any good birds?"  "What do you see?"  Then they try to take shots of the birds after they've scared them away.  Several younger kids went to photograph the Gambel's Quail.  But if you sit and wait....

Canyon Towhee

They will come to you!!!  It's been difficult to lose the curious and oblivious tourists on this quest to find birds.

Gambel's Quail(male)

Before I was polite.  Now I just walk away as quick as I can.

Recently on a birding trip, Kathie met several people who followed her blog.  It's always exciting meeting  everyone, but take a look at what was going on while she was chatting.....

Kathie and the Acorn Woodpecker

An Acorn Woodpecker was at the feeder!  She didn't see the bird because she was excited to meet the nice couple.  But I couldn't help and take a snapshot of her chatting while the bird took advantage of the distraction!!    That made me have a good laugh.  When she finished talking and turned her head, the bird made her jump as he flew off the feeder. "Oh my gosh, there was a bird next to my head."  Yes there was Ms. Brown.  Yes there was:) And a Northern Harrier flew over your head:)

Don't get me wrong.  I love people.  I wouldn't work with people if I didn't find them interesting BUT as a wildlife photographer, I want to get as close as I can to my target bird without the distractions.   The details are breathtaking on these big and small birds.  It requires extreme focus and QUIET!

I was in love with our photo shoots on this day.  The birds were fabulous as were the walks.  

Song Sparrow

Not all days are successful, but some days, the finds are exciting and the pics are terrific.

Common Merganser(female or hen)

Right now, I have some photography that will be published out of Brazil on UNESCO sites.  And there's a potential art show getting put together with my work in Quito, Ecuador for next summer.  Now that would be an epic birding trip for 2014!  I'd have some work on display at a gallery and then I could go around the country for epic treks.  Life is good and it's becoming more and more fantastic as time goes on.

But for now, my focus stays in Arizona as I hunt down as many species as I can within our beautiful state.

the Great Egret

Life truly is an adventure.  Since this photo shoot, we've had some epic journeys into the mountains and canyons.  There have been incredible finds.  Where will we be next?  Stay tuned for more.