Dancers In The Dark

White-faced Ibis flying over at Sweetwater, Tucson

There is no denying the specific bird calls that happen while out in the field.  As a photographer, I try to get the best shots that I can with the species seen for the day.  A relatively new issue for me happened when I went to a location to find Elf Owls and Whip-Poor-Wills.  The shadows of night are mysterious and wondrous but provide little in the way of photography.  I would love to snap shots of these nocturnal birds, but I won't.  I'm afraid the flash on my camera will do harm. 

Arizona Woodpecker at Box Canyon

On a recent outing in Madera Canyon, I searched for the Whiskered Screech Owl.  While waiting for this bird to appear from the nest, I heard the unmistakable sound of the Elf Owl.  Two other night birders were with me.  My eyesight isn't so good but my ears are spot on to the sound and it helped me locate the bird from within several feet of its location.  For the next step, my new birder friends helped me locate,with my terrible eyes, the tiniest owl in the world!  It looked like a knot on the Sycamore tree along the creek.  I had my camera.  I had the flash ready to go and my human OCD nature really wanted to snap that shot.  But I couldn't.  I wouldn't.  I watched the bird with my new friends and we were extremely happy.  Then the little nub flew off the branch into oblivion.

Cedar Waxwings in Box Canyon

Sometimes birders will talk.  I am guilty of this as well, but I try to limit the chat so that I can use my ears to hone in on the bird.  On this night while sitting in the breezy grassy field, the unmistakable sound of the Mexican Whip-poor-will echoed through the canyon.  Another excellent bird.  I studied the calls before doing my nocturnal birding.  Common Poorwills, Nighthawks, etc etc.....

Sandhill Cranes near Willcox

And yet sadly, I can only write about the experiences instead of sharing pics with you.  So I chose the theme of silhouettes for this post to visually show you what I see at these times of twilight.  On a recent outing, Kathie and I stayed out near Sweetwater past sunset.  It was there that the Great Horned Owl "hoo hoo'd" on top of a tree.  The tip swayed with the bird as the wind moved it from side to side. The owl appeared too heavy to stay aloft the Aleppo Pine's tip.....and yet there it remained.  The other owl silently flew near us.  A Lesser Nighthawk also shot out in front of my car.  I have really enjoyed these night time birding adventures.  When I'm with other people, I feel comfortable.  When I'm alone, I get a little creeped out. 

Snow Geese in Bosque Del Apache, New Mexico

My biggest challenge is to find a way to get better pics of these birds without compromising their well-being.  I don't use flash in bat caves and I won't use flash at night.  So then how will I get pics of these elusive night birds??  Any advice?:)

Our adventures are going to be taking us to some really extreme places.  My other half, Pat, is a little skeptical.  It's definitely not the forests of the north nor the lush Sonoran desert but it's new territory for Las Aventuras.  Stay tuned for more fun.....

Lesser Nighthawk