Tag: Arizona

Objects In Camera Are Further Than They Appear

A close-up of the head and neck of a western diamondback rattlesnake on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _A674804.ARW

While waiting for the diamondback to fully leave the trail, I took a water break and continued on. I was surprised to see it was still there on the other side of the bush and even more surprised by what was blocking its path. There are many creatures that will kill and eat a rattlesnake but I don’t think the desert cottontail is on that list. The rabbit had hopped across the trail while I was waiting, I was a little surprised since it clearly saw me and it must have seen the snake.

I took some quick pictures, zoomed all the way in on the snake, all the way out on the rabbit. I continued up the trail as I felt I was too close to not impact the outcome of the standoff, whatever it may be (I don’t think the snake was interested in the rabbit). When I passed back by, the only sign of the brief encounter was the thin strip in the sand where the snake first crossed the trail.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: June 2, 2024

A desert cottontail leans forward with ears at full attention as it watches a rattlesnake (not in the picture) on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _A674804.ARW

Where’s Waldo?

The tail of a western diamondback rattlesnake is visible sticking out of bushes in a sweeping view of the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _Z729608.NEF

A chaotic landscape rather than a pretty one but I took the picture because of the telltale tail and this view made me laugh, thinking back years ago when we adopted Sam and Emma and when they’d be feeling a little insecure and hide under the bed, only their tail was sticking out betraying their location. I had seen the diamondback stretched out across the trail so hung back to give it time to move into the underbrush, but when it stopped with its tail visible I couldn’t resist a picture.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: June 2, 2024

The Wandering Tank

A close-up of graffiti and rust on an old water tank in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 6, 2024. Original: _ZFC8964.ARW

A close-up of the old water tank out in the preserve, decorated by Mother Nature and human nature. I don’t know if it was left there as a nod to the area’s past or if it’s deemed too difficult and damaging to the desert to remove. I don’t think it’s that hard though, one of the decorations is from a bike hotel in Canada so clearly the tank is sneaking out at night and wandering the world. Set up a trail camera to see when it leaves, spring a trap when it returns, problem solved!

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 6, 2024

Backyard Beauty

A female tarantula sits outside her nest in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 32, 2024. Original: _A674748.ARW

Both of our backyard tarantulas emerged from their winter slumber last month though one completely sealed off her entrance again and this one I haven’t seen in a few days, though perhaps I’ve just missed her. She didn’t retreat to her hole one night a week ago when I let Bear out to go to the bathroom, so I grabbed my camera and she sat still for the 2.5 second exposure (sitting still is what she does most of the night).

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 31, 2024

The Joy of the Familiar

A male Scott’s oriole sings from atop flower buds on a saguaro in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 29, 2024. Original: _A674574.ARW

While I enjoy scenic views my favorite part of hiking is seeing animals and plants, so I love visiting trails over and over and over and over and seeing friends both new and familiar. On this occasion a Scott’s oriole singing atop the flower buds of a saguaro, I had seen it in the area on previous hikes. Nothing exotic about the location, I’m standing on the path between the parking lot and the trailhead structure. But what beauty there was to be seen!

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 29, 2024

A Rock and a Hard Place

A close-up view of the head of a common chuckwalla sleeping in the crevice of a large boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 28, 2024. Original: _A673895.ARW

A sleeping chuckwalla is happy to be stuck between a rock and a hard place on a warm spring afternoon. It was a beautiful crevice, deep enough to provide protection from the hawks and owls living nearby with hungry mouths to feed. It’s a bit humbling to see for someone who has trouble sleeping even curled up and comfy in bed.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 28, 2024

Built-in Back-Scratchers

A mule deer buck preens surrounded by desert plants on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 16, 2023. Original: _RAC9671.ARW

I was doing some macro photography of prickly pear paddles when I noticed a buck in the desert scrub behind me. It slowly approached as it grazed, then crossed the trail and continued further south. After I finished the shots he was still in sight and clearly comfortable with me so I sidled down the trail with my telephoto setup, finding a location where I could surround the fine fellow with the desert plants for context. I love watching animals preen, especially those without hands, he was using his teeth though he did have some nice built-in back-scratchers at his disposal. I had trouble getting the focus to lock and most shots were blurry, it was the kick in the pants I needed to order the A6700.

📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: November 16, 2023

The Courtship Ritual

A greater roadrunner perches on a boulder with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its beak in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 20, 2024. Original: _A678074.ARW

We came across this roadrunner with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its mouth and hung back so as not to scare it off its meal. Instead of eating it though it repeatedly made long calls, I assume a courtship ritual and Bear and I were both rather flattered. Eventually it crossed over and started again from a more distant perch, at which point I felt we could continue on without disturbing it.

The desert is full of surprises.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: April 20, 2024

A greater roadrunner calls out with a dead zebra-tailed lizard in its beak in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 20, 2024. Original: _A678037.ARW

Not a Junkyard Dog

Our dog Bear looks into the distance while standing in front of a water tank covered in graffiti on Service Road No. 4 in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Original: _ZFC8970.NEF

“Not a Junkyard Dog”

This old tank covered in graffiti is my favorite reminder this once was not preserved parkland. I think Bear was watching some hikers over on the Whiskey Bottle Trail, he’s generally not one for looking in the camera and that’s OK. Most of the park is lush with plants and animals and doesn’t resemble the entrance to a junkyard but I do enjoy photographing the tank whenever we’re in the area.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 6, 2024