With the setting sun disappearing behind western hills, a Gambel’s quail and I bid each other good evening.
📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: April 2, 2022
Tag: Sonoran Desert
The Elephant & Bear & I
It’s been another dry summer so The Elephant is a shadow of her normal self. I suppose the same could be said of Bear and I. Even with long shadows from the rising sun I couldn’t get his to pop up high enough, I need to get him some stilts. I always try to sneak in some wildlife into my shots, there’s a red-tailed hawk perched atop one of the distant saguaros.
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: September 15, 2024
Bear & The Amphitheater
Yesterday I took advantage of the long weekend and a good night’s sleep to get up before sunrise to take Bear for a hike, our first in several months. I had thoughts of taking him up to The Amphitheater this morning but last night’s sleep was a mess so I slept in. Sorry pup. The picture is from our intended destination but taken in the winter right before my leave of absence ended.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: February 15, 2024
Transitions
One in a long series of pictures exploring changing light in the desert, in this instance a kestrel eating a small rodent that didn’t quite make it to the relative safety of the night, growing shadows nearly enveloping them both.
📷: Sony A6600 | Canon 500mm | Canon 1.4X
🗓️: December 19, 2021
The Woodpecker Hotel
The Woodpecker Hotel is one of my favorite saguaros, quite the survivor to get this old and this big. I wonder how many animals owe their lives in part to the giant, from what must be hundreds of woodpeckers who were born in its arms to countless creatures who fed on its flowers and fruit. I hadn’t planned on photographing it on this occasion as Bear and I headed back to the car but I couldn’t resist when I saw the hawk perched on top.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: February 15, 2024
The Quiet Coil
The other evening as I enjoyed the gentle rain I noticed a quiet coil in the green space below. We’re on a slope so it’s a bit awkward trying to balance the telephoto while standing on the fence, this was the only picture that came out but I’ll take it as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. It’s so calming to watch a rattlesnake enjoying the rare bounty that falls from above, I’ve only had the opportunity once before.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: August 4, 2024
Christmas Presence
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to get up early and go out for a hike, you have the park mostly to yourself until families are done opening presents and the trails get busy. On this Christmas a few years ago I saw a kindred spirit as I looked back to the mountain behind me.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 24-200
🗓️: December 25, 2021
California Patch
My favorite California patch is in the north in Redwood National and State Parks, but this little California patch is impressive in its own right (assuming I identified it correctly).
📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: March 27, 2022
Seven Legs
That this green lynx spider only had seven legs didn’t seem to be holding it back, as I’m sure this leaf-footed cactus bug would agree.
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: March 18, 2022
A Little Hope
A few summers ago I noticed the park was closing after sunset so I went out for a late afternoon hike, not expecting much, just wanting to be out in the desert. It was still plenty hot so I took my favorite trail as it’s an easy hike, stopping for a water break at my favorite saguaro. She seems the worse for wear every time I see her, damage spreading further down her arms. After we exchanged pleasantries I continued down the trail but stopped after a few steps, my brain telling me it saw something but couldn’t tell me what. I stepped backwards until I was in my original spot and stared for the longest time before I realized what first caught my attention: she was pushing out new growth from one of her arms.
She never gives up, this one.
📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: August 6, 2021
Boolie 