HOME

BACK

Return to Southeastern Arizona
 March/April, 2013

For my first trip in 2013, and my first chance to get out of Ohio in over 9 months I headed to a long time favorite location. Since I started birding I have been to Arizona about 8 or 9 times, but I hadn't been there in seven years when I made four trips in 2006.  I was way overdue to get back there. Like most trips to Arizona, my week and a half there wasn't especially productive for the camera. Bird photography can be difficult there despite all the great potential subjects. The nice morning light comes and goes quickly and then becomes very harsh. Evenings are often windy and usually dead silent. Finding birds in good light along narrow winding mountain roads where it is open and level enough to stop can be difficult. Throwing in delays for flat tire changes and my flash unit breaking on the second day added to the frustrations on this trip.  The end of March and beginning of April also wasn't the ideal time to visit. Most mountain birds had yet to arrive and many specialties of the lower elevations weren't yet present either. Easter weekend also found just about every campsite and picnic area jam packed in the National Forest. Despite all that, it was great to go back to Arizona. It is just a great area to get out to explore and find solitude off the beaten path. If the photography wasn't all I hoped for, the birding offered many highlights that the camera didn't capture such as at least 4 Elegant Trogons, Montezuma Quails, a Northern Pygmy Owl, and singing Gray Vireos amongst the countless migrants. I already can't wait until my next visit. Unlike 2006 when I tried to do it all in a year, I will try to get there regularly over the next few years at various times of year.  It is now mid-April in Ohio and bird photography goes into high gear here, and the Columbus Symphony season is by no means over with Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique looming heavily on the horizon. Time is limited, so I will just let the photos do the talking this time.
 
 


Canyon Towhee at Saguaro National Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f11, 1/500th sec., ISO 400


Saguaro National Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 14mm f2.8 L II lens
f11, 1/640th sec., ISO 250


Saguaro National Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 14mm f2.8 L II lens
f11, 1/800th sec., ISO 250


Saguaro National Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 27mm
f11, 1/640th sec., ISO 250


Curve-billed Thrasher at Saguaro National Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f11, 1/800th sec., ISO 400


Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 32mm
f11, 1/160th sec., ISO 250


Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 19mm
f11, 1/125th sec., ISO 250


Lucy's Warbler in Mesquite at Gila Box RNCA
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f10, 1/250th sec., ISO 400


Burned Foothills of the Chiricahuas
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 24mm
f11, 1/320th sec., ISO 400
 


Hutton's Vireo singing in the Chiricahuas
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f11, 1/1000th sec., ISO 400


Yellow-eyed Junco on charred log near Barfoot Park
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f10, 1/160th sec., ISO 400


Carr Canyon in the Huachucas
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 L lens at 300mm
f13, 1/640th sec., ISO 400


Buff-breasted Flycatcher atop Carr Canyon
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f11, 1/1000th sec., ISO 400


The Road to Chino Canyon
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 14mm f2.8 L II lens
f13, 1/800th sec., ISO 400


Cactus Wren in Chino Canyon
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f11, 1/1250th sec., ISO 400


Elephant Head from Chino Canyon in the Santa Ritas
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 18mm
f11, 1/120th sec., ISO 400


Looking Back South toward Chino Canyon and the Santa Ritas
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II lens at 30mm
f10, 1/60th sec., ISO 400


Rufous-winged Sparrow in Santa Rita foothills
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L lens + 1.4x
f10, 1/200th sec., ISO 500


Looking South toward Chino Canyon and Elephant Head
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 L lens at 70mm
f10, 1/80th sec., ISO 400