2020 Whitewater Draw, final

A pair of Great Horned Owls have  returned to the hay shed and she is sitting on a nest.

On Wednesday I moved to the over-flow camping area. This is north of the main one and right in the flight path of the cranes as they leave and return to the roosting area. Late one afternoon a great number of them settled in to a harvested cornfield to glean.Something spooked them and they all took off, flying right overhead.

It’s a challenge to photograph them overhead but fun to try.

Last evening there was a pretty colorful sunset and this evening while it wasn’t as colorful I was able to capture some of the cranes against the color. A pleasant way to finish up a good visit!

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2020-Whitewater Draw, 1

Whitewater Draw AZ G&F refuge makes a wonderful stop as a place to relax and enjoy nature. It is a major winter stop for thousands of Sandhill Cranes, along with some Snow Geese and various ducks.  In March it isn’t as cold as it is in January and the birds are still there.

The geese fly out to feed in the morning then return to relax before flying out for a late feed. Sometimes you get lucky and see them dance. Other times they’re just resting.

 

This visit there is a large flock of Yellow Headed Blackbirds. At one point they flew over the cranes and for some reason that caused many of the cranes to leap into the air very briefly.

While a lot of folks think “ducks are ducks” I have to admit some of them are very handsome with their vibrant coloring.

 

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2020 Apache Junction, AZ

After leaving CA we headed east to the Apache Junction area of AZ. We had a few days before checking into Lost Dutchman SP so we headed up the mountains to Tortilla Flats NFS campground. What a nice campground in a spectacular setting. Great views all around. One day we drove down into town, stopping at nearly every pullout to see the views. The mountains are home to some Desert Bighorn Sheep and we got to see a few of them.

From Tortilla Flats we moved down to Lost Dutchman SP. The mountains are visible from everywhere in the park. Looking out a window of the trailer and seeing them was a never-ending delight. Several friends were camping in the park and we managed a few get togethers before we all headed out. Other treats included lots of good places to shop and the huge flea market in Mesa.

One day a few of us went out into the desert to see some wild horses. This particular area has some pretty impressive Saguaro cactus, too. We spotted at least 3 bands and were able to watch one for a while. Watching the horses interact a bit was interesting. There were 3 stallions grazing a ways off from the band we were closest to (which included some foals). When the boys started moving closer one of the mares trotted out and greeted each of them, with a bit of a squeal and sniff. She seemed to make it clear they were not to come too close and she left satisfied she had done her job.

 

 

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2020-aj

Tortilla Flats, view from my campsite ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

My campsite

Early morning view across the canyon ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Canyon Lake, morning view ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

View from a pullout ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Impressive Saguaro ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Saguaro ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Tiny desert flower ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Afternoon, Canyon Lake ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Canyon Lake reflection ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Canyon Lake reflection ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Saguaro at Tortilla Flats, above my camp site ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Stars over Superstition Mountains ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Late afternoon, Superstition Mtns. ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Saguaro Cactus ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Impressive Saguaro ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Wild horse band ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

AZ wild horses ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Three stallions ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

AZ wils stallion ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

AZ horses ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

The heat of the day ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Mare moving towards the stallions ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

With a sniff and a squeal she says “thugs far and no further” ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Job done, back to the band ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Amazing example of a Saguaro ©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

2020 Arizona, part I

This winter I headed west to AZ with a dear friend. We took a new-to-us route across a large part of LA and TX avoiding the major cities. What a good decision that was! My thanks to Jerry and Wanda for the new route!

Our first night in AZ was spent at a wonderful small campground near Portal that friends had stayed at and recommended. We were very glad we stopped for the night. It was quiet except for the sound of the creek that ran along side the campground. I went out at night hoping for a clear dark sky and was well rewarded.  I took a few images looking to the north (in this one you can clearly see the Andromeda Galaxy to the left of the Milky Way) and then some to the south. As I was standing on the bridge over the creek marveling at the night sky I noticed that the motion sensor light on the side of my trailer came on….. since there were lots of signs about bear activity I took the camera off the tripod, turned on my flashlight and started making lots of noise as I headed back to the trailer. I was happy with the images I had taken and was content to call it a night. Never did see what made the light go on and I was just as happy not to, it could have been a skunk or a bear!

After a few days visiting friends at Quartzite I went to visit another friend in Buckeye. One of the day trips we sometimes take is to the Desert Botanical Gardens. They often have special displays around Christmas and this year was no different. It featured a variety of very large plastic animals that were lit up at night. There were small info boards next to the displays with very brief info trying to tie the critters to nature or the desert in some way. The signs also said the critters were made of recyclable plastic. Personally I would have been more impressed it the critters were made of recycled plastic. Plastic critters aside it is always an interesting place to explore, I always find something new to enjoy there.

After going back to Quartzite for a week a few of us ventured west to Blythe, CA for a couple of nights at a county campground next to the Colorado River. Can safely say been there done that now. Blythe isn’t far from Q and has a couple of good grocery stores. The country around it is largely farming with hay the major crop. We did see a few Sandhill Cranes in the fields.

 

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2019 Tetons Final

Fall colors in the Tetons are not the same as in NH but they offer their own special touches.   Add in a bit of snow on the mountains and it’s really special.  

Not only are there moose around but if you get up very early and can locate some elk you my be treated to watching a bull elk taking care of his harem (this means watching over the cows and driving away rivals) and bugling.

As the moose rut progressed the bulls were getting more active. One morning we got to watch this bull drive away a younger one then chase the early cow first i n one direction then in another. They were moving at good speed and sent some photographers running. They can turn on a dime and are as agile as a lot of horses.

Down by the river the willows grow very tall and thick. This provides food for the moose and also hides them very well. I tend to not go into the willows, you never know what may be in there with you!

 

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2019 Tetons, more moose

Still in the Tetons and enjoying the moose Had a clear night recently so I went out to see if I could capture the Milky Way. As always out here it is spectacular and humbling.

Catching the moose has been a test of patience. They’re wild animals so where & when they will be visible is unpredictable. Being able to watch them is always a joy.

 

There is a river nearby and they tend to head towards it, the feeding is good there with the willows. But the willows are tall and thick so simply wandering in them to look for a moose is unwise. Fortunately when they decided to cross the river there was a wide clear spot upstream where we could watch.

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2019 Teton Moose, week one

Handsome bull
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Another September in the Tetons watching moose. I’ve been here a week and had some great opportunities so far. When I arrived it was very warm but that ended with a few rainy days and now it is clear and cold. Frost on the van windows the last two mornings. The rain down her bright new snow to the mountain tops.

 

The three bulls
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The moose count has varied, one day 4 bulls and 4 cows, but mostly we’ve seen 3 bulls and a couple of cows. This morning it’s down to 1 bull and 2 cows. Not sure if he’s driven the other bulls off or what.

When the 3 bulls were here they were all sparring together with one exception, see the photos for more info.

The cows seem more active, watching people and chasing each other at times. We have to be very aware of where the animals are because they are big and fast and can get pretty darn frustrated this time of year. Watching a bull

Early morning
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thrash away at a bush then jumping around and trotting away can give you an glimpse of that. They are surprisingly agile given their size. Watching a cow chase another one away or a bull chase a cow brings home the fact these are not sedate harmless critters they are big and fast and not much will stop them.

All three bulls
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2019 Yellowstone Aurora Borealis

Labor Day weekend in Yellowstone and the solar wind is arriving, this means possible Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) sighting. Oh boy!  I went out around 9 pm thinking I try to get some images of the Milky Way then stick around to see if the Aurora was

Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP
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visible. Didn’t do much as far as the Milky Way went but I had picked out a good spot for the Aurora so about 11 pm I headed over there.

Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP
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I could see faint color with an easily visible spike so I decided to stick around. I was there until after 2 am and it got darn cold but it was worth it!  As time went on the color got better and pillars were visible.

 

I did move slightly so to be closer to White Dome geyser as it

Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP, White Dome geyser on the left
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went off. Imaging capturing the Aurora in the sky and the geyser with all it’s power from underground. The are some other geysers in some of the images, they were further away and I don’t know any names (if they are named).

 

Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP
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Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP
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Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP
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Aurora Borealis, Yellowstone NP, White Dome Geyser on left
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2019 Yellowstone day and night

I spent some time in Yellowstone in late August, moving from Mammoth area to Madison Junction then to Canyon Village. Managed to see some bison and get some nice images at night also.

 

It  was  warmer  than  I  was  hoping for but  all  went  well  

 

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