 The Cactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, builds nests on the Jumping Cholla. The nests are quite secure amongst all the spines and the bird knows how to avoid the spines of the Jumping Cholla. Photographed in the arid scrub Desert of Tucson in Pima County in southeastern Arizona, USA. The desert landscapes of Arizona are a different world than what I’m used to in the lush, green forests of Georgia. I especially love the varieties of cactus. And on this trip, I discovered another species that favors the cacti, and is aptly named the Cactus Wren, and is the state bird of Arizona. The Cactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, is endemic to the southwest and northern Mexico. It can build its nest on the treacherous Jumping Cholla. I myself have been stuck by this formidable cactus and had to pull many tiny, well-planted spines out of my skin. But the Cactus Wren somehow knows how to avoid the spines of the Jumping Cholla. The cactus wren seems much larger than the wrens I’m used to in the southeastern United States. But like our wrens, they co-exist well with humans and often reside in their immediate vicinity, using man-made materials and structures for nesting. - Sunny and hot, with a high near 105. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.  Cholla Teddybear jumping cactus, Cylindropuntia bigelovii, in the Opuntia cactus family with prickly pears. Photographed in the Desert of Tucson in Pima County in southeastern Arizona, USA. Sonoran desert and Rincon Mountain landscapes.  Cactus Wren bird in desert scrub, Arizona. June 11, 2018  Cholla Teddy bear jumping cactus, Tucson Arizona Sonora Desert  Cactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, is a desert bird that nests in Cholla cactuses. Photographed in the arid scrub desert of Tucson in southeastern Arizona, USA. Sonoran desert and Rincon Mountain landscapes.
0 Comments
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Vermilion flycatchers, Pyrocephalus obscurus, generally prefer somewhat open areas, and are found in trees or shrubs in savannah, scrub, agricultural areas, riparian woodlands, and desert as well, but usually near water. Their range includes almost all of Mexico; it extends north into the southwestern United States Monday, June 11I have increasingly become more and more addicted to birding. Why? What is the appeal? Perhaps it is because birding can be done anytime and anywhere. Unlike snakes (my first love) and the larger critters, birds can be found anywhere. Even on a stretch of industrial properties behind my hotel in Tucson, Arizona! Each morning at 5:30 AM during my weeklong stay in Tucson for our International Bible Conference, I took a walk down Medina Rd near the Tucson airport. Every walk yielded up new Life Birds and plenty of great photo opportunities. Although it would have been fun, I didn’t need to wander out into Saguaro National Park to find all these desert delights! - Walking down Medina Rd between Tucson Boulevard and Palo Verde Rd.
 The Gila woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis, is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico. Photographed in the arid scrub desert of Tucson in southeastern Arizona, USA.
Tuesday, June 12- Sunny and hot, high near 108.  Mourning Dove. Photographed in the arid scrub desert of Tucson in southeastern Arizona, USA. Sonoran desert and Rincon Mountain landscapes. Saguaro National Park.  House Finch Bird perched in Mesquite tree. Photographed in the arid scrub desert of Tucson in southeastern Arizona, USA. Sonoran desert and Rincon Mountain landscapes. Saguaro National Park.  Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Tucson, Arizona is truly a desert oasis created by reclaimed waste water; a birders paradise! "He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water." Psalm 107:35  Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Picoides scalaris, is a small black and white woodpecker of the southwestern United States and Mexico that forages and nests in cactus. Photographed in June 2018 in Sweetwater Wetlands Park. June 10, 2018 - At 5:30 AM I was already standing with anticipation in the parking lot of Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Tucson, Arizona. Because there is no Daylight Savings changes, it was sunny 79 degrees, even at this early hour. Not even twenty feet out of the parking lot, a plump little Life Bird ran across my path: a Gambel’s Quail. He darted too quickly into the scrub and I missed a shot. At the time I was frustrated, but had no idea of the abundant opportunities to photograph them that this week would hold.  House Finch perched on desert Mesquite branch, Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson Arizona, USA  Red-winged Blackbird, Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson Arizona, USA  White Winged Dove, Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson Arizona, USA  Song Sparrow bird, Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson Arizona USA  Lucys Warbler songbird, Oreothlypis luciae, range includes southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. One of the smallest warblers, the Lucy`s Warbler is a bird of the hot Sonoran desert. It occupies the driest habitat of all the warblers breeding in that area. Photographed in June 2018 in Sweetwater Wetlands Park, a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. Next, a rapid aerial foray between three Kestrels and a few swallows took place right before me. With so many photo prospects, and such a short amount of time, I began to feel frantic and rushed. I was whipping and wheeling my lens around, not knowing where to aim. But I soon settled in and systematically walked the paths, stopping now and again as the birds caught my eye.  Lucy`s Warbler bird, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson Arizona  Red-winged Blackbird, Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson Arizona, USA  Mallard Duck on duckweed swamp bog, Sweetwater Wetlands Tucson Arizona  American Coot, Fulica americana, on nest in cattail and duckweed pond. Also known as a mud hen. Though commonly mistaken to be ducks, American coots belong to a distinct order. Sweetwater Wetlands is a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. Photographed in June 2018.  The tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus, is a large tyrant flycatcher. This bird breeds from southern Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States through Central America, South America as far as south as central Argentina. Photographed in June 2018 in Sweetwater Wetlands Park, a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. A stream riparian oasis in the southwestern desert. Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson, Arizona. June 10, 2018  The black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world. Photographed in June 2018 in Sweetwater Wetlands Park Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Tucson, Arizona is truly a desert oasis created by reclaimed waste water; a birders paradise! "He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water." Psalm 107:35  Desert Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus magister, native to the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert of southwest North America. A fully grown desert spiny lizard will reach a body length of up to 5.6 inches. Photographed in June 2018 in Sweetwater Wetlands Park, a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. While birding may have been my primary purpose on this morning walk at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, I found there were lots of other creatures that inhabit this riparian paradise in the midst of the Tucson desert. Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson, Arizona. June 10, 2018  Large American Bullfrog in duckweed swamp bog. Sweetwater Wetlands is a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. Photographed in June 2018.  Red-eared slider turtle in duckweed swamp bog. Photographed in Sweetwater Wetlands, a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. It is a stream riparian oasis in the southwestern desert. Duckweed filled ponds are surrounded by Cottonwood, Willow, Saltbush, Bulrush, Cattail, Mesquite and Wolfberry. Photographed in June 2018.  Desert Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus magister, native to the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert of southwest North America.  Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, Xerospermophilus tereticaudus, known as `Ardillón cola redonda` in Spanish, live in the desert of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. Photographed in Sweetwater Wetlands, a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility managed for wildlife habitat in Tucson, Arizona. It is a stream riparian oasis in the southwestern desert. Duckweed filled ponds are surrounded by Cottonwood, Willow, Saltbush, Bulrush, Cattail, Mesquite and Wolfberry. Photographed in June 2018.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalms 103:22 -- Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!  Pine Warbler Thursday, 6:50 AM – The Eastern Meadowlarks on Snows Mill Road are making themselves quite visible and tease me each morning on drive way into work. The scene is picture perfect: a barbed-wire fence in front of a large, grassy meadow glowing bright in the orange in the sunrise. But every time I slow the truck, they fly up off the fence and onto the power lines; a less awe-inspiring photo. Arriving at work a bit early, I made my surveys of the main pond, upper pond, duckweed bog and beaver swamp. Not too much different there except that there are now three families of Canada Geese with different aged goslings. The original 6 goslings have grown and now all sport the black and white heads. The second pair that arrived with 4 goslings a few weeks ago is down to only 3 goslings now. And a new pair with smaller goslings has arrived. Quickly walking back to my office to beat the 8 AM clock in, I spotted a small yellow warbler. A Pine Warbler… and how fitting that he was up in a Loblolly Pine tree! This was my first Pine Warbler in Walton County, Georgia. Walton County, Georgia  Eastern Meadowlark on a power line over Snows Mill Road; Walton County, GA.  Juvenile Canada Goose gosling; Walton County, GA  Pine Warlber songbird, Setophaga pinus, perched in a Loblolly Pine Tree, Pinus taeda. Photographed in June in Walton County, Monroe, GA. The Pine Warbler is common in many eastern pine forests and is rarely seen away from pines. These yellowish warblers are hard to spot as they move along high branches to prod clumps of needles with their sturdy bills. Pinus taeda, commonly known as loblolly pine, is one of several pines native to the Southeastern United States, from central Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware and southern New Jersey.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. God gives goodness and beauty; our land responds with bounty and blessing. Righteousness strides out before Him, and clears a path for His passage. Psalms 85, The Message  Wednesday, 7:58 AM – With all the rains falling the last few weeks, the briars and undergrowth have really taken off, making it a bit more difficult to get close to some of the swampier areas behind the animal shelter. In a moment of inspiration, I brought some branch trimmers to work to cut a couple of paths to the beaver swamps behind the firing range. Arriving about 30 minutes early, I take a quick stroll each morning before starting the day. This morning a beautiful Great Blue Heron, although typically skittish and quick to take flight, felt comfortable enough with my presence for some photos. Perhaps because I was mostly concealed on my narrowly cut path through the undergrowth. Walton County, Georgia  Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, long legged wading bird in swamp water bog. Photographed in June in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. Common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning  The white-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus, is a small songbird. It breeds in the southeastern United States. Found in deciduous scrub, overgrown pastures, old fields, wood margins, streamside thickets, and mangroves. Photographed in June in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. Wednesday, 12:47 PM – "Listen. What was that?" Having heard a strange bird call by the firing range a few weeks back, I kept after the little bird until I spotted his spooky white eyes. I looked up this White-eyed Vireo and listened to the call a few times to commit it to memory for future reference. Birding by ear opens up entire new realms. Often, you can’t get a clear look on the myriads of little birds flitting about the bushes, but if you listen, you can certainly hear them all around. Bird lists get even longer if you can identify their calls. Walking by the firing range again today and listening to the various calls and songs, I could hear the little Vireo in a Bradford Pear tree. I did a little playback on my phone. He was listening and popped out to the edge of a branch long enough for a photograph! I have a few previous photos of White-eyed Vireos, but this one was finally close and clear enough for a high resolution shot. Glad he listened! Walton County, Georgia    William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Grey clouds over Pisgah National Forest mountains photographed from the back patio of the Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Appalachian Mountain Range and part of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States.  Grey clouds over Pisgah National Forest mountains photographed from the back patio of the Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Appalachian Mountain Range and part of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States.  Grey clouds over Pisgah National Forest mountains photographed from the back patio of the Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Appalachian Mountain Range and part of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States.  Grey clouds over Pisgah National Forest mountains photographed from the back patio of the Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Appalachian Mountain Range and part of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Purple Violet Orchid Flower in Biltmore Estate Conservatory Greenhouse  Yellow and Violet Orchid Flower in Biltmore Estate Conservatory Greenhouse  Yellow and Violet Orchid Flower in Biltmore Estate Conservatory Greenhouse  White Orchid Flower in Biltmore Estate Conservatory Greenhouse
 Purple Violet Orchid Flower in Biltmore Estate Conservatory Greenhouse  Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. Haggai 1:3 May 25-28 - an extended weekend of relaxation and birding in the mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina. So much that it gets is own photo trek gallery page...
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work." Psalms 111:2  My confusing "little yellow bird" turned out to be a Common Yellowthroat. Tuesday, 7:45 AM - An early morning birding walk while attempting to “break the twitch” of my iPhone pull. On the beaver wetlands area I watched a small yellow bird dart back and forth from the grasses and into a thicket of briars. It would never sit still long enough, or get close enough for a good photo. But after some back and forth with a fellow Oconee Rivers Audubon Society member, we settled on Palm Warbler and moved on. One month later, I received the following email: I am a volunteer regional data reviewer for eBird. My goal is to keep up with data submissions and try to ensure the accuracy of reports of rare and unusual species, as well as unusually high counts of common species. Thanks for photo-documenting this confusing drab warbler - it's actually a female Common Yellowthroat. Palm Warblers usually leave Georgia in the first half of May and by this stage would be in breeding plumage (so would have some streaks on the front and a red cap). Would you mind updating the species identification in the checklist below? Many thanks. I had no problem updating this checklist… for it was a new Life Bird for me! Walton County, Georgia  An ebird moderator helped me correct this initially misidentified Common Yellowthroat.  An ebird moderator helped me correct this initially misidentified Common Yellowthroat.  Carolina Chickadee  Eastern Phoebe  Northern Cardinal  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." -Psalms 104, The Message  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`. Thursday, 3:48 PM – Last evening on my drive home from work I pulled a 6” Common Snapping Turtle out of the roadway on Highway 186. Thankfully I got to him before a large truck did! He spent the night in the back of my pickup truck and got a photo session the next day. Taking him to a shallow mud puddle out back, I laid on my belly and got some neat shots at that perspective. He was just as feisty and snappy as the big ones, but didn’t seem as threatening being only the size of my hand. Still, I was sure to keep my fingers away! Walton County, Georgia  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  Large six inch carapace plastron Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, in muddy swamp water puddle. May in Walton County, GA. nnThe common snapping turtle is noted for its combative disposition when out of the water with its powerful beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck hence the specific name serpentina, meaning `snake-like`.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.  Belted Kingfisher, May 21, 2018 On my morning walks before my 8:00 AM start time, I've been hearing a Belted Kingfisher on the upper pond and near the duckweed bog. I’ve been seeking him out , back-and-forth, back-and-forth, looking for the good, close up, high resolution photo. But so far I've only managed a few decent shots from a distance. My first poor photo was on Thursday, May 17. I had another, closer opportunity on May 21. One of these mornings I’ll seek him out and get up on him! Walton County, Georgia  Belted Kingfisher, May 21, 2018  Belted Kingfisher, May 17, 2018.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young... so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life." Deuteronomy 22:6  Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range. Wednesday, 1:15 PM - The rain has come and continues off and on throughout the day. I’m home early for Megan‘s middle school awards ceremony and have two opportunities for BYOB (Birding-Your-Own-Backyard). Babies are everywhere! No, I’m not talking about all the recent births in our church. But of all the bird babies in my backyard. For a few days I’ve heard the light chirping of nestlings as diligent Chipping Sparrows parents make bug-runs back and forth. I track them down in the Sky Pencil bush at the corner of my house. Three babies crammed into a tiny nest! Later, underneath the birdfeeder, I spot an ugly gray bird with black wings scraping through the mulch. Then out pops a female Towhee mom and “spoon-feeds” the little fledgling! Not long after, the usual Downy Woodpecker is all of the sudden being trailed by a second Downy. Has it found a mate? But again, I see one feed the other I realize it is yet another fledgling in my backyard. The bird parents are busy, busy, busy with all the birdie babies in my backyard. Athens, Clark County, Georgia  Pair of adult Chipping Sparrow parents perched on wooden fence with insects in mouth to carry back to fledglings in the nest. Backyard birding photography in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. Spizella passerina is a small passerine song bird found in North America.  Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.  Eastern Towhee fledgling  Eastern Towhee fledgling and its mother  Downy Woodpecker fledgling and its parent.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.  Tuesday 7:44 AM - This tom has a reason to rejoice and strut his stuff. He has made it through (almost) one of the longest Turkey seasons and lives to brag about it! As I drove into work, I saw a gathering of Wild Turkey in a field off to my left where I’ve frequently seen the gobblers. But today, a male was really giving a show to several females. This boy was all fired and decked out in puffed plumage, red wattle, and widespread fan. Not only was he impressing the gathering of females, but he made me pull over to get some photos! Because of high reproduction in 2016, the GA Department of Natural Resources predicted a “good supply of vocal 2-year old gobblers across much of the state in 2018,” and allowed an extended hunting season from March 24 through May 15; each hunter being allowed a bag limit of three gobblers. So this Tom had about 12 more hours and then smooth sailing until next season. Walton County, Georgia  |
 All content is ©williamwisephoto.com. Please don't steal images. My images are available at dreamstime.com. Stock sales go into the shelter photography program.
|
In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
|
Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
|