Watson Lake Granite Dells birding and wildlife photography

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

Granite boulders and canyon lake. The Granite Dells area near Prescott, AZ is a beautiful area of smooth granite formations, lush green riparian ecosystems, and stunning vistas just outside of the city of Prescott in the Central Highlands.

During my 5-day trip to Prescott, Arizona for our International Bible Conference, I was able to do some hiking and birding photography at Watson Lake. The Granite Dells are a beautiful, unique landscape, unlike anything I've seen back home in the southeastern US. 

Great Tailed Grackles, at Lake Watson reservoir at the Granite Dells, in Prescott, Arizona. The great-tailed grackle or Mexican grackle Quiscalus mexicanus is a medium-sized, highly social passerine bird native to North and South America. A member of the family Icteridae, it is one of ten extant species of grackle and is closely related to the boat-tailed grackle and the slender-billed grackle.

Granite boulder formation in Lake Watson, Prescott Arizona

Great Tailed Grackle Bird, Lake Watson, Prescott Arizona USA

Rain clouds over granite cliffs and boulders of Watson Lake and distant mountains. Lake Watson is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells, in Prescott, Arizona.

The American bushtit Psaltriparus minimus is a year-round resident of the western United States and highland parts of Mexico. Lake Watson is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells, in Prescott, Arizona.

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

The western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis is a large tyrant flycatcher very similar with Cassin`s kingbird, Couch`s kingbird and the tropical kingbird. Their breeding habitat is open areas in western North America. Lake Watson is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells, in Prescott, Arizona.

Double-crested Cormorant with wings spread on granite boulder in Lake Watson, Prescott, AZ. granite cliffs and boulders of Watson Lake and distant mountains. Lake Watson is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells. The double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

Greater Road Runner on granite boulder at Lake Watson reservoir at the Granite Dells, Prescott, Arizona.

Greater Road Runner on granite boulder at Lake Watson reservoir at the Granite Dells, Prescott, Arizona. The greater roadrunner Geococcyx californianus is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, from Southwestern United States and Mexico.

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

Desert Cottontail Rabbit at Lake Watson Riparian Preserve reservoir at the Granite Dells, Prescott, Arizona. The desert cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii, also known as Audubon`s cottontail, is found throughout the Western United States from eastern Montana to western Texas, and in Northern and Central Mexico.

Desert Cottontail Rabbit, Lake Watson, Prescott Arizona

Desert Cottontail Rabbit, Lake Watson, Prescott Arizona

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

The rock squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae and is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. The Granite Dells area near Prescott, AZ is a beautiful area of smooth granite formations, lush green riparian ecosystems, and stunning vistas just outside of the city of Prescott in the Central Highlands.

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

Rock Squirrel, Granite Dells and Lake Watson Riparian Park, Prescott Arizona USA

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA

Lake Watson Granite Dells, Prescott Arizona USA