Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/08/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is simply an amazing set. Especially the Cactus Wren photos are outstanding, but really, they all are. Cheers, Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator> YNWA > On 15 Aug 2019, at 05:34, Doug Herr via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote: > > I've recently returned from a vacation with family (an oxymoron?) in > Arizona. > > My older granddaughter wanted to see the Grand Canyon and since I hadn't > been there since I was a wee lad it was our first destination. The south > rim is over-run with visitors, many of whom are breathtakingly ignorant. > Signs and verbal warnings about the dangers of falling into the canyon and > of feeding the cute squirrels who may be carrying bubonic plague are > routinely ignored. "There's a reason Condors were re-introduced here, it's > to clean up after the people who've fallen off the cliffs." > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/cathartidae/gymnogyps/cacond01.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/corvus/corave06.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/sciuridae/spermophilus/rosqui00.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/sciuridae/spermophilus/rosqui01.html > > Having said this, the Grand Canyon fully deserves its name; it's > spectacular even in the harsh light of high noon. In the limited time we > had, my older grandson and I were only able to hike a small portion of the > Bright Angel trail and what this did for me was whet my appetite for more. > During our time in the plateau of northern Arizona the annual monsoons > returned and stayed with us for the remainder of our visit. Torrential > thunderstorms bringing flash floods followed by spectacular evenings were > some of the highlights of the trip, at least for myself. I can't speak for > the rest of the family. > After the Grand Canyon we went toward Tucson and points south, to visit > the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and a few small towns with legendary > tales in their pasts. This is the Sonora Desert: hot and dry until the > monsoons hit, with something less than a bazillion species of cactus along > with agaves, Ochotillo, Mesquite and Palo Verde trees and a surprising > diversity of wildlife superbly adapted to life in the desert: for example, > the Sonoran Desert Toad which burrows into the soil at the end of the > monsoon season and waits dormant for months until thunderstorms awaken it > and it digs its way out. Don't lick the toad, it skin secretes a > hallucinogenic toxin that can kill small dogs. > > The desert can be beautiful if you meet it on its own terms. If you fight > the desert, if you curse its heat and thorns, you will lose the battle. My > lifelong habit of being a 'morning person' was an advantage; several of my > best hikes were in the gentle warmth of the pre-dawn hours, and this > juncture between night and day is where nocturnal and diurnal critters > meet. My favorite wildlife encounter was on one of these pre-breakfast > walks. I had stopped to search for the source of a bird's song and while > waiting quietly a Javalina sauntered out of the brush and trotted within > 20' to munch on a cactus (genus Opuntia if I'm not mistaken). One slight > move and the little pig bolted back into the brush, never to be seen again. > > Evenings in the Sonoran Desert were darned near magical as the day's last > light lit the lingering thunderstorms which by this hour had tapered off > to a light drizzle and occasional distant lightning flash. > > I ought to mention that it's best to pay attention to that little 'check > engine' light. It might be expensive but fixing it means you'll get home > safely. BTW I can recommend Highway 92 Service Center in Bisbee Arizona. > This is a story for another time. > > One day was reserved for hummingbirds, first at the Paton Center for > Hummingbirds in Patagonia Arizona > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/cynanthus/bbhumm00.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/cynanthus/bbhumm01.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/archilochus/bchumm23.html > > and later in the day in the hummingbird aviary at the Arizona Sonora > Desert Museum > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/selasphorus/bthumm00.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/cynanthus/bbhumm02.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/cynanthus/bbhumm03.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/cynanthus/bbhumm04.html > > Our campsite was also a good location for critter photos > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/leporidae/sylvilagus/decott06.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/leporidae/sylvilagus/decott07.html > > using the technique of hanging around long enough to become part of the > background scenery, these Cactus Wrens were quite cooperative > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/troglodytidae/campylorhynchus/ctwren02.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/troglodytidae/campylorhynchus/ctwren06.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/troglodytidae/campylorhynchus/ctwren07.html > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/troglodytidae/campylorhynchus/ctwren08.html > > with a surprise visit from a Curve-billed Thrasher > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/mimidae/toxostoma/cbthra03.html > > all photos: Sony a7rIII, Sony FE 100-400 GM. All comments are welcome. > > > Doug Herr > Birdman of Sacramento > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information