Cactus Wren, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson AZ

There were more Cactus Wrens around Tucson among the Saguaro than I have ever seen in any trip to Tucson. This one is from the grounds, the parking lot actually, of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum where they nest and breed, and cage extra sustenance (if of questionable nutritional value) from what the tourists drop. Still I have to admit, this looks to be an exceptionally healthy specimen. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 1000. Processed in Polarr.

Hedgehog Cactus, Saguaro National Park West, Tucson AZ

There were only a few cacti in bloom in the Sonora Desert among the tall Saguaro when I visited last week, but the tiny Hedgehog Cactus was among them, and it has wonderful clusters of flowers. The Hedgehogs tend to grow best in the shade of another cactus…a big cholla or a young saguaro, so they are often tucked in tight to the base of one or the other, where the shade is deepest. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/800th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Coati, Santa Rita Lodge, Medera Canyon, AZ

I mentioned in a Day Poem that I saw my first Coati in the wild in North America (more or less) under the feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, south of Tucson, Arizona. My only other Coati was in a similar setting…under the feeders at Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica. I am beginning to see a pattern here. This particular Coati has learned to drink from the hummingbird feeders at the lodge. It can just barely reach, but it is evidently worth the effort. Sweets for the sweet. And a good show for the watching birders. The hummingbirds were, on the other hand, not too pleased. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm and 156mm equivalents. Program mode. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 500 and 320. Processed in Polarr. Assembled in FrameMagic.

American Rubyspot, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson AZ

I have searched the streams of York County Maine for several years now looking for an American Rubyspot Damselfly, to no avail. I know they are here. I just can’t find one. This one is from a morning at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson Arizona, where it was fairly common. I am almost sure this is an American Rubyspot, but in Tucson, along the rapid little stream where I found it, it might be a Canyon Rubyspot. Perhaps someone who knows better than I can advise. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/400th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Santa Rita Lodge in Madeira Canyon south of Tucson Arizona is a well-known spot for seeing rare mountain hummingbirds in the United States…mostly Mexican and Central American species that reach the far north edge of their ranges in the sky-islands just north of the border. There are not many rarities around this summer for some reason but that does not diminish the attraction of Santa Rita Lodge. This is the Broad-billed Hummingbird, one of the most colorful breeders in North America…and there are lots of them this summer. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 1000. Processed in Polarr.

Vermillion Flycatcher, Reid Park, Tucson Arizona

For those of you who thought my last Vermillion Flycatcher was too pale…not vermillion enough…this one is about as bright as they get here in Arizona. 🙂 Reid Park, Tucson Arizona. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Flame Skimmer, AZ Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson AZ

The Flame Skimmer is a favorite dragonfly of mine, for many of the same reasons yesterday’s Vermillion Flycatcher is a favorite bird. I only see them here in Arizona or in South Texas, so I don’t see them often, and they are actually kind of the same surprising color! This one was flying around the Mountain Islands habitats at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum when I visited this week. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with Program Shift for greater depth of field. 1/60th @ f11 @ ISO 250. Processed in Polarr.

Vermillion Flycatcher, Kino Environmental Restoration Area, Tucson, AZ

The Vermillion Flycatcher is one of my favorite birds…perhaps in part because I only see it when I visit Arizona or South Texas, so, at most twice a year. Every encounter is memorable. This one was one of two males hanging out along the edge of the Kino Environmental Restoration Project in Tucson, Arizona yesterday on a hot August afternoon. Great storms were passing north of us in the Oro Valley, but the sun was intense in Tucson, and the Vermillions were keeping to the shade along the edge of ten ball field parking. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ ISO 500 @ f4. Processed in Polarr.

Costa’s Hummingbird, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson AZ

Total disclaimer: this shot was taken at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum inside the Hummingbird Aviary. It is not a free flying bird. These birds are wild, but captive, and they are very used to human presence. This one hovered within inches of my face 🙂 Still, it is an impressive shot of an impressive bird! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 2000. I had the ISO set to a minimum shutter speed of 1/1000th. Processed in Polarr. (No noise reduction by the way.)

Bull Frogs and Pickerel Frogs, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

The frogs were out in force at Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area when I visited last…and they were unusually cooperative. The panel shows 4 different individuals. Two American Bull Frogs. The one on the right is actually considerably smaller than the one on the left. And two Pickerel Frogs, both about the same size…which is to say, much smaller than the Bull Frogs. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 400 and 640. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.