Riparian Preserve 7.29.10

I woke this morning at 4.30am to the sound of the dogs barking at the thunder and torrential rain. I decided to take advantage of the canine alarm and headed out to the Rio Salado Salt River Restoration Project. This is an area I had not visited before and is south of downtown Phoenix. The rain had stopped, but the humidity was unbearable and by the time I had walked from 7th St to 7th Ave along the river bed I was soaked to the skin and feeling like I was suffocating. I stopped at 7th Ave and watched some Grackles for a while, but really didn't get close to anything else. I walked back to the car with the blazing sun in my eyes and sweat blinding me - I was a very, very unhappy and uncomfortable bunny! I stopped at the car and finished a bottle of water and decided that I would head out to Gilbert (I was already half way there) so that it would not be a complete waste of a morning. It was just as uncomfortable in Gilbert. Walking with a 20lb tripod set up in a loaded photography vest really feels like you are wading through treacle in those weather conditions.

The ponds were pretty empty and I feel like this may be the end of my shooting there until the weather starts to cool. However here is a selection from today:

Female American Goldfinch (click to enlarge)


Snowy Egret (click to enlarge)




















Snowy Egret in Flight (click to enlarge)