Riparian Preserve 6.28.10

I had a sleepless night on my 'turnaround day' - the first day off when I try to convert from nights to days. This meant that I was awake at 4am with no plans for the day. I took a trip out to Gilbert hoping to have some of the success of last week. When I got there I noticed that one of he ponds was being drained - forcing all of the birds into a small area of remaining water. There was already a photographer in place about 9 feet from the closest birds. I set up further down the bank so I would not disturb him or the birds.

Here are a selection of shots from today:

Great Blue Heron (click to enlarge)




















Black-necked Stilt (click to enlarge)





















Killdeer (click to enlarge)


American Avocet (click to enlarge)


Black-necked Stilt (click to enlarge)


Broad-tailed Grackle (click to enlarge)


Great Blue Heron (click to enlarge)




















Black-necked Stilt (click to enlarge)

It's getting too hot......

...for this Englishman and for the birds too! I figure the birds are leaving for cooler climates... or they don't like the smell of my burning skin! I was out this morning at the Riparian Preserve and Mother Nature was stoking the furnace in the Valley of the Sun! I still saw plenty of birds, but definitely fewer than on my first visit. Talking to some of the other photographers it appears that the Phoenix summers are pretty quiet for birds, so I think that for the next few months the bird photography will take a back seat and I will concentrate on expanding my experiences with some studio/indoor work.
Here are a selection of shots from today:

Little Egret (click to enlarge).














Great Blue Heron (click to enlarge).














American Avocet (click to enlarge).

Another Early Start!

Oh my God... I don't think I can get up at 4am again this week. It is getting harder and harder! Today I was back at the Riparian Preserve for a short visit. Got a few pictures, but was yawning constantly and could not keep my concentration - that is what 3 hours sleep does for you!
Here are today's images:

Black-necked Stilt (click to enlarge).

Little Egret (click to enlarge).

American Avocet (click to enlarge).

Tomorrow I am going to have a long-overdue sleep in!