Friday, December 30, 2011

DOWN THE ROAD TO THE WHITEWATER DRAW WILDLIFE AREA

DSC_5370
SPOTTED THIS FINE PAIR OF NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS TODAY
Our temperatures continue to climb with each passing day and we nearly hit the 80F mark today.  Such a welcome change from just a week ago.  Still down around the freezing mark every night but that’s the way it normally is for this time of year in this region of Arizona.
DSC_5374
SAND HILL CRANES IN THEIR ROOSTING AREA
DSC_5379 DSC_5364
DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE SO I WILL JUST CALL THEM WATER WALKERS
Decided to do a short trip down the road a mile to the Whitewater Draw today. Knew we wouldn’t be too long and it was a test for Pheebs being left outside the Motorhome without us around for the first time. The completely fenced in 3.7 acres around the Ranch house is perfectly safe, but still, like a doubting parent I worry about ‘first time’ things. Pheebs has shown quite a talent for digging so I had visions of her speed tunneling under the fence to find us.
DSC_0001
PLENTY OF SHELTERED COVER FOR BIRD LIFE
We were gone about an hour and everything was fine when we got back. Pheebs, Motor, Pearce and Gleeson were all sacked out in the Motorhome sleeping. We always leave our door wide open as a rule.
DSC_5360
AMERICAN COOTS
 DSC_5373
MALE NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCK
It’s funny how ranch dogs Gleeson and Pearce love to hang around with us in the rig this year. They are almost like permanent furniture. Pheebs & Motor love having their Pals over. Well, maybe not Motor so much. For little Motor it’s kinda like dodging around in a big 4 and 2 legged Buffalo herd. Especially when we are all up and trundling around in the rig.
DSC_5387
ONE OF SEVERAL VIEWING PLATFORMS AT THE DRAW
DSC_5368 DSC_5386
AVID BIRD WATCHERS INCLUDING BIRDER KELLY IN ORANGE
DSC_5366
<<< I THINK SOMEBODY IS A LITTLE WEARY FROM SEEING ALL THOSE BIRDIES
Kelly was back on the phone again today with the hospital and insurance companies double checking things and sure enough, there is a problem!! We had been told on the phone by the insurance company that my upcoming test was approved. Today we find out that decision is still pending. It’s a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing and confusion between all parties reigns supreme. So, as of right now, everything is up in the air again until we hear from our insurance company. Complicating all this is the time of year. People off for the holidays, offices closed, etc.
DSC_5376
FEEDING NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS
DSC_0005 DSC_0008
DSC_0011
WHITEWATER DRAW IS MADE UP OF PONDS AND CANALS
Yep, I got my medical exam procedure spelled wrong alright in Thursday’s post.  Thanks to Lynne from WINNIE VIEWS for pointing out my mistake.  It is a Renal (not Reno) Ultra Sound.  I have since corrected the mistake. 
DSC_5393
OUR MOTORHOME IS VISIBLE IN THIS PHOTO JUST ABOVE CENTER ABOUT A MILE TO THE EAST OF THE DRAW
DSC_5378 DSC_5392
RANCH HOUSE IS VISIBLE IN PHOTO AT RIGHT
Larry from up around Tucson way reminded me it’s the University of Arizona and not the University Of Tucson we’re dealing with and it was bird feeders I moved closer to the Motorhome, not bird houses.  Larry, in his email said they are planning to stay at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas soon.  Below is a photo of Kelly in the Gadsden’s Lobby a few years ago.  Rumor or legend has it that Pancho Villa rode his horse into that very lobby one time and right up those marble steps in the background, chipping the marble in the process.
DSC_0005
DSC_0011 DSC_0010
DSC_0029
And, JUDY corrected my Purple Finch identification.  Although they look like the Purple Finches we get at our feeders in Ontario, Judy says they are House Finches.  And, they are, because I looked in my AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES today.  Good thing I have people keeping an eye on me out here.
DSC_5381
DSC_5383 DSC_5382
A NORTHER HARRIER HAWK SKIMMING LOW OVER THE TALL GRASSES
This is our 4th year coming to the Sulphur Springs Valley in Arizona’s Cochise County.  Our memories here will last me forever.  Wrote a post one time called, A VALLEY OF LEGENDS.
DSC_5384
DSC_5377
THIS MALE SHOVELER’S MATE TOOK OFF SO FAST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THAT I MISSED HER
Question again if I am professional photographer.  No, just a guy with an interest in photography who is fortunate enough to have some reasonably good camera equipment and the ability of SEEING WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER'S EYE. (click)
DSC_5394
NOW YOU SEE HIM…..
DSC_5395
NOW YOU DON’T…..
DSC_0003 DSC_0009
THE WILD WEST TOWN OF TOMBSTONE ARIZONA IS JUST OVER THE HORIZON IN THE LEFT PHOTO….ELFRIDA & SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON IN THE RIGHT PHOTO
DSC_0006
THE WHITEWATER DRAW IS HOME TO UPWARDS OF 20,000 SAND HILL CRANES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
The Last Paragraph: Watching ‘THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA’ tonight.  I like movies that appeal to my boyhood imagination.  ‘The Hobbit’  ‘Lord Of the Rings’ ‘Peter Pan’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ movies all come to mind.  A fine escape for a young mind.  A fine escape for a few hours, and a fine escape from the realities of having to be an adult.
GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and Miss Pelham, the nursery school teacher, took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. 'We live in a great country,' she announced. 'One of the things we should be happy is that, in this country, we are all free.'
Trevor, who was a little boy in her class, came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said loudly, 'I'm not free. I'm four.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

14 comments:

  1. You wonder why an insurance company can't get their act together. Isn't everything supposed to be on computers and available to all concerned with approving a request for service. They must all be playing Solitaire!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Al. Being a professional photographer probably just depends on your definition. Do you earn a living doing it or sell your photos to make money--well, no. But the quality of your photos is certainly professional. Better than a lot of professionals I've seen. I can just see motormouse looking up at all the legs over her head. Poor baby but she is probably still in charge.

    http://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. sure is a good thing that there is so many readers out there who are great at catching your 'typos'!!..
    another great post, Al!!..glad to hear that the weather is warming up during the day, finally!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Al for the link to the post for Photographers Eye. I read it earlier this year and just re-read it again. Word for word. It is inspiring - all of it, but especially when you say that the eye can be developed. I only hope that I can see half of what you see. And I agree that your photos are very professional.

    Thanks again, Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  5. All I feel as I might have known you in a previous life. While you might not be a "pro" photographer you certainly have an eye for getting amazing photos. M wife and I lived in central Texas for quite some time around the Kingsland,Marble falls area. There is a hill over there called packsaddle mountain. Rumor has it according to local legend that Pancho Villa (sp) hid some gold and silver there. I've hiked it as have untold others. I had permission from local ranchers thanks to my former father in law who knew them all. Its an area I think you and Kelly might enjoy. DW and I would love to meet up with yall and show you the area. My Ex father in law would also enjoy showing you the area. He's one of those "good old boys from Texas"

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy New Year Al and Kelly. Looks like I'll be making the club house dance tonight....I'm not thrilled and hope I can stay awake for it...Wish me luck, I'm gona need it....

    Yes, your pictures are as usual, THE BEST!! See ya Next year!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The first unknown birds are American Coots, and the hawk is a Northern Harrier. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. In 2007, I spent most of our trip on the phone fighting with our insurance who didn't want to pay the bill for my previous lithotripsy..a BIG bill. We even had it preapproved first!..Finally I won! Be persistent and make sure Kelly gets names, dates and times every time she talks to someone..keep it written down!
    I am on book #4 of the Harry Potter series and have them all with me..I LOVE them, and now will order the movies!! You 2/4/6 kids have a Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Loved the photos and as always love your post!
    Happy New Year!
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  10. For those who may be interested, you can camp for free at Whitwater Draw in the parking lot. No facilities but beautiful views and you're right there when the cranes fly in and out. We were there in February and had the place to ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good luck with the insurance company and have a Happy New Year !

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful pictures as always. Judy beat me to the bird identification. Northern Harriers used to known as Marsh Hawks, for obvious reasons.

    I hope the insurance mess gets straightened out.

    Happy New Year!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Coots are first winter plumage. We spent New Years Eve at Whitewater last year and saw the take off in the morning. Nice, but it was about 15 degrees. :(
    Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  14. "One of the most famous legends, "said Robin, "is that Pancho Villa rode his horse up the stairs and chipped the 7th stair from the bottom. And the chip is still there."

    The most important word is "LEGEND"
    Legend, for its active and passive participants includes no happenings that are outside the realm of "possibility", defined by a highly flexible set of parameters, which may include miracles that are perceived as actually having happened, within the specific tradition of indoctrination where the legend arises, and within which it may be transformed over time, in order to keep it fresh and vital, and realistic.

    It does make for a good legend but the historical record of the battle for Agua Prieta seems to preclude Poncho making it to the Gadsden.

    ReplyDelete