Here is my first attempt at Bird Photos (not to mention my first photo session with my new ZD 50-200 mm zoom). Clearly not up to the standards most of you post, but I'll keep practicing.

They are Harris' Hawks

The first image is cropped, fill light added to shadows, and re-sized to 640X480 for the internet. IIRC, the second was not cropped.





Since the Sonoran Desert is at the Northern edge of their range, maybe some of you Northerners may not have see one before. They live and hunt in family groups. These may be two different birds, I lost track.

Jim

I live in the south (Tennessee) and I have never seen one! J/K
I love the tail.
You've made a good start. Birds take a lot of patience and practice.

What a beautiful creature. I have never seen a Harris Hawk either.
I do mostly bird photography and I think Hawks are probably secondary only to Owls as one of the most difficult subjects to photograph. They are elusive, distant, and the light is rarely favourable. Eagles and Osprey are easy by comparison.
If you are really interested in birds start with Herons and Egrets(slow moving and large). But don't give up on Hawks, just realize it will take time and patience.Also 200mm is really too short for Hawk work or BIF in general.
Good luck.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I really enjoy the work both of you do.

I know that if I were to get serious about birds, I'd need a lot more reach. For the time being, I think I'm going to have to make do with this one or my wife will probably take away my plastic and cancel my allowance.

Jim

Jim

those are really nice photos, my wife and i will be in your area in early june (9th-20th). we've been looking at all the travel guides we can getting ideas on place to go to photograph landscapes and wild life. got any tips on places that won't be to crowded with other tourist types like us.

Thanks,
Don

Don:

I'm probably not the best person to ask, since I only recently resumed the hobby and have no experience in either bird or wildlife photography. One thing I can say for sure is that you probably won't have to fight your way through hordes of tourists. By June, the daytime highs frequently exceed the century mark, the snowbirds are long gone, and tourists are as scarce as a shady spot at high noon. On the week-ends, locals head for the mountains up North or the beaches of San Diego. On a more positive note, there are plenty of hotel bargains to be had.

You didn't say how far afield you are interested in venturing or whether or not you are interested in hiking or backpacking. Unless you are in top condition and accustomed to the heat, I would recommend against too much backpacking in the desert if you are not used to the heat. Also, remember for even short walks to pack a jacket, sunscreen, and plenty of water. My wife and I have been known to drive as much as 200 miles or more (one way) for an afternoon picnic, but I'll limit my recommendations to some of my favorites in SE Arizona.

* = Birding ** = Wildlife

In no particular order:

In or near Tucson:

Mount Lemmon -
Sabino Canyon -
Saguaro National Park East/West -
* Madera Canyon -
Colossal Cave -

A little further out:

* **Aravaipa Canyon (50 mi North)
* Buenos Aires NWR - Arivaca Cienega (about 35 mi SW)
Kartchner Caverns State Park (60 mi E)
* Miller Canyon (about 100 SE)
* Chiracahua National Monument (120 mi E)
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum (100 mi North)

A drive, but worth it:

Salt River Canyon
Hanigan Meadow/Alpine/Show Lo area

Here's a link to the Arizona Highways Magazine web page. Click on the Trip Planner button and select your region. I think they have links to info about all listed above.

http://www.arizhwys.com/

Let me know if you need any additional info.

Jim

We'll probably do some short hikes, last time I was in Arizona was in 2000 up in Pheonix, and it was August. We'll be there a couple of weeks, thanks for the tips.

Don

I'll second the recommendations for both Mt Lemmon and Saquaro NP. Further north I got some wonderful shots in the White Mountains around the Show Low area. Elk were abundant, lots of meadows and such. A really nice area to shoot considering I was living down in the Sierra Vista area which is primarily all desert. But if you go that far south Carr Canyon is great and there is Huachuca Falls which is a large seasonal falls. Oh, and there is the missionary's church south of Tucson going towards Nogales if me memory serves correctly. Oh and the Patagonia area south of Tucson is nice also. Sorry I can't be more specific but I was only there for a year and left in 1995.

On the bird shots. Most times for BIF try to open up exposure by 1 step to compensate for the dark bird against the light sky. Hawks are about the toughest to shoot but some owls aren't too bad. I'm constantly buzzed by Barn Owls here in Utah that will do repeated fly bys while checking me out. They are the only species I see doing that by have experienced this repeatedly at 3 different locations about 50 miles or more apart. Run up the ISO as high as you can and then set a smaller aperture. This will let you keep the shutter speeds up but will give you more of the bird in focus. It they are against the sky then there's no background to worry about. Oh, but you will find out just how dusty your sensor is, LOL!

If you get to the Phoenix area take in the Gilbert Riparian Preserve, 120 acres of reclaim water with tons of birds.

Thanks for tips folks, we'll surely do Saguaro NP. The wife wants to take me to the North Rim of Grand Canyon as well, since I've never been on that side of the canyon.

Don