Madera Canyon is one of the premier birding hotspots in the Tucson area and I spent about 6 hours there. At the Santa Rita Lodge they put out hummingbird and seed feeders, which really brings in the birds. I captured this Hepatic Tanager in the sun allowing me to increase the shutter speed to 1/800s, stop down to f/5.6 and with a low ISO125. The place was fill with trees with a few sunny area so when the Tanager perched in the sun I noticed the great black background that really placed the focus on the bird.
Featured Photo: Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) at Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
EQ: D850, 500mm f/4 Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:10
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO125, 1/3EV Conditions: sunny
The Mexican Jay is larger than the Scrub and Steller’s Jay in my home town but they were just as noisy. The Acorn Woodpecker was a yard bird when I lived in the Santa Cruz Mountain in CA and it was great to see and hear them again. I was talking with another birder and I mentioned that I want to see the Arizona Woodpecker then one showed up.
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:16, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO180, 1/3EV Conditions: shady/sunny
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 8:54, Settings: 500mm, 1/640s, f/4, ISO64, 1/3EV Conditions: shady/sunny
Arizona Woodpecker (Dryobates arizonae), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:17, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO125, 1/3EV Conditions: shady/sunny
When I saw this White-nosed Coatimundi drinking out of the hummingbird feeder I was surprised at seeing the guy. That was a first for me. Another new bird for me was the Rivoli's and a Blue-throated Mountain-gem Hummingbirds. More to come in Part3.
White-nosed Coatimundi (Nasua narica), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 8:41, Settings: 500mm, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO2000, 1/3EV Conditions: shady/sunny
Rivoli's Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:21, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO160, 1/3EV Conditions: shady/sunny
Dark-eyed Junco, Gray-headed (Junco hyemalis caniceps), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 8:45, Settings: 500mm, 1/640s, f/4, ISO2000, 1/3EV Conditions: shady
Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:20, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO720, 1/3EV Conditions: shady
Arizona Woodpecker (Dryobates arizonae), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:09, Settings: 500mm, 1/640s, f/4, ISO110, 1/3EV Conditions: shady
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:24, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO320, 1/3EV Conditions: sunny
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:21, Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO160, 1/3EV Conditions: sunny
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.