Sandhill Cranes 2011 III

Sandhill Cranes 2011 Wrap-Up

This was out third trip to the Whitewater draw area this season! We have had the pleasure of sharing this unique place with family and friends during our visits. The cranes are usually there from November through February. They may arrive a little early, and depart a little later.

This was one of the windiest trips we have had there. The wind always seems to blow in Cochise County, but it was a few notches higher this time around. The water level was also low. Must be the end of the season for cranes, as their numbers seemed to be down as well. Other water birds were ther though. And we even got to see a couple of Long-eared Owls. Very cool! I even played around with some abstract views. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.wingsoverwillcox.com/

http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_whitewater.shtml

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory

http://pearcesunsiteschamber.org/portal/AbouttheArea/SandHillCranesandBirding/tabid/68/Default.aspx

http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/Sandhill.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane

Minerals Revisited

You never know what I might do during some free time. Here are a few photos from minerals and rocks sitting around the house. Strange collections...

Some of these were purchased at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

Others were really in the collection at the house.

Hope you enjoy the images.

Winter Road Trip 2011

Water can be cool...
It does snow in Vegas!

My son and I hit the road for Southern Utah and Northern Arizona during the week of New Years. Figured he needed to see some snow during his visit from Wisconsin. J We had a great time exploring while discovering that many towns are closed for the most part during the non-tourist season. Made a stop in Las Vegas to visit family and enjoy some New Years snow before heading towards parts of the Grand Circle. We visited Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Kanab area, Grand Canyon, and Wupatki area just to name a few. Hope you enjoy the images as much we enjoyed the trip.

There is a lot to see and do in this area. As stated so well on the Grand Circle Association website, “Some of America’s most diverse scenery can be found within the Grand Circle – the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and Arches National Park, just to name a few. Bold splashes of color, fascinating geologic shapes and the mysterious remnants of cultures await you at every turn.” I would suggest you go out and enjoy all the area has to offer.

For great information on these areas click on one of the links:

Grand Circle Association - http://www.grandcircle.org/

Zion National Park - http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Bryce Canyon NP - http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Grand Canyon NP - http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Wupatki National Monument - http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

Kanab, UT - http://kanab.utah.gov/

Utah info - http://www.go-utah.com/Kanab/

Museum of Northern Arizona - http://www.musnaz.org/research/publications.shtml

Arizona Highways - http://www.arizonahighways.com/