Javelina Family

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

Javelina mom with young, Desert Photo Retreat, near Tucson, Arizona.

Javelina mom with young, Desert Photo Retreat, near Tucson, Arizona.

I suspect years from now our pack of javelina (are they called packs?) will still be talking about December 7, 2017 as it had to be their greatest day ever!  First, heavy wind over night knocked down the feeders in all three of our bird locations, so not only were they able to find quail food, but also found lots of expensive high quality food usually reserved for the cardinals, wrens and pyrrhuloxia .

But later that day they discovered the wind had blown open the door on our shipping container and once inside they found where I keep the quail block.  Jackpot!  I must say, I had my hands full shooing these feisty guys out of the container!  Especially the last two who really didn’t want to leave.

Unfortunately it hasn’t been as good of a month for the javelina babies.  There were 6 when I first arrived, and they now appear to be down to 3.  Last winter they started with two babies and kept them alive all season.  I believe they are the sub-adults I’m seeing now.

Arizona Photo Retreat Christmas Gift

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson 4 Comments

A Northern Cardinal during a recent sunset at the Desert Photo Retreat near Tucson

A Northern Cardinal during a recent sunset at the Desert Photo Retreat near Tucson.

We are taking reservations for the 2018 season here at the Desert Photo Retreat – and a session here would make a great Christmas gift for the photographer in the family!

We have something for everyone.  Experienced photographers can visit on their own, and even spend the night if they prefer.  I also have group workshops, or can offer private workshops for those who are looking to improve their photography.

We have been getting more birds then ever, and the gray fox and javelina are also regular visitors.  Not to mention the beautiful landscape and night sky!  Check out the website for more information.

Javelina Babies

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson Leave a Comment

Javelina-babies

Javelina with young, near Tucson, Arizona.

Been very busy here in Arizona – among other things, the photo blind had flooded this past summer and required a lot of work to clean up.  So, yesterday evening I finally took some time and photographed from the blind myself.  It is so fun watching these guys!

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson 4 Comments

Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel.

Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel.

Been too busy for photography so far, so thought I would share one from last spring.  We have a bunch of these guys running around right now!

Photo Desert Retreat Update

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson Leave a Comment

Baby javelina last night at the Desert Photo Retreat near Tucson, Arizona.

Baby javelina last night at the Desert Photo Retreat near Tucson, Arizona.

It has been a very busy week down here in the desert – renting tractors for the road, moving our RV, setting stuff up etc.  Along with the work, there has been some good news and bad news to share, lets start with the bad news.

Despite making a special trip to Arizona in August to work on the water, the water drip clearly stopped working again right after we left.  So when I arrived on the property there wasn’t a single bird, the place was disappointingly desolate!  A check of the game cam showed no activity as well, definitely discouraging.

Now the good news.  Within one day of getting the water going and feeders up, I already had birds returning, and within three days it was back to normal!  Now a week in, I seem to have more wildlife then we ever did last year!   I think in part that has to do with the hot dry fall Arizona has experienced – the food / water options are more limited.

Also, the gray fox pair is still around, been seeing them every afternoon and evening.  In addition, the javelina are now a group of 19 strong, including 6 little babies – a couple can hardly walk correctly yet.  The javelina used to come by every couple of days last year.  This year, they come by every couple of hours hogging the quail food, so I may need to make some feeding changes, but the babies are fun to watch.  More to come.

Arizona Star Trails

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson 4 Comments

Star trails in the Tortolita Mountains, near Tucson, Arizona.

Star trails in the Tortolita Mountains, near Tucson, Arizona.

This is a combination of 95 separate images.  I captured this last spring before returning to Alaska from Arizona, but just now had the time to put it together.  I look forward to doing many more this winter – and for much longer!

Barrel Cactus

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel 3 Comments

Wildflowers on a barrel cactus, Tucson, Arizona.

Wildflowers on a barrel cactus, Tucson, Arizona.

A quick photo from my iPhone – surprised at all the blooming barrel cacti there were on our Arizona property this late into the summer!

Game Cam Deer

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

Deer, Tortolita Mountains, Tucson, Arizona.

Male mule deer, Tortolita Mountains, Tucson, Arizona.

Back from a very fast trip to Arizona to check on the Arizona Desert Photo Retreat!  I was amazed at how green things were, evidently it has been a very wet monsoon season.  Also surprised to see wildflowers.

Judging from the game cam, the water drip worked most of the summer, and it is going again right now, although not nearly as important thanks to the summer rain.  There weren’t any big surprises on the game cam – was hoping for something like a mountain lion, or another ring-tailed cat, but it didn’t happen.  We did have a number of deer, including this young male.  I have seen many deer near our property, but only one on it until now.  Lots of javalina, including another set of babies.  A pair of red-tailed hawks also became regular visitors.  Otherwise it was the regular cast of characters including the fox with what appears to be a kit, skunks, coyotes etc.