Category Archive

The javelina are funny. They quickly learn that water will come out of the ground at 9:00 p.m. each night into my water catchment basin – about 4 to 6 gallons a night pour into it from a tank I have onsite. The first photo was taken at 8:42. It isn’t uncommon for them to show up a little early and lay around and wait. The second photo is them all drinking at 9:01. After the water comes out, the javelina typically hang around for another hour or two or even more to enjoy the mud. However, within 5 to 10 minutes of their departure, other animals such as the fox, bobcat or skunks arrive. Clearly they are laying in wait in the shadows for an opportunity to come in for a drink.

It is always fun to check the trail cameras I leave set up over the summer at our Desert Photo Retreat. Every year the activity gets better and better, and this year was no exception! I had more mountain lion visits this past summer than all my other years combined! I can’t wait to get back and set up my camera trapping gear.

Made a quick trip to Arizona to check on the Desert Photo Retreat. I am amazed at how green the desert is this year, with lots of wildflowers. It was a nice treat to spot a gila monter in the driveway. This is an iPhone photo.

A gila monster at the waterhole today. This is the second one here in three days. It has been busy as we pack things up, hard to to have the camera out. Lot of migrant birds, and the Harris’s hawks now have a nearby nest!

Last night at the lower blind. We had lazuli bunting and black headed grosbeak here the last couple of days, however, they didn’t come to this perch. But and bright red cardinal is a nice consolation!

Turns out two species of skunk are using the javelina trail near our RV. This is a hooded skunk from a couple of nights ago.

There are a couple very well used javelina trails on our property. I thought I would set up on one to see what I might get. I have a feeling other animals may also use this path as well, time will tell. This was last night! I used four separate flashes to light the desert and camtraption triggers for the camera and flashes. Godox flashes, Olympus camera with 12-100mm lens at 12. I do love the true silent mode for times like this.

Last night I tried to better control the light from the flashes so that it didn’t illuminate the ugly bottom of the reflection table, or the big rock in the background. I wanted more bat on black. Here is the result.