Month: September 2020

Categories
Astrophotography

Planets

Mars is approaching opposition next month (October 13th) and is currently as close to Earth as it will be for a long time, in addition it rises high in the sky overnight, out of the haze and atmospheric gunk that Jupiter and Saturn are in now. Now is the time to photograph the planet. I tried it last night with the C8 and a 2.5 Televue Powermate. With this combination I’m getting about 5000mm focal length, but good atmospheric “seeing” is essential. Last night was just OK, I’m hoping for at least one good night with excellent seeing. It may be possible to see some volcanoes on the surface, like Olympus Mons, with excellent seeing. I don’t know if I can pick up on things like that with my equipment but I will keep trying.

This is the best I could get. It is much better than my previous attempts. This is a stack of over 2000 video frames selected by software from over 8000 frames, then stacked. The south polar cap is on the upper left and one can see north polar ice clouds at lower right. The largest dark area in the center is Mare Erythaeum. At this link is a good map that labels the features: https://www.wa2guf.org/mars-opposition-of-2020-2021/
Jupiter didn’t turn out so well but one can see the moon Io peeking out from behind the giant planet.
Categories
Birding Photography Travel

Peregrine and Looking for a New Campsite

This morning I decided to drive north to Granite Gap and investigate some dispersed campsites on BLM land in the Peloncillo Mountains. About halfway there, I came upon a Peregrine Falcon perched on the cross arm of a powerline. It let me get pretty close and then gave me a nice chance at takeoff/flight shots. I think the flight shots are probably the best ones I’ve ever got of an adult Peregrine Falcon.

The campsites look pretty good, should be quiet there, good cell phone service, and free. The drawback is, like here, it is 45-60 miles to a grocery store, depending on whether I go to Douglas or Lordsburg. The Lordsburg grocery store leaves a lot to be desired but it is closer then Douglas (60 miles from Rusty’s RV Ranch). I have two more days to decide….

Peregrine Falcon on the cross arm.
Take off! Nearly perfect light for a change…
A Steller’s Jay at John Hands Campground.
Redwhisker Clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra). This photo is from the Valley of Fires BLM area I was at last week.
Categories
Birding Photography

Eared Quetzals, again

This morning, I went back for more Eared Quetzal photography. I’m glad I did too, I got really nice shots of both the male and female. I’ve been reading about these birds and from what I’ve learned they are a late summer/fall breeding bird. I wonder if these two are starting a nest in this area or maybe thinking about it. They have been at this general location for quite awhile now, since at least September 15, according to Ebird.

Male Eared Quetzal. Is he old enough for breeding?
Female calling
Male

The only nest record for Arizona that I know of was in October 1991, when a pair of Eared Quetzals was found feeding young in a tree cavity in in the Huachuca Mountains.

Categories
Birding Photography Travel

Eared Quetzal

I drove over to the the Chiricahua Mountains area yesterday. I usually stay in the Forest Service campgrounds in Cave Creek but they are all closed. So, I’m in an RV park, Rusty’s RV Park, north of Rodeo, New Mexico. The bird I wanted to see here is the Eared Quetzal (pronounced KET-zal). There have been some seen in the Chiricahua Mountains off and on all summer. This morning, I saw one of them in Cave Creek and heard another. ABA Life Bird #603.

The Eared Quetzel is an uncommon, large trogon of pine and pine-oak forests in mountains and canyons of northwest Mexico. North of Mexico, this species is very rare. A wary bird, they will fly long distances when disturbed but can be found feeding quietly at fruiting trees. That is what this one was doing, feeding on hackberry fuits.

Young Male Eared Quetzal
Eared Quetzal. There were at least 15 other birders present this morning. A life bird for many.
Categories
Photography Travel

Heading for Arizona

I left Pierre Sunday morning and drove to Red Willow State Park near McCook, Nebraska. I have stayed at this park before and always liked it because it was quiet but the state has really raised the price of camping. I paid $38.00 for one night. They even add an extra $2.00 for out of state campers. That is nearly double what it used to be. It looks like I won’t be using Nebraska state parks anymore if I can help it. The following day I drove all day (I only go about 60-65 mph while towing) and ended up at the Walmart in Las Vegas, New Mexico. After my stay at the Walmart in Billings, MT last year, I said I would never do it again. But there was a quiet area behind the building with some other travelers set up for the night. I decided to try it and it worked out OK. And it was free…. Today I am at Valley of Fire Recreation Area (BLM campground) near Carrizozo, New Mexico. I am tired of driving so paid for two nights here. This is one of my favorite stops as it has a nice hiking trail through the lava beds. With my senior pass it only costs $6.00 a night. I haven’t had time for photography so far, with one exception.

I’ve been trying to get a good image like for a long time. I found the perfect location in New Mexico. Train is on the west, the rising sun in the east. The idea is to get the train sharp and the foreground blurred, so one has to be moving at the same speed as the train. It would be easier with someone else driving, but I managed. There was no road traffic, I could see a mile or more in both directions so all I had to do was keep it on the road and shoot.

Categories
Astrophotography Photography

Back in Pierre

I had to return to Pierre to see a dentist. Actually two dentists, one (an endodontist )for a root canal and the other (my general dentist) for a crown. Got that taken care of now. I am ready to head south for Arizona. I’ve been here for about a week and while nothing too exciting has happened, I have taken a few photos, as usual.

I had one good night for astrophotography and took more exposures of the Deer Lick Group. Added to the ones I took while I was at my spot in the Black Hills, it looks a lot better now.
One morning while hiking on the Lewis and Clark Trail, I came across this just hatched Snapping Turtle.
Lots of Franklin’s Gulls migrating through now. This photo was taken on Fisherman Point a couple of days ago.
This morning, while walking on Farm Island, I saw this vine growing on a dogwood. I do not recall having ever seen it before. I identified it on the internet, Polygonum scandens, Climbing False Buckwheat. It is a native plant, a new species for me. I have to wonder how common it is in South Dakota. It seems like I would have noticed it before.
Categories
Birding Photography

Spotted Towhee Bathing

Here’s another series of images from Baldwin Spring. This Spotted Towhee came in for a bath. It was quite energetic.

Spotted Towhee taking a look around to make sure it is safe.
Now he is getting his wings going.
Full motion. His beak looks like an eye now.
I am always telling people how far I can see from my campsite (astronomy distances don’t count but that would be about 2.5 million light years with the unaided eye). On a clear day, the Laramie Mountains are visible on the horizon. I have never bothered to check how far that is, but yesterday was one of those very clear days so I took a photo. Then I used Google Maps to determine that it is about 150 miles. Laramie Peak is the highest point in the Laramie Mountains with an elevation of 10,272 feet. The ridge in the foreground with the dead trees on it is part of the Elk Mountains, about 15 miles from camp. Taken at 400mm focal length.