I walk just about every day of the year, and it’s usually a long walk. It’s a great way to exercise, and it gives me the opportunity to “Stop and Smell the Roses” as Mac […]
Author Archives: Tom
Cactus Wren – Arizona’s State Bird
Cactus Wrens are fairly common throughout the southwest and especially in Northeast Scottsdale, Arizona. They were officially recognized as Arizona’s state bird in 1931. These birds, about the size of a common Robin, build their […]
Trumpicanus Donaldus – New Bird Species
I was excited to spot and photograph a new bird species the other day. Here’s an excerpt describing the bird from the authoritative Journal of United States Ornithological Ephemera: “The bird was first identified and […]
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a special “photographers-only” workshop at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) located in a mostly undeveloped northeastern part of Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s a great wildlife center that […]
A Squadron of Javelinas
The southwest desert is home to some very different “critters.” One of the most unusual is the javelina. Adults stand about 3-4 feet tall and weight 40-50 pounds. They have impressive looking tusks that are […]
Butterfly Wonderland
A couple of years ago Butterfly Wonderland opened in Scottsdale, and I’ve often whizzed by it in the fast lane of the 101 saying to myself, “I’ve got to stop in there someday.” Well, my […]
Italy 2015
My first visit to Europe was a wonderful 12-day journey through the northern part of Italy. It was a wonderful trip with only a few days of rainy weather to make my wife and me […]
Wildlife World Zoo – A Photographer’s Destination
For any photographer interested in wildlife photography, taking your camera into the wild is probably one of the most sought after opportunities. However, if you can’t justify the cost of a photo safari to Africa […]
Cats, cats, cats
“If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” ―Mark Twain, Notebook, 1894 For over 30 years my wife and I have always had at least […]
Peach-Faced Lovebirds
What to think when I saw two of these outside my home office window? I thought someone had let loose a parrot. However, with a little Googling, I discovered these are wild Peach-Faced Lovebirds. Although […]