Road Runner in Arizona

Always need a picture of a Road Runner while in Arizona. This is actually in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. It's near the entrance to the western part of the Saguaro National Park. I really had a good time there.

Palm Oasis

I stayed in the Palm Springs area south of Joshua Tree National Park even though this meant more drive to enter the park from the north. I did this because of other attractions south of Palm Springs including Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I really didn't get to see that much of it but I enjoyed the Palm Canyon trail to see this isolated oasis of Palm trees in the middle of this desert.

Arch Rock

This is Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park. Definitely not a typical arch like you see in Arches National Park. I believe this is granite rather than sandstone.

Joshua Trees

Need to post at least one actual picture of a Joshua tree since I went to the national park. The rock formations definitely gave this park a different look. I had no idea rock climbing was so popular here either.

Joshua Tree Barker Dam Reflection

Just got back from vacation in the Southwest. I normally go to southern Utah and northern Arizona but this year I decided to go further south. I went to southern California first and went to Joshua Tree National Park for the first time. While known for its Joshua trees and rock formations, I think this was one my favorite photos from the Barker Dam area.

East Pyrite Pool: Lassen Volcanic National Park

This strange looking thermal feature is in the Bumpass Hell area of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. This particular pool is called the East Pyrite Pool. Apparently the scum on the surface is pyrite - fools gold. The nearby Big Boiler thermal feature is the hottest fumarole within a non-erupting volcano in the world. Here is a Wikipedia link on Lassen's geothermal areas.

Killdeer

I believe this is my first time identifying a shorebird. Hurrah! I don't think I'm alone in thinking that a lot of the shorebirds look alike. I think identifying this Killdeer was easier than most, but for some reason I feel like I'm going to get a comment correcting me anyway...

Roseate Spoonbill in Flight

Here is a recent photo from Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. For some reason, I've never been able to get a picture of a roseate spoonbill in flight until now. I took this with my 300mm on a monopod looking down from an observation platform. The platform really helped in this case since I was able to have a better contrasting background than I would have otherwise.

The 12th annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is January 21-26 to anyone that is interested.