The Pond at Elephant Head

South of Tucson, a large monolith resembling an elephant from certain angles protrudes from the Santa Rita Mountains.  Near this monolith a small ranch owned by a man named Bill Forbes has become a pilgrimage for bird photographers.  Bill is a constant tinkerer and also inventor of the Phototrap, a triggering device for cameras.  Most photographers visit Bill to spend a day sitting in a blind near a small pond that Bill has dug.  Movable blinds and assorted perches provide artistic opportunities. 

November is one of the poorer months for species variety but since I had a three day weekend from my volunteering duties I spent Friday morning at Bill's.  I arrived an hour before sunrise and birds were already moving around the pond.  At 7:30  light hit the setups and birds began increasing in numbers.  Many of the birds were sparrows and doves but Gambel's Quail, Gila Woodpeckers, Pyrrhuloxia, and Cactus Wrens made their appearances.   

Black-throated Sparrow

Gila Woodpecker

Cactus Wren

Gambel's Quail

Curve-billed Thrasher