Near Famous

Photography by Charles W. Melton
Nature Photography

Recent Images

Previous Recent Images can be found here.

11021035 Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird. First observed Feb. 16, 2011, in lower Miller Canyon. Photographed Feb. 17, 2011, in Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, southeast Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

11020892 Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus, stooping. Photographed Feb. 13, 2011, at mile 2 of Arzberger Road, Kansas Settlement, Sulphur Sulphur Springs Valley, southeast Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

11020194 Ocelot male, Leopardus pardalis, in tree. Same individual as below but photo taken from the opposite side of the tree. This ocelot was photographed on February 8, 2011, in the Huachuca Mountains of southeast Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

11020125 Ocelot male, Leopardus pardalis, in tree. Ocelot sightings in Arizona are very rare. Previous to this sighting, only one other confirmed sighting in the past 45 years. This ocelot was photographed on February 8, 2011, in the Huachuca Mountains of southeast Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

11010092 Ruddy Ground-Dove male, Columbina talpacoti, on ground. An uncommon dove found in the southwestern U.S. Photographed on January 4, 2011, at Gilbert Water Ranch, Arizona, with a 600mm lens.

10111069 Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, perched on post. These owls have been relocated from their nesting grounds near Phoenix to southeast Arizona due to development. This individual is an offspring of a pair that was relocated. Photographed on November 13, 2010, with a 600mm lens.

10090592 Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii, defending itself against a male Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris, at a feeder. An extremely rare hummingbird in the U.S., this individual was photographed on September 9, 2010, at the Paton home in Patagonia, southeast Arizona. Taken with a 600mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter.

10080315 Lucifer Hummingbird male, Calothorax lucifer, feeding at Stachys coccinea flower. Taken on August 19, 2010 at Ash Canyon B&B, Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

10080210 Originally identified as a Costa's Hummingbird male, Calypte costae, it was later determined to be a Costa's x Lucifer hybrid.Feeding at scarlet spires flower. Taken on August 19, 2010 at Ash Canyon B&B, Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, with a 300mm lens.

10070822 Varied Bunting male, Passerina versicolor. Taken on July 21, 2010 near Proctor Road, Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, with a 600mm lens and 1.4x.

10051982 Mississippi Kite male and female, Ictinia mississippiensis. Taken on May 30, 2010 at Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David, southeastern Arizona, with a 600mm lens.

10051836 Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus. Taken on May 30, 2010 at Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David, southeastern Arizona, with a 600mm lens and 1.4x.

10040351 Flame-colored Tanager male, Piranga bidentata, in oak tree. A very rare visitor to the U.S. This spring marks the eighth year that this bird has returned to this location. Taken on April 9, 2010 at Madera Kubo, Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, southeastern Arizona, with a 600mm lens and 1.4x. About half the frame.

Previous Recent Images can be found here.