Near Famous

Photography by Charles W. Melton
Nature Photography

Recent Images

Previous Recent Images can be found here.

11110460 Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla. This normally pelagic species was found at a residential lake between Phoenix and Tucson. Photographed on November 9, 2011, at Lake Villago, Casa Grande, Arizona, with a 300 mm lens.

11110247 Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii. This secretive species breeds in Montana, North Dakota, and southern Canada. It winters in southeast Arizona, southern New Mexico, west Texas, and Mexico. Photographed on November 2, 2011, in the San Rafael Valley in southeast Arizona, with a 600 mm lens and 1.4x.

11100245 Least Grebe adults and young, Tachybaptus dominicus. The range of this species in the U.S. is primarily in south Texas. The past couple of years they have been breeding at Pena Blanca Lake. One youngster is being fed while another rides on the back of an adult. A third youngster is behind the adult doing the feeding. Photographed on August 12, 2011, at Pena Blanca Lake, southeast Arizona, with a 600 mm lens and 1.4x.

11080310 Five-striped Sparrow male, Aimophila quinquestriata, singing in mesquite tree. The breeding range of this species barely extends into the U.S. Formerly known primarily from California Gulch in southern Arizona, a small population was recently discovered in Montosa Canyon. Photographed on August 10, 2011, in Montosa Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, southeast Arizona, with a 600mm lens with a 1.4x.

11080248 Elegant Trogon male, Trogon elegans, eating a chokecherry fruit. Photographed on August 9, 2011, in Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, southeast Arizona, with a 600mm lens.

11080216 Aztec Thrush, Ridgewayia pinicola, perched in chokecherry tree. This rare visitor to the U.S. was photographed on August 7, 2011, in Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, southeast Arizona, with a 600mm lens with a 1.4x.

11060754 Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii, at feeder. This rare visitor to the U.S. returned to a feeder in Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, southeast Arizona, on July 11, 2011. Photographed on July 11, 2011, with a 600mm lens with a 1.4x.

11060725 Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii, perched in oak tree. This rare visitor to the U.S. showed up in Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, southeast Arizona, on July 3, 2011. Photographed on July 3, 2011, with a 600mm lens with a 1.4x.

Previous Recent Images can be found here.