Posted by Kurt Bowman on August 28, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Hi all,
I recently moved to Arizona (south of Tucson) and was thinking about heading up to the Phoenix area for the holiday weekend. I am thinking about first stopping at the Gilbert Water ranch. Any tips or suggestions for shooting there? I am also thinking about trying to find other subjects and thought about going to the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, AZ. Any suggestions or tips for that spot? I will be looking for birds there as well (which is why I posted this in the bird forum), but also am hoping ot see and photograph the wild horses.
Rich Ditch is the expert on Gilbert Water Ranch and knows every square inch of it. If he doesn't see this and reply, email him directly (his email sent to you) .
As far as great other places I'd encourage you to see: Have fun!
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Posted by Kurt Bowman on August 28, 2017 at 9:30 PM
Thanks Sandy! Agree about sending Richard an email. I thought I would try to just post here before sending him a private email, but I might as well send it. Thanks for the help and suggestions!
A place I did some good birding is South Park in Phoenix. It is the largest city park in the world with varied desert habitat. A lot of trails to explore and photograph.
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 29, 2017 at 1:38 PM
Here's the main part of my private reply to Kurt; I'm re-posting it here publicly so it will be available to others in the furture.
First, the weather:
This weekend (September 1-4, 2017) in Phoenix: 107 on Friday, 106 on Saturday, 105 on Sunday, 104 on Monday. Overnight low 82 or 83 degrees. If you are going to be out do it early and bring sufficient water. Sunrise is around 6:00 am. Heat and light will be lousy by 8:30.
Gilbert Water Ranch:
Not very good for photos lately, but still about the best location in the Phoenix metro area. There's some migrants around now - we've had Wilson's Warbler and Brewer's Sparrow in our yard this week. Shorebird reports have been interesting around the state, with two Red Knots (Glendale for a few days, Picacho area south of Phoenix 8/28/17), a continuing Tricolored Heron, an in-and-out Reddish Egret, Snowy Plover all at Glendale Recharge Ponds on the NW side of the metro area. So there's a chance of shorebird activity picking up at the Water Ranch. Pond 5 is generally best for close photos of the regular birds (dowitchers, Least Sandpiper, yellowlegs, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt). There can be more birds in Pond 2 but they are always way too far for any photos.
Pond 6 can have cooperative Pied-billed Grebe and Green Heron, plus Snowy Egret and any wintering ducks (but too early yet for those to be here).
The stand of Saguaro Cacti by the main parking lot along Guadalupe can be good in early morning light. White-winged Dove, Gila Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, and junk stuff like House Sparrow, European Starling, House Sparrow are often feeding on the cactus flowers or in and out of nesting cavities.
The main parking lot is at the north side off Guadalupe Road. The Saguaros are at the Garden at the east end. Many of the regular photographers park in a lot on the south side of the library, off Greenfield Road.
The pond basins are large and shallow; water in the ponds is almost always restricted to small areas near the edges. The north end of Pond 5 is where you'll find water and where you should look for the best photo ops. Come down the east side, walk over to the water edge and sit down behind your camera on a low tripod. The birds will often come in very close. You also get the best light here early in the morning. Some photographers dress only in camo, but I've not found that to be necessary. Simply stay relatively quiet and avoid wild rapid movements and the birds come and stay close.
Pond 6 usually only has water along the east edge near the south end of Pond 7. The bank is higher here and there are fewer good shooting windows. Try walking to the south and there are a couple small openings at water level.
Depending on water levels there's sometimes opportunities at the SW end of Pond 1 from the bump out area on the path between ponds 1 and 2. Go around the silly blind wall to get closer to the water.
Don't waste time on Ponds 2, 3, or 4 unless somebody there already shares a report of something interesting.
Small birds can be anywhere. Anna's Hummingbird, Verdin, Curve-billed Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Abert's Towhee are fairly common and sometimes easy to shoot. The path between ponds 1 and 7 is often where we find stray warblers from the East in winter. The path between ponds 3 and 4 has had wintering rarities like Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird.
If I'm visiting the Water Ranch for photos I get to Pond 5 as quickly as I can and also try to check Pond 6. I park at the lot off Greenfield at the library.
If I'm more interested in making a bird list for the day I park off Guadalupe, walk down between ponds 1 and 7, past pond 5, and between ponds 3 an 4.
Salt River:
I rarely go here. It will be busy this weekend with family groups and plenty of noise. Birds are hard to photograph here if you can find any. There are three major recreation areas here along the Bush Highway: Granite Reef, Phon D. Sutton, and Coon Bluff. All require a Tonto NF parking permit. You can buy a day pass at a Circle K store on the drive out. I've never seen the horses, but I don't go very often. Perhaps you can find some pointers about where they usually hang out via Google.
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 29, 2017 at 1:51 PM
Other places
Veterans Oasis Park:
Another place with large shallow ponds for reclaiming processed waste water. Like Gilbert Water Ranch, but not much vegetation. Few visitors. Best reason to visit is the large freshwarter fishing pond for wintering ducks. Located in Chandler 5-10 miles from Gilbert Water Ranch.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum:
Where Phoenix area birders go to get away from the heat and see something green. About 60-70 miles east of Sky Harbor airport along US 60. Admission fee. I lead birdwalks here occasionally on some weekends but I don't do a lot of bird photography here. Some common birds can be seen and photographed in the cactus garden area, the Demo garden, and around the tiny Ayer "Lake." Probably the best place in the United States to see Rufous-backed Robin, a frequent winter visitor from south of the border.
Desert Botanical Gardens:
Well maintained. Admission fee. Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Anna's Hummingbird. Lesser Nighthawk nests here but they are so well camouflaged that you are unlikely to find them on the ground in the daytime. Not far from Sky Harbor.
South Mountain Park:
Low mountains on the south side of Phoenix with a few paved roads. Good for landscapes if you are in a hurry but not much in the way of birds to photograph. There's a paved road with lots of switchbacks that leads to the top/
Discussion
5 repliesI recently moved to Arizona (south of Tucson) and was thinking about heading up to the Phoenix area for the holiday weekend. I am thinking about first stopping at the Gilbert Water ranch. Any tips or suggestions for shooting there? I am also thinking about trying to find other subjects and thought about going to the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, AZ. Any suggestions or tips for that spot? I will be looking for birds there as well (which is why I posted this in the bird forum), but also am hoping ot see and photograph the wild horses.
Thanks,
Kurt
Rich Ditch is the expert on Gilbert Water Ranch and knows every square inch of it. If he doesn't see this and reply, email him directly (his email sent to you) .
As far as great other places I'd encourage you to see: Have fun! <div> <div> <div> <div> <div style="margin-right: 16px; margin-left: -2px;"> <div>
Desert Botanical Garden</div> <div>Phoenix, AZ</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> </div> <div> <div> <div style="margin-right: 16px;"> <div>
Desert Arboretum Park</div> <div>Tempe, AZ</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> </div> <div> <div> <div style="margin-right: 16px;"> <div>
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park</div> <div>Superior, AZ</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Kurt
First, the weather:
This weekend (September 1-4, 2017) in Phoenix: 107 on Friday, 106 on Saturday, 105 on Sunday, 104 on Monday. Overnight low 82 or 83 degrees. If you are going to be out do it early and bring sufficient water. Sunrise is around 6:00 am. Heat and light will be lousy by 8:30.
Gilbert Water Ranch:
Not very good for photos lately, but still about the best location in the Phoenix metro area. There's some migrants around now - we've had Wilson's Warbler and Brewer's Sparrow in our yard this week. Shorebird reports have been interesting around the state, with two Red Knots (Glendale for a few days, Picacho area south of Phoenix 8/28/17), a continuing Tricolored Heron, an in-and-out Reddish Egret, Snowy Plover all at Glendale Recharge Ponds on the NW side of the metro area. So there's a chance of shorebird activity picking up at the Water Ranch. Pond 5 is generally best for close photos of the regular birds (dowitchers, Least Sandpiper, yellowlegs, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt). There can be more birds in Pond 2 but they are always way too far for any photos.
Pond 6 can have cooperative Pied-billed Grebe and Green Heron, plus Snowy Egret and any wintering ducks (but too early yet for those to be here).
The stand of Saguaro Cacti by the main parking lot along Guadalupe can be good in early morning light. White-winged Dove, Gila Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, and junk stuff like House Sparrow, European Starling, House Sparrow are often feeding on the cactus flowers or in and out of nesting cavities.
The main parking lot is at the north side off Guadalupe Road. The Saguaros are at the Garden at the east end. Many of the regular photographers park in a lot on the south side of the library, off Greenfield Road.
The pond basins are large and shallow; water in the ponds is almost always restricted to small areas near the edges. The north end of Pond 5 is where you'll find water and where you should look for the best photo ops. Come down the east side, walk over to the water edge and sit down behind your camera on a low tripod. The birds will often come in very close. You also get the best light here early in the morning. Some photographers dress only in camo, but I've not found that to be necessary. Simply stay relatively quiet and avoid wild rapid movements and the birds come and stay close.
Pond 6 usually only has water along the east edge near the south end of Pond 7. The bank is higher here and there are fewer good shooting windows. Try walking to the south and there are a couple small openings at water level.
Depending on water levels there's sometimes opportunities at the SW end of Pond 1 from the bump out area on the path between ponds 1 and 2. Go around the silly blind wall to get closer to the water.
Don't waste time on Ponds 2, 3, or 4 unless somebody there already shares a report of something interesting.
Small birds can be anywhere. Anna's Hummingbird, Verdin, Curve-billed Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Abert's Towhee are fairly common and sometimes easy to shoot. The path between ponds 1 and 7 is often where we find stray warblers from the East in winter. The path between ponds 3 and 4 has had wintering rarities like Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird.
If I'm visiting the Water Ranch for photos I get to Pond 5 as quickly as I can and also try to check Pond 6. I park at the lot off Greenfield at the library.
If I'm more interested in making a bird list for the day I park off Guadalupe, walk down between ponds 1 and 7, past pond 5, and between ponds 3 an 4.
Salt River:
I rarely go here. It will be busy this weekend with family groups and plenty of noise. Birds are hard to photograph here if you can find any. There are three major recreation areas here along the Bush Highway: Granite Reef, Phon D. Sutton, and Coon Bluff. All require a Tonto NF parking permit. You can buy a day pass at a Circle K store on the drive out. I've never seen the horses, but I don't go very often. Perhaps you can find some pointers about where they usually hang out via Google.
Veterans Oasis Park:
Another place with large shallow ponds for reclaiming processed waste water. Like Gilbert Water Ranch, but not much vegetation. Few visitors. Best reason to visit is the large freshwarter fishing pond for wintering ducks. Located in Chandler 5-10 miles from Gilbert Water Ranch.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum:
Where Phoenix area birders go to get away from the heat and see something green. About 60-70 miles east of Sky Harbor airport along US 60. Admission fee. I lead birdwalks here occasionally on some weekends but I don't do a lot of bird photography here. Some common birds can be seen and photographed in the cactus garden area, the Demo garden, and around the tiny Ayer "Lake." Probably the best place in the United States to see Rufous-backed Robin, a frequent winter visitor from south of the border.
Desert Botanical Gardens:
Well maintained. Admission fee. Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Anna's Hummingbird. Lesser Nighthawk nests here but they are so well camouflaged that you are unlikely to find them on the ground in the daytime. Not far from Sky Harbor.
South Mountain Park:
Low mountains on the south side of Phoenix with a few paved roads. Good for landscapes if you are in a hurry but not much in the way of birds to photograph. There's a paved road with lots of switchbacks that leads to the top/