Reflections of the Natural World

Travel with me as I explore the wild things and wild places of our planet. – Jim Gain

  • Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #6 – Carr Canyon

    Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #6 – Carr Canyon

    By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022. After leaving Miller Canyon we took the road up to Carr Canyon which proved to be quite an arduous trip of Read more

  • Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #5 – Miller Canyon–Beatty’s Guest Ranch

    Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #5 – Miller Canyon–Beatty’s Guest Ranch

    By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022. IN SEARCH OF WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS This morning’s destination was to include my first ever visit up Miller Canyon to visit Beatty’sView… Read more

  • Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #4 – Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary

    Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #4 – Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary

    By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022. Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #3 – Paton Center for Hummingbirds Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #2 – Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands Operation PhotoTrogon ABOUT THE SANCTUARY GOOGLE Read more

  • Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #3 – Paton Center for Hummingbirds

    Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #3 – Paton Center for Hummingbirds

    By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022. THE PATON CENTER FOR HUMMINGBIRDS – A HISTORY OF HUMMINGBIRDS AND BIRDERS I first learned about Wally and Marion Paton when Read more

  • Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #2 – Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands

    Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #2 – Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands

    By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON The name Operation PhotoTrogon came about weeks ago as Rich Brown and I started planning our trip. We discussed the potential top target birds for the adventure and it didn’t take long for us to settle on Elegant Trogon as the clear winner of the #1 bird we wanted to Read more

  • Operation PhotoTrogon

    Operation PhotoTrogon

    On Monday, 5/9/22, Rich Brown and I (Jim Gain) rendezvoused in Turlock, CA to begin Operation PhotoTrogon. Our target lay deep in the canyons of the Santa Rita and Huachuca mountains in SouthEast Arizona. With plans to traverse the most treacherous terrain filled with cold-blooded reptiles, sharp-spined Saguaro and crafty Coati we departed before the Read more