Too good not to share: from my 2014 fire lookout gig

[DemoTex]

Tonight is my first night sleeping in the lookout. What an incredible view!

I've been staffing the lookout during the day and sleeping at the ranger station. Now, I will spend most nights here, except for off-days. But the apartment at the ranger station is mine all summer.

We have a couple of fires going: one down near the Mexico border (Nogales) and the other, the "Brown Fire" (ALL fires are named here, and I get to name the fires I spot) is in Gardner Canyon. I have to stick pretty much to naming fires for geographical or topographical features.



Here is an incredible photo (IMO) from yesterday evening of the nesting hummingbird at the ranger station.



Lagniappe: photo from my lookout of today's aerial demonstration by the USAF Thunderbirds over Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. Hey Trof, you and I can do this with our eyes closed!

[KT2000]

1. How beautiful!

How you got the hummingbird is amazing. I can never find their nests.
Thanks!

[northoftheborder]

35. How rare and beautiful! I've never seen a hummingbird nesting.

[Thor_MN]

44. I was going to say I've never seen a hummingbird resting

I've only ever seen them in flight.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Great shots, my dear DemoTex!

You do incredible work, and that's for sure.

[Vashta Nerada]

3. What city is that in the first picture?

I'm guessing Tucson?

Excellent pics!

[DemoTex]

6. Tucson, indeed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. You get all the fun

So you know, CONAFOR is using let it burn policies. And they are responsible for firefighting at the Federal level, (Mexico) that alphabet soup is the Comisión Nácional Forestal.

[MADem]

5. Way too cool! Love the bird pic!

Glad you're back posting -- I always looked forward to your threads!

[Skittles]

7. Mac did you see this article

The hummingbird doesn't flap its wings up and down, like other birds. Its wings oscillate in a circular motion, forming a figure eight, and the bird gets lift both from its downstroke -- like all birds -- but also from its upstroke.

As they fly, the wings form a vortex, sort of like a whirlpool in air, on the leading edge of their wings thus giving them lift on both strokes.


http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/clever-hummingbird-tortures-scientists/story?id=23303261

[Samantha]

8. Beautiful pictures - thank you for sharing them

I especially love the one of the Hummingbird's nest.

Sam

[ChazInAz]

9. Doing the Kerouac thing, eh!

I envy you. Somewhere in that last picture is my house...I'll wave from time to time.
This afternoon, I wondered what that contrail loop was. Kind of figured it was some plot from DM feeling frisky.

[DemoTex]

14. Visit

Top of Lemmon

PM me if you want to come up

[stg81]

10. wow! what's your hardware?

[DemoTex]

16. Canon 5D MK3 w/14mm WA

Quik shot - hand held - for this post. ISO 6400. Camera Raw, natch .. run through PS CS-6 with NIK plugins (LOVE NIK!!!)

Oh, that was just for the night shot of Tucson. The hummingbird was shot with a Canon 5D MK2 w/70-200 zoom w/1.4 extender.

mac

[stg81]

19. nice! no graininess with that high ISO

[truedelphi]

37. I am taking a moment to reply

In a few days or weeks, I am upgrading our cmeras, & these rec's from, you could prove to be important

[shanti]

11. You have a great eye!

The detail on the hummer is something else. Thx for sharing

[calimary]

12. Dayum, these are wonderful shots, DemoTex!

LOVE the hummingbird in the little nest! And your view at sunset - spectacular!!!!!!

Thanks for posting these so we can see! Just fabulous - and you get a whole summer of it!

[spanone]

13. k&r...

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Wow.

Phenomenal.

[SunSeeker]

17. Wow. Keep those pictures coming, DemoTex!

[Sissyk]

18. I'm so looking forward to more of your photos this year.

The one of the hummingbird and nest is fantastic!

Here's to a good summer for you.

[tomm2thumbs]

20. amazing images, as always

thanks for sharing them

[JDPriestly]

21. Thanks for posting. Keep your reports going. Love them.

[longship]

22. Always look forward to your reports, and especially your pictures.

A hearty DURec and kick.

Will watch for more. Surely amongst the best DU has to offer.

Thank you.

[Hekate]

23. KnR Always look forward to your reports and photos

Take care -- and if you can spot that hummingbird again, do share. She's an exquisite little thing.

[malaise]

24. Magnificent

[hootinholler]

25. New year new digs?

Not back to Oregon?

Have a great summer Mac!

[madokie]

26. awesome

Thank you for watching over us DT

[DarthDem]

27. Wow!!

Gorgeous pics - - thanks!! Be safe.

[a kennedy]

28. Those pictures are amazing.....

and that hummer.....wow. Thanks for sharing.

[B Calm]

29. You on top of A mountain?

Last edited Mon Apr 14, 2014, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Or in the Catalina Mt Range?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

30. WOW!

Thanks for sharing! Those are so cool!

[Red State Rebel]

31. My Father did that in the 50's

My first few years were spent in a house with a tower in the yard. I remember looking up the steps that went on for what seemed like forever.

[JimDandy]

38. Same here. In the Idaho panhandle

during summers in college. That was before us kids were a glimmer in his eye, but we have the photos and got to see his old lookout tower when we were young.

In the town of Newport, WA (on the Idaho border) there is an old lookout tower outside on display that is very similar to the one he worked in.

[Warpy]

32. Being moved to a station near Tucson

is going to feel like you've moved to another planet. The good news about an arid climate is that you eventually do get used to it and the nosebleeds finally stop. The bad news is that it is almost addictive, that incredible dryness that causes sweat to evaporate immediately and cool you down rather than hang around and make you stick to everything.

Tucson was second on my list of prospective places to move. NM won out because it's higher, just as dry, and a little cooler.

[dionysus]

33. keep them beautiful pics comin Tex!

[sarge43]

34. Thank you for the lovely pictures n/t

[SalviaBlue]

36. Wow!

Great pictures! I look forward to more. Thanks for sharing!!

[Aerows]

39. If I thought I could handle the job

I would be jealous as hell, my friend. I'm pretty young. The solitude would be no problem. I kind of like the sticks, but I'm not sure how well I would do without a good hamburger now and then

[Calista241]

40. Job

That's kind of an awesome job.

[Blue Owl]

41. Hope the conditions favor some good blood moon shots!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

42. Beautiful! A question for you...

I look forward to your pictures every season .. Thanks.

Did you ask for reassignment, or is it just luck of the draw? It will be a very different summer in the high desert. Enjoy and keep those fascinating pictures coming.

[Liberal In Red State]

43. My husband is sooooo jealous! He is originally from Tucson Nd whenever he goes home

Davis Monthan AB and Pima Air Museum are his must see places . . . Enjoy the night!

[obxhead]

45. Stunning!

enjoy the summer!

[hatrack]

46. DemoTex, you have the coolest job of anybody I know or know of!

Love your posts and photographs - and are they hiring for next year?

[niyad]

47. thank you for those beautiful pics--especially the nesting hummer!! looking forward to more

of your beautiful pics.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

48. So DU is more than adequately covered now

with SalmonChantedEvening's LOLcatz threads and DemoTex's fire lookout shots. And we are happy!

K&R

[pinboy3niner]

49. And Flying Squirrel's DUzy Awards threads on Fridays

We hit the Trifecta!