Whitewater Draw is just a 45 minute drive from Sierra Vista and is home to about 22,000 wintering Sandhill Cranes. There is a half mile looped path that is close to parking, easy to walk and has benches along the way, two viewing platforms with telescopes, and close access to see not only cranes but other birds. Overnight camping is allowed, there are bathroom facilities and a few picnic tables. There is no fee. None of us are bird photographers and we don't have any of the long focal length lens that serious birders use. But, just getting out there and being so close to the cranes, watching them fly in and out by the hundreds, listening to them call, and watching them preen was more than enough for me.

We were already frozen and the sun was just starting to come up.  Temperature was 17º, my hands too cold to set up my camera and then my long lens would not even attempt to focus!! — We were already frozen and the sun was just starting to come up. Temperature was 17º, my hands too cold to set up my camera and then my long lens would not even attempt to focus!!

Tom got a few photographs of the cranes leaving.

Len told me that they return in the midday to rest before going back out in the early afternoon.  That approach sounded much more appealing to us.  We returned twice more to watch them come back to the ponds. — Len told me that they return in the midday to rest before going back out in the early afternoon. That approach sounded much more appealing to us. We returned twice more to watch them come back to the ponds.

This is a good representation of the ponds just before the birds start coming back in.

When the cranes do return they do so in waves, some as many as 100+ birds.

Sand Hill Cranes are not the only bird in the area of the ponds.

I was told by another photographer that brown Sand Hill Cranes are what is found on the East Coast.  Not sure if that is true.  This brown bird looked a bit out of place. — I was told by another photographer that brown Sand Hill Cranes are what is found on the East Coast. Not sure if that is true. This brown bird looked a bit out of place.

There are two viewing platforms along the route that is easily walked.

That is not sensor dust.  Those are waves of returning cranes.  They are noisy as they fly in. — That is not sensor dust. Those are waves of returning cranes. They are noisy as they fly in.

There are white geese that rest with the cranes.

I tried so hard to get a good photograph of this Vermilion Flycatcher.  They are FAST! — I tried so hard to get a good photograph of this Vermilion Flycatcher. They are FAST!

Several people mentioned that there were Barn Owls and Horned Owls in the 'barn' a structure near the parking lot.  We only saw this one.  He seemed very at ease with photographers being close by. — Several people mentioned that there were Barn Owls and Horned Owls in the 'barn' a structure near the parking lot. We only saw this one. He seemed very at ease with photographers being close by.

If birds are not your thing, there are plenty of other photo-opportunities to keep you busy.

I am tired of saying 'No' when asked if I have been to Hassayampa. Susan and Elaine finally got me excited about going to this wild riparian preservation site by showing me some photos that they had taken. The weather was perfect!! If you want to get your photography skills challenged this would be a good place to go!

We saw huge California palm trees and really big cottonwoods. The cottonwoods have not turned my favorite 'cottonwood' gold, yet. We were told that we should watch the weather and when the temperature dipped close to freezing, the trees would deck out in fall colors. I am watching. We were even told the hike we should take to get us up high enough to see them all in their glory stretched out before us! I am excited about this upcoming opportunity. In the meantime, enjoy our first attempts at capturing at least an essence of what the place is all about.