I got up before J around 6:20 and worked up a blog entry then did some computer work. J started stirring around 7:20 and I had my normal breakfast. It was about 34°F (1°C) outside. We had been planning to move down the road today, but after checking the weather, with predicted bad weather approaching to interfere with shooting opportunities, we decided to stay here and wait it out. We left around 8:40 in the Jeep and ...

Went to the Paton's in Patagonia to photograph birds. Well, it used to be the Patton's place, but they died recently and a different person is renting their house and feeding the birds. There were a few birders there when we arrived, and one was set up with a Canon 300 f2.8 taking pictures of the hummingbirds at one feeder. Because we didn't know the arrangement, we only photographed with natural light. We got some nice shots of both a male and female gila woodpecker and broad-billed hummingbirds. I also got a very nice shot of a violet-crowned hummingbird (left) — a first to see for both of us. We left around 10:15.

We went to the Patagonia Market to pick up a few supplies so we can wait around a few days.

Then we went to the Red Mountain Produce store in Patagonia to pick up some more things.

We drove around the Coronado National Forest some more to see if we could find a better boondocking spot. The place where we are camped is near a road that's frequented by Border Patrol vehicles — and the noise bothers J. We found two nice, and hopefully quieter, places to boondock the next time we're in the area.

We returned to the RV around 12:15. I had a ham and Swiss sandwich then looked at camera gear online. I called Allen's Camera, in Levittown, PA, to check their price and availability of a Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5 L II tilt-shift lens. They had one in stock (most places have to special order one) and at a good price so I snatched one up. Allen's is a great photography store with a very knowledgeable staff, a good stock of high-end equipment, great prices, and excellent customer service. I cleaned the sensor on my Canon EOS 1D Mk III, and it was much easier than when I cleaned the sensor of my Canon EOS 1Ds Mk III on March 20th. It was about 84°F (29°C) outside and about that hot inside — a bit too warm for us to be hanging out in the RV! I did some computer work, then ...

Went outside around 4:05 to re-secure the door mat on the step to the side door of our RV. I had been using a series of tie-wraps to secure it, but the tie-wraps don't last too long so I decided to try something different this time — wire. It took me a while to find the wire because I had put it somewhere convenient to get to, then forgot where that was. :) I was disappointed to discover that the wire was very brittle so it would break almost every time I would try to twist the two ends of the loop together. :( I'll have to come up with another solution for next time.

I came back in around 5:00 and processed an image or the blog. I set up the grill then started grilling some marinated chicken tenders.

We had dinner at 6:05 of the grilled marinated chicken tenders, long-grain-and-wild rice, and peas — mmm.

After I did the dishes, we each showered, then I worked up a blog entry.