Monthly Archives: November 2010
Autumn at the Rio Grande Nature Center
One of my favorite places in the Albuquerque area for birding, walking and clearing my head is the Rio Grande Nature Center. This fall I went on two separate days to take photos. The first time that I went, the rumored appearance of an Horned Grebe was a major attraction. Sure enough, this cute little water bird was swimming in the Candelaria Wetlands pond. Bosque Bill and I were able to get excellent views of this lovely little bird.
Horned Grebe at the Candelaria Wetlands pond.
Horned Grebe
The Canada Geese in the photo give you an idea of how small this little grebe is.
Horned Grebe and Canada Geese
When we walked over to the Visitor’s Center pond, we were delighted to see a Double-crested Cormorant posing nicely for us.
Double-crested Cormorant
A female Belted Kingfisher was hunting from the cottonwoods near the pond.
Female Belted Kingfisher
Even though it was overcast that day, the autumn colors were really spectacular.
Fall colors at the Rio Grande Nature Center.
When I went back two weeks later with friends from Colorado, the first thing we saw when we walked into the Nature Center was the little face of a Pocket Gopher peeking out of his hole.
Pocket Gopher
It was a beautiful sunny day, and the Painted Turtles and Red-eared Sliders were enjoying the nice weather at the Visitor Center pond.
Painted Turtles and Red-eared Sliders.
An American Coot was very obliging in showing off his bright red eyes and red beak spot for us.
American Coot
I was so happy to see that Hooded Mergansers are beginning to appear at the Nature Center.
Male Hooded Merganser
We walked across the Bosque Trail and over to the Rio Grande. Although we didn’t see any birds, the views across the river to the bosque on the other side were lovely. You can see the volcanoes on Albuquerque’s West Mesa in the distance.
Looking across the Rio Grande to the Bosque.
Closer view of the volcanoes.
Afterwards, we walked over to the Candelaria Wetlands pond. There were many Canada Geese on the pond, flying over the pond, and taking off from and landing on the pond.
Canada Geese
Canada Goose
The geese were coming right up to the blind, which is located at the east end of the parking lot.
Canada Goose at the Candelaria Wetlands pond blind.
There were Ring-necked Ducks in the Candelaria Wetlands pond …
Male Ring-necked Duck
… and American Wigeon too.
Male American Wigeon
There is a beautiful view to the east across the Candelaria Wetlands pond to the Sandia Mountains.
Looking east towards the Sandias.
It was a lovely day at the Nature Center.
Filed under Albuquerque birds, New Mexico birds, Rio Grande Nature Center
An Autumn Visit to Bosque del Apache
Last weekend I was fortunate to have birding friends from Colorado come to New Mexico to visit. One place I always enjoy taking visiting birders is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, which is located southeast of Socorro, New Mexico. Fall is a particularly lovely time to visit the refuge.
We arrived to find the bosque cottonwoods in full fall color.
Cottonwoods showing fall colors at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
The pond at the north end of the refuge held thousands of Snow Geese.
Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Snow Goose at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge showing color morphs.
It was lovely to watch the Snow Geese against the fall colors.
Snow Geese flying past the cottonwoods at Bosque del Apache.
There were hundreds of Northern Pintails in the pond with the Snow Geese.
Female Northern Pintail.
Male Northern Pintail.
Northern Pintail pair.
A Bald Eagle would occasionally circle the pond, causing the Snow Geese and Northern Pintails to take to the air amid a flurry of honking and quacking.
Bald Eagle takes flight, disturbing the ducks and geese.
Snow geese take flight after being disturbed by a Bald Eagle.
The Northern Pintails were disturbed by the Bald Eagle too.
Sandhill Cranes were in many of the shallow ponds in the refuge …
Sandhill Cranes wade in a shallow pond as Northern Pintails fly by.
… and we watched them fly over our heads for most of the day.
Sandhill Cranes flew overhead for most of the day.
As we drove over to the crane pools to watch the evening fly-in, we saw a variety of birds.
American Kestrel hovering.
Greater Roadrunner surveys the terrain.
Lilian's Eastern Meadowlarks singing in the trees.
White-tailed Kite, almost out of camera range.
As evening drew near we drove to the crane pools to watch the evening fly-in. There were not huge numbers of cranes there yet, but still, it is a wonderful spectacle.
Sandhill Cranes, evening fly-in.
Sandhill Cranes coming in for a landing at the crane pools.
Sandhill Cranes circle in against the fading light.
As we left Bosque del Apache after a wonderful day, we watched a new moon set over the mountains to the west.
New moon at sunset.
It was a wonderful day!
Filed under Bosque del Apache, New Mexico birds
