This past weekend Bosque Bill and I decided to attend a photo workshop at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. After leaving for Socorro at 5:30 a.m. in the bitter cold, we met at the crane pools for some early morning photos. There was still quite a bit of snow on the ground from the previous week’s storm.
Crane pool at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
We toured around the refuge as a group, using the opportunity to take some photos of birds …
Great Blue Heron
… and wildlife.
Coyote
During our classroom instruction we were excited to learn that Matt Mitchell was going to bring his two Harris Hawks out for us to photograph in the afternoon. The hawks were beautiful.
Matt Mitchell and one of his Harris Hawks.
The birds very obligingly perched on low bushes …
Harris Hawks preparing to fly so that we can photograph them.
… and flew toward us.
Harris Hawk taking off.
Harris Hawk flying toward us.
I guess you can never predict where a hawk will land.
Harris Hawk and Bosque Bill.
Bosque Bill is looking for a bird to photograph. I'd suggest a shorter lens.
"I wonder if the Canon warranty covers Harris Hawk scratches?"
"Hey Bosque Bill-the other hawk is over there!"
The hawk and Bosque Bill find a new subject to photograph.
The hawk spies Matt.
The hawk flies back to Matt.
After a lovely afternoon with Matt Mitchell and his Harris Hawks, we returned to the crane pools to watch the cranes fly in …
Sandhill Crane fly-in.
… and enjoy the sunset.
Sunset at Bosque del Apache.
Sandhill cranes fly in at sunset.
It was another magical day at Bosque del Apache
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Photo Feathers 
Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful shots, especially the ones of Bosque Bill and the hawk! Loved the captions, too!
OMgoodness….absolutely beautiful there! And Bosque Bills camera might take off>>hee hee..That alone was worth getting up at the ungodly hour! Beautiful photos!
Great, great photos. Wow!! I’ll be there next week. Can’t wait!!!
Bob Zeller
That is a prize-winning photograph of Bosque Bill and the Harris looking for a bird to photograph. Well done.
I’ll bet you have hundreds of shots of Bill & the camera riding hawk – I would have! Great shots of a wonderful birding day.
Happy you all liked the photos of Bosque Bill and the hawk. Wish you could have been there to see it in person! 🙂
Fantastic! Those photos of the hawk on Bosque Bill’s camera are priceless! The Harris Hawks are quite handsome birds. Stunning sunset images! A most wonderful post.
Fantastic photos! I am surprised at how tame the hawks are!
The hawks are quite accustomed to people and were unfazed by the sight of 20 birders with cameras. It was pretty amazing!
These are so much fun! I love Harris hawks and I love Bosque del Apache!
Beautiful series.
What a post – just amazing – such fabulous photographs too – love the hawk on Bosque Bill’s lens – priceless… and how it then followed Matt? again priceless. Thank your for sharing your day and your gift.
This was an excellent photo workshop and a fun day. The hawks were definitely a bonus!
I’m a relative newcomer to Albuquerque and would like to send some of your Bosque path photos to my cycling friends back in Tucson. Many of them are avid cyclists and are contemplating a visit here this summer (with their bikes).
I respect your stated rights to your photos and am requesting permission to copy and paste a few of them into an album and send them along, and I’ll gladly give you credit for them along with sending them the link to your website.
However, I’m experiencing a problem sending you an email. Whenever I click on the dropdown link on your site no email address come up for me.
Can you send me your email address and I will send you a direct request?
Thanks,
Jim S–
I hope you’re enjoying living in Albuquerque despite the unusually dry, windy spring. I love to cycle, and Albuquerque is a pretty good place to do it. I had a very nice ride this morning before it got windy. You may use my photos and distribute them to your cycling friends as long as you give me credit and link back to my blog. Glad that you like the photos. Happy cycling!
Looks like it was an awesome workshop …. excellent series of Bill and the Hawk! Very exciting experience for you both!