For Earth Day 2011, a photo of one of my favorite places, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, located about 90 miles south of my house. I am thankful that such places exist. I took this photo on February 5, 2011.
Sandhill Cranes & Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
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Filed under Bosque del Apache, New Mexico birds
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A couple of weekends ago Bosque Bill and I went to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Winter is the usual time to visit the refuge because of the many Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese that winter there. Because birding has been pretty slow in northern New Mexico lately, we decided to travel to Bosque del Apache to see if there were any interesting birds.
It was a gorgeous early spring day. The light was beautiful.
A beautiful day at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
At one pond along the Marsh Loop we saw several Black-necked Stilts wading and feeding.
Black-necked Stilts
In another pond on the Marsh Loop we saw Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants.
Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants.
Neotropic Cormorants.
Juvenile Neotropic Cormorant;
There were quite a few Painted Turtles sunning themselves in the pond where we saw the cormorants.
Painted Turtles.
We saw Redheads in still another pond on the Marsh Loop …
Males and female Redhead
… and Cinnamon Teal in the same pond.
Male and female Cinnamon Teal.
There was a Pied-billed Grebe in that pond too.
Pied-billed Grebe.
As we continued around the Marsh Loop, we saw a pretty Say’s Phoebe in a New Mexico olive tree.
Say's Phoebe.
A Red-tailed Hawk flew through the cottonwoods.
Red-tailed Hawk.
There were many Northern Shovelers in the Farm Loop pond …
Male and female Northern Shovelers.
… and there were many more Cinnamon Teal in the Farm Loop pond as well.
Cinnamon Teal
We had been told at the Visitors’ Center that the Sandhill Cranes had left for the year, and so we were surprised to see several hundred Lesser Sandhill Cranes at the Crane Pools as we left the refuge.
Lesser Sandhill Cranes fly in at sunset.
We went to Bosque del Apache with few expectations, and we had a lovely time. The green chile cheeseburgers that we had for lunch at the Buckhorn Saloon were outstanding too!
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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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Filed under Bosque del Apache
I love going to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I feel very fortunate to live close enough that I can be there in about an 1 1/2 hours, which means that I can go there almost any time that I want to go. Usually I concentrate on photographing birds. Last weekend Bosque Bill and I went there, and I decided to take some photos to show what a beautiful place it is. There will still be birds, of course.
Looking east from the Flight Deck.
Looking to the west across the crane pools.
Looking to the east on the Farm Loop.
Looking to the east across the Farm Pond.
Looking to the northwest as the snow geese fly overhead.
Waves of Snow Geese fly over the fields at Bosque del Apache.
One of the crane pools at dusk.
Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese fly in at sunset.
Sandhill Cranes fly in at sunset.
Sunset at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
A view of sunset over the crane pools at Bosque del Apache.
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Photo Feathers
Photo Feathers 