Sandhill Cranes in action
During November, when thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather to winter at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in the high Rio Grande Valley of south central New Mexico, there is always a lot of action among the flocks. Sandhills mate for life and some mating behavior goes on all year, as does ritual combat between males. It is often hard, for the causal observer, to tell the difference between the two. 🙂 These two birds were doing an abbreviated dance of one kind or the other, but this is the first time I have caught this particular variation…with their beaks locked. Interestingly, my colleague Bill got a similar shot this year on his very first visit to the Bosque. Sony RX10iv in my special birds in flight and action modification of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Northern Harrier
In keeping with yesterday’s “it is not all Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes at Bosque” theme, here is one of the many Northern Harriers currently hunting the fields of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. More Harriers this year than I have ever seen at Bosque in the 25+ years I have been going there. Mostly I saw them far off cruising the back edges of fields. This one came right over on its way from one field to the next and I caught it! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My custom Birds in Flight and Action modifications to Program mode. Processed in Polarr. Makes me really glad I am not a mouse or a vole!
Pyrrhuloxia
It is not all Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (Socorro, New Mexico) when I visit in November each year. There are a few passerines around, especially around the Visitor Center. The feeders in the Cactus Garden attract White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Pyrrhuloxias, to name a few. I rarely get to see a Pyrrhuloxia, so I do enjoy watching the feeders. This female came late one afternoon when I snuck out of the exhibits tent to see what was happening at the feeders. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Rio Grande Wild Turkeys
For Thanksgiving Day, of course, what else? There is a corner of the corn on the north extension loop at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico that has been knocked down by Javelina, and the low hanging cobs have attracted the Refuge’s flock of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys. They were there most days I made the loop. The Rio Grande is one of 6 subspecies of Wild Turkey in the US, and it is the one you would expect at the Bosque, along the banks of the Rio Grande River. However it is also the species found through west Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, as well as being introduced in California, Oregon, and Washington state. It is occupies more territory than any other sub-species except the much more populous and wide-spread Eastern Wild Turkey. If you take a close look at the images you will see that several birds are sporting “beards”…long streamers of chest feathers. These are most likely males, or Toms, but hen turkeys do develop shorter beards so it is not certain. They look long enough to be males to me. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.
Geese panic…
Snow Geese “panic” several times a day at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Panic is the word I use to describe the times when a contagion of agitation sweeps the flock and they all come up into the air at the same time…calling and swirling. Generally half of them think they ought to move west and half east, or half think they should circle clockwise and half counterclockwise, and the mixing and mingling segments of the flock is mesmerizing. To be there when the Snow Geese panic is reason enough for a visit to the Bosque…and, in fact, brings folks back year after year. It was gettin on toward sunset when my Point and Shoot Nature Photography workshop got to see this panic up close. Nothing like it! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My Birds in Flight modifications of Programed Auto mode. 1/1000th @ f6.3 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.
Cranes with sunset in their wings…
Some sunsets at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro New Mexico, with the Sandhill Cranes coming in to roost in shallow water for the night, the light is just unspeakably beautiful. This crane was coming in toward the setting sun, and what it does to the wings is amazing. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My custom Birds in Flight adaptation of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Beep beep!
I always hope to see at least one Roadrunner while at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro, New Mexico during the Festival of the Cranes. Or rather, I am confident of seeing more than one, but I hope to see one close enough for photos. That is different. I had seen at least 4 before this one. In fact I saw one only a few hundred yards down the road, but it scuttled off into the brush as they do before I could get a photo. That put me on alert. Where there is one Roadrunner, there might be more. I slowed down a to a crawl, and sure enough, I spotted one on the edge of the road ahead. I pulled up as close as I dared and put the camera out the window and over the rear-view mirror and shot off a few frames just in case, and then I started inching forward to see if I could get up beside the bird. I got just about parallel before it turned and headed back toward the brush, but I got some over the shoulder looks when it stopped short of actual cover. Then it turned for the road again and ran up ahead of me to the edge. I was able to roll forward almost parallel again and got a few shots in full profile. The bird was on alert, with its crest raised, and provided a very satisfying image. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Well hello there Crane!
One of the reasons to visit the Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro, New Mexico is how close you can get to the Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. This Sandhill was coming directly overhead, so close that I could not fit more than this in the frame at 600mm equivalent. That is close indeed. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. My custom Birds in Flight adaptation of Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Dancing Cranes…
It has been one of the most spectacular weeks in memory at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the Festival of the Cranes in Socorro, New Mexico. The birds are in and close, the light has been simply wonderful (even by NM standards, which is saying a lot), and there is a lot of action in the flocks. This “dance” is part of the year long mating ritual, and it is a behavior you will see if you spend any time watching cranes. Sony RX10iv in my customized Birds in Flight adaptation of Program Mode. Processed in Polarr.
Away!
Sandhill Cranes taking off in the early light at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro New Mexico. This has been the best year in the past 10 years for birds and weather at Bosque. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.