Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Part of the ritual courting dance of the Sandhill Crane is the vertical leap. The bird faces its potential mate and then springs vertically into the air. I suppose the height of the leap is supposed to impress. Sandhills, unlike most other birds, display courting behavior year round, so it is common to see them practicing their vertical leaps wherever Sandhills gather. This is just before dawn at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro New Mexico. The birds are excited, as they are about to leave their night gathering and disperse to feed for the day. As this bird is not facing off with a potential mate, I have to believe the bird is just leaping for the joy of it.

Nikon P900 at 600mm equivalent field of view. 1/30th @ ISO 1400 @ f5. Processed in Lightroom.

Loggerheaded Shrike. Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

There are other birds at Bosque del Apache besides the Sandhill Cranes and Snowy Geese. This is a Loggerhead Shrike from the scenic overlook at the south end of the refuge. The overlook provides a panoramic view of the refuge and the Rio Grande Valley south of the refuge. Perhaps that is what attracted the Shrike, but I suspect it is the abundant bug life of the upland. The Shrike is also called the “Butcher Bird” because of its habit of leaving its prey impaled on barb wire and thorns to keep it from other predators.

Nikon P900 at about 3500mm equivalent field of view (Perfect Image digital zoom). 1/500th @ ISO 100 @ f6.5. Processed in Lightroom.

Sandhill Cranes against the sunset. Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Our last sunset at Bosque del Apache for this November. Headed home today. Though there were not enough clouds for a classic Bosque sunset, this is still pretty good okay.

Nikon P900 at 700mm equivalent field of view. Shutter preferred. 1/250th @ ISO 220 @ f5.6. Processed in Lightroom.

Raven with prey. Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

One of the great things about Bosque del Apache National Wildlife is that, right along side the major spectacle of the 30,000 Snow Geese and 14,000 Sandhill Cranes, you have all the other wildlife of the Rio Grande Valley high desert…and wildlife that seems somehow more accessible than it is outside the refuge. We watched this Raven devour some anonymous chunk of meat…and then drop down into the water channel and come back up with the next course…which is some kind of mouse or vole. It flew off with it pretty much intact. The Raven, seen this close up, is a beautiful bird, and demonstrated its hunting power for us.

Nikon P900 at 1750mm equivalent field of view. 1/500th @ ISO 110 @ f6.3. Processed in Lightroom.

Snow Geese. Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

It always takes me a couple of days at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to get my flight shot hand in. Practice! And there is no better place to practice flight shots. The Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese are always in the air, and relatively close. One of the amazing things about the Geese is how closely they fly…and how synchronized their wings are.

Nikon P610 at 1200mm equivalent field of view. Shutter preferred. 1/800th @ ISO 100 @ f6.3. Processed and cropped slightly in Lightroom.

Snow Geese panic, Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Hundreds in the air at once. A Harrier put them up. It is an experience you never forget.

Nikon P900. Processed in Lightroom.

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Well not quite winter…but definitely snow on the mountains this morning at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the Festival of the Cranes. I stood on the Coyote deck for a half hour waiting for, and trying for, this shot. There was one spot of sun on the snowy mountains, and occasionally Sandhill Cranes moving up the refuge would pass in front of the spot. Photo in the making. 🙂

Nikon P900 at just under 1000mm equivalent field of view. 1/400th @ ISO 400 @ f5.6. Processed in Lightroom.