View allAll Photos Tagged BosquedelApache
The last crane apparently has a foot/leg problem, but I think I saw it on other days, too, so it was doing okay.
More on my Bosque del Apache, NM experience: There actually were a lot of the smaller Ross's Geese mixed in with the cranes and snow geese, but they rarely got the subject attention of my camera. So here's one that did - typically they just surrounded my sandhill crane images.
Sundown at the Crane Pond. Cottonwood Tree, mountains, Sandhill Cranes and sky made for a nice picture.
The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in southern New Mexico. It was founded in 1939 and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a favorite spot to watch the migration of the Sandhill cranes in the fall.
Sandhill Cranes on a very cold morning (-9 F). The most interesting sight was watching them trying to get a running start on the ice for takeoff. Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico
The Bosque del Apache, New Mexico is part of the Central Flyway. From November through January, thousands of snow geese, Ross’s geese, and sandhill cranes spend the night in water to protect themselves from coyotes and other predators. The group of snow geese in the middle right of the image had already come in for the evening -- you have to look hard to find them!
Happy Easter and Passover to all who observe these holidays. Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.
© Melissa Post 2018
Sandhill Cranes getting ready to take off. Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. Blue light; the sunrise hasn't reached these Cranes yet.
With my telephoto at 400mm I captured these three sandhill cranes in the morning sun as they stood on the edge of the marsh.
The sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache generally fly in to their night haven ponds just at sunset (from my past experience, which admittedly is limited). This year they mostly waited until after sunset, preventing getting their aerial portraits with beautiful warm light. On this evening a Loggerhead Shrike stopped by to pose on a sign, providing a nice consolation prize. Although they are mostly insectivorous, the bit of a hook in the bill also is indicative of their ability to eat small mammals.