Bosque Del Apache, NM, November 2004

        This temporary trip gallery presents a limited selection of images which I captured at Bosque Del Apache NWR, on the Rio Grande in central New Mexico, from the 10th to the 17th of November 2004. Specific locations are given in some of  the comments, including the Farm Market Road (north of the refuge, toward Socorro, where we lodged at the Super 8; it caters to birders, with breakfast from 5 am).
        Highlight species at the Bosque include snow geese and sandhill cranes, many thousand of which winter at the refuge. There were two bald eagles by the time we left (more expected later)–neither yielded photos worth posting here.

Click on an image to see a larger version -- the captions give something of a virtual tour

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This is the exit from the Bosque's Visitor Center, close to the refuge entrance. In the background, hundreds of snowgeese are shown flying over the refuge. This is the "Flight Deck, which is often the first place where visitors stop after entering the refuge. It is often a good place to experience the geese and cranes flying off around dawn to their feeding grounds. A typical view of the rising sun, from near the Flight Deck. Another view just at sunrise, taken from about the same spot as the preceding one, but looking towards the west. A view from the Flight Deck, just after sunrise. Leaving the Flight Deck soon after dawn one morning, we encountered these snow geese landing on the road--and blocking it! (see next image ...) ... After a few minutes, the geese took off, in three waves. After the third wave, we bird watchers were free to move about the refuge! Snow geese (probably a juvenile below), in flight soon after dawn. Snow geese (two juveniles in front). Bosque, Farm Loop Adult snow goose. Bosque, Farm Loop Snow goose--juvenile. Bosque, Marsh Loop Adult dark-morph snow goose (formerly a separate species--blue goose). These are uncommon, representing perhaps one in a hundred of the snow geese (my rough guess) Juvenile dark-morph snow goose. Bosque, Farm Loop Mixed in with the snow geese, there are occasional Ross's Geese--a bit smaller than the snow geese, with a slightly different facial configuration. Here you see two Ross's in the center and two in the right foreground). Taken soon after dawn, near the Flight Deck A coyote--a chief predator of unwary snow geese--and a potential threat even to sandhill cranes. A bit north of the refuge proper, at one of the so-called crane pools. Western Grebe--Bosque Great Blue Heron--not an uncommon position for these birds aroung the Bosque. Farm Market Road Northern Shoveler, drake. Bosque, Marsh Loop. Northern Harrier, female or juvenile, These birds are commonly seen in the Bosque. I hope this shot makes up in drama what it lacks in sharpness. Cooper's Hawk, juvenile. Bosque, Farm Loop Red-tailed Hawk, Farm Market Rd (north of the Bosque) American Kestrel (male)--the most frequently seen raptor at the Bosque. American Kestrel (male). Gambel's Quail. Bosque Ring-necked Pheasant, Bosque, Marsh Loop Sandhill Crane, Bosque, Farm Loop There were at least 15,000 sandhill cranes on and around the refuge during our stay. Sandhill adult, taking it easy. Bosque, Farm Loop Sandhill--against reflected late-autumn foliage. Bosque (near the start of the Farm Loop) Sandhill crane family--the juvenile has the conspicuous rufous plumage. Just north of the Bosque, near the road to San Antonio Sandhill cranes (juvenile in front)--the forward lean usually signals an impending take-off. Just north of the Bosque. Sandhill cranes, juvenile in the lead (see the rufous on the back of the crown. Families usually forage and fly together. Bosque, Farm Loop Sandhill Crane in flight Sandhill crane after its post-dawn take-off Sandhill Crane, probably at the beginning of its landing approach. Juvenile sandhill crane, about to land. Bosque, Farm Loop Sandhill crane, after takeoff -- blurred (1/15 sec, f/8, ISO 1600). Just at dawn on an overcast day. Sandhills on a foggy morning (1/250, f/7.1, ISO 800). The southern of two crane pools, just north of the refuge proper. White-winged dove, near the Visitor Center. Greater Roadrunner--these members of the cuckoo family can turn up anywhere at the Bosque. Say's phoebe, just north of the Refuge. Chihuahuan Raven--doubtless after its bath. Bosque Bewick's Wren. Bosque, taken from the Farm Deck. American Pipit. Bosque, near the entrance. Spotted Towhee, taken through an observation window at the Visitor Center feeder White-crowned sparrow, first winter. There seemed to be fewer varieties of sparrows present than on previous visits. Meadowlark (presumably Western, uncharacteristically hunched). Farm Market Road Yellow-headed Blackbird. The lists note these as common, but in our experience they are not easy to find. North end of the Farm Loop. A flock of red-winged blackbirds A typical panorama, early afternoon. From the two-way road, between the Farm and March loops. A mild blast-off of snow geese, with both geese and cranes still on the ground. It snowed in the middle of our stay--mainly in the mountains. Bosque, Farm Loop (north end). A typical snow-geese blast-off, relatively close up. Another blast-off. A dense blast-off--more distant Blast-off in blue -- more distant yet. Another glimpse of snow-capped mountains, late on a cold and overcast day. Farm Loop (north end). A view from just south of the Flight Deck--around sunset on a day with thin clouds. The blue cast is not overdone! Sunset with five cranes Just north of the refuge, on the way back to our motel in Socorro.

Bird Photographs by John Van de Graaff

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