Monthly Archives: December 2014

Annual Bosque del Apache Visit

Just before Thanksgiving, I led a group of photographers on the annual Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge instructional photo tour.  On the first morning, after capturing a few images of mallards and wood ducks in Albuquerque, we headed south 80 miles to Socorro, New Mexico and then on to the refuge for an afternoon session.

It was the first time I’ve shot the area before Thanksgiving and the temperatures were warmer than expected.   The birds were off the roost and heading out in a hurry to feed each morning.   On colder, post-Thanksgiving days, the birds tend to start the day later, after sunrise.  That slight delay gives photographers more opportunity for the great flight shots only Bosque can offer.  Nevertheless, it was a great week and the photographers were thankful they missed those mornings with cold fingers and frosty noses that often come with the early December photo sessions.

Here are samples of the great photo opportunities available in autumn along the Rio Grande in central New Mexico :

Click on an image to make it larger and sharper.  Then click on the right side of the photo to advance through the slide show.

Male wood duck landing in flooded cottonwoods near Albuquerque.
Male wood duck landing in flooded cottonwoods near Albuquerque.

 

Male wood duck takeoff.
Male wood duck takeoff.

 

Sandhill Crane in flight during early morning against a clear sky.
Sandhill Crane in flight during early morning against a clear sky.
Photographers at sunrise as snow geese "blast off" for the refuge farm fields.
Photographers at sunrise as snow geese “blast off” for the refuge farm fields.

***

Lesson #1, don’t shoot with your mouth open.

I carry my 24 – 105  mm wide angle lens and Canon 5D camera slung over one shoulder for those times when big flocks of geese erupt at close range.

Small groups of snow geese can be captured at the roost ponds with larger telephotos.
Small groups of snow geese can be captured at the roost ponds with larger telephotos.

*** It’s all in the wing position; wings pointing to the camera leave the birds looking “wingless” and weird.

The Bosque goose flock is a mix of white birds, blue color morph and Ross's geese (bottom).
The Bosque flock is a mix of white birds (top), blue color morph (middle) and smaller Ross’s goose (bottom).

I blurred parts of this image above to highlight three birds.  Everyone wants to know “what are those dark birds” and “why are some of the geese so small?”

Snow geese going to roost at sunset are set off against distant mountains on the White Sands Missile Range.
Snow goose going to roost at sunset is set off against distant, sunlit cliffs on the White Sands Missile Range.

 

Mallards headed for a shallow wetland to dabble and feed on grass and weed seeds.
Mallards headed for a shallow wetland to on grass and weed seeds.

 

Canada Geese on takeoff.
Canada Geese on takeoff.

Note the size difference of Canada Geese and the lone Green-winged Teal.

American Goldfinch feeding on sunflower seeds along the auto tour drive.
American Goldfinch feeding on sunflower seeds along the auto tour drive.

 

Sandhill Crain pair in flight.
Sandhill Crane pair in flight.

 

Cranes above the desert croplands.
Cranes above the desert croplands.

 

Sandhill Cranes landing at sunset.
Sandhill Cranes landing at sunset.

 

Photographer working the cranes coming to roost at sunset.
Photographer working the cranes coming to roost at sunset.

 

Cranes after sunset.
Silhouetted cranes after sunset.

 

Landing gear down for a soft landing at the roost.
Landing gear down for approach to the roost.

 

Sunset on the last day as cranes descend.
Sunset on the last day as cranes descend.

One happy photographer made 10,000 images during our 3 day shoot.  There must be some great photos in that batch!

Next week, we’ll take a look at some Oklahoma wildlife.

Larry

November in the Mountain Time Zone

Before Thanksgiving, I spent a week photographing mule deer and whitetails in the west.  Along the way, a few prairie dogs, bald eagles and geese got into the mix.  Below are a few of the 5000 thousand images from the trip.

When you click on a photo, it will open in a larger, sharper format.  Just click on the right edge of the shot to get the next image to appear in the slide show.

Mule Deer giant pauses during his early morning pursuit of a doe.
Mule Deer giant pauses during his early morning pursuit of a doe.

 

Mule deer monster just getting up from an afternoon nap.
Mule deer monster just getting up from an afternoon nap.

 

Well insulated for cold weather, a buck and doe mule deer resting near a thicket of scrub trees.
Well insulated for cold weather,  buck and doe mule deer resting near a thicket of scrub trees.

 

The big bucks were constantly on the move in a breeding frenzy.
The big bucks were constantly on the move in a breeding frenzy.

 

Big buck trailing a doe.
Big buck trailing a doe.

 

These big guys were locked in battle for about 3 minutes.
These big guys were locked in battle for about 3 minutes.

 

In spite of many clashing points, both bucks kept their eyes open during this combat.
In spite of the clashing antlers, both bucks kept their eyes open during combat.

 

A third large bucking coming to the fight. He hopes to steal a doe while the dueling bucks are preoccupied.
A third large buck coming to the fight. He hopes to steal a doe while the dueling bucks are preoccupied.

 

Big mule deer bounding through the grasslands to chase away another buck before it can make advances toward his doe.
Big mule deer bounding over the grasslands to chase another buck before it can make advances toward his doe.

 

Snow and cold temperatures serve to intensify the breeding urges of rocky mountain mule deer.
Snow and cold temperatures seem to intensify the breeding urges of Rocky Mountain mule deer.

 

Many large bucks move out into the grasslands to find bedding cover.
Many large bucks move out into the grasslands to find bedding cover.

 

As daylight fades on the Rockies, a big buck leaves his bedding area.
As daylight fades on the Rockies, a big buck leaves his bedding area.

 

My last look at this monster: antlers against a pink sky.
My last look at this monster: antlers against a pink sky.

 

Way out west the prairie dogs are feeing on weeds peeking through fresh snow.
Way out west the prairie dogs are feeding on weeds peeking through fresh snow.

 

It was so cold the Canada geese had to "slide" in for a landing on pond ice.
It was so cold in November that the Canada geese had to slide in for a landing.

 

Several bald eagles gather on the ice to partake of the remains of a coot who went skating on the wrong lake.
Several bald eagles gather on the ice to pick at the remains of a coot who went skating on the wrong lake.

 

Young whitetail buck following a doe on fresh snow.
Whitetail buck following a doe on fresh snow.

 

My little Nissan Rogue was less at home on the range than this eager young white-tailed deer.
My little Nissan Rogue  got great gas mileage but was less at home on the range than this frisky white-tailed deer.

 

Doe and fawn white-tailed deer soaking up the warming afternoon sun.
Doe and fawn white-tailed deer soaking up the warming afternoon sun.

 

Except for a quick glance my way, this old buck was totally focused on following a love interest.
Except for a quick glance my way, this old buck was totally focused on following a love interest.

 

Note what seems to be a third antler in this buck’s forehead.  His right antler forked at the hairline and grew laterally before shooting up as a misplaced brow tine.

Palmated antlers on a remarkable old buck whitetail.
Palmated antlers on a remarkable old buck whitetail.

 

Prairie whitetails after early winter snow.
Prairie whitetails after early winter snow.

 

There must be a doe out here somewhere...
There must be a doe out here somewhere…

 

A great piece of luck was encountering a bald eagle in a lonely tree at the end of my road.
A great piece of luck was  my encountering this bald eagle in a lonely tree at the end of a prairie road.

 

There are some big deer in those mountains!
There are some monarchs in those mountains!

These images were captured with Canon 7D and 1D Mark IV cameras with a 500 mm and 70-200 mm lens with 1.4X teleconverter.   Most of the time, I was hand-holding the camera for greater versatility of movement during some fast action.

Next week, I will share some mid-November work from southern Oklahoma.

Larry