Bosque del Apache NWR (more photos from early December)

Here is the final group of photos I will share with you from our Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Instructional Photo Tour.  Some in our group had far better luck and skill than I as they captured many beautiful images.

Click on an image to enlarge and sharpen it.  Click on the right edge of a photo to advance.

Eared Grebe in winter plumage
Eared Grebe in winter plumage
Northern Harrier, female protecting a snow goose carcass.
Northern Harrier, female protecting a snow goose carcass.
Feeding northern pintail drake
Feeding northern pintail drake
Sandhill Crane leaving the roost in rich morning light.
Sandhill Crane leaving the roost in rich morning light.
Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache NWR, NM
Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache NWR, NM

Many of the sandhill crane images I captured were at low shutter speeds with the Canon 7D Mark II and 500 mm lens on a Feisol cf tripod and Wimberley gimbal head.  The slow shutter speeds allowed me to get the wings blurred while keeping the bird’s head sharp to give the impression of “action” to a still photo.  I especially loved the water background in this shot.

Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache NWR, NM
Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache NWR, NM

How could a photographer not love photographing these elegant cranes.

A trio of cranes with blurred wings.
A trio of cranes with blurred wings.
Sandhill Cranes leaving the roost at sunrise.
Sandhill Cranes leaving the roost at sunrise.

The slow shutter speeds (1/80-1/125 second) also creates an impressionistic look to background vegetation.

Sandhill Cranes descending on a roost pond in the shadow of Chupadera Wilderness peaks.
Sandhill Cranes descending on a roost pond in the shadow of Chupadera Wilderness peaks.
Feeding Sandhill Crane silhouetted against a red sunset on the roost pond.
Feeding Sandhill Crane silhouetted against a red sunset on the roost pond.
Sandhill Cranes wading in golden water.
Sandhill Cranes wading in golden water.

Sunsets reflected in the crane roosting ponds can create many colors from red-pink-gold.

Snow Goose landing in alfalfa field along the auto tour route.
Snow Goose landing in alfalfa field along the auto tour route.
Snow Geese are comfortable standing on ice.
Snow Geese are comfortable standing on ice.
Sandhill Crane passing a red cloud on its descent to the roost pond.
Sandhill Crane passing a red cloud on its descent to the roost pond.

New Mexico sunrises and sunsets are hard to match.  Throw in several thousand ducks, geese and cranes and it’s magic for the wildlife photographer.

Larry