Turkeys, Cranes, Raven and Magpie. 11-23-22

Geraint November 23, 2022 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll start with a repost of these turkeys wandering in the old sunflowers at the Bosque del Apache NWR a couple of years ago. Seems appropriate for this week.

Wild Turkeys, Bosque del Apache, NWR, NM.

From the Bosque del Apache (Woods of the Apache) to the Monte Vista NWR in Colorado and an image from my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait.

Sandhill Cranes, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.

Back in the Bosque del Apache for the evening ‘fly in’. It is a great opportunity to capture silhouettes against the warm light of the setting sunset.

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache, evening fly in! — Evening fly in, Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico.

At home in San Cristobal is the old cottonwood tree where the ravens and magpies congregate. On this evening there is only one of each. Often times there’s a milieu and fights over branches. I like to think these two get along or perhaps the space between them is the adjudicator.

Raven, Magpie, San Cristobal — Raven and Magpie in the old cottonwood, San Cristobal, NM.

As always thanks for looking. Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkeys. G

Taos Mountain Cloud, Mourning Doves, Wild Iris Meadow, Venus Moon

Geraint June 16, 2021 7 Comments

Another fun week in the field and a couple of instances from the deck! During one of the last snowstorms not long ago in memory but ages ago for the much-needed moisture. We can watch the storms build up over Taos Mountain from the deck. The mourning doves have been enjoying life and seem to be inseparable, hanging out side by side in the old cottonwood tree, also visible from the deck. We made a trip to join our friends Chris and Carla at their ranch in Black Lake, New Mexico a few days ago. The meadows were carpeted with millions of wild iris. I’ve seen similar fields of iris in the Valle Vidal but nothing like this. And this was only a square mile of it. On June 11, the waxing crescent moon swung by the planet Venus. I have a favorite parking spot to watch this particular sight when it occurs. Summer Solstice is coming up on Sunday, June 20th. Where to go for a Solstice moment photo? We shall see!

Taos Mountain cloud — Taos Mountain storm cloud building up, San Cristobal, NM

Mourning Doves in the old cottonwood tree, San Cristobal.

Wild iris, Black Lake, NM, in Lonesome Dove country near where they filmed the TV movie.

Venus, Moon, sunset — Venus, Moon and sunset across the Taos Plateau.

Enjoy the summer where you are and as always, thanks for looking. G

In the Garden with Buddha, the Birds and a Moth

Geraint May 19, 2021 18 Comments

Not a lot of words are needed here. Suffice to say I’m playing around with my new Sony 100-400mm lens, and what better place than the garden. The birds are willing accomplices and help me put the lens through its paces. I really like this lens a lot.

Garden Buddha with seashells, San Cristobal.

Black Headed Grosbeak — Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Black Headed Grosbeak — Female immature Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Evening Grosbeak — Female Evening Grosbeak.

Male Black-chinned Hummingbird, tasting the nectar or the air.

A Brown-headed Cowbird returned to the garden this year.

White-sided Sphinx Moth, often referred to as a hummingbird moth.

Thanks for looking. See you next week. G

Northern Flicker, Evening Light, Cottonwood Tree, San Cristobal

Geraint December 17, 2020 2 Comments

Northern Flicker in the evening light on top of the cottonwood tree, San Cristobal. I know for sure it saw the moon and planets at the same time I did. It had a slightly more elevated view over the rooftops but no closer to the cosmic events. Thanks for looking. G

American Robin, Portrait, Not Mary Poppin’s Robin

Geraint November 21, 2020 4 Comments

American Robin, a portrait, and not Mary Poppin’s Robin. I’ve always remembered the fact that a robin in Great Britain is much smaller, (everything’s bigger in the States), and Disney had an artistic license. But let’s not quibble. This sweetheart was enjoying the water in the birdbath. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Grosbeaks, In The Garden, San Cristobal

Geraint November 4, 2020 8 Comments

Evening Grosbeaks, in the garden, San Cristobal. The variety of birds were in abundance last week. We had Robins, Magpies, Juncos, and Chickadees. Townsend Solitaires, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Crows, and a few straggler House Finches rounded out the thirsty bird species. When the ever vigilant Evening Grosbeaks showed up in their droves, the thirsty drinkers had to back off, all but the brave Robin back there. Thanks for looking. G

Red Tailed Hawk, Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico

Geraint October 30, 2020 2 Comments

Red-tailed Hawk, Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico. I spent twenty minutes with this magnificent young raptor who spent the time primping and preening, grooming its feathers. I thought he was going to sit there all day. As I thought about driving off, he shook out his wings and tail feathers, had a quick poo, lifted off still pooing, and dropped out of sight. Thanks for looking. G

Sandhill Cranes, Formation Flying, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado

Geraint October 22, 2020 4 Comments

Sandhill Cranes, formation flying over the Monte Vista NWR in Colorado. Popped up here yesterday for a look-see. There are a few thousand Sandhill Cranes in the refuge. Though, after this initial bombardment, we didn’t see them much but we could hear them plenty. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Grosbeak, Crabapple Tree, San Cristobal, NM

Geraint September 28, 2020 4 Comments

Evening Grosbeak, in one of our crabapple trees, San Cristobal, NM. Besides colorful hillsides and mountains, fall brings an abundance of food and birds to eat it. This week the Evening Grosbeaks arrived in flocks to indulge themselves of the crabapples. Great individual shots picked out of the thirty or so birds camoflaged by the branches and leaves. Thanks for looking. G

St. Anthony de Padua Church Flock, Dixon, NM

Geraint September 2, 2020 2 Comments

St. Anthony de Padua Church and the flock, Dixon, New Mexico, with one pigeon off on it’s own and I immediately thought of “Jonathan Livingston” Pigeon. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Birds