Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Archives

Cattail, Monte Vista, NWR, Colorado. A quick trip to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge and all I get is a cattail along flooded marshes. There are, of course, thousands of cattails giving sustenance and shelter to wildlife. I chose to single out this particular specimen, a tiny slice of life along the marshes in southern Colorado. Thanks for looking. G

Bald Eagle, Monte Vista, Colorado

Bald Eagle, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. On a “photo safari” in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado this week with my good friend R. David Marks. We may not encounter the big game one might on an African safari, but the excitement of discovering a Bald Eagle, high in an old cottonwood, is no less exciting. Join me on a “photo safari” in our own back yard. Thanks for looking. G

Monte Vista NWR, CO, Bosque Del Apache, NWR, NM

Monte Vista NWR, CO, Bosque Del Apache, NWR, NM. The Sandhill Cranes head south from the northwest corner of the San Luis Valley, Colorado into New Mexico. Following the Rio Grande, as it winds it’s way through canyons, ancient pueblos and thick cottonwood bosques (woods), they pass through the states largest city Albuquerque. Navigating this way as they have for thousands of years they arrive at the nations premier wildlife refuge. At the Bosque del Apache they settle in for the long winter. The first photo is at Monte Vista, Colorado, in the afternoon. The second photo is from early morning at the Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. Thanks for looking. G

Monte Vista NWR, Sandhill Cranes

Monte Vista NWR. Sandhill Cranes with the sun trying to break through clouds, adding a nice background drama to the evening fly in of the sandhill cranes at the wildlife refuge this week in Monte Vista, Colorado. Thanks for looking, G

Red Barn, Green Gate, Sandhill Cranes

Red Barn, Green Gate, Sandhill Cranes. Made another quick trip up the the National Wildlife Refuge today, where we saw so many Sandhill Cranes, thousands of Canada geese and two Snow Geese. If you have a chance this weekend to make a trip to this area you wont be disappointed. The one thing that really gets me is the call of the cranes. Thanks for continuing to look. G

Rough-Legged Hawk, Monte Vista Wild Life Refuge

Rough-legged Hawk, yesterday at the Monte Vista Wild Life Refuge, southern Colorado. Was it ever cold yesterday. It didn’t seem to bother this raptor. Apparently it was also unperturbed by us. The bird sat on this post long after we left. It was a battle of wits. Once it lifted off and alighted on the next power pole, stretched it’s wings, settled back in, rotating it’s head, ignoring us just a few feet below in the snow. Thoroughly bored with us. We felt the vibe. Yesterdays count was a Golden Eagle, a Bald Eagle, and Swainson’s Hawk, a Northern Harrier, a Red-tailed Hawk, two of these Rough-legged Hawk beauties and a Coyote. Later on the drive home a large flock of Canada Geese, heading south, wheeled over the highway and head east towards the mountains. Despite the cold it was a gorgeous sunny day. I love my job. Join me on a winter photo tour! As always thanks for looking. G

Sandhill Crane, Monte Vista NWR

Sandhill Crane, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. I love these birds. They look like descendent’s of prehistoric dinosaurs. A pterodactyl perhaps? A nice warm day at the refuge. Thanks for looking. G

More images of Sandhill Cranes.

https://geraintsmith.com/sandhill-cranes-sunset-marshes/

https://geraintsmith.com/flight-sandhill-crane-bosque-del-apache/

https://geraintsmith.com/evening-fly-bosque-del-apache/

https://geraintsmith.com/juvenile-golden-eagle-sandhill-cranes/

https://geraintsmith.com/sandhill-cranes-heading-north/

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/march_15/march_03_15.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/november_15/nov_15_15.html

Juvenile Golden Eagle And Sandhill Cranes

Juvenile Golden Eagle at the Monte Vista NWR, flew through and “dive bombed” numerous groups of Sandhill Cranes, talons and beak flashing, causing a continuous uproar and frenzied lift offs of the cranes. The eagle failed miserably at taking any prey but it was a sight to behold at how much fear they can instill in their quarry. Thanks for looking. G

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. It’s morning in the wildlife refuge as the fog lifts over the cat-tails on the banks of the marshes, slowly dissipating, to reveal the sanctuary islands beyond. The waterfowl are going through their morning ablutions, primping and preening as the sun warms up the air and the day begins. Thanks for looking. G