Bosque del Apache, Marsh Habitats. 08-23-2023

Geraint August 23, 2023 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m revisiting the Bosque del Apache in the quiet off-season before the bulk of the birds and the crowds of tourists and photographers arrive. I have the place pretty much to myself.

Here are some quieter moments in the Bosque del Apache, beginning with Hammer Hank, one of the resident Great Blue Herons with this prime location for skewering fish that make it into the irrigation channel. You’ve got to love these opportunistic fishers.

Great Blue Heron, on an irrigation channel Bosque del Apache — Great Blue Heron, “Hammer Hank”

The marshes are flooded awaiting the arrival of thousands of birds. If you get a chance to go there, you won’t be disappointed.

Bosque del Apache tumbleweed willows. — Tumbleweed and willows in the marsh.

The willows and grasses add a lot of privacy for the birds and wildlife.

Little nooks and crannies provide hiding places and make for mysterious-looking portals to the underworld of the march banks.

Tumbleweeds are the ubiquitous and unofficial plant of New Mexico and the Southwest. Locally, they are known as mesa street sweepers. I have seen them with numerous pieces of styrofoam, cups, and plastic grocery bags attached.

The marshes are often very calm, offering pristine reflections in the early morning light.

I titled this “Cornbird” although I suspect it is a Pine Siskin. I caught it on the hop from one corn row to the next.

Corn bird in the cornfileds — “Cornbird” in the cornfields.

Below is one of many sluice/headgates in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge that divert water from the Rio Grande to the marshes.

And for those who like color, there’s plenty of that too.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s trip.

As always, thanks for looking, commenting, and all the wonderful compliments. G

Bosque Del Apache, National Wildlife Refuge, NM

Geraint November 19, 2020 4 Comments

Bosque Del Apache, National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. I waited at this road for some activity, perhaps a crane, a deer, or bobcat maybe even a mountain lion to saunter along. It wasn’t to be. Further down the irrigation channel, two wild turkeys wandered through the old sunflowers. Thanks for looking. G

Snow Goose, Bosque del Apache, National Wildlife Refuge

Geraint November 6, 2020 4 Comments

Snow Goose, Bosque del Apache, National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. When the sun sets on the Bosque del Apache marshes, these beautiful birds glow like jewels. It’s that time of year and they are returning to the National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico. Thanks for looking. G

Up Close, Personal, Great Blue Heron

Geraint January 20, 2020 4 Comments

Up close and personal Great Blue Heron in the Bosque del Apache, NWR, New Mexico. While we’re on the topic, I thought I would share an image of this different, more mature, Blue Heron. I have lots of images of these magnificent creatures. I’ll share more at some point in a later posts. The light source for this bird is the sun immediately after breaking over the horizon, the best kind spotlight. Thanks for looking. G

Great Blue Heron, Bosque del Apache, NWR

Geraint January 19, 2020 6 Comments

Great Blue Heron, in the Bosque del Apache, National Wildlfe Refuge, New Mexico. These birds have their own territories at the Bosque del Apache, so much so, that one can find them in the same spot from one year to the next. I swear I know this Great Blue Heron intimately after all my trips. Thanks for looking. G

Blackbirds, Bosque del Apache, NWR, NM

Geraint December 23, 2019 No Comments

Blackbirds, sky-glyphs, at the Bosque del Apache, NWR NM. At the iconic National Wildlife Refuge the blackbirds write stories in the skies. Pages upon pages filled with stories. Thanks for looking. G

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

Geraint November 17, 2019 2 Comments

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

Snow Geese, Flashback 2009, Bosque Del Apache, NWR

Geraint October 17, 2019 2 Comments

Snow Geese and moon, flashback to 2009 in the Bosque Del Apache, NWR. There were so many snow geese flying overhead, so I had a lot of opportunities to catch them in front of the moon as it was rising. I’m looking forward to making a number of trips to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge again this winter. As always thanks for looking. G

Western Red-Tailed Hawk, Bosque Del Apache

Geraint February 1, 2019 2 Comments

Western Red-Tailed Hawk, in the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Still going through the archives and finding more images that appeal to me. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Fly In Bosque del Apache

Geraint November 17, 2017 No Comments

Evening fly in of Sandhill Cranes in the Bosque del Apache, National Wildlife Refuge. The symmetry of these creatures makes me marvel. One minute their wing stroke is all akimbo, followed by this beautiful synchronous attitude. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: National Wildlife Refuge