Mallard Duck On Ice
Mallard duck on ice. I love the way these little creatures behave deliberately. Paddle to the edge of the ice, waddle out onto the ice, stand there and do nothing. Time passes. I made some images and moved on. A little while later, when I return, the Mallard is standing stock still, in the same position. I can only assume, enjoying a moment, warming up in the morning sun is a cross species trait. Thanks for looking. G
National Monument Day Out
National Monument day out. Days out on the road are memorable, some days more so than others. In the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument around Ute Mountain it can be sublimely memorable. The silence is palpable; the peace and tranquility can be immeasurable and the history is no further than I am able to imagine. Thanks for looking. G
Canyon Of The Rio Grande
Canyon of the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande flows in a north south direction from Colorado, through New Mexico, Texas and Mexico where it finally reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Six hundred feet or so below the rim the river passes through what is known as the “box”, a steep sided canyon on the Taos Plateau, seen here from the Highway 64 high bridge. “Our Canyon” now part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument continues to amaze me and visitors alike. The views are very vast and one gets the sense of a place where earth meets sky and separation is intangible. “Our river” keeps on rolling. As it heads south the river gathers more stories to tell. It nourishes and replenishes the landscape, wildlife and people of the desert southwest. Thanks for looking. G
Swallowtail Butterfly, Wild Rivers
Swallowtail Butterfly, in the Wild Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The image below is a composite of the same butterfly, on and off the Horsetail Milkweed. This plant, is essential to the Monarch Butterflies, but it also appears to be attractive to Swallowtails. There’s a lot of Horsetail Milkweed plant along the roadsides and verges all around Taos County. Fortunately, I think the road crews cut the invasive weeds and spared the milkweed plants when mowing this year. Thanks for looking. G
More on the Swallowtail Butterfly
Ute Mountain From Wild Rivers Area
Ute Mountain from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. An image made in April with a little dusting of snow on Ute Mountain. Thanks for looking. G
Pole Sitting Lizard
Pole sitting lizard. This used to be a thing I guess, pole sitting. Climb a post and stay on top of it for as long as you can. This lizard climbed the only pole around and stayed on top of it for a good duration. For all I know he’s still there. Thanks for looking. G
Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Mountain Bighorn Sheep in the Orilla Verde, in the Rio Grande Gorge. This guy settled in and had a wonderful, kind of sleepy head dreamy look. I guess it’s hard work eating, rock climbing, and herding his females all day. Thanks for looking. G
Rio Grande In The Orilla Verde Recreation Area
The Rio Grande in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Looking upstream from the Taos Junction Bridge to Sunset Rapid and the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Rio Pueblo. This location is a favorite of mine. The river makes for a really nice leading line. Thanks for looking. G
Here are some links to a few more images in this location at different times of year.
https://geraintsmith.com/taos-junction-rio-grande/
https://geraintsmith.com/rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument-pilar/
https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/march_15/march_26_15.html
Down On The Rio Grande, Taos Junction Bridge
Down on the Rio Grande, at the Taos Junction Bridge, in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. The spring colors are beginning to go on display. The area is getting “luscious”. I hope we see you here this year. Thanks for looking. G
Bighorn Sheep In The Rio Grande Gorge
Bighorn sheep in the Rio Grande Gorge Taos, New Mexico. Sometimes the image is mainly for the record. Two bighorn rams go at it as if in a ring with a referee ram telling them too keep it clean. When they butted heads the thunk, initially a delayed shuddering crack, echoed loudly off the canyon walls. Then after another go round it was over, and they all laid down. Thanks for looking. G
Wookiees In The River Bank
“Wookiees”. Faces along the Rio Grande in the embankment. As the grasses and branches wilt and dip down into the winter water reflections abound, faces appear, on occasion maleficent looking, other times beneficent. I see what I see. What do you see? Thanks for looking. G
Snapshot From The Rio Pueblo Today
Snapshot on the iPhone, from the Rio Pueblo on a photo trip today. The Rio Pueblo canyon in northern NM with red willows and cascading water, near the confluence with the Rio Grande. Another beautiful day in this corner of paradise. Thanks for looking. G
January 01 2018, Super Moon Rise
January 01 2018, Super Moon Rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico. We took a drive north this evening, to the Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, to watch the super moon rising over the Sangre de Cristos. It was cold and the wind chill colder. The coyotes chimed in about the same time the moon came up and began their howling and chattering. It was a pristine, fitting, moment to start the new year off well. Happy New Year and thanks for looking. G
The Rocks, The Gorge, The Mountains
The Rocks, The Gorge, The Mountains. I popped the camera into the hole in the rocks. I know this location well and loved what I saw this time where the rocks focused my attention on the closest foreground subject framing the canyon of the Rio Grande to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos beyond. The view through the rocks, across the Rio Grande Gorge to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beyond. Thanks for looking. G
Bighorn Sheep Rio Grande Gorge
Bighorn Sheep in the Rio Grande Gorge. Bighorn juveniles testing their mettle on the rocks in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Thanks for looking. G
Taos Junction On The Rio Grande
Taos Junction on the Rio Grande. Another beautiful day again today in northern New Mexico. This image made from the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde RA in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, is one of my favorite locations. This location always continues inspire me when I pull over and park by the river. Fall is in full swing here in northern New Mexico. Drop in if you can, we’ll be glad to show you around and share this great part of the American southwest with you. Thanks for looking. G
