Mallard Duck On Ice

Geraint November 24, 2018 No Comments

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

Geraint October 30, 2018 No Comments

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 immeasurable and the history is no further than I am able to imagine. Thanks for looking. G

Canyon Of The Rio Grande

Geraint September 20, 2018 No Comments

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

Geraint August 16, 2018 2 Comments

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

Ute Mountain From Wild Rivers Area

Geraint June 7, 2018 2 Comments

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

Geraint May 20, 2018 No Comments

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

Geraint April 29, 2018 No Comments

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

More about the Bighorn Sheep

Rio Grande In The Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Geraint April 23, 2018 No Comments

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

Geraint April 12, 2018 No Comments

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

Geraint March 20, 2018 4 Comments

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

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Rio Grande del Norte National Monument