Santa Ynez Valley

Santa Ynez Valley
Our Backyard

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Bosque del Apache November 2020 - Part 6

More groups of foraging Snow Geese



A Javelina scurrying across the road


A couple of Sandhill Cranes


We usually see Bufflehead Ducks, but usually in small groups of 1-4.
This is one of the largest collections of Buffleheads we've seen.



Canada Geese flying by


A Great Blue Heron in a pretty setting


Last sunlight at the Flight Deck


Northern Harrier and the nearly full moon


Sandhill Cranes after sunset





Bosque del Apache November 2020 - Part 5

Immature (left) and adult (right) Sandhill Cranes


We usually spot Bald Eagles around the refuge.
We finally saw this adult far out in the Flight Deck Pond.


This strong dust devil crossed the refuge road right in front of us.


We came upon another "squadron" of Javelina.



This time we spotted a mother Javelina with two very young babies.



Snow Geese feeding in a field


This Hooded Merganser was having trouble swallowing a fish


Lots of male Red-winged Blackbirds in this flock



Bosque del Apache November 2020 - Part 4

Crane feeding in the corn


Not the prettiest landing, but it works


More Snow Geese in flight



Another huge flock of blackbirds, possibly startled by a raptor


We were amazed at how tolerant the birds seemed having a coyote close by.


We came across a large "squadron" of a couple dozen Javelina (aka Collared Peccary)




Another sunset crane image


Bosque del Apache November 2020 - Part 3

 This coyote's coloration is well suited to this environment.


We usually see Great Blue Herons.


A pair of cranes


Snow Geese flying over


A large and dense flock of blackbirds


Cranes in late afternoon light


 
 

People on the Flight Deck waiting for the cranes

 

Cranes returning to the pond for the night




Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Bosque del Apache November 2020 - Part 2

 Salt Cedar (also called Tamarisk) is an invasive plant problem along the Rio Grande River, including within the refuge.  It has been an ongoing project to try to eradicate it as much as possible inside the refuge to encourage the growth of native plant communities.


We usually see Northern Harriers hunting at the refuge, but their flight habits make it difficult to get good photo opportunities.


A Mule Deer doe resting under the trees


Telephoto compression makes this look like a "duck-eating crane"


"Bird-on-a-stick" (Say's Phoebe)


Western Grebe


Cranes flying in late afternoon light


Cranes returning to the Flight Deck Pond for the night