Bosque del Apache NWR 2021 - Part 3

The warm colors of Bosque del Apache in the late fall

Young Mule Deer buck

 

 

 

Javelina (aka Collared Peccary)

Great Blue Heron on a high perch

 

 

Red-tailed Hawk (dark morph)

 

Mixed company

 

We spotted this Raccoon cautiously trying to climb through a very small tree.

A couple of wild turkey toms trying to impress the hens

Javelina mom with a couple of little ones

"Snow Goose Jam"

"Coming through!"

Looking over the menu

Northern Harrier

Bosque del Apache sunset

Bosque del Apache NWR 2021 - Part 2

 Cranes returning in late afternoon light

People waiting for the birds returning to roost for the night

Nearly full moon

Pre-dawn glow to the east

Early arrivals waiting for a dawn launch of roosting birds

Our experience in the past was that the Geese would launch en masse near dawn and the Cranes would leisurely depart in small groups after the Geese had left.  But this morning, the Cranes started leaving in large groups well before the Geese started to leave and then the Geese started leaving in much smaller groups than expected.