Golden-fronted Woodpecker

There are at least three Golden-fronted Woodpeckers that we see around our campsite at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas.This bird is seen in Texas and Mexico so you will have to travel to see if you do not live in either of these places.

Image captured with a Nikon D7200 camera, Tamron 150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3 lens, focal length 600 mm, ISO 800, 1/1600 at f/8.0.

Gambel’s Quail

This is a Southwestern Desert resident, not seen on the East Coast or the Northern Regions of the United States. Image captured while visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

Image Captured with a Nikon D300S Camera,  Nikon 300 mm f/2.8 lens, focal Length 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec at f/3.2.

Sandhill Cranes swarmed by Red-winged Blackbirds

We were watching a large flock of Sanhill Cranes feeding in the wetlands at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico when a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds came on the scene. Hope that this scene conveys the action of the Red-winged Blakbirds while the Cranes continued feeding as if nothing was happening.

Unframed Image

Image Captured with a Nikon D7200 Camera, Nikon 600.0 mm f/4.0 lens, focal length 600 mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 sec at f/8.0.

Red-winged Blackbird (Male)

Image captured while visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. Early morning light brings out the colors of this bird.

Image Captured with a Nikon D7200 Camera, Nikon 600.0 mm f/4.0 lens, focal length 600 mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 sec at f/6.3.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk

It must have been a good day for Hawks to hunt at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. I saw a few out in the open, but most of them were far away, unlike this one that posed for me.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk

Image Captured with a Nikon D7200 Camera, Nikon 600.0 mm f/4.0 lens and Nikon TC-14E II 1.4 teleconverter, focal Length 850 mm, ISO 400, 1/3200 sec at f/6.3.

Hawk Hiding in a Tree

While driving the Northern Loop of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife Drive I managed to spot this Hawk perched in a tree. He was very difficult to see, due to the many branches that surrounded him, but I did manage to capture this image.

Image Captured with a Nikon D7200 Camera, Nikon 600.0 mm f/4.0 lens and Nikon TC-14E II 1.4 teleconverter, focal Length 850 mm, ISO 400, 1/2500 sec at f/6.3.

Sunrise Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

This image captured as the sun was coming up over the mountains and the Ducks begin flying. Basque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico is a very interesting place to visit no matter what time of day. It is hard to believe that this wetland is in the middle of a desert, existing in the Rio Grade River Valley.

I am posting two versions of this image one framed and one unframed. Please let me know which one you prefer

Image captured with a Sony A6000 Camera, Tamron 18-200 mm f3.5-6.3 lens, focal length 18 mm, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/9.0, using a tripod.

Jack Rabbit (Out for Dinner)

What big ears you have, Mr. Rabbit. I spotted this rabbit out eating after sunset and managed to capture this image. I do not see mammals very often that I get a chance to capture an image.

Image Captured with a Nikon D300S Camera, Nikon 80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, focal Length 400 mm, ISO 1600, 1/200 sec at f/5.6.

Elephant Butte Lake State Park

A lake in the middle of the desert, created by a dam on the Rio Grande River in New Mexico. This view captured from one of the camping areas in the park.

Image captured with a Sony A6000 Camera, Tamron 18-200 mm f3.5-6.3 lens, focal length 46.6 mm, ISO 100, 1/400 sec at f/10, a panorama composed of multiple images.

Calm to Chaos, Buffleheads

I was walking a trail along the Rio Grande at Leasburg Dam State Park, New Mexico, when I spotted two Buffleheads on the water. I moved closer to them quietly and managed to capture images of them swimming about, but then they saw me and this scene unfolded.

Image Captured with a Nikon D7200 Camera, Nikon 80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens and Nikon TC-14E II 1.4 teleconverter, focal Length 550 mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 sec at f/8.0.