New Mexico

Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge

Bosque del Apache is an excellent place to stop in New Mexico from December to mid-February, especially at dawn and dusk when the birds fly into and out of the reserve.

Many birds stay here for a few months during winter including the eagle

Snow geese taking off from the lake in the morning

Snow geese are the loudest, their squawk filled the valley while I sat in dark waiting for sunrise. The birds fly each morning to a local farm where grain is left out and they return in the evening to sleep in the water at the reserve.

Sandhill cranes are last to take off, almost an hour after the initial flock of geese

Snow geese waiting til after sunrise to take off

Both days at the reserve were different, the area around the flight deck (not the flight deck itself) was best to view the snow geese blast off in the morning. Follow the locals, they know the recent behavior of the birds.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Regufe early morning

Flying V