Bosque Del Apache in late January: Can anyone familiar with the reserve tell me whether or not it would be worthwhile to include it as a stop around the 20th of January? We'll be in...

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Can anyone familiar with the reserve tell me whether or not it would be worthwhile to include it as a stop around the 20th of January? We'll be in the area on our way to Arizona. I know this is late in the usual migration season, so would appreciate any information on current situation.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I have been there the first and second week of January and it was really good. I don’t see why you wouldn’t see a lot of cranes and snow geese etc.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bosque_del_Apache/seasons/index.html

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

jeep_daddy wrote:

I have been there the first and second week of January and it was really good. I don’t see why you wouldn’t see a lot of cranes and snow geese etc.

I'm hoping you're right. Thanks!

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Basil wrote:

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bosque_del_Apache/seasons/index.html

Thank you.

Rhinophoto Loc: Davis, CA

I was there - along with many other photographers - for the dawn fly-out on 12/29/17. It was a wonderful experience (but quite cold - 11 degrees!) The birds are there for the next few months. Take your time on the auto route later in the morning because you'll have other opportunities for cranes in the cornfields, waterfowl, eagles, etc./Users/Reinham/Desktop/Exported Photos/DSC_2937.jpg

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Rhinophoto wrote:

I was there - along with many other photographers - for the dawn fly-out on 12/29/17. It was a wonderful experience (but quite cold - 11 degrees!) The birds are there for the next few months. Take your time on the auto route later in the morning because you'll have other opportunities for cranes in the cornfields, waterfowl, eagles, etc./Users/Reinham/Desktop/Exported Photos/DSC_2937.jpg

Thank you. Looking forward to it.

Corry Loc: New Mexico

By all means, go the latter part of January or very early in February. The cranes start flying north about the second or third week in February. Even then, you can catch them in Monte Vista, Colorado, mid-March or later. Yes, it is usually very cold just before sunrise, but by 9 a.m. you will be ready to shed some clothes.

Have fun!

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Corry wrote:

By all means, go the latter part of January or very early in February. The cranes start flying north about the second or third week in February. Even then, you can catch them in Monte Vista, Colorado, mid-March or later. Yes, it is usually very cold just before sunrise, but by 9 a.m. you will be ready to shed some clothes.

Have fun!

Thanks. I feel better about the possibility of seeing wildlife. Hope the weather improves.

Pytrouble

windshoppe wrote:

Can anyone familiar with the reserve tell me whether or not it would be worthwhile to include it as a stop around the 20th of January? We'll be in the area on our way to Arizona. I know this is late in the usual migration season, so would appreciate any information on current situation.

We were there today and saw a lake full of snow geese, thousands of sandhill cranes, at least five eagles including a golden eagle, several hawks, and the usual ducks, ravens, etc. Well worth the trip. We were told that being there for sunrise is spectacular as the birds take off en masse. We had heard a similar tale for sunset and were there three years ago in January for a sunset and saw hardly any birds (even earlier in the afternoon). However, the sunset was gorgeous!

Good luck!

Corry Loc: New Mexico

Thanks for your info.It seems like you had a good time. We plan to be there for our annual trip next week. I am surprised you missed the landings in the sunset,although they seem to be coming in more and more along the road that leads to the visitor's building.

Pytrouble

Forgot to mention the blue heron.