ABQ has a couple large field with grain that gets knocked down to feed the migrating cranes and geese. Pretty cool places right in the city. Flocks feed during the day and bed down at night in the Rio Grande. Many stay just overnight and continue on to their summer resort in Mexico. A few stay longer. The coyote was napping top of a hay stack. They are unusually well fed coyotes...

Thanks folks, one and all! Long live beauty!

Thanks! That last bird is a RoadRunner, the NM State bird... Think "beep beep...".

The Nature Center is a wonderful place by the Rio Grande in urban Albuquerque. There are 2 ponds with viewing blinds, many feeding stations, programs of guided birding, bird banding and I'm sure other projects I'm unaware of. It is one of Albuquerque's treasures! I like to use it when I'm jonesin for getting out and can't, and for practice and learning new gear, and of course to nurture the soul... These shots are mainly playing with the beautiful reflections and the ducks.

This past weekend was my first weekend at the Bosque del Apache this season. The numbers of cranes is still low, but had some very nice early morning light. Magnificent birds!!!

Manzano Mountains State Park is about an hour south of Albuquerque. It is in the lightly used Manzano Mountains (compared to the Pecos or Jemez Mountains...). This park is maintained in a pristine manner, and is open year around. It's about 10 miles north of Mountair, NM, which is a small "used to be ranch town, now a budding 'mini Taos'...". The silence was shattered all night long by elk bulging their hearts out! There are interesting birds, and near by is a location for annual "hawk watch" - migrating hawks show up and ride the thermals on the west facing mountain side. The beauty is stunning! The birds you might not recognize are male (bright red throat splash) and female (looks kind of like a ladder back) Williamsons Sapsuckers.

This is quite an annual event, and no matter how many years I go, I just keep enjoying the color and festivities! The key to having a great time and not getting stuck in traffic and going crazy is: Go insanely early, sit in the dark and soak in the activities, take more batteries and cards that you can ever imagine using, use the toilettes as soon as it begins to get light whether you have to go or not (do no under any circumstances attempt to use the pottipotties after sun up - you will wait up to 45 minutes in line...), head towards the exits when about 75% of the balloons are up, make sure you're in line for exiting to buses before the last of ascension. Miss any of these guidelines, and you can count on being motionless in a crowd for a very very long time!

I found a video instruction for the D500 from Lynda.com. It was exactly what I needed to shortcut the learning curve for setting up the camera and understanding the rather complex operations of the autofocus system and settings. I watched it several times taking notes for what was particularly relevant for me. I have never used Lynda.com before (I have subscribed to KelbyOne...), and it isn't necessary to subscribe. They have a 10 day free trial and it is very easy to cancel. I didn't find any other topics on Lynda of interest to me. I thought the D500 was excellent though. For whatever its worth...

It is late but these are a couple shots of the hummingbirds on my balcony in Albuquerque

Don't know that I have - swift little rascles. Usually just get the coyote chasing him...:)

Thanks! And thanks for looking.

Yes, my image. Dirk Will is an online name...

This roadrunner photo does some justice to the fierce look of this, New Mexico's state bird. Also, I suspect many/most of UHH'ers know or subscribe to Nature Photographer magazine. If unfamiliar, its worth a look. Current issue has some amazing pictures of bald eagles and owls plus lots more. The photos are stunning!

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Great photos of magnificent birds! Stick throwing is part of the cranes' repertoire in their dancing. Usually assumed to be part of mating and courtship. Jumping up and down, turning in tight circles and stick throwing all seem to be the moves that really turn their love interest on. I like to think of it as being caught up in the exuberance of estatic joy, celebration and desire, they just heave anything near by into the air! We have so much to learn from cranes. Our rituals move in the direction of giving dead minerals, like diamonds to express love...I kinda like the stick throwing option better!

Lots of cranes and geese feeding in the fields on New Year Eve Day! Waited a long time for the birds to cross the moon!