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Hatch1921

Hatch1921

Well-known member
Member's gallery
Bosque is one of my favorite places to visit. In a short period of time (3 days) you can see so much when it comes to the diversity of wildlife on the refuge. The first day, heat distortion was not my friend, it ruined a number of shots. It was pretty warm for this time of year, I was in t-shirt and shots. The 2nd and 3rd days had overcast skies and this helped with the heat. I think with the warm weather the migration is a little slower this year but there were plenty of sandhill cranes and geese to photograph. I'm sure now, a week later, more birds have made their way to the refuge.

Everything was captured with the Sony A1 + 600 f/4.

If you've never been to Bosque... it's worth the trip. The crane festival is just around the corner, the fall colors are still happening. I might make my way back next month when things cool off a little. Oh... and if you drive up from the south and go through Hatch New Mexico... be sure to stop at Sparky's and grab a green chili cheese burger... outstanding!

Enjoy the day all.
Hatch

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Sony A1 + 600 f/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 F/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 f/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 f/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 f/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 F/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr

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Sony A1 + 600 F/4 by hatch1921, on Flickr
 
Member's gallery
Member's gallery
Woodyg3 said:
Great shots! We'll be there the week before Christmas. Really looking forward to it!
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Many thanks :) Enjoy your trip, I would imagine the birds will be there in mass by the time you visit. I would guess there were about 2000+ cranes and about the same number of geese in and around the area. This number should increase over the next month or so. Thanks again.
 
Member's gallery
RichF said:
wonderful series. I seldom see so much when I visit
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Thank you. I've made several trips over the past five or six years and not been disappointed. Early November is a great time to visit. The fall colors are happening, the birds are migrating in, the crowds are low. January has been a nice time as well... it's just really cold. One thing I noticed this trip, people who did the speed limit (25) drove past me several times and missed great opportunities to see animals I photographed in the images above. After sunrise and the initial flight of the cranes leaving to feed I hit all the roads at 10-15mph and will do this until around noon or 1... even if the light isn't as amazing as it is in the morning or evening, I've come across a ton of animals and photo opportunities. The roads are almost clear with maybe a few nuts like myself doing laps. :) I'll then head back an hour or so before sunset to see if I can capture the cranes or any other animals.

Best of luck next time out and thanks again.
Hatch
 
Member's gallery
gdecamp said:
Very well done!! I haven't been there in a while, it looks better than I've heard this year!
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Thank you. They are doing well with the water management and the birds are starting to make their way in. They were not there in the thousands upon thousands like I've seen in the past but early in November they are just starting to arrive. There's plenty to photograph for sure. :)
Thanks again.
Hatch
 
Member's gallery
Charles Loy said:
All nice photos, Hatch - thanks for sharing. Where is the raccoon and bear :) kidding
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Thank you. I wish I could have run across either or :) I was just excited to get a decent (not super amazing) shot of the Harrier this year... they are either too far out or the heat distortion has ruined my shots in the past. The coyotes were a bonus as well.
 
Member's gallery
Bravo there Hatch, wonderful shots...very enjoyable! Bosque has never been on my radar but it definitely is now, thank you. Can you recommend any good places to stay?

I'm up in northern Arizona so my annual NM jaunts usually consist of staying near the Animas/Rodeo area at Rusty's campground (in the middle of now where, its awesome) so I can hit the Portal, Paradise, Chiricahua National Monument areas. Beautiful area down there. Then another 4 days in southern AZ in the Bisbee area to hit all the birding spots down that way, including Whitewater Draw for the Sandhill Crane influx.

So much to see, so little time...
 
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kurtholz said:
Bravo there Hatch, wonderful shots...very enjoyable! Bosque has never been on my radar but it definitely is now, thank you. Can you recommend any good places to stay?

I'm up in northern Arizona so my annual NM jaunts usually consist of staying near the Animas/Rodeo area at Rusty's campground (in the middle of now where, its awesome) so I can hit the Portal, Paradise, Chiricahua National Monument areas. Beautiful area down there. Then another 4 days in southern AZ in the Bisbee area to hit all the birding spots down that way, including Whitewater Draw for the Sandhill Crane influx.

So much to see, so little time...
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Many thanks :)

It's funny to see someone mention Animas/Rodeo as no one knows where this is at. lol I lived in Playas and went to school in Animas from 2nd grade until I graduated. I didn't appreciate the Chiricahua mountains until later in life. :)

Stay at the Holiday Inn Express.... I would say it's the nicest of them all. I've stayed there five or six times, clean, no issues.

Some tips for Bosque...
When heading to the refuge going south from San Antonio NM look for deer around the area. You'll enter the refuge zone and the first pond on the right side is perfect for sunrise crane / geese shots. The light is great (weather permitting) and you get the mountains in the background and if you go in the next couple of weeks... the tree at the end of the pond might have some color left on it.

Once you enter the refuge, the south loop is a good place to start, I typically see javelina and hawks towards the far south end. There is a pond with an observation deck you can stop at on the right side while heading down the south loop. I've photographed great blue herons and pelicans there.

There's a couple of splits you can take to head back north... either one is fine.. in the morning you'll be shooting to the west for the best light as the sun rises. These roads tie into the center/north loop routes. Lots of geese/cranes to see. I've also come across mule deer at the end of the north loop on a number of occasions/trips. Harrier hawks frequent the fields doing their hunting. Once you make your way back around you'll hit the main observation area, it's the main pond with the large tree in the center. Lots of water fowl, cranes/geese etc. A nice place to capture evening shots as you'll have the sun to your back at sunset. Bald eagles tend to frequent the area and often land on the dead tree in the center of the pond. A 600mm with a TC can capture some nice shots as long as the heat doesn't mess up the images.

I tend to drive the loops / roads at 10-15mph and you really get a chance to see the wildlife others who are driving faster than you miss. It also helps with stopping and tends to not spook the animals as much.

I'm guessing you'll head down I-25 to Hatch and then Deming... In Hatch you have to hit Sparky's burger joint... outstanding green chili cheese burgers.

I would suggest taking the exit off the I-10 south to Hatchita and then to Animas. My last trip I was able to capture some shots of antelope near the Playas turnoff. I'd see them all the time when we were on the bus headed to school. They are still in the area. I didn't see any this last trip but it's a scenic drive either way.

I haven't made my way out to White Water Draw this year, it was packed with birds a couple of years ago, I don't know the water situation there at the moment.

One area you might hit is the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex: Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area about 20 minutes north of Socorro. I went there for the first time this past trip... it would be a great place to do a sunset shoot. They have a large pond, grain or corn fields, and mountains in the background. There were more birds there than Bosque, I was there mid day and didn't get a chance to go back. I would hit it up for sure.

Hope this helps and enjoy the travels. Glad you liked the shots I posted. :)
Hatch
 
Member's gallery
Hatch1921 said:
Many thanks :)

It's funny to see someone mention Animas/Rodeo as no one knows where this is at. lol I lived in Playas and went to school in Animas from 2nd grade until I graduated. I didn't appreciate the Chiricahua mountains until later in life. :)

Stay at the Holiday Inn Express.... I would say it's the nicest of them all. I've stayed there five or six times, clean, no issues.

Some tips for Bosque...
When heading to the refuge going south from San Antonio NM look for deer around the area. You'll enter the refuge zone and the first pond on the right side is perfect for sunrise crane / geese shots. The light is great (weather permitting) and you get the mountains in the background and if you go in the next couple of weeks... the tree at the end of the pond might have some color left on it.

Once you enter the refuge, the south loop is a good place to start, I typically see javelina and hawks towards the far south end. There is a pond with an observation deck you can stop at on the right side while heading down the south loop. I've photographed great blue herons and pelicans there.

There's a couple of splits you can take to head back north... either one is fine.. in the morning you'll be shooting to the west for the best light as the sun rises. These roads tie into the center/north loop routes. Lots of geese/cranes to see. I've also come across mule deer at the end of the north loop on a number of occasions/trips. Harrier hawks frequent the fields doing their hunting. Once you make your way back around you'll hit the main observation area, it's the main pond with the large tree in the center. Lots of water fowl, cranes/geese etc. A nice place to capture evening shots as you'll have the sun to your back at sunset. Bald eagles tend to frequent the area and often land on the dead tree in the center of the pond. A 600mm with a TC can capture some nice shots as long as the heat doesn't mess up the images.

I tend to drive the loops / roads at 10-15mph and you really get a chance to see the wildlife others who are driving faster than you miss. It also helps with stopping and tends to not spook the animals as much.

I'm guessing you'll head down I-25 to Hatch and then Deming... In Hatch you have to hit Sparky's burger joint... outstanding green chili cheese burgers.

I would suggest taking the exit off the I-10 south to Hatchita and then to Animas. My last trip I was able to capture some shots of antelope near the Playas turnoff. I'd see them all the time when we were on the bus headed to school. They are still in the area. I didn't see any this last trip but it's a scenic drive either way.

I haven't made my way out to White Water Draw this year, it was packed with birds a couple of years ago, I don't know the water situation there at the moment.

One area you might hit is the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex: Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area about 20 minutes north of Socorro. I went there for the first time this past trip... it would be a great place to do a sunset shoot. They have a large pond, grain or corn fields, and mountains in the background. There were more birds there than Bosque, I was there mid day and didn't get a chance to go back. I would hit it up for sure.

Hope this helps and enjoy the travels. Glad you liked the shots I posted. :)
Hatch
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Whitewater Draw has some Cranes, very little water. AGFD started pumping (almost no rain this monsoon) but it appears the pump/well is out of commission as of last week at least. There are, however, numbers of Cranes and they are relatively close due to what little water there is being close to north berm. Hopefully they'll get well up and running soon. :)
 
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Icarus said:
Whitewater Draw has some Cranes, very little water. AGFD started pumping (almost no rain this monsoon) but it appears the pump/well is out of commission as of last week at least. There are, however, numbers of Cranes and they are relatively close due to what little water there is being close to north berm. Hopefully they'll get well up and running soon. :)
Click to expand...
Many thanks for the update, agree... would be nice for the birds if the water is up and going. Thanks again.
Hatch
 
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Really, really nice. I have known of this place for a long time but have never been (in spite of living in the neighboring state). I drove by it on the freeway once on my way to Albuquerque, but no time to pull off. Maybe I will need to visit one day (after I get a longer lens).
 
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