Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge – 16 Nov 12 – Part I

     When our son, Chris, asked me to accompany him on a day trip to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near San Antonio, NM, he didn’t have to twist my arm.  I had been there only a couple times before, but never at the right time of the year which would be roughly from November into February.  Not only was this during that recommended time, but it just happened to be during their annual “Festival of the Cranes”. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day with occasional sunbreaks

     Bosque del Apache means Woods of the Apache as they once camped in these wooded areas along the Rio Grande which runs through the refuge.   It is 57,331 acres with the Chupadera Mountains on the West side and the San Pascual Mountains on the East.  The elevation varies from 4,500 – 6,195 feet.  It is on the Northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert which is the same desert we live in.   So I was up bright and early to leave the house by 4:30 a.m.   It was something like a 130 miles drive to get there.  It was fairly early when we arrived but still the sandhill cranes were on the move.  I’m pretty sure this was the first time I ever saw this magnificent bird, but before the day was done, I saw a multitude along with many other birds.  I read a count for the day someone did which said there were 11,000 sandhill cranes and 46,000 light geese, and 36,000 ducks among many other kinds of birds.

Sandhill Cranes Early Morning Flight

Near one of the several cornfields.

We saw lots of ducks — usually with their butts in the air.  They sometimes even dived clear under the water.

Not many birds at this stop, but a lovely scene.

You can hardly see them, but there are a number of sandhill cranes on the other side of those reeds below.  When looking at this and the scene above, I had to think how beautiful this must have been when the the cottonwoods were still dressed in their golden fall colors.

Cranes camouflaged by riverside reeds.

Next we came to what looked at first like an open area with tall grasses, but it seemed odd that there were so many water birds such as Canadian geese and ducks there.  On closer inspection, it became clear it was actually a marsh.  And boy, was it noisy with all the vocalizations of the cranes, ducks, crows and ravens.  It’s hard to tell the crows and ravens apart especially at this distance, but the information said they were both here at the refuge.  I could be wrong, but I think I have only seen ravens down our way.   I did a short video on YouTube of their sound:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OIvXDjO-Us&feature=g-crec-u

Marshy area.

I knew Red Winged Blackbirds that were so common in Ohio were here, but think this was my first time to actually see any so that was a treat.

A car stopped on the road behind us which got the guy’s attention we were talking to.  All of a sudden he says, “OMG, look” and took off running up the incline toward the road with Chris and I in hot pursuit.  Wow, there were javelinas breaking out of a wooded area, crossing a dirt road, and then back into the other wooded area.  We counted eight of them.

After that excitement, we had another treat when we looked toward the mountains only to see many what they called light geese (I think that means snow and Ross’s geese and perhaps some other kinds).

Many geese on the move.

Many geese are airborn in the background.

Several kinds of water birds in the marsh.

As we drove on around the miles long wildlife loop, we saw these cranes near one of the several corn fields there which provide food for the wintering birds.  

We came to a fascinating area where we wound up staying for over an hour even setting up chairs to sit and watch and listen.  Sandhill cranes were on both sides of the road and there was a lot of movement back and forth.  We were also in for a surprise.  The photos were all taken on the right side of the road since these were closer to the road.  There were groups of cranes on both sides of a line of trees.  My best guess is that this was winter wheat growing on the one side of the line of trees.  There was corn on the other side.

What looked like winter wheat on one side of the line of trees.

  Now comes the mystery.  There is some sort of creature or bird on the extreme right side of the picture.

There is something dark on the far right of this picture. What is it??

Taking a closer look, we still don’t know.  It is a crane, but so totally different from the others.  We talked to a man later who thought – sight unseen – it might have been a Russian crane (I don’t think so myself).  Then I thought of the melonistic dove (opposite of albino) that we had a couple years ago.  I have tried getting an answer via e-mail twice, but no response.  Then I checked the FaceBook page and found it was being discussed with no one seeming to know for sure.  I did notice that it doesn’t look very healthy and is smaller than the others.   See what you think.

Comparing “mystery crane” with others.

                                                                                    

Butt to butt. Juvenile on the right. Notice it does not have the red face patch.

There was a lot of movement and vocalizing as the cranes flew back and forth.

We were sure enjoying our day at the Bosque, but there’s lots more to go.  I hope to do this in three parts — this probably being the longest one.  Enjoy!!