2006 RV Trip Diaries - Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

October 16 - Monday We drove to San Antonio, NM to camp near the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.  In late afternoon we toured the refuge where there are thousands of ducks of many varieties on the ponds formed around the Rio Grande.  The snow geese below included an unusual one with a black body and white head.  The grounds and waters were very beautiful with their variety of colors.

 

 October 17 - Tuesday The stars of the show at the refuge are sand hill cranes.  Standing 4 feet tall, they browse through the grain fields during the day and spend the night at the ponds.  This morning we were at a large pond in the refuge to watch the cranes lift off for their short flights to the grain fields.  We recorded the sounds of the ducks, geese and cranes waking up and starting their day.  Lots of birds of prey were circling around looking for a possible breakfast but we didn't see any ducks make a fatal mistake this morning.