Reader Pete Moulton used to supply us with some of the best wildlife photos here, but then he went AWOL. After I saw some great photos he posted on Facebook, I begged him to let us have some of them, and he kindly obliged. Here’s a new batch from Pete with his captions:
Here are some recent wildlife photographs. These are from Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico during the last week of November. Bosque is widely known for its large wintering numbers of white geese (Snow Chen caerulescens and Ross’ C. rossii) and Sandhill Cranes Grus canadensis, so I guess we’d better have some of those.
First, a crane flying into the sunrise in search of some breakfast [JAC: I think this is a sandhill crane, Grus canadensis, but I don’t know from birds]:
Next, a white goose, one of many, as you can see. There are so many geese on the refuge, and they’re so gregarious, that isolating subjects ranges from tricky to impossible. This one’s an adult Ross’ Goose [Chen rossii], most likely a gander, given the size and extent of bluish caruncles on its bill:
And a Common Raven, Corvus corax, just to show that geese and cranes aren’t the only attractions. I’m fond of the Corvidae, largely because of their high intelligence, which is clearly indicated by the look on this guy’s face:
An adult white-striped White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), a bird that’s doubtless very familiar to you, but one that’s very scarce in Arizona. They’re surprisingly common along the Rio Grande in New Mexico.
And finally for this batch, a m*mm*l, which was the high point of the trip for me, a Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata:
All fantastic photos. I like the raven the best but the weasel is simply adorable!
Thank you, Diana. I kind of figured you’d like the look on that raven’s face.
🙂
The more I look at that Raven, the more I think it looks like a cowboy saying, “there’s only room enough in this field for one raven”. Cue, dramatic music used in spaghetti westerns. 🙂
Great pics.
But I missed the memo; we are asterisking m*mm*ls now too? Cats are part of that class, surely that means it can be referred to with all letters intact!
Thanks, Eric. Actually, the asterisks were for the people who know me as a bird and bug guy.
Love the sandhill crane – and the woozle! Thanks.
Thank you, Merilee!
The sandhill crane has got to be one of the best bird pictures i’ve seen. it’s breathtaking!
Thank you most kindly, Canoe!
Ya lookin’ at me…ya lookin’ at ME??
Wow, nice weasel shot! Well done on all of them.
Thanks, jblilie! That weasel nearly gave me a heart attack.
How so?
Excellent photos; many thanks for sharing, Pete!
Thank you, Smokedpaprika. The sheer excitement of seeing one up close and in good light nearly did me in.
One of the thrills of a lifetime, eh?
I can understand that, like the time I was stooped down under a tree in our yard, cutting back wild grasses, when down swooped a hawk (a regular at our outdoor birdfeeder bistro); it might have mistaken my head of hair for a critter. I looked up just in time, and it veered off above the fence. I still can remember the thwack thwack of its wings.
Thanks for allowing Jerry to publish your wonderful photos Pete. I can see why he was willing to “beg”. 🙂
Thanks, Mark!
Excellent photos! The crane does look like a sandhill.
Please visit us early and often with moar pix. We like ’em.
Thank you, Mark. Yes, it’s a Sandhill. Most of the cranes wintering at Bosque del Apache are Greater Sandhills, with a few Lesser Sandhills mixed in.
A week or so back one of our squirrels was taking peanuts from our window sill and burying them in the snow. He (she?) did not seem to notice being followed by three ravens who were digging up and feasting on his peanuts. Smart indeed.
Yes, ravens are fascinating to watch. And they watch us watching them.
Typically superb shots, Pete, and I can’t get over that weasel! You must have really had your wits about you to get such a great shot on such short notice.
He looks a bit startled to see you, too. 🙂
Thank you, Diane. Sometimes it’s a matter of shoot first, and ask questions later. This is one of the big advantages of digital vs film photography: you can shoot and shoot, and if you don’t like the images, well, they didn’t cost anything, so you can delete them at will with no pangs of conscience. One of my friends, who’s an excellent photographer long since converted to digital, calls it “catch and release photography.”