Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Our first night in New Mexico was spent at the Valley of Fires National Recreation Area.  We did not spot any wildlife there, but we were treated with the most beautiful sunset one could imagine.

The next morning we headed for the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge which is located near the small town of San Antonio, NM.  While traveling on Route 380 we were surprised to see a very large Oryx beside the road...

We later learned that this species was imported by private hunting ranches.  Some escaped, and now they are considered an invasive species that threatens the plants and native fauna of the state.

The first thing one is likely to notice in the refuge is the large numbers of waterfowl, such as this northern shoveler pair...

Glossy ibis are plentiful...

As were cinnamon teal...

Grebes and coots were everywhere...

Great egrets found a common roosting spot...

Smaller birds abound, like this western kingbird...

My first ever black phoebe...

A vermillion flycatcher...

Doves began to gather near sunset...

We encountered ring-necked pheasants on both days...

 By far, the most amazing thing about the refuge is the number of wild turkeys...

They were in the fields...

Turkeys were in the road...

On the trails...

We saw over one hundred turkeys on each of our rides around the refuge...

Another first for each of us was the greater roadrunner...

On our morning drive, this morning, we found this kestrel...

On our final evening ride around we found this swainson's hawk...

And this female kestrel...

Mammals were hard to find, although we did see a group of elk that numbered about ten...

On our first evening drive we saw at least eleven striped skunks...

Bosque del Apache is most widely known for the thousands of sandhill cranes that spend the winter here.  Each November the Festival of the Cranes attracts visitors from around the world.

The surrounding countryside is beautiful...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.