So aside from Santa Fe being one of my favorite places in the country for a mini-vacation (especially around the holidays), it is also a very enjoyable place to photograph montane species of birds. One particular spot I like to spend time photographing at is the Randall Davey Audubon Center. The following photos were all taken there during our most recent trip:
Spent Valentine’s Weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico so we took advantage of the fact a Common Redpoll had been visiting a local resident’s feeders since December 22nd.
Thanks to the generousity of Bo Olcott and his wife, we were able to visit their property and see and photograph the Redpoll with relative ease. It was a snowy and blustery 15F when we arrived but the Redpoll was perched in a tree right above the feeders.
Not too far the down the road, we encountered one of the largest flocks I’ve ever seen of Mountain Bluebirds, Eastern Bluebirds, Townsend’s Solitaires and Cedar Waxwings! It was quite a sight and I was surprisingly able to get some of my best Mountain Bluebird photos yet. Still working on better Eastern Bluebird shots – for some reason I can never get close to them!
Some of the most beautiful country in New Mexico. It’s my favorite state in the Lower 48, and you can see why:
It was chilly and blustery, albeit sunny, in northern New Mexico this weekend. On Saturday afternoon we visited the Randall Davey Audubon Center just outside of Santa Fe. There were several Townsend’s Solitaires flying around the parking lot as we pulled up. Many of the other regular stuff, such as Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon and Pink-sided), etc.
Townsend’s Solitaire
On Sunday we decided to make the 2.5 hour trek northward to Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge which was only 25 or so miles from the Colorado border. Within a few moments I immediately found a Northern Shrike. Lots of other winter raptor specialties included Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle along with 2 adult Bald Eagles and 1 juvenile. And I must say, at least 200+ Mountain Bluebirds!! I guess this is *THE* place and time to go if you want to see them.
Northern Shrike
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Ferruginous Hawk
Mountain Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird