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Friday, January 15, 2010 - Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park, San Antonio NM

 Gathering at the roost, Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio NM, January 14, 2010
Gathering at the roost, Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio NM, January 14, 2010

Yesterday my friends Kate & Terry invited me along for a sunset photo shoot of the Sandhill Cranes gathering to roost in the shallow ponds along the highway at the north end of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I've seen the cranes flying between their roosting and feeding grounds down at Percha Dam State Park, Arrey NM and at PanchoVilla and I've seen them feeding with the cows here and there but this was my first experience of them roosting. Ever have a preconceived notion dashed? Somehow I had the idea these birds roosted on dry land, or maybe in trees even. I guess I never really thought about it. They roost in these shallow waters away from shore - out where the coyotes can't sneak up on them snoozing. Well, duh!

Night camp

Site 16 - Bosque Bird Watcher's RV Park, San Antonio NM

Troops Endure Blowing Sands and Mud Rain

... The single, solitary departure from this pattern came when it suddenly rained in the early evening. What fell from the sky was not water but mud, the rain pulling suspended sand into wet globs and pelting those foolish mortals who thought they could endure a 30- or 40-hour sandstorm. The temperature was just below 100 degrees, and everyone traveling with the military wore protective chemical and biological suits that enclosed the body from head to toe, plus body armor and a helmet. ...

New York Times

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