Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a premier location for winter birding and bird photography. November and December are the best months. Bosque is located in New Mexico about 95 mile south of Albuquerque.
The small community of Socorro, 19 mile north of the Refuge, offers a good variety of hotels and restaurants. When I visit Bosque I like to stay for about five days.
In just one or two days someone less serious about great photography will see much of what Bosque has to offer, but serious photographers generally stay longer.
Bosque is the winter home for many species of migratory birds. As many as 14,000 Sandhill Cranes and 32,000 Snow Geese stop over at Bosque on their migration. Although the Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese dominant the landscape, many other species can be easily found as well.
The Refuge has over 57,000 acres with a 12-mile graveled auto-tour route through much of it. Spotting and photography can be done from your vehicle and there are also eight viewing/photography decks along the route. Photography from the shoreline of various ponds is particularly good for the morning liftoff and evening fly-in. To experience the best of Bosque, plan to be there at sunrise and sunset.
Much of my photography off these other species is done from my vehicle using a beanbag as a camera support.
Because I have so many photos that I want to present here, I’ve split this article into three parts. If you missed the first two parts, click on the following links.
Part 1 – Sandhill Cranes https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/bosque-del-apache-nwr-by-don-getty-part-1/
Part 2 – Snow Geese https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/bosque-del-apache-nwr-by-don-getty-part-2/
For more of my photographs from Bosque del Apache, please see http://dongettywildlifephotography.com/
Don Getty
Don Getty
Don Getty has been an avid wildlife photographer for over 20 years. He resides in Wyoming, just 30 miles from Yellowstone Park. He photographs birds, mammals, reptiles and just about any living creature he can get in front of his lens. Wildlife photography has taken him throughout the Rocky Mountain region of the US and Canada, East Africa, South Africa, Costa Rica, Florida and Churchill Manitoba. He has received numerous awards and his images have appeared in many magazines, books and calendars.
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