New Mexico Bird Finds….And Other Critters
Enjoying the scenery each day we traveled early-on, I would occasionally see a bird in flight or on a post along the highway, and wondered out loud, “Oooooooh, what kind of bird was that?” Hubby would reply, “Honey, if you don’t know, I don’t know”. I would see so many that would be lifers for me if I could have snapped a shot!
Okay, maybe those first long days on the road with no bird photography started to work my mind. I took this next photo out my window as we cruised along. Finally, a bird capture! Maybe a duck or goose!
Well, I do see a duck or goose coming in for a landing, wings spread & feet dangling. Don’t you?
When we finally arrived at our first several-day stopover in Gallup, New Mexico, I stepped off and heard birds. Hallelujah! It wasn’t 10 minutes before I was walking around, camera in hand, looking for them in the trees.
In the few days before leaving New Mexico, here’s some of my best captures all taken at the campground, starting with two new lifers.
Ringed Turtle-Dove (new “lifer” but poor photo)
Western Kingbird (another new “lifer”)
There were so many Western Kingbirds, I had a blast trying to capture them.
The following are other birds that I’ve photographed before, but it’s always a treat to attempt to capture some special ones of them again.
American Robin
American Kestrel (I wish I had been a whole lot closer to him!)
Rock Doves
House Sparrow
House Finch
Not too bad for a campground in the desert!
We had a few other critters as well…..
You had to watch you didn’t step on a lizard while they scurried away!
I’ll have one more post from New Mexico to share, a visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and then it’ll be Arizona’s beauty & fun where we are at the present. FYI, we are not in an area with triple-digit temps or any forest fires, thank goodness!!
Great captures Donna!
Thanks Jodi!
Bless you for that bunny. I’ve been wanting to draw them and this is a terrific shot! Wow, that kestrel must have been awesome to see too. I’m glad you’re not near any forest fires. Enjoy Arizona!
Thanks Laura! We saw an actually jack rabbit but I missed the shot. 😦 Their ears are really really long, you’d have love that cutie! Guess that’s the story about the ‘fish that got away’, lol.
lol yes but I’m thrilled with this one you posted! Maybe you’ll see him again in an upcoming post 😉 (haha, if it turns out ) ❤
Love the little lizard. 🙂
They are cute and always have funny looking expressions. I tried to ID but boy are they difficult! 🙂
How exciting to shoot more lifers Donna, you are having a birder feast in New Mexico:-)
Thanks Ashley! It’s been fun! 🙂
Congratulations on the lifers! I loved all the photos of the birds, but the lizards are what interested me the most. We don’t have any in Michigan, and it’s always a treat to see new critters.
Thanks Jerry! I spent a bit trying to ID those lizards, it looked like I found three types, and geez they are difficult! I know the long-tailed one was in the Whiptail line which had many sub-series. Like birds, another species that has so many names and types. I’ll stick with IDing birds but lizards do provide cute expressions. 🙂
Great captures Donna! I believe that you have a House Sparrow instead of Chipping Sparrow. Canyon de Chelly is going to thrill you quite a bit I’m sure! Enjoy it! 🙂
Thanks HJ! You are right on the sparrow ID, don’t know how/why I messed that easy one up! I’ll blame the high altitudes messing with my brain and fingers for the typo, lol. Canyon de Chelly was beautiful, we went a week ago, I have so many awesome shots. We’re in Arizona now (already been to Grand Canyon one day so far!). I’m way behind on viewing and posting all that I’m wanting to share. Overload!!! 🙂
If I may correct you, Donna, that is a male House Sparrow not a Chipping Sparrow and the kestrel is a female. My field guides are constant companions but I still don’t get them all right. Great captures, and enjoy the journey!
Thanks Jane for catching my mistake along with HJ! I appreciate corrections! I know better on the sparrows, lol. I’ll blame the high altitudes for my typo. 🙂 We are having a blast. Some day we want to tour Canada, that’d be awesome.
Such cute little lizards, Donna. I love the colours of the rock doves, and the finch looks amazing against the bright blue sky. 🙂
Not quite the size of the ‘lizards’ you have! 🙂 When I came up on the rock doves, they were acting a little lovey-dovey, and then when I photographed them, I thought their expression looked like “we’re not doing anything…” with a grin. I caught that finch early in the morning before the heat ‘hazed’ the sky. I was tickled with it for sure! Thanks Helen!
All the images are wonderful! I especially like those lizard images. I’m happy to hear you’re not in the triple digits where you are.
Thanks Deborah! While we’re here and we should get caught in some triple digits, it’ll still not be as bad as 85-90 back in Maryland with all that humidity. Hubby & I are amazed we don’t get wet when we sweat, and the air seems cooler, if that makes sense. 🙂
🙂 Yes, that makes sense to me. It’s a dry heat and we do have a breeze now and then…lately it’s been windy here in the west which feels cooler. The wind chill factor working in the West. 🙂
We’re luvin’ it! 🙂
I am glad that travelling has not dimmed your eye at all. I liked the cloudy bird.
It’s a little unpleasant getting photography withdrawals, if there is such a thing. 🙂
Wonderful images Donna! My favorite is the Rock Doves … the colors are incredible!
They are beauties when the sunlight hits just right on them, aren’t they!
I’d love to see that Kingbird–great shots. Occasionally some sneak East but I’ve not been lucky enough to see them. I’ll just have to head west.
There were so many at the campground, it made it easy to at least get a few decent shots. Although they were fast little fellas. Hmmm…..sounds like a road trip! lol