I’m heading back to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico. The refuge is winter home to huge flocks of Sandhill Cranes, both Greater and Lesser as well as Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese. Because my home is in the midst of the Pacific Flyway, I know those species are in the Sacramento area refuges now and some of my local photography friends are capturing incredible images of these magnificent birds. However, my trip to Bosque, with Moose Peterson and a couple of other friends, gives me an opportunity to spend five days straight shooting from sun up to sundown in relatively close proximity to the birds. We’re able to follow them from the ponds at sunrise where they roost at night to the fields where they feed during the day and back to the ponds at sunset. Last year’s trip there was an experience I’m thrilled to repeat. I hope to improve on my panning technique with the 600mm lens. Despite the fact that these are huge, slow flying birds, it is still a challenge to follow their flight and capture tack sharp images. Here are a couple of images from last year’s visit; the first is a Lesser Sandhill Crane, the second, a Snow Goose. I took these shots about a minute apart on the first morning in Bosque.
