Bosque del Apache - 2

I have now processed the next patch of images...those from the afternoon of the first day. Went a bit quicker this time since the stack to go through was smaller.

We start with the Great Blue Heron above, just to let you know that there are animals in the reserve other than the Sandhill Cranes.



But there are cranes indeed. Along with the many and varied ducks.

In the afternoon, I am shooting towards the sun. This means that everything that is not in the shade is strongly backlit. Here we have a little bit of both.

As the sun got lower in the sky the backlighting got more dramatic.

Yet, there are directions away from the sun with enough light to make an interesting shot.

When the cranes settle for a landing, the wings come out in a parachute fashion to ensure that the landing is slow and gentle.

 Earlier in the afternoon, before the sun got low, I found crane in a field feeding. This fellow came in at just the right spot for me to catch him just as he landed.

At low altitudes, the cranes tend to soar as the come down. Going up requires wing flaps, going down uses the brakes to land.

Here's a reminder that there are tons of Snow Geese here as well.

But the real stars are the large and graceful cranes. The take-offs and landings are always special.

Gently putting on the brakes.

Here's one with the light shining through the wings.

And again, the hover before the landing.

This one shows the light though the wings really well.

More landings.

The one on the right seems to be walking on water.

And here we have a gentle splashdown.

Over by the trees we have more gentle glides.

And finally, the stall before the touch-down. It was a busy day that started early and ended late. After shooting until dark, I headed back into Socorro for a bite of dinner. Then to bed to start another early morning.