Hmmm, this is starting to become a trend. In the past I’d usually post a blog update every couple of weeks or following a trip somewhere, but lately it’s when I realize nearly a month has passed since the last update. Still fun to share some photographs and stories of what’s been happening.
So here’s a little of what November’s been like for me. One of my sisters popped in on Halloween for a day or so before meeting up with her book club group in Santa Fe, and on November 1 we drove up to Capulin Spring for a visit to “The Log.” A little slow there that morning for birds, which we mostly attributed to the presence of this character patiently waiting on said Log.
After it flew off, a few birds came in for a drink, but the hawk kept buzzing the area and was again perched on the log as we left the area. While it was off somewhere, I did get a nice shot of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, one of the few species seen that morning,
and another of one of the several chipmunks running around.
A few days later, we made another run down to Bernardo Wildlife Area…no pheasants this time, but we did get pretty good looks at what we believe is a Greater Yellowlegs. Tricky to separate from Lesser Yellowlegs, but we did hear the Greater’s call as it flew off.
Another day in my local patch, Embudito Canyon, it was fun to catch a Cactus Wren busy refurbishing its winter roosting nest. First saw it fly inside for a bit before coming back out with a bit of grass.
In anticipation of the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, we’ve made a couple of scouting trips to locations we hope to get a few good species on the the day of the count. We’ve seen a Crissal Thrasher, Loggerhead Shrike, and an unexpected Peregrine Falcon out there, but also several each of both Rock Wren
and Sagebrush Sparrow.
Other outings have provided opportunities for a few good photos. A month after my last visit, wandering around the Piedras Marcadas Basin for the Great Horned Owl I’d been seeing there since mid-August turned up a pair of Great Horned Owls basking in a glowing cottonwood.
Two other fun ones included this bunch of Western Bluebirds that flew into a tree high above Embudito Canyon,
and a Say’s Phoebe at much closer viewing range.
After numerous attempts, a visit to Rio Grande Nature Center finally gave me a pretty good look at one of the male Hooded Mergansers.
We’ve visited the Biopark Zoo twice this month, first to see the recently opened and most impressive new Asia Exhibit, and again the day after Thanksgiving with our visiting friends. On our first visit, the weather was still nice and led to some nice photos, one of which was a Snow Leopard in its new habitat.
On the second visit, however, with it being quite cool and a little breezy, a number of the animals were probably inside or hunkered down outside keeping warm. Flamingos seemed okay with it, tucking their heads in as seen on other visits (background of this scene caught my attention).
Peacocks, however, were a bit more scarce and at one point we spotted a couple of them tucked in the grass keeping warm.
The Cheetahs didn’t seem to mind the cold at all and were just lazing around as usual.
On earlier visits, the hippos were always floating in their pond with just the top of their heads visible. But this time, maybe because of the weather (?), an adult came up out of the pond followed by one one the younger ones allowing for a nice portrait.
Natural Moments 
From a Red-breasted Nuthatch to a Hippo, both wonderful shots.
Thanks. Not too many photos this time, but a couple good ones.