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Thread started 22 Jan 2019 (Tuesday) 20:31
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Bosque Del Apache - Image heavy

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Hatch1921
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Jan 22, 2019 20:31 |  #1

Hi all,

I just returned from Socorro/Bosque yesterday and I'm working on the images from the quick trip. We left on Saturday morning and thankfully the weather held out. About a week or so ago most of the high country in AZ and NM were hit with storms and snow. It made for a beautiful drive, but I was a little nervous we would make the 6+ hour trip and the weather gods would not be on our side. Thankfully, it was mostly clear skies for the trip with nice sunsets.

We arrived in Socorro around 3pm and after checking in to the hotel, I headed out to the refuge. There were about 30 or so photographers shooting a few early cranes and ducks, waiting for sunset. Once things got closer to sunset, the cranes flew in...in mass. The sunset was very colorful and made for a nice background and crane silhouettes.

Single Crane at Sunset

Nikon D850 • 1/800 • f/6.7 • ISO 100
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7805/31900006547_7988fc629f_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QATS​yT (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Sunset Chat

Nikon D850 • 1/200 • f/4.5 • ISO 125
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4874/45926860205_5ea23370f9_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cYp​atk (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

They are a loud bunch! A sight to see for sure. We didn't make it into the "loop" area the first night, the first water area turned out to be just fine. We made our way back to the hotel and called it a night. This was my first trip to Bosque and to Socorro. A tip to anyone going there... bring cash. We were surprised a number of times during the trip how many places didn't take credit/debit cards. I know better for next time around. :)

On Sunday morning we made our way to the first water area again and joined the 30-40 other photographers waiting on the sun to rise and the cranes to take off. Seeing them there standing in ice/freezing water was something else. The temperature was 21 degrees with frost on the ground and the water frozen. The cranes when they started moving would slide on the ice and then punch through it.
Once the cranes started warming up, they took flight. The morning light made for some nice shots. I’m not a bird photographer by any means… much respect to those of you who are. It’s challenging to say the least. I tried my hand at some panning shots…most were not “keepers” and only a few turned out decent.

Panning Shot

Nikon D850 • 1/100 • f/4 • ISO 160
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4808/46116198534_b67f5f2bc6_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2dg8​zah (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Headed South--Morning Light

Nikon D850 • 1/1600 • f/6.7 • ISO 500
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7846/39878600403_8402685564_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/23KW​fxV (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr
A Pair--Morning Light

Nikon D850 • 1/320 • f/6.7 • ISO 100
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7860/31902280407_3e996a62be_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QB6w​vn (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

After shooting the first water area, we made our way to the “loop” for more shots. Ae we drove off, I noticed something in a tree across the waterway… it was a bald eagle. I’ve never seen one in the wild, this was exciting to say the least. This is where I wish I had a 600mm or 800mm with an extension tube. The following images are heavy crops. I was shooting with the D850, 300mm PF, and the 1.7x TC.
All in all… not horrible… but would love to have had the extra reach.

Bald Eagle --Crop

Nikon D850 • 1/800 • f/6.7 • ISO 200
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4918/46843689921_796dd9b7b6_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2enq​a1e (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr
Bald Eagle --100% Crop

Nikon D850 • 1/800 • f/6.7 • ISO 200
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/45929183585_1447ca92f6_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cYB​58B (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Next, we made our way to the loop. No cash… no entrance. At this point in time, the only way to get cash is to buy a $25 duck stamp. So, we passed and decided to come back out in the evening and enjoy the loop. This gave us time to explore around the area to see if we could find anything else to photograph. There were plenty of red tail hawks, but most were way out range for the gear I had with me. This one was nice enough to sit still on top of the powerline pole. It isn’t the most pleasing background/rest… but the hawk is pretty/handsome.

Hawk on the pole

Nikon D850 • 1/400 • f/6.7 • ISO 64
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7821/46844585291_7c0d59559b_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2enu​KaD (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

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Hatch1921
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Jan 22, 2019 20:32 |  #2

After our adventure outside the refuge, it was time to rest for the evening. A storm was moving in and the sky was cloud covered. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to capture more images. This time we went out to the “loop” and it did not disappoint. I imagine, November/December is the best time to visit as the bird density must be higher. There were plenty of birds to see and photograph…several hundred snow geese were resting when we arrived. Several photographers were photographing them, and I joined in. I snapped about a dozen shots and then the group erupted and took off. It caught be by surprise as the sky filled with snow geese… I wasn’t ready but…. I fired away and was able to capture some shots.
Snow Geese Resting

Nikon D850 • 1/640 • f/6.7 • ISO 400
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/32968123008_5620f48539_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Sehf​nW (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Odd man out

Nikon D850 • 1/1600 • f/6.7 • ISO 1000
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4828/31902274487_76def74d3b_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QB6u​Ki (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Sky Full --Snow Geese

Nikon D850 • 1/1600 • f/6.7 • ISO 800
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/45926857425_f7cd810875_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cYp​9Dp (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

The snow geese did not return, I imagine they went to another water way…far away from people to enjoy the rest of the evening.
On the way back to my truck, a colorful pheasant emerged from the brush to feed. A dozen or so shots later… I had a few nice images.
Colorful Pheasant

Nikon D850 • 1/1250 • f/6.7 • ISO 2000
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4917/45926859165_331f497246_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2cYp​aap (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

Upon leaving the park area, we turned a corner and a car was pulled over looking into a field… several mule deer were feeding and making their way across the road. I stopped, grabbed the camera as the light was fading and snapped some images. Then… I hear a “BANG” on the windshield of my truck and my wife was frantically pointing to my left to look. A beautiful 5x3 buck was standing there looking at me. He wasn’t all that nervous… as he casually grazed in the deep brush. The shots below turned out better than I had hoped. I tried to walk as quietly as possible to get a little closer as he roamed around the area. The does had their eyes on me…but… never panicked. I still have several shots to work on in this series… these are some of the nicer ones with him looking at me and feeding. The one shot “Buck Eating” he is standing, that’s how deep the brush was/is.


5x3 Mule Deer Buck

Nikon D850 • 1/1000 • f/6.7 • ISO 2000
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7848/32965541488_d6d21ae537_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Se41​YY (external link) BUCK_WEB (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

5x3 Buck Eating

Nikon D850 • 1/400 • f/6.7 • ISO 2500
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4819/31890973827_fc28d7de96_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QA6z​sk (external link) 5x3_Feeding (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

5x3 Evening Light

Nikon D850 • 1/500 • f/6.7 • ISO 3200
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7911/46831781101_53ff2952e2_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2emn​7VK (external link) 5x3muledeerWEB (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

On the way up, we say antelope and, on the way, back we saw another herd of about 70 in total. I stopped this time around and tried my best to capture some images. I haven’t worked them all just yet, here is one I thought stood out. The pair has their eyes on me. It was amazing to see them react to the camera noise, I was about 300-350 yard from them and they could hear me snapping away. On the way back 11 elk were grazing… great to see but too far to photograph.

Antelope Pair

Nikon D850 • 1/800 • f/6.7 • ISO 640
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7845/31902276667_f64b6532f4_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QB6v​oT (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr

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Jan 22, 2019 20:33 |  #3

As we made out way back to Phoenix, we stopped in Show Low…this raven landed on the back of my truck and then ended up in a large pine tree. Just a snapshot.

Winter is coming!

Nikon D850 • 1/800 • f/4 • ISO 200
IMAGE: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4816/31902271957_afe55ef33e_o.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/QB6t​ZF (external link) Bosque del Apache (external link) by hatch1921 (external link), on Flickr


The quick trip was very fruitful! I only shot for what I would call three sessions… 3000+ images later…reflecting on the trip… I can’t wait to go back at the end of the year. Lessons learned… I need a longer lens combo. The 300mm PF is outstanding and with the 1.7x tc attached most of the time... it did a great job. I think a 500PF or a rented 600 F/4 would be excellent with the 300mm.


Thanks for making it this far…it’s a long post.
Hatch

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Grizz1
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Jan 22, 2019 22:31 as a reply to  @ Hatch1921's post |  #4

Nice images Hatch. I've been there once and the Cranes had all left but I was able to get a lot of other shots. I enjoyed my visit very much and would love to go back sometime though it is a very long drive for me. Always like to see photos others have taken while there and the advice is welcome as well. I may get back down there sometime and definitely want to catch the Cranes next time.

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Jan 22, 2019 23:53 |  #5

Great thread and shots! TFS!

Sam
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Hatch1921
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Jan 24, 2019 20:27 |  #6

Grizz1 wrote in post #18796821 (external link)
Nice images Hatch. I've been there once and the Cranes had all left but I was able to get a lot of other shots. I enjoyed my visit very much and would love to go back sometime though it is a very long drive for me. Always like to see photos others have taken while there and the advice is welcome as well. I may get back down there sometime and definitely want to catch the Cranes next time.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18796845 (external link)
Great thread and shots! TFS!


Thank you for the comments, glad you enjoyed the shots.

Hatch

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Jan 25, 2019 10:14 |  #7

I was in Phoenix at Christmas and drove to Socorro and Bosque on Dec. 26th to shoot birds for a few days on the way home to Austin, TX. Took the northern route, and like you, dealt with snow. We also got snowed on heavily on Dec. 28th and Bosque ended up closing for a couple days so the minimal staff (2) could concentrate on bird support instead of pulling people's cars back onto the road.

I enjoyed your photos and glad you had a good time. I rented a longer lens this year and if you go back, that's a much cheaper way than buying one.

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Jan 26, 2019 18:24 |  #8

RMyers wrote in post #18798237 (external link)
I was in Phoenix at Christmas and drove to Socorro and Bosque on Dec. 26th to shoot birds for a few days on the way home to Austin, TX. Took the northern route, and like you, dealt with snow. We also got snowed on heavily on Dec. 28th and Bosque ended up closing for a couple days so the minimal staff (2) could concentrate on bird support instead of pulling people's cars back onto the road.

I enjoyed your photos and glad you had a good time. I rented a longer lens this year and if you go back, that's a much cheaper way than buying one.


Many thanks :)

Sorry to hear the place had to close down. Thanks to the gov shutdown, they had 1 paid employee there and a four volunteers manning everything. I agree, I believe I will rent a 500 or 600mm next time around. Although... I do have my eye on the Nikon 500mmPF :)

Thanks again,
Hatch

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Jan 26, 2019 18:28 |  #9

Awesome set of images... and that buck! Whoa!

Brian,
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Jan 28, 2019 07:04 |  #10

bbqkid8 wrote in post #18799051 (external link)
Awesome set of images... and that buck! Whoa!


Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed the images.

Hatch

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Bosque Del Apache - Image heavy
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