I must say, venturing down to New Mexico each winter to witness the daily routines of migratory birds is one of the things I look forward to most after the holidays. Combining this with a few days exploring the snow-white dunes of White Sands NP and you have quite the power play of avian and landscape photography.
I always go down a few days early to get a feel for where our feathered friends are spending most of their time, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. That golden hour is what we are looking to focus on and knowing where the concentrations of the birds are likely to be is an important part of a successful trip. That said, each day can have its surprises.
This year, the cranes were more dispersed and were present only in small numbers where we usually find them. I always say, however, quality over quantity – and boy, howdy, did we have quality!! Extended drought conditions along the Rio Grande and the government shutdown in October/November along with the refuge managing for bird flu, were likely the culprits behind this shift in behavior and choice of wintering locations for the birds. Find them, however, we did.
There is nothing quite like arriving to a roosting pond to find hundreds of sandhill cranes just waking up. The soft light of blue hour enhances the pale grey feathers over most of their body and, while a few are beginning to stir, many are still sleeping with their heads tucked snugly under their wing. As the light grows stronger, more and more lift their heads and stretch their wings, flapping to get the blood moving before heading to the fields for a day of feeding. Most of the cranes wait until the sun crests the horizon and adds a hint of warmth to the air before taking off. The soft sun then adds a golden glow to the scene and provides ample light to get stunning images of them as they take to the sky. It is, however, still possible to capture some wonderful, blurred pans and they cruise past. If we are lucky, the cold temperatures will produce a layer of fog over the water adding an ethereal quality to our images. Once the sun is strong enough, most of the birds will take flight and before we know it, the pond is empty.
Evenings find us back at the ponds, waiting for the birds to return for the night. As the sun sinks toward the western horizon, they start filtering in a few at a time. Perhaps twenty minutes or so before sunset, the sky will be filled with arriving cranes. The light, just before the sun is gone altogether, is some of the most glorious we will have. Not only does it turn the birds a beautiful golden hue but capturing them silhouetted against the colorful sky is one of the most iconic shots we will find here. With four full days at the refuge, we had ample opportunity to capture images from both times of day.
We cannot, however, forget the fact that there are also thousands of snow geese sharing the area with the cranes. Seeing them literally fill the sky as they head for their night roosts is a scene that is difficult to capture yet unforgettable. At times, we had to take our eyes away from the viewfinder and just take it in – recording the event on video to tell the whole story, as the cacophony of sound is a big part of the experience.
Perhaps, however, the most impressive things to witness here is the morning blast off of the snow geese. While cranes depart in small family groups, the geese have the unusual behavior of leaving their night roost and staging on another pond before leaving for the day to feed. Seeing them arrive by the thousands through the pre-dawn sky is – itself – a stunning visual but waiting for them all to leave at once is where patience truly pays. We spent two mornings waiting for this and were not disappointed either time. Once they blast off, it is over quickly so having two days to focus on different aspect of the display is key. And, again, sound fills the air so video allows us to re-live the moment later on.
Our final few days, we shifted on over the snow-white sand dunes of White Sands National Park. The gypsum deposits found nearby are eroded by wind and deposited in what appears to be snow drift formations. Our mornings and evenings were spent capturing the play of light on the soft curves of the dunes or widening our perspective to catch the surrounding mountains towering above the basin. But this location also lends itself to our more creative and artistic side. Even once the sun is higher, there are plenty of scenes to capture. We shifted to a more minimalistic mindset and played with filters as well as utilizing techniques such as HDR and focus stacking/bracketing. The results were stunning, and it was fun to see what others on the trip saw as we wandered amongst the dunes. Have a look through the trip images to get a feel for what is possible.
I am headed home now but am – as always – already looking forward to sharing this incredible experience with those who choose to venture out with me next year. See you in the field!!
