Bosque del Apache on the first day of winter

Since it was the first day of winter I figured the herp season is probably over now, then I checked the weather for the bosque and it was getting up to 66. So, I figured I'd head down and do some birding and possibly turn up some herps. It was a good thing I decided to bird otherwise I would've gotten practically nothing. I arrived and found these ladies crossing the road:

Mule Deer

I went to an overlook and saw this in a tree nearby:

Bald Eagle


I moved on to a marshy area and spotted this from the bridge:

Western Painted Turtle

I searched the area hoping to at least turn up a uta, but nothing but birds:

Northern Pintail

Sandhill Cranes


Canadian Geese

Snow Geese








Sandhill Crane

Northern Pintail

On my way out I saw the deer again and observed some interesting behavior:













Well, that's all I got pictures of. Other species seen but not photographed include:
Black Pheobe
Mallard
Cedar Waxwing
Marsh Hawk
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove
Raven
Bullfrog
American Coot

Among others. Thanks for looking!

Josh

A crappy day herping...but hey, it's December!!!

The temps were high and we've been seeing some snakes at some dens with some regularity. You can see what I've found in the past here: http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2933 I went to check on the two atrox that have been out and only found these:




Both these snakes had meals in them so it only makes sense that this would be their dung. I went to check on another den and passed another site that I haven't seen anything at for a while. I was just going to head to another den and decided I should check on this one just in case. I climbed up and saw this:

Prairie Rattlesnake

It had been a month since I'd seen activity at this area, so I was pretty excited. It coiled up like in the second picture and was flicking its tongue all over. I sat and watched it and then it slowly retreated into a nearby hole. It was very aware of my presence. I searched around the area because I have encountered multiple snakes at this site together. I did not find another snake, but did find another pile of poo. No picture of this one it was deep inside a crack and the picture didn't turn out. I think the season is finally over :( Can't wait until spring :D

Josh