Posted by Barry Southon on October 8, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Hi I do hope my asking for pointers will not breach any rules.
My wife and I will be visiting from the UK and heading West from Kansas to New Mexico early to late November. Bosque del Apache being on our must do list. Primary Avian photography subjects or Macro so a wide range. Any heads up pointers for locations would be a great help.
Thank you.
Posted by Phillip Noll on October 8, 2010 at 9:37 AM
If you are going to be in the Bosque del Apache area, some additional places you might consider include White Sands National Monument and the Very Large Array west of Socorro. Not necessarily places for avian photography but very interesting and photogenic nonetheless.
If you plan to be in other areas of NM let us know and I'm sure you will get additional recommendations.
I echo what Phillip says about White Sands. When you get to the Bosque my most sucessful strategy is to be at the Flight Deck for "blast off" at sunrise then hurry over to the crane pools for the crane fly out. Sunset is just the opposite.
Not sure if it's of interest to you but I also enjoy photographing around the old mission churches on the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe.
Posted by Barry Southon on October 8, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Phillip & Bill
Many thanks for the heads up, it really makes all the difference with the additional local knowledge. If I can return the compliment someday just ask.
Also when you're near the Bosque, try and stop by the Buckhorn Tavern in San Antonio for the self proclaimed "best green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico."
Bill and Phil offer good advice. I don't really have bird photography aspirations, I just go to the Bosque to point and stare, so I'll merely second the cheeseburger recommendation in that area. What other kinds of things are you interested in seeing in NM? Any low to mid elevation area in the state should be good in November. A couple other obvious ideas fairly close to Socorro are the Quebradas Backcountry Byway and the Three Rivers Petroglyphs.
Posted by Bill Brennan on October 8, 2010 at 9:30 PM
As you plan your travel, consider visiting Pike's Peak, Garden of Gods and Air force Academy in CO Springs. Then add Taos via Laveta Pass and Santa Fe via the high road and Chimayo, NM's version of Lourdes.
At the Bosque, consider the ponds on north side for early am shooting with sunrise at your back. After am shooting, consider a visit to the Heritage Center 15 or so miles south of the Bosque to get an education about the Spanish colonization via the Camino Real.
Bill Brennan
Posted by Sally King on October 10, 2010 at 8:42 AM
If you go to Socorro via Albuquerque be sure to stop by Sandia Crest, just east of Albuquerque, for a good chance to see and photograph all three kinds of rosy finches as well as dark gray Abert's squirrels if you're into fauna too.
Discussion
7 repliesMy wife and I will be visiting from the UK and heading West from Kansas to New Mexico early to late November. Bosque del Apache being on our must do list. Primary Avian photography subjects or Macro so a wide range. Any heads up pointers for locations would be a great help.
Thank you.
If you plan to be in other areas of NM let us know and I'm sure you will get additional recommendations.
Have a safe trip!
Not sure if it's of interest to you but I also enjoy photographing around the old mission churches on the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe.
Many thanks for the heads up, it really makes all the difference with the additional local knowledge. If I can return the compliment someday just ask.
At the Bosque, consider the ponds on north side for early am shooting with sunrise at your back. After am shooting, consider a visit to the Heritage Center 15 or so miles south of the Bosque to get an education about the Spanish colonization via the Camino Real.
Bill Brennan