Bosque del Apache

American Avocets

It was not the best time of the year to visit Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, a wetland habitat for migrating waterfowl on the Rio Grande. That would be in the winter months when Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese gather here by the thousands on their way north.

A pair of American White Pelicans

Gambel's Quail

A female Pyrrhuloxia, related to Cardinals

Green-tailed Towhee

But even now it's a spectacular place to visit for a novice birder like me.

I saw over 40 different species of birds in a couple of hours, including ten that were firsts for me!