i'm a NC shooter who likes to shoot in Fla but all this Bosque del Apache talk has me thinking it might be time to see the monkey with his bush hawk in action....
When's the best time to go ?
What's good to shoot ?
How much focal length do I need ?
Where's a good airport to fly into ?
Hotels ?
You know, what's the story ?
Thanks
Randy (aka Rimland...and monkey, no more rimjob cracks or I'll start some old men and monkey stories )
Randy, from 4 years of experience all you got to do is listen to Will and you can fill 16gb memory cards in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
It's true, TrenchMonkey be da Man in this area -- his advice is worth more than you have to pay for it.
If you stay in Socorro, which is convenient, there is a wide variety of hotels ranging from business-quality-business-price to "economy", and my personal experience is that even the seedier places can be fine if you're just looking for a place to sleep.
As far as focal lengths go, take whatever you have and shoot what you see. There are grand scenes at all scales. On my most recent (very brief) trip I had a long lens mounted the whole time, got some memorable shots, and missed some others when a shorter lens would have been much better. (When the snow geese start swarming you could shoot _wide_ and get some great stuff.) Don't leave the long-range glass at home, but stay open to the idea of shooting wider.
We are going to the Bosque after Thanksgiving. I downloaded a set of maps of the refuge but I was wondering about the "best" spot to set up for the evening "Fly In" of the Cranes. If we arrive in the afternoon what would be the best tour of the refuge? What would you do?
We are going to the Bosque after Thanksgiving. I downloaded a set of maps of the refuge but I was wondering about the "best" spot to set up for the evening "Fly In" of the Cranes. If we arrive in the afternoon what would be the best tour of the refuge? What would you do?
I'm no expert, but have been there three times. They change which areas are flooded over time, and what has been planted in the fields and what has been mowed changes. So where the cranes and geese tend to gather for the night changes from visit to visit. During the day we like to slowly drive the access roads looking for the various wildlife. If we come to an area where where geese and/or cranes are feeding near the road, we may stop for a while. The geese tend to "spook" and all launch as a cloud. We once watched as a small group of coyotes worked their way toward the feeding geese. Find out where a lot of geese and cranes overnight and try to get there before dawn.
The geese tend to launch enmasse near dawn. The cranes tend to drift out in small groups after the geese have left. In the evening, the cranes tend to arrive back in small groups earlier. The geese seem to arrive in huge waves just as it is getting dark.
We are going to the Bosque after Thanksgiving. I downloaded a set of maps of the refuge but I was wondering about the "best" spot to set up for the evening "Fly In" of the Cranes. If we arrive in the afternoon what would be the best tour of the refuge? What would you do?
Good timing, as the week prior is over-run with all the Festival groupies. You'll want to be at Unit 3 ponds
for the sunset/sunrise action. Flight deck is overrated unless a brilliant sunrise is on tap. Far NE turn
on the Farm Loop will be fine for afternoon shootin'...Harriers work the roadside and farther West
lots of Snows/Cranes in out and about with gorgeous mtn backdrops.
It's all good if patient, with over 300 types of burds there's always something interesting to shoot.
Good light and good luck!
I was there a couple of years ago and would recommend bringing a larger lens with a 1.4x TC and another camera with a shorter focal length or zoom. I had a 40D and 400 f/5.6 at that time. I'm more prepared this time when I visit again.
The sound of the geese and sandhill cranes in the early morning hours is something I'll always remember. I also saw and tried to photograph the Aplomados falcon which hasn't been seen in the area for years. I stayed in the car for that since the bird was very skittish and of course, I was terribly "underpowered." I also spotted a road runner and some other birds.
For the late afternoon, early evening flight it is across from the main reserve and I'm sure Trenchmonkey can give you more insight.
For a change in scenery, I went to Magdalena to photograph the VLA (Very Large Array). This was the place where they shot "Contact" with Jodie Foster.
)
