During our Christmas trip, we spent a few days at Brazos Bend State Park south of Houston. It is mostly swampland near the Gulf of Mexico and so it is full of wildlife.


Sunset

9 Banded Armadillo 

 Swamp Vegetation

Turkey Vulture

Cormorant, Snowy Egret and three Black Bellied Whistling Ducks

Dennis

Turkey Vulture Roost

White Ibis surrounded by Black Bellied Whistling Ducks

Great Egret

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

 Blue Winged Teals

Reflection of fishing tackle caught in tree above the water with algae

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks

White Ibis

American Alligator and brave (foolish?) Marsh Hen

Little Blue Heron

American Mike and Spanish Moss

Great Egret in flight

 Great Egret landing in front of Mike

Swamp colors

This year was the 109th celebration of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta by the Native American community in the Tortugas neigborhood in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All of Las Cruces was invited. The dancing, costumes and music were spectacular. It is a three day event that includes a pilgrimage to a local mountain top, several masses and rosaries, and a day of Native American dancing. New Mexico is a special place.

Information about the Tortugas Pueblo and the annual fiesta

http://tortugasnm.org/history/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortugas,_New_Mexico

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2019/12/08/our-lady-guadalupe-fiesta-includes-mountain-pilgrimage/4366629002/

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, a friend told us that they had been to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (about two hours north of Las Cruces) and the Sandhill Cranes were back for the season. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is made of wetlands on the Rio Grande River and is primarily a migratory site. Last year we heard the Sandhill migration was beautiful, but we missed it. So we had been waiting for their return. On Monday 12-2 we took a day trip to go see them and whatever else might be there. We had seen Sandhill Cranes before, in Texas, but never so many. They were great, and we shot hundreds of pictures. Then we came upon thousands of Snow Geese as well as other birds. It was an amazing visit.

It had snowed 5 inches on Thanksgiving day, but most of it had melted away by the time we got there.

Rio Grande wetlands, forest, desert mountains, and snow capped peaks.

Cat-tails along the wetlands.

Dennis next to one of the planted fields. They plant some grains to feed the migrants. 

Red-Tailed Hawk patrolling for rodents

Sandhill Cranes

Dancing Crane

Courtship in flight

Masses in flight

And then we came upon thousands of Snow Geese flying in the distance. 

If you would like to see it, we have posted a 4 minute video of the Snow Geese coming in for a roost on YouTube. 

https://youtu.be/d3fT073ma08

This is a roost of Red-Winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, and Snow Geese. It seemed they were countless birds - always moving and always talking to each other. 

Another canal in the wetlands

And finally, driving home along New Mexico Highway 1.