Percha Dam State Park is only about sixy miles north of Las Cruces on the Rio Grande River. We spent 2 nights there last week, with friends, and then drove over to Aguirre Springs Campground for a night as well. It was not a big trip, but it was lovely - and we enjoyed being out and about.
Robins winter along the river and had not yet headed northward.
A Greater Yellow-Legs wading in the Rio Grande.
And the place was thick with Vermillion Flycatchers - both courting and solo. They were very hard to catch, but here are two glimpses.
A Black Hawk - sitting and in flight.
A portrait of a White Winged Dove.
Black Phoebe.
Osprey! They are also know as fish hawks since most of their diet is fish. But they are not a true hawk and are about twice the size of a large hawk. They look like they are the size of an eagle, but will only have about a 5 foot wingspan instead of the eagle's 6 foot or more.
Say's Phoebe.
Sparrow.
Northern Flicker.
And a new bird that we had never heard of before: Phainopepla. Glorious birds about the size of a black bird but with white underwings and a crest. The males were solid (almost shiny) black and the females were mostly dark gray. It turns out they are primarily from Mexico and Central America but will be found in the deep southwest wherever they may find mistletoe. Mistletoe berries make up over 90% of their diet, and along this stretch of the river many trees were laden with mistletoe.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Cattails.
Screwbean Mesquite.
Last year's leaves.
Trees along the Rio Grande.
Last year's flower skeleton.
This year's spring cactus bloom.
Evening Campfire and the Caballo Mountains.
Sunset.
And the moon through the trees - with scattered stars all around.
The Organ Mountains from Aguirre Springs Campground.
And a Mule deer in the campground.
Sunset through the Organ Mountain Rocky Peaks.
And Dennis relaxing.
