Balloons, Boats & Buzzards

October 6, 2019 Timothy Price29 Comments

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We had a clear morning, not a cloud in sight, for the second day of the 48th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Balloons launched in a mass ascension, but there was no wind to speak of, so the balloons hung over the balloon field for a couple of hours.

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This pink flamingo boat is what I believe to be the first special shape boat to be on the Rio Grande during the balloon fiesta. Kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders paddled, floated and shoved their way through the shallows of the Rio Grande as they watched the balloons.

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My neighbor texted me that there were buzzards (Turkey Vultures) in the dead cottonwood a couple of properties south of us. There were still four hanging out in the tree sunning themselves and watching the balloons when I got there. Three flew off soon after I arrived, while the one remaining buzzard shook the dust out of its feathers and settled in to watch what was going on below.

Sunset & Sliver Moon

October 1, 2019October 1, 2019 Timothy Price22 Comments

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Clearing Clouds

September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 Timothy Price25 Comments

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We had one of those rare times for the Albuquerque area where it started raining Saturday night, stayed cloudy and rained all day and into the night on Sunday. The clouds were starting to break up when I got to the parking garage a little before 7:00 am this morning.

Parched River

ImageSeptember 6, 2019September 6, 2019 Timothy Price22 Comments

The Cabin At The End Of The Caldera

August 30, 2019 Timothy Price26 Comments

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At one end of the Valles Caldera in the Jemez is a cabin that sits all alone with nothing else around for miles. I was told this might be a cabin used in the Longmire TV series. I wouldn’t know as I have never seen or read Longmire. The first time I saw Longmire’s name was on a bumper sticker on a 1946 Ford pickup truck that read “Honesty & Integrity Walt Longmire Sheriff Absaroka County“.

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Stormy Sunday

August 11, 2019 Timothy Price33 Comments

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We had thunderstorms coming in from all directions this afternoon. The thunderstorm that built up over the Sandias was the most dramatic. While out on a walk before the storms, I encountered a little bit of wildlife.

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Buckeye Butterfly

This video of the Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly shows how it moves the flanges on the ends of its wings while it feeds. I assume it’s to fool predators into going after the flanges on its wings, giving it a chance to escape.

Blue Hairstreak

Silver kitty

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Thunderstorm activity to the north.

Virginia & Two Coyotes

July 9, 2019July 9, 2019 Timothy Price31 Comments

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I went for a walk in the bosque at sunset, and caught the pink on the Sandias — there was not a cloud in the sky. I headed north after sunset and ran into two coyotes on the trail. They perked up when they saw me, then high-tailed it in the opposite direction. Then I saw Virginia perched on a branch. It was nice to see Virginia, I hadn’t seen her in months.

Fireworks & Sliver Moon

July 5, 2019 Timothy Price46 Comments

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4th of July evening 2019. I had fireworks to the left of me, a sliver moon to the right, and I was stuck in the middle, on the edge of the Rio Grande, water lapping at my toes, with beavers, badgers, porcupine, skunks, coyotes, Chupacabra and La Llorona all enjoying the show.

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Wildflowers @ 11,000 Feet

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019 Timothy Price42 Comments

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With it 100º F (37.8º C) at our house, we hopped in the Mazda Miata MX-5, put the top down and headed for the hills — well Sandia Crest at 11,000 feet (3352.8 meters) above sea level. The drive to the top was a blast as the MX-5 hugged the corners well above the posted speed limit. We could see the clouds swirling above us, and hear the birds singing with the top down, as rounded one hairpin turn after another on our way to the top. Once at the top of the Crest, the temperature was 55º F (12.8º C) with drizzling rain and cold wind. Quite a contrast from the sunny, hot valley below. We walked around on the mountain top and noticed there were lots of wild flowers blooming.