I waited on the banks of the Rio Grande for the super pink moon to rise over the Sandias. In an otherwise clear sky, clouds lingered over the Sandias blocking the moon rise. The moon was able to make a brief appearance in a break between the clouds. The clouds persisted in hiding the moon long after darkness set in, and beavers splashed in the shadows of the river bank.
We had a warm, sunny, slightly windy afternoon. The foliage along the Rio Grande is preparing for spring, creating beautiful layers of intense colors.
Cranes’ Law: Cranes will double in number every few minutes from 2 to 4 to 8 and then there will be a crowd of cranes in the shallows.
If you take a left past Holly’s Tangle-Heart Tree, followed by a few hops, a dozen skips and a great big jump, you will be on the west bank of Rio Grande where, especially at sunset, you will see a magical view of the Sandias with the river flowing by in the foreground. In the shallows of the river, this time of year, you will see Sandhill Cranes. There were two cranes in the shallows when made the final jump as the sun slipped behind the horizon. I photographed cranes circling and landing south of me, and the last of the red blaze on the Sandias. I turned to look at what the two carnes were doing and there were four cranes. A few minutes later more cranes flew in, then more flew in until there was a crowd of cranes in standing in front of me in the shallows of the river.
Six, Seven
Twelve
As many as 28.
Sparing match.
The temperature never rose above freezing today. I walked out to Beaver Point right before sunset, and a group of cranes were hanging out in the Rio Grande, wading around fluffed up to keep warm. There was a lone Canadian goose hanging with the cranes, and a duck floated by and then took off.
Below is a Red-Tailed Hawk that was in an apple tree in Wagner’s orchard nextdoor. The first two photos were taken this morning, and remaining photos where taken this evening after sunset. The mud had dried a little in the evening, so I walked across the field to get closer photos. The hawk flew which allowed me to get backlit photos of it flying.
Sunset on the Sandias and Sandhill Cranes coming in for landing. Most of the group of cranes decided not to land and flew further south, or made another round before landing.
Off Center & Not Even 