It looked like we might have a stormy day as we drove south toward Bosque del Apache NWR for our morning of birding.

Then we began to see a little sunshine.

The line-up of photographers had already begun by the time we arrived at a small pond north of the cranes' roost.

We focused on Snow Geese at the small pond.

Dark adult Snow Goose

Adult White and Dark Snow Geese side by side

Snow Geese

White juvenile Snow Goose

Dark Snow Goose in flight

Some Northern Pintails were also present.

Starting up the N side of the North Loop, we saw some Dark-eyed Juncos going down to the water in a canal for a drink.

Dark-eyed Juncos getting a drink

Looking west from the east side of the North Loop at Bosque del Apache NWR

Looking N along the road on the E side of Bosque del Apache NWR

Another day with big dramatic skies

On the E side of the North Loop, we spotted this Greater Roadrunner.

Greater Roadrunner

Song Sparrow

Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese feeding in the fields with more Snow Geese flying overhead

A male Northern Harrier hovering over the field

Male Northern Harrier

At the NE corner of the North Loop, Mary spotted this male Ring-necked Pheasant in the field interior to the loop.

Male Ring-necked Pheasant

Then a female appeared at the edge of the taller grass.

Male and female Ring-necked Pheasant

This appears to be an adult male White-winged (Afganistan) variety of Ring-necked Pheasant, with white upperwing coverts and no neck ring (per Sibley).

Snow Geese alighting in a mixed group of geese and cranes on the north side of the North Loop

Arriving Sandhill Cranes

On around the loop, we again saw several Wild Turkeys.

Mallards almost invisible in the grassy marsh on the NW edge of the North Loop

American Pipit

Ducks and cranes in the marsh

Male Great-tailed Grackles

Dark Red-tailed Hawk

Jan scouting for a shot

Cranes, crows and blackbirds

A murmuration of Red-winged Blackbirds

American Crow

Female Northern Harrier

Brewer's Blackbird?

Western Meadowlark

Dark, oddly-patterned hawk

Savannah Sparrow

American Crow

Great-tailed Grackle

Great Blue Heron

Immature White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Northern Pintails at the lake

Female Hooded Merganser

Napping Northern Shovelers

Pied-billed Grebe

Northern Pintail male

Juvenile Northern Goshawk

Juvenile Northern Goshawk

Snow Geese over the lake at Bosque del Apache NWR

American Pipit along the lake

American Coot on the shore

Having finished a circuit of the North Loop, we headed to San Antonio for lunch.

An accidental panoramic view of the road going north

Another distorted view of the road and sky

Each time we drove through San Antonio, we noticed this weird yard 'art.'

We had lunch in another small local restaurant.

Back out on the road after lunch, it looked as if we might be driving into rain.

Big sky

We drove to Bernardo WMA north of Socorro and drove around; it was gray, windy and cold, and birds were scarce.

We stopped at one viewing deck and enjoyed the muted colors of the habitat.

A Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead.

At the edge of one field, we spotted these Mule Deer.

When the deer left, some Sandhill Cranes flew in to claim the field.

This group of cranes across the road didn't seem to be sure of where they were going.

This way? No, this way.

I caused some consternation when I tried to give directions by saying, "Over there, toward the crane." I meant the mechanical one.

The crane in question

Steve takes another sky photo.

A leaf in the wind

From Bernardo WMA, we drove farther north, stopping a few times before getting to Whitfield Conservation Area in Valencia County, NM. This interesting seed head was along a trail there.

Some nightshade-like flowers along the trail

There was a small pond surrounded by reeds and grasses with a big snag in the middle.

This Pied-billed Grebe blended with the colors reflected on the water.

It was sunny, but still cold enough for Mary and Jan to be bundled up.

Jan and Steve looked for a subject.

A big mowed field across the fence from the conservation area attracted some Sandhill Cranes.

Grasses along the trail

A map referred to an owl tree and we thought this might be it.

Close-up of the gnarly 'owl' tree.

A (picturesque) road not taken (by us)

Steve led the way back to the parking lot.

On the way back to the hotel at the end of the day

One more place on our list to visit was Turtle Bay Park on the campus of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) in Socorro.

At Turtle Bay Park, we saw more American Wigeons than we'd ever seen before, all in one place, and decided to return the next day with better light.