We got to the Sandhill Crane roost before the sun showed itself.

Jan (far left) took some early photos.

The big cottonwood tree at the back edge of the marsh, with geese coming in and cranes still roosting

Unlike the clouds of Snow Geese, the Canada Geese flew in a 'V' overhead.

Line of Canada Geese?

Sun beginning to peek over the eastern horizon

Steve focusing on the birds at the marsh roost north of Bosque del Apache NWR

Jan (far right) and Steve in the early light

Mary documenting the morning with her voice recorder

Jan

Steve and Mary on a cold morning

Snow Geese landing among the roosting Sandhill Cranes

Broad view of the Sandhill Crane roost area

Ross's Goose (foreground) and Snow Goose landing at the marsh

Some Ross's Geese (small bill with no 'smile') among the Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes

Ross's Geese

Sandhill Crane leaning forward in anticipation of taking off

Dark adult Snow Goose flying

Immature Herring Gull

Male Northern Shoveler

Female Northern Shoveler

The big cottonwood tree at the SW edge of the marsh was a backdrop to many of our photos.

Today it was hosting a Bald Eagle for a while.

Jan

An American Pipit wandered along the east edge of the marsh unnoticed by the photographers focusing on the geese and cranes.

Mary and Jan

Mary and Jan (front view)

We left the reserve and drove north, finding the meadowlark along the way.

We went back to Turtle Bay Park in Socorro and found these Cedar Waxwings.

The many American Wigeons we'd seen the night before were again feeding in the park.

Turtle Bay Park in Socorro, NM, was full of American Wigeons

Western Bluebird at Turtle Bay Park, Socorro, NM

Western Bluebird getting a drink

American Robin and Western Bluebird

Clear look at the blue neck that distinguishes the Western from the Eastern Bluebird

Reflections of reeds in a pond at Turtle Bay Park, Socorro, NM

Mary checking the birds at Turtle Bay Park

Mary spies a bird

Mary

Mary

The view as we left Socorro and drove toward Albuquerque

We made a brief stop at Sevilleta NWR; there were a few birds around the Visitor Center like this White-winged Dove

We did a lot of mugging with the critters in the Visitor Center. Here Jan faces off with a bear.

Bear, Jan, Mary, Puma

Jan and Mary react.

Jan shoots the puma.

Steve and Mary among the wildlife

Steve and Mary mug with the bear and puma.

Jan gets too close to the bear.

Jan and the bear

Steve wanted to go to Sandia Crest to see the rosy finches, but halfway up the mountain it began to snow.

Someone was tilting the camera for this one; the road wasn't that steep.

The snowfall picked up as we got to higher altitude.

We took it slow.

We got close to the summit, but the CRV couldn't make it up the grade to the upper parking lot.

We parked on the lower level and walked the last 30 meters to the cafe.

Out the windows, this lone Steller's Jay was coming to one of the feeders.

So, many photos were taken of the jay.

The rosy finches didn't show, so we headed back to the car; Mary was bundled against the wind and snow.

Jan used her scarf to protect her camera.

Jan going down the hill to the car at Sandia Crest, NM

Jan

Mary waving as she started down the hill

After we'd gotten a few miles down from the crest, we saw a patch of blue sky ahead.

All week we had hoped to get good looks at a Greater Roadrunner at Bosque del Apache NWR.

Then, while Steve sat in the car at the hotel in Albuquerque while Jan and Mary went in to check in, this bird showed up in the parking lot.

Steve called inside while watching the bird snoop around the flower bed at the edge of the parking lot.

Jan came out and got her camera and, after a few minutes, the roadrunner hopped down into the vacant lot next to the hotel.

After getting our bags into our rooms, we went to meet Toni at her house near Old Town.

We drove over to the square in Old Town Albuquerque and parked to walk to the restaurant. Someone had carved the interior of this tree stump near the sidewalk.

Figure carved into a tree stump

Toni, Jan and Mary outside Church St. Cafe

A passerby took a photo of all of us.

Mary, Jan, Toni, Steve at Church St. Cafe, Old Town Albuquerque, NM
Thanks to Toni for a great meal and fun visit.

Musicians were serenading a table as we left the restaurant.

Christmas decorations in the loft

Cafe history

There was a small store inside the cafe.

Steve, Mary, Jan, Toni

After we got back in our car, we came across some cars that had been in a Christmas parade while we'd been having dinner.

Old Town Albuquerque square at the end of a very nice evening