Ferruginous Hawk nest

Another car pulled up. “We stopped to look at the Scaled Quail,” they said.

I offered to drive back in hopes they would still be there at 10 am, the start of our 24-hour count period. While there were no quail visible, right at the starting time, I heard the distinctive call of a Scaled Quail – heard birds are definitely countable.

A flock of Lark Sparrows landed on the fence and in the desert scrub beyond.

Lark Sparrow

Rebecca asked two of the cars, including ours, to head to the west side of the Pecos River below the dam, while the rest covered the east side. Our car crossed the dam and dropped down to the camping area on the west side of the river.

Swallows – mostly Cliff and Barn – swirled over the river. I did spot 3 Violet-green Swallows. As we approached, a Double-crested Cormorant lifted off with two Mallards and flew downstream. A Bullock’s Oriole flashed its deep orange plumage in the top of a tree.

Almost immediately I heard the distinctive call of an Eastern Phoebe and finally located it. The willows across the river were alive with warblers darting in and out – Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s, and one Virginia’s. The folks on the other side of the river spotted a Northern Waterthursh.

We watched a House Wren in the grass beneath a tree near where we were standing.

“I hear a Bell’s Vireo,” I heard Rebecca telling those across the river. They walked towards a large tree. We kept hoping it might make its way to our side, but no such luck.

A Turkey Vulture circled overhead along with another buteo that disappeared over the side of the hill. From the other side of the river, the buteo was identified as a Broad-winged Hawk.

We stopped to gaze in amazement at a rainbow-colored cloud formation that formed to the east. They are called ‘fire rainbows’ according to a weather report on the Internet.

rainbow cloud

“I see an aechmophorus grebe,” Rebecca said. “See if anyone can determine which one it is.” Six scopes focused on the grebe. The consensus was a Western, although Kim, who had wandered to the opposite side of the lake and was closer, later told us it was a Clark’s Grebe.

We turned our attention to some shorebirds walking along our side of the lake – a Killdeer, Snowy Plover and Baird’s Sandpiper.

A flock of terns began circling over the lake and finally landed on something. “They are clearly Forster’s Terns,” someone concluded.

A flock of American Pipits flew in and landed near the shorebirds, wagging their tails up and down.

Kay spotted a Western Tanager in a bare tree as we drove up to the picnic area for lunch. During lunch, Lefty called our attention to a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher foraging in a small shrub nearby.

We stopped at the shore one more time after lunch and picked up a Willet and two Ring-billed Gulls.

As we drove into Fort Sumner, a surprising Common Nighthawk flew across the road in front of our car – our only nighthawk sighting for the count.

Our next stop was along the canal behind Fort Sumner High School. In the trees and shrubs dividing someone’s house from the open space were a Hermit Thrush and MacGillivray’s and Orange-crowned Warblers. A Northern Flicker flew into the trees beyond. The edge of the football field was hoping – Lazuli and Indigo Buntings and Blue and Black-headed Grosbeaks. The grass was covered with Chipping Sparrows and Pine Siskins.

When we returned to the car, Sei told us that he and Gary had seen a Blue Jay. After much scanning of the nearby trees, we finally caught a glimpse of it as it dove into adjacent shrubbery.

On our way to Bosque Redondo Lake, we stopped to admire the Bullock’s Oriole’s at the feeders in someone’s yard.

Bullock’s Orioles

A Black-chinned Hummingbird buzzed by – our first hummer of the day.

In a nearby flooded field, we stopped to watch a flock of White-faced Ibis scrounge for insects in the wet mud – at times almost obscured by the plants.

White-faced Ibis

Wild Turkey displaying – photo by Joe Schelling

Wild Turkeys in retreat

Nearby Yellow-headed Blackbirds flew out of a bare tree to join the Red-winged Blackbirds for a late afternoon feeding frenzy. Brown-headed Cowbirds and European Starlings strutted beneath grazing cows.

By 5:15 we had joined the rest of the group at Melrose Woods. I had not been at the migrant trap since a wild-fire had whipped through the area. The still-scorched trunks of the dense stand of trees seemed stark in the late afternoon sun.

A cacophony of sound reverberated from the grove as Western Kingbirds and European Starlings squawked from the tree tops.

“Where is the Great Horned Owl fledgling?” I asked Joe who had told us about it over lunch.

“He is still there, tucked away amidst a tangle of branches,” Joe replied. “He is likely to be fully fledged any day now.”

He was barely visible amidst the branches.

well hidden Great Horned Owl fledgling

And then, as if on cue, a thrush rustled in the dry leaves. “It’s a Swainson’s Thrush,” Lefty said. “Notice its buff eye-ring and lack of rusty tail,” he continued. It was a state bird for me – and another $5 added to my pledge for the Birdathon.

Swainson’s Thrush – photo by Joe Schelling

Since we would be coming back shortly after dawn, we headed down the road towards a prairie dog village that Ken had located – with a Burrowing Owl. Before we reached the appropriate mile marker, two cars were pulled over on the other side of the road. I opened my window to find out what they had located.

“Rebecca spotted two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers on the top of this tree – while we were traveling at 60 mph,” Joe told us. “One flew off, but the other one landed on top of a small yucca plant.”

We pulled over to have a look. It was a life bird for both of my passengers.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – photo by Joe Schelling

We were back at Melrose early the next morning – and it was definitely livelier than the previous evening.

I wanted to see if the owl was still there. It had flown from its tangled den and was now perched in a limb in full view.

Great Horned Owl

Along the hillside were Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Under the trees were both Swainson’s and Hermit Thrush. Summer and Western Tanagers were high in the tree tops.

“Blackpoll Warbler,” John Parmeter called as he made the rounds of birders scattered throughout the trees. “It is in the southeast corner.”

A cluster of birders had their bins focused on a tree at eye-level. They had already seen the warbler, one of those migration strays that sought shelter and food after a night of flying. Its normal migration path is much further east. I didn’t have to wait long before it worked its way into view for me. I had seen it in Alaska, but was not able to study it as well as I was this time – and had never seen the yellow legs.

Blackpoll Warbler

Joe emerged from the woods and showed me his camera screen – a picture of a Sora strutting among the dry grasses! According to John Parmeter, a long-time member of the New Mexico Bird Records Committee, it is only the 3rd time it has been recorded at this location.

Sora – photo by Joe Schelling

We were not disappointed. Kim located a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the willows at the north end of the lake. And for those who had not had a good look the day before, a Blue Jay flew into the same tree.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – photo by Joe Schelling

“I have asked Cheryl Grindle to lead our walk through Randall Davey and the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve today,” trip leader Barbara Hussey told the assembled group. “She leads bird walks here regularly and can supply more details about what we are seeing.”

As we walked into the courtyard garden, the zshree calls of Pine Siskins seemed to come from all over. A lingering Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco kept the siskins company on the hanging feeder as they all devoured seed.

Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskins on feeder

We stopped to watch a White-breasted Nuthatch fly out of its next box near the picnic tables. “It is feeding chicks,” Cheryl told us.

“Green-tailed Towhee,” I signaled. “It just scooted behind the fence.” Some of the group got a chance to see it before it flew across the service road to a brush pile. We walked towards where it had dropped down, hoping that the rest of the group would be able to see it. While we were looking for the towhee, Barbara spotted a House Wren.

We walked down the service road and across Upper Canyon Road to access the trail into the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve, an area that is managed and protected by The Nature Conservancy. I had forgotten how deep the steps were down into the canyon and was glad that someone was able to give me a hand on my way down.

A Spotted Towhee greeted us with his spring song and a pair of Bushtits buzzed in the undergrowth as they foraged together.

As we stepped across the rocks where water flows from the Santa Fe River, the creek bed was dry. On the far side of the meadow a Western Scrub Jay perched on the sign indicating trail options. “I always suggest that birders take the trail to the left,” Cheryl told the group. “They both end up in the same place, but the lower trail winds through the willows which attracts birds.”

Sure enough, after we crossed back over the stream, checked the overlook, and headed up the trail, we heard a soft warbler chit and finally located a Wilson’s Warbler. There were two of them foraging together.

Wilson’s Warbler – photo by Joe Schelling

“I hear another warbler,” I told Cheryl. The chitting was coming low within a bush and pretty soon we saw yellow and black. “MacGillivray’s,” I said when I could see the dark head and broken eye-ring.

“We are going to take the ‘Enjoy the Mud’ trail today since it is so try,” Cheryl told us. “I like it because it will take us beside the marsh.”

We stopped to look out over reservoir where a lone American Coot was swimming. “I think it is the same coot I saw last time I was here,” Phil commented.

Violet-green and Northern Rough-winged Swallows swooped over the water.

Red-winged Blackbirds called from tops of the cattails, sometimes flying back and forth as if to claim their territory.

Red-winged Blackbird

Black-billed Magpie

Two Black-headed Grosbeaks were singing their hearts out further up the road. We had been hearing them all morning, but these two gave us really good looks.

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

I was participating in the semi-annual clean-up with others from the Belen Marsh Task Force and members of Central New Mexico Audubon Society. The task force adopted Don Felipe Road as part of Belen’s Adopt a Road effort.

Our interest is trying to keep trash from being a hazard to nesting and migrating birds that depend on the wetlands area. Several years ago when we first started our clean-ups, we were able to remove trash all around the marsh area; however, the Valencia County Fair Board that manages the property, wants us to limit our efforts to the area next to the street.

I glance up to watch the antics of the Black-necked Stilts and notice one of them standing on a large piece of plastic that has made its way into the pond – and wish I could walk over and remove it. Birds have inadvertently ingested plastic, thinking it was food.

Black-necked Stilt on trash

In an hour and a half, the twelve volunteers amassed about 30 bags of trash.

Our work done, some of us stayed on to do some real birding.

Off the end of a spit was a pair of American Avocets and more Black-necked Stilts.

American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts

Long-billed Dowitchers

Wilson’s Phalaropes

Cinnamon Teal

Burrowing Owl

Just beyond me I heard the rattle of a Cactus Wren. Before long he flew and landed nearby, letting me have a good look, before he dropped down. A Scaled Quail called from one side of the canyon and a Gambel’s Quail from the other side.

As I entered the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area, I thought about David White and Susan Guyette’s book Zen Birding. They describe birding as a spiritual practice, where “the bird and the birder are not isolated separate selves, but mere parts of a larger reality.” In another chapter, they explain that the “master birder is one that does not know all of the answers.”

I scanned the rocks just inside the wilderness area for Rock Wrens, the location I have always seen them in the past. This year I have not seen one and wonder whether the fact that the plant life adjacent to the rock out-cropping burned last summer has anything to do with their absence.

The Black-throated Sparrows have recently arrived back to the canyon. They were not yet singing on territory and I could only hear their plink-like chip calls all around me. I caught a glimpse of a couple foraging on the ground under the still-dead three-winged salt-bush.

I stopped to admire a Cactus Wren’s nest, and

Cactus Wren nest

Curve-billed Thrasher singing above nest

A pair of Mourning Doves flew into a large Mountain Mahogany shrub at the east end of the canyon and nearby I heard a Rufous-crowned Sparrow singing. Then one starts singing closer to the mouth of the canyon and I can see it perched on the top of a bush.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

As I am about to leave the wilderness area, a Black-throated Sparrow makes a brief appearance on top of a cactus.

Black-throated Sparrow

“Spotted Towhee on the trail head,” I alerted the group as the trip leader for the day. It popped in and out of the leaves as it scrounged. “There must be another one nearby. Yesterday they were all in pairs.”

Spotted Towhee

Two Wood Ducks were swimming in the full irrigation channel ahead of us. There had been no water when I had scouted the prior day. When we got closer, they flew off towards the river.

A Hermit Thrush skulked silently in the underbrush next to the trail. A little further on, Lefty spotted two of them in a yard that backed up to the open space.

A small flock of birds landed nearby and started scarfing up the few remaining berries on a Russian Olive and appeared to be eating the base of the flowers on an adjacent tree – 8 Cedar Waxwings (unfortunately backlit),

Cedar Waxwings

a Lesser Goldfinch and a few American Goldfinches in breeding plumage.

American Goldfinch

We crossed over the riverside drain and entered the bosque. Due to the wild-fire the prior summer, a lot of the understory has been cleared out. While there were fewer trees for the birds, it made it easier to observe them. We stopped to look at a pair of Eastern Bluebirds.

“Notice that they have red throats and whiter bellies, than Western Bluebirds do,” I explained to some of the newer birders in the group.

A little further along, I pointed out a Cooper’s Hawk’s nest. “The female was refurbishing the nest when I was here yesterday,” I told the group. As if on cue, one of the hawks flew in letting us here the territorial kekking.

The trail narrowed through some dense understory and we were able to see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. At first it was difficult to see, but then if flew out in front of us. We let those who had not seen one before move to the head of the line to get good looks.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Photo by Joe Schelling

Lefty pointed out another bird that flew to the left – a Gray Flycatcher. “Notice how it flicks its tail downwards while it perches,” Lefty explained.

We watched a pair of Bushtits foraging, but didn’t see their nest.

We emerged from the bosque and then walked north along the drain, where we saw both Black and Say’s Phoebes.

A group of five Cinnamon Teal were swimming in the drain and a pair of Mallards bobbed heads in a courtship display.

Mallards in courtship display

Our last birds were a pair of Western Bluebirds, which was surprising since they normally have migrated to a higher elevation by mid-April.

Western Bluebird – Photo by Joe Schelling

The group was divided between the Cedar Waxwings and the Gray Flycatcher as their favorites for the morning – both signs that migration was underway.

“I think they just copulated,” someone said. Just then the male flew out of the tree and landed in a yard near where we were standing.

“As we drive south along Arroyo Leyba Road, scan the fields and weeds along the side of the road,” I told the group before we caravanned down the road. We hadn’t gone far when we stopped to check out a farmyard where domestic Guinea Hens were bouncing about. Scratching at their feet were about 35 female Red-winged Blackbirds and a few White-crowned Sparrows.

We parked at the end of the road and started searching the fields that backed up to a stand of cottonwood trees. There was a flash of black and white as a Black-billed Magpie sailed into a yard, followed by its mate.

A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on top of a tree, but took off when it was harassed by a couple of Common Ravens.

Western Meadowlarks seemed to be singing all around us. At the time, we could only see one of them – sitting on the top of a fence near where three men were cutting wood with a chainsaw. We were annoyed by the sound until one of the men stopped the motor and invited us to explore the back of his property along the acequia.

Two Dark-eyed (Pink-sided) Juncos sat motionless in adjacent trees.

We heard a loud drumming sound and started looking for a woodpecker. “It’s about ten o’clock in that tree,” I pointed. “Looks like a Hairy; let’s see if we can see its bill.” As it rounded the trunk we could see its long bill.

As we approached the acequia, a Belted Kingfisher flew into the bosque beyond. A bird was sitting on a branch a ways down the ditch – with its back to us.

“It looks like a Townsend’s Solitaire,” I suggested, “from its size and posture.”

“I can’t see an eye-ring,” Cheryl replied.

Someone was able to walk slowly towards where it was perched. It turned its head slightly – providing a glimpse of the eye-ring. And then it flew down, giving us a view of its buffy wing-stripe

“What’s the bird that sounds like running your finger down a comb?” Maureen asked. When they checked it out, it was a Chipping Sparrow.

We headed west along Acequia Road and paused to watch two American Kestrels on the top of a bare tree in breeding display.

The water was running through the irrigation channel and into the field. There were no birds yet in the wet field. “It should attract birds pretty soon,” I commented driving on – and then noticed there were no cars behind me.

“Long-billed Curlews,” Cheryl called through the two-way radio. We turned around and headed back. Everyone was out of their cars with scopes set up. Three curlews were walking through the dry grass at the back of the field, almost blending in. Behind them was a flock of about 25 American Crows.

Long-billed Curlew

When we emerged from the Pena Blanca farm loop, and turned onto NM-22, there were three different Barn Swallows perched on power wires across the road.

We stopped at the Osprey platform. One was perched on the top calling keyew, keyew, keyew. “Watch from your cars,” I suggested to the others. By time the last car pulled up, the Osprey flew off across the field. We got out of the cars and set up the scopes to see if we could spot it in the trees.

Osprey

“Did you see the swallows overhead?” Beth asked. A large flock that looked like Northern Rough-winged Swallows was flying so high they almost blended in with the clouds. They appeared to be migrating.

Both the Visitor Center and the Overlook at Cochiti Recreation Area were closed, so we headed down to the boat ramp area. Two dark-headed gulls flew by as we were parking the cars, but we couldn’t tell whether they were Franklin’s or Bonaparte’s Gulls. They were out of sight when we got out of the cars.

Through the scopes we could identify a couple of Bufflehead, several American Coots, and a Western Grebe on the far side of the lake. The lake was getting choppy and we were hungry, so we headed to the Cochiti Golf Course.

While eating our lunches at the picnic tables, we watched a couple of Townsend’s Solitaires and some Dark-eyed (Pink-sided) Juncos, while a Turkey Vulture wafted on the thermals. When we returned to our vehicles, Beth found – what else – two Canyon Towhees near her car.

Townsend’s Solitaire

Spring had definitely been in the air. It had been a day of pairs, pairing and breeding displays.

Each of the plates showcases the species against photos of locations where it might be found, as though you are looking out a window watching the birds go about their business, both close at hand and further away. If there are regional differences or coloration variables, additional pages portray these unique characteristics. Adult and juvenile pictures are labeled, but inter-mingled as they are in nature. The personality of the bird is captured through its poses and with descriptive language, e.g. Black Vultures are described as ‘shy and wary when breeding, but pugnacious and fearless at roadside carrion and around human settlements and landfills.”

After studying a page, Crossley suggests the reader look away from the page and ask “What did I see?” On other plates, the reader is encouraged to test his/her observation skills by identifying and aging ‘look-alikes’ at rest, in flight, and at varying distances.

Additional information, e.g. flight style, size and shape, plumage, geographic variation, molt, similar species, hybrids, status and distribution, migration and vocalization are included on each species in a separate section. Normally, I don’t like to use field guides where the plates and descriptive information is separate. However, this ID Guide is not primarily for determining what bird a person is seeing, but more about expanding the birder’s knowledge base about a particular species to broaden their enjoyment and appreciation – and to gain skills in differentiating similar species when they encounter them in the field. .

Many volumes on raptors seem to assume that watching this group of species happens primarily at hawk watch sites during migration. For me, my greatest enjoyment of raptors comes from watching them at home in their breeding or wintering territories – perched in trees and on fence posts or cliffs. This will be a book I will turn to time and again to study those that are spending time in my area or to internalize information that will be helpful when I travel.

I would heartily recommend this book to any birder or nature-lover who wants to get to know better the birds they encounter.

Barbara Hussey and I revisited the area last summer and early fall as part of our site research for our upcoming book on birding hot spots in north-central New Mexico, with particular attention on the bird species in each of the rugged canyon areas.

As we turned onto NM-570 just past the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center, we left the traffic of folks driving to and from Taos behind and entered Orilla Verde Recreation Area. The pace was more serene on our mid-week visit. The road meandered along the Rio Grande at the base of the rocky cliffs rising 800 feet on either side. At locations where the canyon widened, there are several campgrounds and day use areas that provide opportunities for birding.

Our first stop was the almost-deserted Rio Bravo Campground where Plumbeous Vireos nest in early summer. Lark Sparrows played at the base of the cliffs next to the road and we watched a Say’s Phoebe.

Lark Sparrow

and there was a flurry of bird activity. Cedar Waxwings busied themselves feasting on berries at a tree alongside the road. Yellow Warblers flitted in the willows between the road and the river, and two Blue Grosbeaks perched in a tree.

Blue Grosbeak

Orilla Verde south of Taos Junction Bridge

Taos Gorge Bridge

John Dunn Bridge area

immature Black-crowned Night-Heron

confluence of Red River and Rio Grande

After making the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway loop and returning to Taos, we stopped for one last view of the gorge before heading back to Albuquerque.

Rio Grande Gorge south of Taos

The gangly legs of Great Yellowlegs set them apart from the smaller shorebirds and their bright yellow legs were easy to spot as they seemed to stride through the shallow water. I counted at least nine of them.

To their left were a cluster of Long-billed Dowitchers, their long bills almost submerged in the mud, their feeding motions resembling an oil well pump.

Mixed in with the Killdeer were several peeps. We easily picked out a Least Sandpiper and trip leader, Rebecca, was certain she was seeing a Baird’s Sandpiper, rather than a Western Sandpiper. “Its wingtips extend beyond the tail,” she stated.

A lone Savannah Sparrow foraged on the berm right in front of us.

Northern Shovelers and Green-winged Teal dabbled in the deeper parts of the pond.
The sound of loud honking made us temporarily abandon our study of shorebirds as a flock of over 100 Snow Geese flew in and landed at the southern end of the pond – evidently enjoying the spring-like weather before they headed north.

When we arrived at the Visitor Center, I headed for the porch over-looking the feeders, since the Visitor Center was closed for construction. White-crowned Sparrows shuffled and pecked in the dirt and two Gambel’s Quail paid a visit.

Gambel’s Quail

While we were there, a flock of American White Pelicans sailed effortlessly overhead and we had the opportunity to see a female Pyrrhuloxia.

As we headed into the main part of the refuge, Joan spotted the first of several Great Blue Herons standing watch alongside a drain. From the Eagle Scout Deck we gazed out over a sea of more Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls, a few American Wigeons, scads of American Coots, and a few lingering Canada Geese. Two Marsh Wrens dueted in the tall reeds adjacent to the deck.

“Bald Eagle,” someone pointed. We had not expected any eagles to be remaining. It is always a thrill to watch the majestic wing-beats of a mature Bald Eagle, its white tail catching the sun as it banked.

There was a gathering of Redheads – 44 by my count – just off the Marsh Deck, along with a large group of Lesser Scaup and some Ruddy Ducks.

While sitting on the boardwalk benches eating our lunches, a flock of Ring-billed Gulls flew overhead.

Along the north end of the Marsh Loop was another group of light geese – both Snow and Ross’s.

Snow Geese, including dark morphs

Heading up the last leg of the Marsh Loop, we spotted several Cinnamon Teal amongst the other waterfowl.

There were five Neotropic Cormorants in the old rookery area.

Along the two-way road, we pulled up alongside Sylvia and Mary Lou who had identified a Dunlin with its drooping bill and belly that was already molting into dark feathers.

Near the Flight Deck we admired a Great Blue Heron resplendent in its feathery breeding plumage.

Several Western Meadowlarks seemed out-of-place on the berm next to the pond.

Western Meaowlark

Under a dazzling late winter sky, we had the opportunity to enjoy the end-of-winter birds, as well as early spring arrivals, accumulating an impressive list of 73 species.

“Watch for that bird that just dove to re-surface; it is a male Common Goldeneye. It will have a white circular patch on each side of its face. “It was the immature male and quickly dove under the water again. We later found the adult male diving at the other end of the pond,

Common Goldeneye

female Common Goldeneye

A Black-crowned Night Heron crouched on a log on the far side of the pond.

“Look at the Wood Ducks,” I gestured. “The males have stained-glass-like coloring on their heads.”

pair of Wood Ducks

We wandered in to the bosque, where we were startled by a Cooper’s Hawk that zoomed through the trees at eye level. Last year we had been able to view a Great-Horned Owl sitting on her nest in this location. This year the owl chose a more secluded location – away from the construction vehicles that are working in the bosque.

“What’s that in the tree?” someone asked. It was a Great Blue Heron standing on an upper limb.

Great Blue Heron

Northern Shoveler

Lesser Scaup

Ring-necked Duck

We walked to the second pond where we first walked around the back side. Someone spotted a Bald Eagle sitting on the top of a bare snag across the river. We laughed as the crows tried to harass it; however, it seemed unperturbed and continued to sit majestically in place.

Bald Eagle

In the pond we saw a female Bufflehead, two Canvasbacks,

Canvasback

Northern Pintail

Next we followed the wetlands area south of the ponds. Two Spotted Towhees were whining, and then one of them started to sing. Both popped up to give us good views. A Marsh Wren called and then flew from one side of the water to the other, diving deep into the reeds.

We watched one of several Downy Woodpeckers and then located a Hairy Woodpecker pounding on the side of a bark-stripped snag.

“Look, a porcupine on the ground,” someone alerted us. It was the first one I had ever seen sleeping on the ground. It was snoozing right next to the trail and we walked carefully past it – without its opening its eyes.

porcupine

And then we stood in awe as the mature Bald Eagle circled over us – the perfect ending to our morning.