Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located about 19 miles south of Socorro, NM. It was founded in 1939 and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's a major stop for migrating snow geese and sandhill cranes, and I used to go in late January or early February when the refuge literally had thousands of birds.

Entrance Sign

Visitor Center

Visitor Center Exhibits

3D Mural

Early Morning at the Bosque

Snow Geese
(Anser caerulescens)

Ducks in the morning

Snow Goose Takeoff

Off to Breakfast

Bosque Potpourri

Bosque del Apache

Deadwood

Red-tailed Hawk?
(Buteo jamaicensis)

Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus)

Mule Deer Doe
(Odocoileus hemionus)

Canada Geese
(Branta canadensis)

Ring-necked Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)

American Bittern
(Botaurus lentiginosus)

Canada Geese

Sandhill Cranes

Pair of Cranes

Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese

Sandhill Cranes
(Antigone canadensis)

Sandhill Cranes

Snow Geese

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes

Snow Geese Taking Off

Lonely Snow Goose

Snow Geese Landing

Birds in the Water

American Coot
(Fulica americana)

Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias)

Great Blue Heron

Birds in the Air

Snow Geese

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes - Black and White

Sandhill Cranes and a Snow Goose

Bonus - San Antonio, NM

After an exhausting day of bird watching at Bosque del Apache head back to San Antonio on NM State Hwy 1 (8 miles) and stop at the Owl Bar and Cafe. They claim to serve the best chili cheesburgers in New Mexico, and I can't dispute that (they're delish!).

Old Catholic Church on Main St
(might be St. Augustine)

Owl Bar and Cafe