Uncategorized – Page 119

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Phainopepla.

Cemetery at Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Cochise County, Arizona.

Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on manzanita, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Cochise County, Arizona

Pointleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens), at Fort Bowie National HIstoric Site, Cochise County, Arizona.

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Last look: Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis), at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

Please click photo for an enlarged view.

Last look: Northern pintail duck (Anas acuta), at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

Last look:

Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) and Ross’s geese (Anser rossii), at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

Snow geese (Anser caerulescens), at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

It is hard to convey how amazing it is to see so many of these large birds in flight. The flock assembles on the water in a large flotilla, all squawking and honking at once. Then the entire gaggle falls silent for just a moment before explosively taking flight.

Please click photo in the set for enlarged views.