Bosque del Apache Bird and White Sands Photography Tour I

Itinerary

Monday, January 1 (D)

Arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by 5:00pm. Private transfer provided to the Holiday Inn Express Socorro in Socorro.

Tuesday, January 2 – Wednesday, January 3 (B, L, D)

We’ll spend two full days photographing migratory birds and other wildlife in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Morning and evening beverages and snacks in the field.

Established in 1939, Bosque sits between the Chupadera and San Pascual Mountains at the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its 57,331 acres harbors a wild stretch of the Rio Grande and its wetlands which provide critical habitat, protection, and food for thousands of migrating waterfowl throughout the year. A full moon on January 2nd could create some interesting photography!

November through February is the best time to see the greatest number of birds at the refuge. There is nothing like the sunrise “fly out”, thousands of geese taking off en masse, heading out to fields where they will feed for the day, an experience you will never forget! Shortly after, hundreds of cranes fly out in smaller groups. Additional wildlife opportunities may include bald/golden eagles, great blue herons, pelicans, avocets, and the many other local birds that inhabit the area. Coyotes and herds of mule deer are also known to frequent the area. End the day with the sunset “fly in” when the geese return to the water to rest for the night.

Overnight Holiday Inn Express Socorro

Thursday, January 4 (B, L, D)

Early morning photo shoot in the refuge. Late morning we’ll leave Bosque and make our way toward White Sands National Monument. A special lunch in Alamogordo is on the menu 🙂

A dramatic landscape composed of sparkling white sand, White Sands National Monument is the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand since it dissolves in contact with water. White Sands rises from the heart of Tularosa Basin which harbors the perfect weather patterns and isolation for this rare natural wonder.

Along with being a geological phenomenon, White Sands is of historic and future interest as well, surrounded by several military bases: the White Sands Missile Range surrounds the monument, the Holloman Air Force Base lies just to the east, and a few miles north is a space shuttle landing site. White Sands Missile Range is home to the Trinity Site where the world’s first nuclear device was exploded in 1945.

Take off your shoes and put your feet in the soft, Gulf beach-like sand. The glistening dunes are seemingly endless, melting into the stunning skies of New Mexico, brilliant colors and wave-like patterns blend to create striking visual scenery. We’ll head into White Sands in the early evening to capture the beautiful light and experience a magical sunset as peace and stillness descend upon the desert.  A photographer’s dream come true.

Overnight Fairfield Inn & Suites Alamogordo

Friday, January 5 (B, L, D)

Rise and shine! Back to the dunes for a sunrise photo shoot.

Spend the morning exploring White Sands. Capture the shifting shadows and textures and allow your creativity to flow! If we’re lucky, we may get to photograph one of the locals that endure the harsh White Sands desert conditions, from birds to mammals to reptiles and amphibians. Look for wildlife tracks in the sand! And we can’t forget the flora of White Sands, cacti, succulents, grasses, trees, and shrubs, the most resilient plants of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Return to Socorro for one last evening shoot in Bosque del Apache. Overnight Holiday Inn Express Socorro

Saturday, January 6 (B)

A final early morning shoot in Bosque before we return to Albuquerque by 10:30am for our return flights home. Please book your return flights no earlier than noon.