New Mexico is well known for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The Bosque Scenic
page displays a number of images taken at sunrise and sunset at the Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge, plus some shots from the nearby Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.
These include some striking scenes of the Dawn Flyout of the Snow Geese from both locations,
when as many as 50,000 Snow Geese blast off en-masse (a truly spectacular sight). There
are also several images of the Very Large Array near Soccoro, taken just after sunrise.

Click an image to open a larger version.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Bosque del Apache Dawn 2219
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Dawn breaks over the main pool near the Flight Deck at Bosque del Apache on a
cold winter morning, painting the cloud cover, the pool, and a group of Snow Geese.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2232
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Two minutes later, the sky is filled with thousands of Snow Geese flying out to the fields.

The morning flyout of the Snow Geese is one of Nature’s most spectacular scenes.
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese fill the sky in an instantaneous burst of flight. A group
of geese take off at nearly the same moment, flying within inches of each other, and as the
madly honking gaggle of geese fly over each pool, they set off the group of geese below.
This shot captures a gaggle of geese flying over a group of geese in the pool below,
just before that group breaks into flight to join them in their trip to the corn fields.

Snow Geese Flyout Frenzy 2316c
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A closeup shot of the frantic burst into flight of a group of Snow Geese at dawn.
Although this page is primarily for scenic images, there are some wildlife closeups.

For more wildlife shots you may want to visit these dedicated wildlife sections:
Bosque del Apache section; Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese Wildlife Studies.

Bosque del Apache Dawn X6401
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Another magnificent dawn breaks over the main pool at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque Bald Eagle at Dawn 4610
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A Bald Eagle surveys his territory on another colorful dawn over the pools at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Sandhill Cranes Sunset Display 3828
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Sandhill Cranes display at sunset after flying in from the fields for a drink and overnight refuge from predators in the ponds.

Bosque del Apache Dawn 6487
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Dawn over the main pool at Bosque del Apache.

Bosque del Apache Dawn 6491
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The same scene framed higher to catch the ruddy cloud.

Bosque del Apache Dawn 6492 pano
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A panorama crop of the main pool at Bosque del Apache at dawn.
Sandhill Cranes are beginning to wake after spending the night in the pond.

Bosque del Apache Dawn X9234
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A similar scene at the main pool at dawn on a day with thin high clouds overhead.
In over 30 visits to Bosque del Apache over several years, the most colorful dawn
scenes were days with a thin overcast or a gap in the clouds at the eastern horizon.

Bosque del Apache First Light 2468
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First Light at Bosque del Apache, with thousands of Snow Geese covering the sky.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

New Mexico Sunrise X6760
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Dawn breaks over the Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex north of Bosque del Apache.

New Mexico Sunrise X6762
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Snow Geese fly high in a sky painted by a magnificent New Mexico sunrise over
the Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex north of Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque del Apache Sunrise 4495
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Bosque del Apache Sunrise 4501
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The rising sun paints clouds over Bosque del Apache. As the sun breaks over the horizon, the color changes from red to gold.

Bosque del Apache Dawn X8717
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The calm before the storm at dawn over the Flight Deck pool.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8721
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20 seconds later, Snow Geese appear on the horizon.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8725
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As the approaching Snow Geese reach the pool, the geese in the pond break into flight.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8726
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These images were taken at 1/10 second, giving the geese a surrealistic appearance.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8728
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The sky over the Flight Deck pool is filled with thousands of honking Snow Geese.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8730
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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8732
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Two wider views of the scene over the main pool at Bosque del Apache during the dawn flyout of the Snow Geese.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2246
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Thousands of Snow Geese fly into Bosque del Apache from the southeast on a clear December morning at first light.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2251
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A wider view of the scene looking towards the southeastern marshes as thousands of Snow Geese fly overhead.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2735
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Another dawn, two days later, with Snow Geese flying over the pond as the Sandhill Cranes prepare for their own flyout.

Bosque del Apache Dawn 2739
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A Bald Eagle sits in the tree, surveying the placid pond three minutes later. A morning mist covers the distant Rio Grande.

Bosque Snow Geese at Dawn 5499
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A group of Snow Geese fly in to the main pond to join their fellows at dawn.
They stay for a while, discussing strategy, then fly out again to the corn fields.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout HS8386
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A cloud of Snow Geese passes in front of the Chupadera Mountains at dawn
over a pond at the Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex north of Bosque del Apache.

Bosque del Apache Sunrise 3887
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A golden sunrise illuminates a flock of Snow Geese in the main pool at Bosque del Apache in mid-December.

Snow Geese at Sunrise X6407
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Snow Geese fly over sleeping comrades huddling for warmth on a brutally cold February morning at sunrise.

Bosque del Apache Sandhills at Sunrise HS1061
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A group of sleeping Sandhill Cranes are frozen into the icy pond in front of the Coyote Deck on
a crisp January morning, as the first rays of sunrise bathe the Cottonwoods in a red-orange glow.

Bosque Snow Geese at Sunrise HS1065
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Snow Geese fly over the Cottonwoods at sunrise in January, with the Chupadera Mountains in the distance.

Bosque del Apache Snow Geese at Sunrise X3501
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A closeup of Snow Geese flying by in December, as the geese and a mist over the Chupaderas reflect the sunrise.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Bosque Crane Pool at Dawn 2316
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Sandhill Cranes perform a wake-up flight for their comrades in a Crane Pool below at dawn on a December morning.

Bosque Crane Pool at Dawn 2318
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Sandhill Cranes begin their day on a Crane Pool at dawn on a cold December morning at Bosque del Apache.

Bosque Crane Pool at Sunrise 2332
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The rising sun reflecting from the Chupadera Mountains adds color to a Crane Pool on a morning in mid-December.

Bosque Crane Pool at Sunrise 3264
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Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes cover the Crane Pool on a mid-December morning, three days (and five minutes) later.

Bosque Crane Pool at Sunrise 6372
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Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes are painted by the soft light reflecting from the
Chupadera Mountains onto a Crane Pool at sunrise on a cold morning in January.

Bosque Crane Pool Chupaderas 5011
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On clear mornings, the contrast is much higher and the color is less surreal, but the beauty of the scene remains.

Bosque Crane Pool Chupaderas 3367
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A group of Sandhill Cranes left behind by their fellows admire the reflection of the Chupadera Mountains in a Crane Pool.

Bosque del Apache Sandhill Cranes 2328
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A late afternoon flight of a pair of Sandhill Cranes over a Crane Pool at Bosque del Apache.

Bosque del Apache Sandhills at Sunset HS0430
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Bosque del Apache Sandhills at Sunset HS0431
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Sandhill Cranes fly over Ducks, Teals and Canada Geese in the golden light near sunset in January.

Bosque del Apache Sandhills at Sunset 6865
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A group of Sandhill Cranes prepares for a landing near sunset in February.

Sandhill Crane Sunset Landing 5791c
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Since there are a few non-landscape wildlife shots on this page, I thought you may
want to see an image of a Sandhill Crane landing at sunset. The timing of this shot
was just right, capturing the bird scooping air to lose speed just before touchdown.

Bosque Snow Geese at Sunset X3431
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Snow Geese settle into the main pool at Bosque del Apache near sunset.

Bosque Snow Geese at Sunset X3432 pano
(1600 x 840, 392 KB)

A panorama crop of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes on the main pool at Bosque del Apache near sunset.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Sandhill Cranes Sunset Drink HS0942
(334 KB)

A pair of Sandhill Cranes taking their first drink at sunset after a long day in the fields.

Snow Geese Moon X4031
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Snow Geese flying in front of the moon at sunset in early December.

This is one of three available images of this scene.

Ladd Gordon at Sunset X6447
(459 KB)

A pair of Sandhill Cranes fly over Cottonwoods at Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex at sunset.

Ladd Gordon Geese Sandhills Sunset X6458
(207 KB)

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes fly past a pink cloud at sunset over Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.

Ladd Gordon Sandhills at Sunset X6463
(201 KB)

Sandhill Cranes punctuate the sky near a pink cloud at sunset.

Ladd Gordon Snow Geese at Sunset X6466
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A formation of Snow Geese fly over a pink cloud at sunset.

Ladd Gordon Sandhills at Sunset HS8377
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Sandhill Cranes are silhouetted against a pink cloud over Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex at sunset.

Ladd Gordon Sandhills at Sunset HS8373
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Ladd Gordon Sandhills at Sunset HS8384
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Sandhill Cranes in a baby-colored New Mexico sky at sunset over Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.

Ladd Gordon Snow Geese at Sunset HS8379
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A formation of Snow Geese in front of a pink cloud at sunset over Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Very Large Array at Sunrise 7121
(558 KB)

The Very Large Array is a radiotelescope complex on the Plain of San Agustin,
near the town of Magdalena about 50 miles west of Soccoro, the closest town to
Bosque del Apache Refuge. Part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory,
The Very Large Array (VLA) consists of 27 independent antennas. Each dish is
82 feet (25m) in diameter and weighs over 200 tons. The antennas can be lifted
using a special locomotive and moved along the rail tracks to a set of prepared
positions. The antennas together act as a single huge radiotelescope antenna.

Very Large Array at Sunrise 7127
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Very Large Array at Sunrise 7129
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The two shots above were taken two minutes apart, as the red-gold light faded
to gold and the sun lit the mountains at the edge of the Plain of San Agustin.

Very Large Array at Sunrise 7141
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An arm of the Y-shaped Antenna Array of the Very Large Array converging into the distance
just after sunrise on a cold morning in February. The VLA was a major location for the 1997
film “Contact”, although the number of antennas was increased in CGI and the canyon shown
nearby is actually Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. It was also a location for the 1984 film “2010”,
and was a Skynet facility attacked at the beginning of the 2009 film “Terminator Salvation”.

Very Large Array at Sunrise 7148
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Radio telescope antennas disappearing into the distance at the Very Large Array.

The VLA is used to investigate Radio Galaxies, quasars, pulsars, and other objects
in the universe. It is not used to search for extraterrestrials as has been depicted in films.

Very Large Array Antenna at Sunrise 7151
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Very Large Array Antenna at Sunrise 7157
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Detail of VLA antennas in front of dark clouds in the golden light of sunrise.

Very Large Array 7160
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A cluster of antennas at the Very Large Array, in the soft light of an overcast February morning.

Shiprock Sunset 5272
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Shiprock at the climax of a spectacularly striking sunset in the Four Corners.
Shiprock is an inselberg (an isolated rock formation rising over a flat plain) on
Navajo Nation land, in the middle of nowhere at the NW corner of New Mexico.
I had driven over 300 miles from Bosque del Apache, hoping to catch this scene
in time for the sunset, and just made it. A colorful culmination to a wonderful day.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the New Mexico Scenic Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

Direct Link to the Bosque Scenic images:

Bosque Scenics Sunrise & Sunset

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Section

Click the Display Composite above to return to the New Mexico Index page

Click the Display Composite above to return to the Southwest Index page