FlockScenes

70 images of flocks of Snow Geese at sunrise, mid-day and sunset, including flight flurries
of thousands of Snow Geese taking off from the ponds in the morning, over the farm fields
at mid-day, and flying back into their sanctuary in the ponds from the farm fields at sunset.

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Flight         Portraits and Flight Portraits

Morning Flyout and Evening Fly-in

Flock Scenes      Snow Goose Scenics

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

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Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, New Mexico is located at 5000 feet on
the western arm of the Central Flyway, the migration route on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

Bosque del Apache is a wintering site for over 12,000 Sandhill Cranes and over 30,000 Snow Geese,
plus Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Egrets, Herons, waterfowl, shorebirds, deer, coyotes, and other wildlife.
Bosque del Apache in the winter is one of the most fascinating wildlife locations in the United States.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn 2219

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.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2232

A cloud of Snow Geese fly over a flock placidly swimming on the main pond along with Sandhill Cranes
and ducks, as the first light of sunrise paints the sky on a thinly overcast morning at Bosque del Apache.

This image was taken at 85mm at 1/10 second to render the geese which
were moving across the frame as blurry, surrealistic objects in the dawn sky.

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.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2246

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2251

A vast group of Snow Geese fly over the main pool at Bosque del Apache from the south at dawn.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout 2735

Thousands of Snow Geese fly over the main pond at Bosque del Apache at dawn in mid-December.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn X8717

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8721

At dawn over the main pond south of the Flight Deck, the sun paints the low clouds in the east
red and gold as thousands of Snow Geese begin to fly in from the southeast over the Rio Grande.

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Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8725

As the approaching Snow Geese reach the pool, geese in the pond break into flight.
These images were taken at 1/10 second, giving the geese a surrealistic appearance.

More images from this series are on the Morning Flyout and Evening Fly-in page.

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Bosque Snow Geese at Dawn 5499

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.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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SnowGeese_atDawn_3020


Snow Geese at Dawn 3020

Snow Geese landing in front of a group of Sandhill Cranes at dawn in a Crane Pool
which reflects the mauve color of the impending sunrise on a mid-December morning.

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Snow Geese at Dawn 6417 16x9

Snow Geese on a Crane Pool at dawn in mid-December.

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Snow Geese at Dawn 6435

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Snow Geese at Dawn 6440

Snow Geese fly over a group of their fellows in a Crane Pool as the sunrise paints the Chupadera Mountains.

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Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 6449 16x9

The last stragglers of the previous group finally convinced the geese on the Crane Pool  that it is time to fly to the farm fields.

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Snow Geese at Dawn 4353

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Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4366

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Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4367

Snow Geese erupt from one of the Crane Pools in a mass flyout at dawn in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Flyout Frenzy 2316

Show Geese blast off from one of the Crane Pools in a mass flyout at dawn in mid-December.

Snow Geese are among the most populous birds in North America, and gather in huge flocks.
They breed in colonies in the arctic and subarctic tundra of Canada and north Alaska, migrating
distances of more than 3000 miles in the spring and fall. Lesser Snow Geese migrate down the
Pacific and Central Flyways to wintering areas in the Great Plains, Texas, New Mexico, Mexico
and California (Greater Snow Geese winter along the mid-Atlantic coast and the Carolinas).

Snow Geese have been divided into two subspecies based on size and geography, but
size overlap has caused some experts to question the division into Lesser and Greater.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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Bosque_del_Apache_Sunrise_3887


Bosque del Apache Sunrise 3887

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

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Snow Geese at Sunrise X6407

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

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Snow Geese at Sunrise 2328 16x9

Snow Geese landing on a Crane Pool at sunrise in mid-December.

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Bosque Crane Pool at Sunrise 3264

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes on a Crane Pool as the
light strikes the Chupaderas at sunrise in mid-December.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise 2769

A flock of Snow Geese warm up in a Crane Pool at sunrise
at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in mid-December.

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Snow Geese with Blue Morphs at Sunrise X8745

Shooting towards the sun at a group of Snow Geese on a Crane Pool at sunrise. The dark individual with
a white head in the lower center frame is a blue morph adult, and two white morph juveniles are at far right.

These Snow Geese had settled in the Crane Pool to warm up after flying out at dawn from the main pond.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise X8742

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Snow Geese at Sunrise X8747

White morph Snow Geese and juveniles with Sandhill Cranes on a Crane Pool at sunrise in late December.

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Snow Geese with Blue Morph Juvenile at Sunrise 2344

A blue morph juvenile Snow Goose swims on a Crane Pool at sunrise with a group of white morph adults.

White morph snow geese are far more numerous than the dark phase (blue morph) geese. The two color
phases were once thought to be different species, but as they interbreed and are found together throughout
their ranges, they are now considered to be two color phases of the same species. The offspring of interbred
light and dark phase birds can be of either morph (the dark phase is the result of a single dominant gene).

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Snow Geese with Blue Morph at Sunrise 2348

A blue morph adult with a group of white morph adult Snow Geese on a Crane Pool at sunrise.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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SnowGeese_atSunrise_X8748M


Snow Geese at Sunrise X8748 M

Snow Geese are backlit by the rising sun on a cold morning in December at Bosque del Apache, NM.

All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide.
Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M”
in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise 3586

Snow Geese swim with the smaller Ross’s Geese and a Cinnamon Teal on a Crane Pool at sunrise.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise 4070

Snow Geese warming up on a Crane Pool just after sunrise in mid-December at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

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Snow Geese and Cranes at Sunrise 3529 16x9

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes on a Crane Pool at sunrise in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3681

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Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3682

A series of images of a pair of Snow Geese landing on a Crane Pool at sunrise in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3683

One goose scoops air in the “full parachute” position to slow down as his companion brakes with his chest.

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Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3684

Snow Geese landing in a flock of adults and juveniles on a Crane Pool at sunrise in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3712

Snow Geese landing on a Crane Pool at sunrise. The dark individuals in the right center foreground
and far right are blue morph Snow Geese, and the larger birds in the background are Sandhill Cranes.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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SnowGeese_SunriseFlyout_3065


Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 3065

Snow Geese leave a Crane Pool just as the sun begins to hit the Chupadera Mountains in mid-December.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise 1710

A flock of Snow Geese at sunrise on the main pond at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

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Snow Geese and Cranes at Sunrise HS8397

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Snow Geese and Cranes at Sunrise HS8398

A flock of Snow Geese crowd a group of Sandhill Cranes at sunrise at Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise HS8401

A dense flock of Snow Geese including Blue morphs and Ross’s Geese at Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex.

Ross’s Geese are about 40% smaller than Snow Geese, with a bill that is smaller in proportion to its body size
and without the black “lips” (the “grin patch” on the cutting edges of the bill). Ross’s Geese have a shorter neck
and a steeper, higher forehead than Snow Geese, creating a more rounded head shape on the Ross’s Goose.

Ross’s Geese flock with Snow Geese and occasionally interbreed with them. These hybrids are fertile,
and have intermediate characteristics (neck and bill lengths with a shallower and lighter grin patch (lips).
The Ross’s Goose also comes in both color morphs (although blue morph Ross’s Geese are quite rare).

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Snow Geese at Sunrise HS8408

Two Snow Geese fly over a flock of their fellows at Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex north of Bosque del Apache.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise HS8427

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Snow Geese at Sunrise HS8428

A flock of Snow Geese at sunrise at Ladd Gordon, with a few individuals heading off to the farm fields.

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Snow Geese at Sunrise HS8433

A small group of Snow Geese fly over a dense flock at sunrise, at Ladd Gordon Waterfowl Complex, NM.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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SnowGoose_SoloFlyout_X0849M


Snow Goose Solo Flyout X0849 M

A single goose leaves a dense group of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes and flies directly towards
the camera, just after sunrise in mid-February at one of the Crane Pools in Bosque del Apache, NM.

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Snow Geese Morning Flyout 2290

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Snow Geese Morning Flyout 2297

Snow Geese on one of the Crane Pools react to a group flying in from the east by bursting into the air.

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Snow Geese Morning Flyout 2302

The Snow Geese leave the Crane Pool in a group so dense you wonder how they can avoid hitting each other.

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Snow Geese Bosque Farm Fields 2169

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Snow Geese Mallards Bosque Farm Fields 2193

Snow Geese and Mallards fly over a dense flock in the farm fields at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

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Snow Geese Bosque Farm Fields 2275

A close portrait of a group of Snow Geese foraging in the farm fields in the late afternoon in mid-December.

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Snow Geese and Cranes Farm Field X6438

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes in the farm fields of Bosque del Apache in the late afternoon in February.

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Snow Geese Flurry Farm Field X6442

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes in the farm fields of Bosque del Apache in the late afternoon in February.

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Snow Geese and Cranes Farm Field HS8360 16x9

Detail of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes in the Bosque del Apache farm fields in the late afternoon in February.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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SnowGoose_Landing_9062


Snow Goose Landing 9062

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Snow Goose Landing 9066

As an intermission before evening fly-in scenes, here are three images of Snow Geese landing
in a muddy field in the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in British Columbia, Canada.

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Snow Goose Landing 9088

A Snow Goose scoops air to land in a dense group of its fellows on a misty mid-afternoon
in November at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in British Columbia, Canada.

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Snow Geese Sunset Landing 3056

A large group of Snow Geese glide in to join the flock on the main pond at sunset in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 3071

Detail of a dense group of Snow Geese flying in to the main pool at sunset in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 3072 16x9

Snow Geese flying in extremely close formation at sunset over the main pool at Bosque del Apache.

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Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 3073

It is difficult to believe that the Snow Geese never collide, as some individuals are only inches apart.

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Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 3074

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Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 3076

A thundering herd of Snow Geese flying in at sunset from the farm fields at Bosque del Apache.

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Bosque Snow Geese at Sunset X3431

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Bosque Snow Geese at Sunset X3480

A series of shots of Snow Geese settling on the main pool at Bosque del Apache just before sunset.

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Bosque Snow Geese at Sunset X3432 pano

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

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Snow Geese Dusk Landing 3615

Snow Geese float in for a landing on the main pond just after sunset in mid-December.

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Snow Geese Dusk Landing 5453

Snow Geese floating in for a landing on the main pond, which reflects mauve light bouncing off low clouds at dusk.

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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 Geese Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

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Direct Links:

Snow Geese

Snow Geese in Flight      Flyout and Fly-in

Portraits and Flight Portraits

Flock Scenes          Snow Goose Scenics

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