Morning Flyout and Evening Fly-in

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

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.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 2533

Snow Geese explode into the sky at first light at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.

Each year, while waiting for the weather to warm up enough to allow them to make the migration to their
Arctic breeding grounds, 30,000 or more Snow Geese winter at Bosque del Apache. Their blast-offs at
dawn are quite dramatic and are a major attraction to folks visiting the refuge, despite the extreme cold.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 1685

A flock of Snow Geese bursts into the sky at dawn, honking in harmony as they fly.

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.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 1692

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 1697

The Snow Geese wheel in unison and fly in incredibly dense formations as they take off.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4476

Snow Geese in silhouette and the first light of sunrise paint the sky over the main pond at Bosque del Apache.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 6391

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 6398

Snow Geese silhouetted against the sky at dawn on a cold clear morning in mid-December.
These two images were taken with an 85mm telephoto lens for more definition of individuals.

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 also taken at 85mm, but unlike those above which were taken at 1/200 second at f/2
to stop the geese in flight, this shot was taken at 1/10 second at f/5.6 for greater depth of field and 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.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Bosque del Apache Dawn X8717

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.

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.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8726

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

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8728

Dawn flyout of the Snow Geese over the main pond at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8730

Bosque del Apache Dawn Flyout X8732

Two wider angle images taken as the last geese fly over the main pond on a cold mid-December morning.

Snow Geese Sunrise Silhouette 3897

Snow Geese Sunrise Silhouette 3899

Two 85mm telephoto shots of dawn flyout taken as the sun breaks over the hills east of the Rio Grande.
Shooting directly into the sun at a high shutter speed to stop the geese in flight, these shots are timed
so that the rising sun is blocked by a group of geese to create an aperture bordered by rays of light.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 6356

A blizzard of Snow Geese flying out at dawn on a thinly overcast morning in mid-December.

This 85mm image was taken at 1/2000, f/1.4 to stop the motion and create a shallow depth of field.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4941

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4944

On a cold clear morning three days later, Snow Geese leave a Crane Pool as the light hits the Chupadera Mountains.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 6449 16x9

Dawn Flyout of the Snow Geese over one of the Crane Pools at Bosque del Apache in mid-December.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 3065

The last stragglers leave some of their fellows behind in the Crane Pool at sunrise in mid-December.

The four images above were all taken at 85mm, f/4 at 1/250 to 1/350 sec., and were focused on the
mid-field to soften foreground subjects and maintain focus on the pool and the Chupadera mountains.

Snow Geese at Dawn 4353

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4366

These images catch the first moments of the dawn flyout from one of the Crane Pools at Bosque del Apache.
At first, only a few geese decide that it is time to head to the farm fields, but as they break into flight, the rest of
the flock blasts off with them in a mass exodus. These two images and the one below were taken at 500mm, f/4.

Snow Geese Dawn Flyout 4367

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

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Goose Dawn Landing 4286

A Snow Goose lands in a Crane Pool at dawn on a thinly overcast day at Bosque del Apache, NM.

Generally, the snow geese take off en masse at first light, but only some of them go to the farm fields.
The others move to another pond or one of the Crane Pools, where they warm up for a half hour or so.
These geese take off in a second flyout, leaving the Sandhill Cranes behind, who leave the pond later.

Snow Geese Dawn Landing 4289 M

Snow Geese landing on a Crane Pool as the sun rises on a thinly overcast day. When conditions are right,
the rising sun can sometimes paint the clouds with a mauve light which reflects on the surface of the water.

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.

Snow Geese Flyout Frenzy 2316

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

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.

Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3681

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.

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.

Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 3684

These are white morph Snow Geese and juveniles (the dirty gray individual in the foreground is a juvenile).

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.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese at Sunrise 4070

Snow Geese Landing at Sunrise 4073

Snow Geese on a Crane Pool at sunrise. The two geese landing in the right image above are juveniles.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flight 4717

Snow Geese Sunrise Flight 4718

Snow Geese taking off for the farm fields from one of the Crane Pools at sunrise in mid-December.

Snow Geese feed on the fallow corn in the farm fields as well as grasses in the marshes.

Snow Geese Morning Flyout 6471

A group of Snow Geese take off for the farm fields just after sunrise in late February.

Snow Geese feed in grain fields during the winter. At Bosque del Apache, farm fields are maintained
near the wetlands that the geese and cranes use for overnight refuge, and each morning thousands of
geese and cranes fly out to the farm fields to feed on grain grown each summer for the wintering birds.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 2358 16x9

Snow Geese flying to the farm fields just after sunrise from one of the Crane Pools at Bosque del Apache.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 4030

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 4036

A series of images of individuals within a dense flurry of Snow Geese during the flyout at sunrise.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 4037 16x9

Snow Geese fly to the farm fields in a dense formation at sunrise in mid-December.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 4682

An individual Snow Goose flying directly towards the camera is isolated in this 500mm image taken at f/5.6.

Snow Geese Morning Flight X0864

Another 500mm shot at f/5.6 taken from the side, focused to isolate the foreground geese.

Snow Geese Morning Flyout 2290

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.

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.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 2764

A series of rear angle shots of Snow Geese leaving for the farm fields on a misty mid-December morning.

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 2774

Snow Geese Sunrise Flyout 2780

Snow Geese heading for the farm fields at Bosque del Apache in a dense cloud at sunrise.

Snow Geese Morning Flyout X6410

Morning flyout of the Snow Geese, with the Chupadera Mountains in the background.

Snow Goose Landing 9062

Snow Goose Landing 9066

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

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.

Snow Goose Landing X9477 M

Snow Geese Landing X9478 M

Snow Geese fly in for a landing on a Crane Pool in front of a group of ducks and teals in the late afternoon.

Snow Geese Landing X9479

Snow Geese landing on a Crane Pool in the late afternoon at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 6907

Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 6908

Two Snow Geese returning from the farm fields glide in for a landing on the main pond near sunset in late February.

Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 6909

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6910

These two Snow Geese are the first of their species to land on the main pond, sent to scout out a good spot.

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6911

The scouts glide over a group of Sandhill Cranes who have already returned from the farm fields.

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes use the ponds and pools as overnight protection from predators.

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6912

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6913

The Snow Geese find a good spot in front of a group of Cranes getting a drink after a long day in the fields...

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6914 16x9

... and the two scouts glide in for a smooth landing on the pond in front of the Flight Deck.

Snow Geese Sunset Landing 6915 16x9

A Snow Goose scoops air to slow down as he lands in front of his companion in the main pond at sunset.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links:

Snow Geese Sunset Fly-in 5925

A group of four Snow Geese glide in to land on the main pond at sunset in late December.

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.

Snow Geese Dusk Landing 5453

Snow Goose Dusk Landing 7316

Snow Geese landing on the main pond at dusk in mid-December. The mauve color in the water
in the image at left is caused by the last rays of sunset reflecting off of low clouds on the horizon.

Snow Geese Dusk Landing 3615

A group of Snow Geese land on the main pond just after sunset in mid-December.

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

There are 5 Galleries in the Photoshelter Snow Goose Collection

Direct Links: