Shelter

 

The cranes continue to migrate into the area in larger and larger flocks. They navigate by following the glint of the river, but they disperse along the banks during the day. They communicate constantly by calling. You can see them circling as they travel, checking out the local places of interest.

In some areas, these American coots are much more common. I don't see them very often in Corrales, not enough undisturbed wetland probably. The same reason the red wing blackbirds don't set up territories in this area, but are common in the south valley on undeveloped lands.

Sometimes the birds are even stranger. I got this shot just as the small flock of birds disappeared behind the trees. Definitely a seagull species. I think a ring billed gull.They haven't stuck around.

Compared to last year, there are a lot more rushes in the local ditch. As these dried out, the leaves fold over and form a very effective tent against the cold. You can see the frost on the top. The area inside is frost free and a few degrees warmer. In the morning, there are large numbers of small perching birds that travel around the fronds foraging.

This unconcerned skunk is napping in a drainage tunnel. They are dawn and dusk active mostly. Usually they are much more secretive and shy. This one is in an area with little dog walkers, so I was lucky. I still gave him plenty of space, for lots of reasons...

Beavers and muskrats are much more visible right now. The beavers are usually only seen by the signs they leave behind. Unlike in the storybooks, New Mexico beavers usually live in tunnels dug into the sides of rivers and ditches. The top picture shows a "drag" where the beaver dragged some heavy branch into the water to store underwater to eat later. Following the sign, their underwater entrance tunnel seems to have been dug under a concrete culvert. Pretty ingenious. The muskrats are usually out in the late evening, but I have seen the occasionally classic water ripples at all times of the day