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Valle del oro Urban wildlife refuge is STILL getting built. But some wildlife is still around. The birds in Corrales seem to feed in the fields and return to the river at sunset. At Valle del Oro they seem to feed in the hills and return at sunset to the fields. We heard, but never saw the cackling coyotes as we were leaving.

Sandias refers to the pink sunset on the mountains. It only lasts a few minutes each evening.

merlins are very common right now. This one was feeding on a sparrow. I'm still learning how to take bird pictures, but these little feathered terrors are pretty obliging.

there are many small birds in the field stubble. This flock of mountain bluebirds was looking for water puddles before roosting for the night.

sunset signalled a lot of bird activity at the refuge. There is one of a pair of red tailed hawks that seemed to be patrolling the refuge, while engaged in quite a bit of aerial acrobatics with each other.