Birds of the Bosque

 I don't need to write a lot here, hopefully the pictures are self explanatory. If you are in Taos going to the bridge at sunset will most likely yield you a spectacular sunset. The bridge runs east/west and the sun sets directly over the road right now resulting in pictures that make it look like a huge explosion.

 The Rio Grande Gorge bridge and the surrounding landscape is a must see when you visit Taos. The bridge extends roughly 600 ft. above the Rio Grande and is currently ranked the 10th highest bridge in the United States. This week it's been relatively cloudy and the winds have been very high with sustained winds of 25mph and gusts must higher than that. The Rio Grande Gorge is a geologic feature in northern New Mexico where the watercourse of the Rio Grande follows a tectonic chasm. Beginning near the Colorado border, the approximately 50 mile gorge runs from northwest to southwest of Taos, through the basalt flows of the Taos Plateau volcanic field. The gorge depth is 800ft. and reminds you of a mini Grand Canyon. 

After we had parked our car and were walking up to our room, this black-billed magpie was drinking water from a gutter running down the side of the building. I'm not sure how scarce water is here but this is an adaptation even Darwin might find noteworthy.  The bird didn't even flinch as we approached. I gather these birds are more of a pest to local residents, somewhat similar to pigeons. I don't recall having seen magpies before so to me they are a curiosity. The birds are pretty much everywhere here and have no hesitancy in swooping down and picking up a snack from your unattended table. 

When you go on vacation after you've retired is it still called vacation?  Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe it should be termed adventures?  For Cindy's birthday we have escaped to Taos for 3-4 days so there may be a few posts from northern New Mexico.  We are roughing it. (NOT!)  Actually we are staying in one of the better hotels in Taos with a balcony that overlooks a treed area with spruce and aspens.  Just off of our balcony (within inches) are several spruces with black-billed magpie nests. The nest are rather large, not as big as a hawk or eagle but still they are good size. Walking around the property I've seen a dozen nests or more, all magpies.  The birds seem to be very smart.  When we checked in, the staff member assisting us described them as "cheeky." In the nests just off our balcony the black-billed magpies enter the nest from the other side of the tree, not visible to us. The birds are busy all day bringing insects and worms among o...