Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in March 2023 – Egrets +
/The pelicans were the stars of my two visits to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in March, but there were plenty of other things to see. The egrets came in a close second to the pelicans. The Snowy Egrets were in breeding plumage.
A cattle egret was as well.
The redbud near the visitor center was blooming and the tree was situated where I could walk up to get some macro images. The flowers are reminded me of orchids!
The trunk of the tree had yellow-orange lichen…always worth a close look.
On my first visit there were a few Snow Geese (one was smaller…probably a Ross’s). They were gone before my second visit.
The Yellowlegs was still around.
I saw two herons: a Great Blue
And a Little Blue. The Great Blue Herons are year-round residents. The Little Blue Herons are only around during the breeding season.
At the turn around point during my second visit, I noticed some vultures in a tree. The ones near the top were Turkey Vultures and there was a lone Black Vulture further down the tree!
I needed to get to Sherman by noon but still made a quick stop to photograph a Red-Winged Blackbird. I had been hearing them loud and clear but this one seemed to be posing just for me.
My visits to Hagerman are always a little rushed…I drive portions of the wildlife tour and stop for photography – using my car as a blind. Even so…it seems like the 1.5 hours I allot myself passes very quickly!
