Six-Years Ago (09-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 3: On the Road – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Roswell, New Mexico.

I stopped in Roswell, New Mexico to spend the night. Just outside of the city is Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the stops that Sandhill Cranes make during their annual migration. They leave every morning to feed, and then return in the evening. There were literally thousands of the birds and the wildlife refuge — and they make a lot of noise.

Sandhill Cranes at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 500 mm f/4 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 1000 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sandhill Cranes at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 1000 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (19-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Nikonians Annual Photography Adventure Trip. Day 6: White Sands National Monument.

Dawn in the Desert. White Sands National Monument. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7.

Dawn in the Desert. White Sands National Monument. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)
Dawn in the Desert. White Sands National Monument. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (22-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 16: Roswell, New Mexico.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Images taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (22-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 16: Roswell, New Mexico to Alpine, Texas.

Three Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec).

Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Morning at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (17-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 11: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Roswell, New Mexico.

Waxing Crescent Moon and Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec).

Moon and Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 12. (David J Mathre)
Moon and Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 12. (David J Mathre)