Eight-Years Ago (17-October-2012) — New Mexico

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

Silhouette of Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Dusk. (David J Mathre)
Silhouette of Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Dusk. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (34.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (36.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny day. A surplus of 2.9 kWh.

Six-Years Ago (10-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 4: On the Road – Roswell, New Mexico to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Before leaving for Carlsbad, I stopped back at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge to watch the Sandhill Cranes leave to feed for the day. I was told that one of the places they go to feed is local peanut farms that had been recently plowed. Ever wonder how the salmonella got in the peanut butter a few years ago???

Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

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)

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)