It’s pretty much guaranteed that we’ll find a Bighorn Sheep on the shores of the Taos Box section of the RIo Grande River. Here’s a few images from June 11, 2011.
Karen & guests floating quietly by one of the young rams.
A bachelor group of rams.
Having a cool drink of water.
One of this years offspring.
One of the introduced ewes (#5) with her new youngster.
A New Wave rafting trip down the Taos Box not only bring lots of white water thrills but moments of superb wildlife viewing. It’s safe to say that we see Bighorn Sheep on every trip, which is an absolute treat and sometimes it’s the other wildlife that puts the icing on the cake.
Oh, ok, just one more sheep photo. It's just that the babies are so cute. This is Cloe (note the tracking collar she wears) with this years offspring.
Western Tanagers migrate through each spring and bring a "splash" of color to the Rio Grande River.
Canada Geese nest along the banks. This proud mother was seen in the Playground section, an area suitable for the chicks.
During a break below Power Line Rapid we had a brief encounter with a friendly Bull Snake.
This Black-crowned night heron was seen fishing, just above the confluence of the Rio Grande and Taos Creek.
Click on the above images to enlarge and please document your visit by leaving a comment. Thanks.
New Wave Rafting’s full day Taos Box trip consists not only of lots of whitewater action. If one is vigilant, there is also abundant wildlife that can be observed. We really felt blessed on this particular day. Not only did we have warm sunshine to take the chill out after getting soaked in Class 4 rapids, but we had some superb wildlife sightings as well.
First spotted was a baby Bighorn who seemed more curious about us than it's mother did.
This two year old munches on the sedge that grows along the river.
With their thick winter coats shed, they're looking quite sleek.
This older ewe gave birth two days after this photo was taken.
At this time of the year the rams hang out together in what is termed a "bachelor group"
This is Butch. He appears to be the alpha ram. He looks pretty tough to me!
Don’t forget. You can click on any image to enlarge and please feel free to leave a comment.
Thus begins a winter hike for CJ and myself. A few hundred yards upstream of the Taos Junction Bridge lies the confluence of the Rio Grande River and the Rio Pueblo. It is sometimes fished for trout and sometimes kayaked by those possessing superior paddling skills, but we saw no one on this snowy day. The drive along the Race Course section brought us our first Bald Eagle.
A popular perch across from the lone Ponderosa Pine below Quartzite Put-in.
Another in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.
A short distance above the confluence CJ accidentally spotted this bald while watching (through her new Nikon ATB Monarch (waterproof) 10×42 binoculars), a raven feed on what she claimed to be pieces of a rabbit.
On my belly, in the rocks, attempting an unobstructed image.
Seems the camera "click" was a bit loud.
Snow and ice covers the rocks of the Rio Pueblo and getting in close allows one to admire the various abstract formations created by both wind and water in freezing temperatures.
The Rio Pueblo de Taos joins the Rio Grande.
Ice Arch.
One can drive a short distance up the old road that follows the stream to the top of the Taos Plateau and eventually back to Highway 68, but it’s no longer drivable due to a serious rock fall some years ago and now is a hiking trail only.
The Rio Pueblo.
Snow, ice and water.
Constantly on the lookout for more Bald Eagles or perhaps one of the River Otters that were released into the Rio Grande Gorge last winter, we were graced with a herd of Bighorn Sheep grazing below the south facing cliff of the canyon wall. Evidence of past inhabitants can also be found.
Bighorn Sheep.
Petroglyph.
Almost to the top of the mesa the Rio Pueblo Canyon takes a more northerly turn and one gets a look at the top of the Taos Plateau. It was nice to see the blue sky.
Up canyon view.
Down canyon view towards the confluence.
Taos Plateau view looking to the north.
CJ poses atop what I guess could be called the summit block.
The blue sky we found on the mesa soon gave way to more clouds and snow flurries with a substantial drop in temperature. On the way down we took only a moment to watch the sheep and reached the truck which had a note from the local BLM Ranger on the windshield. Oops, don’t forget to pay your $3 entrance fee to the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.
With plenty of daylight left we decided a drive was in order. Across the Taos Junction Bridge, up the west Mesa Road, which is now paved, with no speed limit signs (I guess it’s New Mexico’s version of the Autobahn) and to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. So indulge me in a few more photos.
Looking east toward Taos.
This photo has been taken a thousand times.
Looking upstream toward Ski Jump Rapid.
Looking downstream toward Three Forks Canyon.
Ok, so now one more Bald Eagle photo taken on the drive out. Along the river, in a lone Ponderosa Pine at the gaging station, sat an immature Bald.
As the sun was setting.
Remember: All these photos, and more, can be found at “www.flickr.com/photos/jorunny/”.
