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New Wave Rafting New Mexico Whitewater Rafting
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New Wave Rafting Blog

Whitewater Rafting in Northern New Mexico

Category: Nature

Nature along the Rio Grande. We show photos of wildlife and nature found along the Rio Grande. The wildlife we see includes otters and bighorn sheep. And we also see muskrats, beavers, hawks, songbirds, kingfishers, herons, and deer  The Rio Grande also has very interesting geology. The river runs through a gorge of volcanic rock in the Taos Box and Monument Float sections. In the Racecourse section, the river runs between a quartzite cliff on one side and volcanic mesas on the other.

Coyote on the ice, Rio Grande, NM
Coyote on the ice, Rio Grande, NM

Otters are the Greatest

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Otters in New Mexico?

New Wave guide and photographer Britt Runyon photographed these baby otters in the Taos Box run of the Rio Grande. They were not afraid of the rafts, and stuck around. You never know where you will see them next, since they move upstream and down all the time.

They were transplanted into the river by environmental nonprofits from across New Mexico, including folks from Taos Pueblo, Amigos Bravos and the BLM.

Otter looks at the photographer.
Otter looks at the photographer

A real cutie.

Flowers and Birds, Orilla Verde

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Springtime on the Rio Grande

Flowers and Birds, Orilla Verde. The remarkable bloom continues. Kathy and I walked around Orilla Verde Recreation Area (Rio Grande del Norte National Monument) for a while a couple of days ago, to see what was new. As for the cacti: the green and claret cup hedgehogs can still be found in the shadier spots, the yucca are running riot and the prickly pear is starting up.

Green hedgehog
Flowers
Cjaret cup hedgehog

Spring Flowers, #4

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Spring Flowers, #4. The hedgehogs have stopped flowering, but the yuccas are still out, and the prickly pear are beginning. Kathy and I took a walk up the dirt road that starts out on the hilltop just east of Rinconada. This road parallels the dry wash seen in an earlier post: “Rinconada Scenery”, and provides a view of the top of the Chimney, a tower of soft sedimentary rock that sits at the head of the drainage shown in that prior post.

hike
The top of the Chimney
Flower
Evening primrose

Rinconada Scenery

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Rinconada Scenery. Only one mile away from the County Line River Access, where we meet the greater part of our guests, is an easily accessible and very interesting short hike. It goes up a dry wash into an area of vertically-sided formations cut into soft sediments. Here are photos of the hike Kathy and me took yesterday (5-20-19). We were wanting to see the wildflower bloom, and were well-rewarded.

Rinconada
The wash is cut into soft sediments
Rinconada
A very narrow slot canyon cut into the hillside
Rinconada
An ant farms aphids on locoweed

Spring Flowers, #2

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Spring Flowers, #2. New flowers, along with ones we’ve already seen, continue to brighten the landscape. We live in a mainly arid region, but this winter’s snows and rains have brought forth one of the best blooms we’ve seen in a long time. The blooming cacti are, of course, the most special treat.

Desert Globemallow, with cholla cactus behind

 

Claret Cup cactus

Spring Birds and Flowers Along the Rio Grande, #2

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Spring Birds (Canada Geese) and Flowers Along the Rio Grande, #2, May 7, 2019

My favorite family of Canada geese, who hang out close to the roadside and are tolerant of the van, when I come to a stop beside them. They share this small piece of grassy river bank with another family of geese, who aren’t so tolerant and take to the water when I stop here.

Canada goose family, Pilar, Rio Grande
Canada goose family, Pilar

Upstream of Pilar, in the Orilla Verde section of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Claret Cup cactus, Rio Grande
Claret Cup cactus

The Green hedgehog cactus comes out shortly before the Claret Cup hedgehog cactus.

Green Hedgehog cactus, Rio Grande
Green Hedgehog cactus

Spring Birds Along the Rio Grande, #4

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Spring Birds Along the Rio Grande, #4. New birds continue to show up, while other favorites remain. If you put out feed they will show up!

The Ash-throated flycatcher will stick around all summer, I think.

Ash-throated flycatcher, Rio Grande
Ash-throated flycatcher

The Western tanagers have increased in number.

Western tanager pair, Rio Grande
Western tanager pair