Something different and rare. I wanted to try for a different view of the Sandhill cranes as they flew into the big pond for their evening rest. At the refuge the photographers usually goes to the “flight deck” area on the east edge of the water but I thought I’d setup at a nearby trail where the birds would pass over an opening in the tree canopy. Well, it didn’t pan out and I was about to leave when I spotted what I assumed was a coyote coming down the trail. Of course when I focused in I realized I was looking at a mountain lion. Incredible luck. There is always talk about the lions at the refuge but just a few sightings. And here I was, all alone, safe inside my car with the camera all set up, as a big cat slowly headed straight for me. Turns out I was at one of the few spot in the park where a lion could get access to hunt without having to get wet crossing the surrounding canals. And it was only a hundred yards from the Rio Grande which the cats use as a highway to cover their 100 square mile territory and visit their females. It was one of those wonderful moments when what you see in the viewfinder gets the adrenaline pumping. To add to that I was nervous – not for my safety, but hoping I had focus and enough exposure for the night light, especially given it was my first few days with a new camera.
I saw the shot. I could barely make out a silhouette, but the moment I spotted it, I slammed the brakes and jumped out with my camera, grabbed the tripod from the back, and raced to the edge of the bank to get as close as possible. It was early evening in Bosque del Apache, and there was a mule deer with a nice rack feeding on the far side of the channel. I only knew he was there because of the shadow of his form against the tall, backlit grass, that he was nibbling on. But in the minute it took me to get situated and shooting, the shot was gone. Now, he was moving around too much and I couldn’t catch a clear silhouette. I kept working it as he gradually foraged his way through the grass and into clear view; some great moments but not what I saw when I came on the scene. Then I spotted the doe. She wasn’t even visible before, but now appeared, almost ghost like against the grass curtain of light. As she reached up high to nibble the shoots there was just enough definition to make out the silhouette. I had it.
