Coyotes, Geese and Cranes

This morning I took a long walk with my dogs. The weather was amazing like it has been the last three days. The light illuminated the landscape and enriched the yellow of the trees and the blue of the water and sky. I love the reflections of the sky and landscape in the ditch water.  I tried again to capture the gorgeous golden tree on the ditch that I posted yesterday. My walk was a feast for the eyes, a healing meditation for my soul.
When I arrived on the west side of the Nature Preserve I spotted a coyote watching the geese and cranes near him in the field. The geese were honking wildly in warning as the coyote approached. I watched the coyote get pretty close to the geese but none of them flew away. The cranes were silhouetted against the field with the coyote and geese in the background. It was a beautiful image and I felt privileged to observe it.
On my way home I got a few good shots of the roadrunner hunting.

The Cranes are here!

For the past few weeks I've seen and heard the cranes flying overhead, however today I saw them on the ground. Also this morning the main field of Candelaria Nature Preserve was flooded. The geese and ducks were having a great time in what looked like a wetland. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning. The balloons were out as well. The colors seemed brighter and richer making me want to stay out all day.                                                                                                                                          

Yesterday I took a three hour nature walk. It was the last day of the Balloon Fiesta. I woke up to see the balloons right above the field north of my house. There were also a few balloons that flew directly over me, they were so close I felt like I could touch them. On my walk I met many new people walking their dogs. One nice lady, Gloria, was visiting her daughter who goes to school at UNM.  She was walking an adorable Maltese named Osito. We walked quite a ways together and met several other dogs and their owners. When I came home I sat in my garden and enjoyed the beautiful flowers and fall leaves that surrounded me. I will be sad when the cold weather comes and takes all the color away but for now I'm enjoying these glorious fall days.

Sandhill Cranes  in the wildlife preserve

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A balloon over the bosque

Canada geese and ducks in the Candelaria Nature Preserve looking east

Geese and ducks in the nature preserve looking north

View of the preserve from the ditch looking west

The irrigation ditch looking south

Balloons over the preserve looking north

A balloon over the nature preserve

A balloon above my house

Rick with his dog Gizmo

Gizmo

Maggie and Allin with their dogs Nuli and Moxie

Nuli and Moxie

Maria with her dog Gwen Marie

Gwen Marie

Avis, Stewart, Nathalie and Pam with their dogs Ringo and Kenzie

Ringo and Kenzie

Ruth with her dog Harley and Ellen with her dog Dunsen

Dunsen

Harley

Gloria with her dog Osito

Kelly with her dog Tate

Tate and Osito

Gloria with her dog Osito and Liz with her dog Maisy

Maisy

Fall leaves on the ditch

A Japanese Scholar tree in my backyard

Fall leaves in my garden

A zinnia flower in my garden

A Sense of a Goose

Recently someone shared a beautiful meditation about geese flying in "V" formation that I have found inspirational. I am posting it  below along with some photographs I have taken of the geese flying.

The New 2013 Calendars are Here!

I want to announce that the 2013 calendars, Life is a Ditch: The Dogs of Albuquerque's Northwest Valley and Enchanting Views from the North Valley are for sale at the Rio Grande Co-op, Bookworks, Wild Birds Unlimited and Dans Boots & Saddles. The Life is a Ditch: The Dogs of Albuquerque's Northwest Valley is also for sale at Long Leash on Life and Enchanting Views from the North Valley is for sale at The Rio Grande Nature Center. The calendars are priced at $9.99. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of Life is a Ditch will go to Animal Humane New Mexico. I will have a booth at the Doggie Dash and Dawdle on November 4th. I hope to see you and your dogs there. Below are samples of the calendars.