NEW MEXICO: BITTER LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

 June 30, 2021

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies a few miles northwest of Roswell. The Pecos River flows through the refuge and the Roswell aquifer lies under it. Together, they have created several deep lakes. The refuge hosts as many as 350 species of migratory birds and is also known for being the home to over 90 species of dragonflies and damselflies, which are at their peak in July and August. Being on the front end of that, we definitely saw some, but I didn't get pictures of any--except the one on the entrance sign.

As mentioned in my previous post, it had been raining all morning, as well as some of the day before, but the heavens parted and the sun began to emerge while we were in the wildlife refuge.

The puddles in the road acted like reflecting pools.

I'm glad we could stay in the car for the scenic drive. Walking would have been messy.

The air was clean, the lakes were glassy, and the clouds were heavenly.

The refuge was established in 1937, principally as a waystation for sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and a wide range of migratory birds, It is a vital wetlands area in a desert environment and supports a rich variety of wildlife. 

Bob is the true birder/photographer in the family, but I'm quite proud of my photo of this western meadowlark.

This is a blue grosbeak.

We saw two red-winged blackbirds perched on dried weeds and seemingly calling to each other.

They puff up, like they are taking a deep breath, and then raise their voices in song.

This YouTube video from the American Bird Conservancy captures the call well.

Two cormorants paddle peacefully around the lake . . . 

. . . then are suddenly airborne.

My second-best photo is of this killdeer.

Stunning, isn't it?

If I were a Swainson's hawk sitting on a wire, 

. . . and I saw this sky . . . 

. . . I would have to take off too!

Well, it was time to make the drive to Carlsbad, about an hour and a half away.  We encountered several detours along the way because of flooding caused by the storm.

When we finally got close to our hotel, there were so many road closures caused by flooding that we had to call the hotel twice for alternate directions.

We finally got to the hotel, checked in, and then drove to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, hoping to see the bats flying out of the cave at dusk. However, the gate to the road we needed was locked. Others who had also came to see the bats told us that the park had been closed all day due to flooding--including the caves. We were a bit worried about our scheduled 12:30 tour of the caves on the following day.

Before long, this . . .

. . . turned into this.

It's hard to top the beauty of a desert sky after a storm.