The Rio Grande, like all Southwestern rivers, has been abused, polluted, channeled, dammed and generally mistreated. It has also been loved and in recent years several nature preserves have grown up along its banks. I often visit the river near the town of Mesilla (Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park) in southern New Mexico, but also occasionally at Broad Canyon near Hatch and at the bosque park in Albuquerque. Until recently the river was nearly dry and so were the ponds and swales of the bosque park near Mesilla. The prospects appeared pretty dreary, but they did get some water recently (how much more they get remains to be seen).
However, even a little water improves things quite radically and the drainage ditches and ponds went from being full of dead-looking cattails to having sizable green cattails in about a month. The birding has improved and the insects are more evident.
A little water does wonders for a Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park drainage ditch!
Mesilla Valley Bosque pond in May.
Bosque pond with American Coot (Fulica americana) making v-like ripples in background.
A few Desert Cottontails showed themselves, one long enough to photograph. As far as birds were concerned I did see some ducks (not identified, but certainly dabbling species), numerous Red-wing Blackbirds (many males displaying), several male Black-chinned Hummingbirds (also displaying), an Ash-throated flycatcher (in the tamarisks along the trail to the Rio Grande), several Mourning and White-winged doves, several Barn Swallows, a small covey of Gambel's Quail, and my best sighting (for me) of the day - a Crissal Thrasher! A Side-blotched Lizard ran in front of me on the trail along the drainage ditch and stopped long enough for me to take a picture.
Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) on edge of Bosque near pond overlook.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) male at display near pond.
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale) along drainage ditch at Bosque.
Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana) near the pond at the Bosque.
Insects were also evident, with Blue-eyed Darners, a Tarantula Hawk Wasp, a few flies and several Painted Crescents observed.
A Painted Crescent (Phyciodes picta) along one of the drainage canals at the Bosque.
A Bee Fly (Bombyliidae) on dried mud along trail to Rio Grande.
The Bosque never disappoints, although it was a bit bleak this winter. However every trip has brought some new observation, from a Coyote to Beaver tracks. It is a marvelous place, despite the very evident human activities.
Again all photos by me.