Spring rains bring wildflowers in the grasslands and along roadsides. Many of the common plants and flowers are easy to overlook while driving or biking.

Eldorado, Santa Fe, PhotographyDeborah NelsonJuly 8, 2019wildflowers

Cedar Waxwing

Dense flocks of Cedar Waxwings occasionally swoop into our berry-laden Oneseed Junipers (Juniperus monosperma).

Birding, Eldorado, Santa Fe, Photography, WildlifeDeborah NelsonApril 14, 2019Birding, Cedar Waxwing

Festival of the Cranes 2018 - Deadly Beauty Photography with Matthew Mitchell

Live raptors in the field! Hawks, falcons and eagles were the star performers as they were released to fly, chase lures, and possibly hunt wild prey (viewers be warned!).

Festival of the Cranes 2018 - Photography with Lisa Langell

I participated in two inspiring and instructive workshops with photographer Lisa Langell. The morning session, Create Beautiful Wildlife Images was a seminar. The afternoon workshop, Photographing Abstracts in Nature, consisted of hands-on field photography.

Great Horned Owl

I wandered down into the backyard scouting locations for an outdoor still life with pumpkins and gourds. I disturbed this large Great Horned Owl perched in the junipers.

Birding, Eldorado, Santa Fe, Photography, WildlifeDeborah NelsonOctober 29, 2018Birding, owl

Rainbow Over Sangre de Cristo Mountains

The fall October sky put on a colorful rainbow display over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Eldorado, Santa Fe, PhotographyDeborah NelsonOctober 22, 2018Eldorado at Santa Ferainbow, sky

Cat-Faced Orb-Weaver Spider

The Cat-Faced Orb-Weaver Spider under the overhang of the back portal ventured into the late afternoon sunlight to retrieve “dinner” caught in its web.

Eldorado, Santa Fe, PhotographyDeborah NelsonOctober 10, 2018Eldorado at Santa Fespiders

Aspen Vista Trail 2018

The forecast called for the clear skies by late morning. The cloud cover did not clear, but at least there was not any rain. That said, the morning air was scented with the moist mountain dampness. Perfect hiking weather.

Rufous Hummingbird and One-Seed Juniper

The male Rufous hummingbird jealously guards the hummingbird feeders and courtyard flowers, chasing away all intruders including larger birds. The female is slightly larger than the male (see photo).

Eldorado, Santa Fe, PhotographyDeborah NelsonSeptember 14, 2018Eldorado at Santa Feflowers, Birding

Four O'Clocks

These beautiful, thriving Four O’Clock flowers grow wild beneath the One-Seed Junipers in the backyard. The flowers usually open from late afternoon (around 4'o clock) onward, giving rise to one of its common names.

Eldorado, Santa Fe, PhotographyDeborah NelsonSeptember 12, 2018Eldorado at Santa Feflowers

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