Inquisitive Kestrel

The American Kestrel is the most common falcon in North America, and can thrive in a vast variety of habitats. For the most part, put it about anywhere and it will do well… from the forest to the open field, the Kestrel is at home everywhere.
This particular female American Kestrel is actually a rescue animal, but she is perched here in front of an open field in the late fall at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico. Although it is late autumn here, it is also a bright sunny day and the opportunity for a tasty meal may yet present itself. With her head cocked “just so,”, it appears that she is inquisitive and intent on the meal, and as time went by she became no less inquisitive. Also, with the head cocked, the unique dual vertical black bars, which appear only on the Kestrel, are easily seen in this capture
The Kestrel is not a large bird–not by a long shot. What they lack in size, however, they more than make up for in fierceness as they are superb hunters. Often perching and waiting patiently, they will make a beeline for the meal, which is often on the ground. Snatching it up quickly they are back off to the air. What this one has her eye on is not yet known… but soon will be!

Snowy Caldera

Originally uploaded by david

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is an incredible place. As National Lands go, this is on the newer side, and was just set aside a few years ago; it used to be the privately owned Baca Ranch, but luckily for us, it is now protected and open to the public. Nestled inside of a collapsed volcano caldera, the preserve features wide open spaces as well as stunning wooded areas. This photo is not the wooded area, however.

This represents another shot I have been waiting patiently for. I had the caldera, of course, but I wanted to show a panoramic scene filled with snow as far as the eye can see. And the eye can see really, really far in this photo, by the way. You might think this is “just” a snowy field. In that, you would be incorrect, I’m afraid. This particular scene measures somewhere around (as best as I can figure) two and one half miles from edge to edge. Miles. As in 13,200 feet (or just over 4,000 meters for you metric folks) from edge to edge. However, it gives you just the barest sense of the place; the grandeur, the beauty, the majesty are best experienced in person. Just be sure to breathe when you are looking at it, for it will take your breath away.

Alas, the small sizes of our monitors do not do justice to this panorama. It measures, in real life, several feet across when printed. But this gives you a good idea, at least. A couple of other notes of interest. This panorama is also the header of our main site, Fringe Innovations. And if you look on the left hand side, just in the shadow of the small hill in the middle, you can see Snowbound Ranch.

Snowbound Ranch

Uploaded by david

Winter.

A time of cold and a time of snow. And in this particular case, a time for a whole lot of that wonderful white powdery stuff.

This ranch is located within Valles Caldera National Preserve and from the looks of things, humans don’t bother with wintertime occupation. Who can blame them really, for it would probably take somewhere just this side of forever to get through all that snow. And make no doubt about it… this is a lot of snow. Those drifts are fairly significant.

This photo was taken late in the afternoon with the dying sun, providing the long shadows. The ranch sits in the lee of a small hill, casting it in shadow (and one would presume that whomever built this placed it quite intentionally); shadows that grow even longer during the late winter afternoon. If you look close, you can see that the structure has been left to its own devices.

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is an interesting place; one, at the moment, full of snow. But that just adds to the charm and serenity that holds it in thrall until the springtime thaw.