Hiking in New Mexico

[Shann]

I read posts on this site every single day, but rarely post, and the site has a big notification on every page now encouraging me to actually post something, so here it is.

I live on the edge of the city if Albuquerque, right next to the Sandia mountains. We have lots of nice hiking trails up there but they are pretty popular so I don't see too much wildlife. But I found a few neat things the other day.

First I found this pair of fence lizards. I'm a little disappointed with how the pics came out, but I didn't want to disturb them.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/C87272A3-827C-47F1-9064-4D9EF7038A3F_zpsrmgksxlx.jpg

Then on the way home we found this bullsnake in the middle of a busy road, so we stopped and got him off the road. He put on quite the display for us when we got close.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/21E54F71-DE64-47F1-B99D-6E89490633D8_zpslex2wtgf.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/68082E19-5891-4CE4-A462-7048997C7F3B_zpsyacqtiaw.jpg

And then some flower pictures since that was my main goal that day:
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/FBBA3EAF-D82A-49E6-9124-0AAE98C86F52_zpsjn6jqi77.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/BF0E4A22-F5F5-4808-B3E7-991D87C138EE_zpsiqtrwva3.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/96AB94EE-E230-4FB2-AC06-66173A8630A2_zpsopgce39p.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/01A017DE-50DD-4429-909B-3DBBD328F8C2_zpsgddeitgr.jpg

[jpsteele80]

I love that second to last pic of the sunset, nicely done

[Pareeeee]

That last photo!! Love it. Like them all, though.

[pdomensis]

Love the last shot. Looks like clematis but not sure.

[pdomensis]

Nope. Apache plume. Fallugia paradoxa.

[SnoopySnake]

Great pics! I really love those last two:)

[sharthun]

Awesome finds and shots! Love that bull snake!

[EL Ziggy]

Very nice pictures. Love the lizards and bull snake shots.

[Kera]

Gorgeous shots :)

[wrestlerzach]

Very nice photos. They look great.

[Jim Smith]

I especially love the last photo. It looks like something you'd see in National Geographic. Beautiful job!

[drumcrush]

Awesome photos. I love that bull snake:)

[FWK]

And then some flower pictures since that was my main goal that day:

My days usually progress in the opposite direction, I start out looking for herps and wind up getting distracted by flowers lol. The last shot is beautiful.

[Teal]

Awesome shots! I'd call that a good hike (:

My days usually progress in the opposite direction, I start out looking for herps and wind up getting distracted by flowers lol.

LOL I was going to say the same thing!

[Shann]

Decided to update this post with a few recent pictures.

I found another fence lizard, but I'm still unsure about what kind they are specifically. Even with my NM field guide.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Print10_zps28afb38a.jpg

This next one has a story with it. I am pretty certain that this is a New Mexico Whiptail, which is a really really cool species. The entire species is female (they are a naturally occurring hybrid) and reproduces via parthenogenesis. Anyways, I work in a bubble tea shop, and I was cleaning the drains when I found this girl in the drains. We had sent a bunch of stuff including a sanitizing chemical down the drains, and I didn't discover her until the end of the night. She was so weak I thought she was dead at first. When I saw that she was moving I took her home and put her in a spare cage I had. For several days she didn't move properly, like she was having neurological issues. But I provided her with food and water, and after about a week she was doing much better, so I released her. I've seen her in my yard a couple times since then, so I think she has a pretty good shot. I only handled her as I was releasing her for these shots. Normally, unless relocating a snake or something, I leave animals alone. I prefer to photograph them behaving naturally. Anyways, here she is.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/IMG_8125_zps0d6684d1.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/IMG_8138_zpsc1963443.jpg

And a few shots from hiking in the foothills. I have a fascination with "ugly" flowers. I think desert flowers don't get enough attention, but desert life is really fascinating to me. It has to be so tough to survive out here.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Print11_zpsd94485c9.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Print2_zps49e343e7.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Print3_zps2a3cb6b2.jpg

And then there's nothing particularly spectacular about these, there are flies and mantids everywhere. But my fiancé bought me a macro lens for my birthday last week, and I'm super excited about moving forward with it. I need A LOT of practice. But I've only gotten to play with it once so far, since I go to school and work full time. These were kind of neat. Lighting was terrible that day though. I have some free time this weekend, so I'm hoping to find some little critters to photograph.

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Fly_zpsf0cb8a3b.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Mantis2_zps14cb890e.jpg

[Shann]

And since it wouldn't let me post this one in the same post:

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Mantis_zps688a362b.jpg

[Shann]

Some macros from my backyard today. http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/0C2EE8C3-F9FB-4C1A-B4B1-8FE91050E438_zpsolih9lgi.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/0256274C-22FD-413C-A2F4-B300710651BF_zpscaklkfnv.jpg

[sharthun]

Cool shots!!

[EL Ziggy]

Great pics Shann.

[Joshchimera]

You are a fantastic photographer! Great to see the content lizard you helped out! Nice Western Fence swifts!

[Shann]

Thank you! Macro is the biggest challenge I've ever had with photography so far. I can't figure out how to get those nice crisp images. Anyone know of any good guides/tutorials?

A few more from today:
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Macro1_zps96c20db9.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Macro_zps610385db.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Macro2_zps14056a4a.jpg

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/Macro3_zpsc2694105.jpg

[SnoopySnake]

Thank you! Macro is the biggest challenge I've ever had with photography so far. I can't figure out how to get those nice crisp images. Anyone know of any good guides/tutorials?


Looks good to me :) Nice pics!

[Shann]

I've take over three thousand pictures with my new lens. Only a handful come out any good. But this one is my favorite to date and has made all the bad shots worth it.
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz295/buglersholiday/SpiderMacro_zps64190c4c.jpg

[Akuma223]

I'm bursting with envy here, your photographs are amazing! What camera do you have 'cause I want it!!!

[pdomensis]

I've had to do macros for my work with seed and flowers and the hardest thing for me is to get good depth. I have to use a tripod and keep the aperature open for a long time to get any depth at all. This works in the lab, but in the field where things are moving or there is any wind, forget it. I think your shots look great. Be glad you're not using film!