Snow Goose (dark morph, or blue goose) Landing in Golden Light

Here is another magical memory from last December’s Best of Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. Although the wind direction was wrong, some geese circled on the final approach, and the wind shifted in our favour as the light got sweet - a reward for our patience!

Snow Goose (dark morph, or blue goose) Landing in Golden Light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop last Dec. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image top to bottom - cropped left side to 4x5 aspect ratio.

Snow Goose Landing in Magical Light

A Snow Goose lands directly toward us in magical light during last year’s Best of Bosque Workshop.

Did you happen to know? Food passes through the Snow Goose's digestive tract in only an hour or two, generating 6 to 15 droppings per hour.

Snow Goose landing in magical light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop last Dec. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Snow Goose announcing its arrival

A Snow Goose announcing its arrival in magical light from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop in New Mexico, USA.

Snow Goose calling at light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area (Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex), Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

“Snow Geese are possibly the noisiest of all waterfowl. Their main call, made by both males and females, is a nasal, one-syllable honk given at any hour of the day or night, at any time of year, in the air or on the ground. Distant calling flocks are reminiscent of a pack of baying hounds. Birds less than a year old have a clearer and higher-pitched whistle. Family groups use a series of guttural notes to communicate with each other while feeding. Parents make a fast, quiet series of notes as a brood call to round up goslings. During nesting, they use a penetrating alarm call that varies in intensity. The flight call is a continuous chorus of shrill cries, hoarse honks, and high-pitched quacks, audible both day and night.”

— https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/sounds#

Snow Goose Landing in Last Drops of Golden Light

The light was spectacular, and the Snow Geese were plentiful. For most of the afternoon, the wind blew into our faces when we were positioned with our shadows pointed toward the birds with the sun at our backs. The worst combination: the birds landing toward the wind or away from us. All we saw was the south end of northbound birds - smile! The sweeter the light got, the more the wind shifted in our favour. What a perfect ending!

Snow Goose Landing in last drops of golden light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area (Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex), Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Snow Goose flying in nice light

A Snow Goose takes flight in the morning light from my recently concluded Best of Bosque workshop. Most of the cranes and Snow Geese had left the safety of the pond before the best light. Having a lot fewer birds made it easier to isolate single birds as they took off to head to the corn fields to eat.

Snow Goose Landing

Want to become a master bird photographer?

There are still two spots available for my Dec. 5-9 Best of Bosque workshop. Join me at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife near Socorro, New Mexico for an awesome adventure and come home with a diversified portfolio while learning to become a master bird photographer. Learn more HERE.

Snow Goose Last Call

Last call for my Best of Bosque workshop from December 5-9. Join me in New Mexico for an action-packed five-day workshop/adventure. Learn more about my Best of Bosque Workshop HERE.

Snow Goose

A Snow Goose gently lands against the distant out-of-focus Cottonwood trees at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on the second day of my Best of Bosque workshop last December.

Snow Goose calling in flight

A Snow Goose calls as it comes into the safety of the pond for the night. I love how simple this almost monochromatic image is with the bright red bill calling out its arrival. There are still two spots open due to cancellation; Learn more about my Dec. 5-9, 2022 Best of Bosque workshop HERE.

Snow Goose Landing Head-on

After a cold and productive morning shoot, we decided to stay out and use the harsh light to practice tracking birds in flight. I always take advantage of any opportunity to hone my reflexes, but rarely push the trigger in harsh light: the difference on this day was the wind was directly from behind us when we pointed out shadows at the birds. So, far from a masterpiece, but I do love this head-on landing shot with the Snow Goose calling and the out-of-focus cottonwood trees in the background.

Snow Goose Autumn Flight

I just love the bright orange foliage on the cottonwood trees!

There are still a couple of spots available for my Dec. 5-9 Best of Bosque workshop. We will spend five full days with tons of Sandhill Cranes, Geese, Ducks and other birds with the hope of Coyotes and Bobcats as well. Learn more and sign-up for my Dec. 5-9 Best of Bosque Workshop HERE.