Spring migration, late February under the flyway.

 Taos Mtns from Cerro Azul, 2/20.

 Sandhill cranes over 2 Peaks, 2/23.

 Its a great feeling witnessing this return, the promise of spring coming.

Red crossbill at Tres Piedras, Feb. 20th.

 Male Red crossbill at Tres Piedras, 2/20.

Spring crane migration has begun!

 Sandhills over 2 Peaks, 2/19.

 It was a windy, overcast day, but that didn't seem to affect them.

 I estimated about 1000 passed over between 2 and 5pm.

February

 The winter river, 2/10.

 Winter sunset, Valdez, 2/11.

 Finally out into the mountains, 2/12.

Flag Mountain, 2/12.

January's end.

 A blizzard of snow geese, Bernardo WMA, 1/31.

 Bald eagles waiting for sunrise, Bosque del Apache, 1/31.

 Sandhills dropping-in, Bernardo, 1/31.

Winter color, Bernardo, 1/31.

January sightings, 2016.

 Red-tail close-up and personal, 1/27.

 Sandhill cranes in the corn, Bernardo, 1/30.

 American widgeon, Socorro, 1/30.

Ring-necked duck, Socorro, 1/30.

January sightings. Taos County, 2016.

                                 
This doesn't look like much but it is the wings-folded part of the undulating flight display of the male Golden eagle, signaling the start of the breeding season, January 21st.

 Muley buck in an apple orchard, 1/22.

 Great blue preening, 1/23.

 Common goldeneyes, Rio Grande, 1/23.

Common merganser, Rio Grande, 1/23.

January 2016, trip south, and Santa Fe.

 Pintail drake, Bernardo WMA, 1/8.

 Sandhill cranes in the corn, Bernardo, 1/8.

 Bushtits on a seed ball, Santa Fe, 1/15.

And a curve-billed thrasher.

December on the Rio Grande, short days, warm birds.

 Common Goldeneyes dive for invertebrates, 12/31.

 As do the always bobbing, and often singing Dippers, 1/3/16.

 One ram of the new herd of bighorns in the gorge, 1/4/16.

 A female Kingfisher, 1/4/16.

Wintering Bald eagles hunt fish and ducks, 1/6/16.

Back home, December in New Mexico

 I waited too long to pick these apples.

 Winter has arrived, Dec 15.

 Ferruginous hawk at 2 Peaks, 12/16.

 Western screech owl in Santa Fe, 12/23.

And a Ladder-backed woodpecker.