Raton Pass - New Mexico and Colorado border

Raton Pass is at the New Mexico-Colorodo border on I 25.  We stayed overnight at Cedar Rails RV Park which is at the top of Raton Pass.

Views from RV Park

Truck Inspection Station at top of pass

Top of Raton Pass

Albuquerque, NM - Bosque

Bosque is the name for areas of gallery forest found along the riparian flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States. It derives its name from the Spanish word for woodlands.  There are several trails in the Albuquerque Bosque area.

 

The I-beam like structures that look very similar to the "jacks" games that you played as a kid are called Jetty Jacks. They were placed along the Rio Grande to protect human habitation and farmlands from flood debris. They were never tested since the river was dammed upstream the same time the jacks were put in place.

 

 Blooming bush on the River Loop Trail

 

Rio Grande River

Albuquerque, NM - Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

Instead of developing the Rio Grande River in downtown Albuquerque, it is kept in it's natural state.  The Nature Center State Park has gardens, walking trails, ponds, and a visitors center.  There are numerous birds, ducks, and turtles.

Painted Turtles

 

Canadian Geese

Albuquerque, NM - Wildlife Rescue Center

During our week stay in Tijeras, NM (near Albuquerque) we visited the Albuquerque Wildlife Rescue Center.  The raptors below were rehabilited but their injuries preclude them from being released back into the wild.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

 

Swainsons Hawk - Male

Swainsons Hawk-Female (the female is larger than the male)

Red-tailed Hawk

 

Barn Owl

 

Barn Owl

 

Long earned Owl

 

Pigmy Owl

 

Ferruginous Hawk

 

American Kestrel

Burrowing Owl