New Mexico Winter Birding and Nature Photo Safari 2026
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Join me for a seven day, six night adventure photographing New Mexico's one-of-a-kind wildlife and landscapes. Our exclusive small group tour brings you to lakes filled with thousands of birds, spectacular white dunes and black lava fields flanked by 10,000 ft. peaks.
Timed for peak bird activity, we'll spend several sunrises and sunsets photographing the tens of thousands of sandhill cranes and snow geese that spend winter along the Rio Grande. Additionally, we'll look for ducks, eagles, coots and mammals like coyotes, javelinas and bobcats.
Once you fill your cards with bird images, we head to the otherworldly landscapes of our newest National Park, White Sands, where we spend a sunset and sunrise photographing the almost pure white gypsum dunes. Bring your inspiration as we wander through the dunes looking for the perfect shot. To contrast the white dunes, we head to the almost black lava fields to photograph one of America's youngest lava flows.
We'll have plenty of time in each location to take it slow and get our shots. I'll be there alongside you to help you get the shot. With a maximum of 6 guests in a 15-passenger van, there will be lots of room for your camera gear.
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WHY TRAVEL WITH US?
- Small group size allows us to have intimate encounters with wildlife.
- Your dollars support the local economy and directly help protect the places we visit. The group eats at local restaurants and stays at locally-owned hotels, wherever possible. Your dollars help increase local support to protect these places.
- Receive as much or as little professional photography instruction as you want.
- Plenty of opportunity on location to stay with the group or wander on your own, looking for that perfect shot.
- Sunrises and sunsets are dedicated to your images; we'll have a break mid-day to process images. We'll use our dedicated tour van to get around and have an additional support vehicle to take care of meals and luggage, allowing us to spend maximum time in the field.
- If your travel partner is not a die-hard photographer and would like a break from photography on the trip, select alternate excursions are available (food tour, etc.) while the group focuses on getting shots.
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| RESERVE YOUR SPOT |
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DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Your New Mexico photo safari begins in the historic city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This evening, meet your guide and fellow travelers at an informal dinner and orientation at your boutique hotel in downtown.
DAY TWO
This morning, we head south along the Rio Grande river and head for Bernardo and Bosque del Apache to photograph the birds from the afternoon into sunset. After sunset, we check into our hotel in Socorro and have dinner.
DAY THREE
Sunrise and sunset today are dedicated to photographing the birds that spend winter along the Rio Grande. We'll pick the best places to go to depending on where the birds have been recently spotted, usually select locations in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge or Bernardo Wildlife Area. We'll head back to Socorro for lunch and a mid-day siesta.
DAY FOUR
Today is a repeat of Day Three: all about the birds!
On Days Three and Four, we'll have a post-processing session in town around lunch and a private presentation by the local non-profit Friends of Bosque del Apache.
DAY FIVE
Our last morning with the birds as we spend sunrise photographing the sandhill cranes, snow geese and local mammals.
We leave the birds late morning and head south to explore the white gypsum dunes of our newest National Park, White Sands, at sunset.
We sleep at our solar-powered hotel in nearby Alamogordo and have dinner catered by the hotel's private chef.
DAY SIX
We grab our breakfast to-go to shoot the sunrise at White Sands. After wandering the dunes looking for that perfect light, we head to nearby Carrizozo for lunch at a classic diner. This afternoon is dedicated to photographing the black lava desert landscapes of Valley of Fires. A one-mile hiking trail into the lava flow is available. Late afternoon, we'll head to Albuquerque and meet for farewell dinner.
DAY SEVEN
Departure day. If your flight schedule permits, you may enjoy exploring Albuquerque on your own today. This old historic town was founded in 1706 as an outpost along El Camino Real (the King’s Highway) between Mexico City and the Spanish territories in current day U.S.A. Albuquerque offers plenty to do with the historic Old Town and Route 66, or go see where Breaking Bad was filmed!
NOTES
Balance of payment will be due by 12/15/25.
The deposit required to book the trip is non-refundable. Please purchase travel insurance which covers the cost of cancellations.
We reserve the right to cancel the trip due to inadequate registrations or unforeseen circumstances, in which case all deposits and payments will be refunded in full.
Terms and conditions: click here.
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Any questions? Get in touch via phone (call or text me at 720-491-8643) or e-mail [email protected]