Persistently cold. That’s how I felt recently. I woke up each morning and looked out to see a cloudy, dreary sky with cold temperature that seemed to penetrate to the depths of my bone! There surely has to be an end to this and I hope that it will be soon. Winter photography blues provided a major challenge to overcome. Mustering a few more minutes under the warmth of the thick blanket only added to the frustration because, eventually, I knew that I had to get up and get out.

The rain was spotty and light. It did not allow the water to accumulate on the roadway. I said, “I want to take some photographs”. She said, “I want to look at the housing projects”.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge looked deserted except for some vehicles driving lazily down the stretch of the wildlife refuge road. A few fishermen were at the side of the road, a couple of ladies held camera and binocular in a vehicle with rolled down windows, and several just drove by and looked around. The Refuge didn’t look quite like the place when we came here for birding.

The water waders really didn’t show themselves immediately. I spotted a few after a few minutes of looking around and they were at a distance. They were skittish. A whole flock flew away when the male (I assume) spotted me and let out a loud shriek. This was one of those times when regret provides a reminder to always pack a longer lens (and a tripod).

There was not much to see at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge at this time of the year. The benefit that we probably got from this trip was to get out of the house and cure some of the winter photography blues. Spring should bring a much more different picture.