Saturday, November 2, 2013

New Mexico Birds

November 2, 2013

Linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin  
I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

Congrats to Misty Dawn on her new baby girl! I wish the family all the best!

I am sharing more birds and critters from New Mexico and our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.



A Carlsbad Caverns National Park lifer.. the Lark Bunting


On the road into the park.. I looked over at a cliff and saw this Big Horn Sheep, Barbary Sheep or Aoudad in a little cave. At first I thought they were Bighorn sheep but the long hair and horns seemed different. I decided to do more research on the net.


Another Carlsbad lifer ...the Canyon Towhee


This is the Rock Wren also seen during our visit to the Carlsbad Caverns.


Barbary Sheep or also known as Aoudad were introduced into Texas and the Guadalupe Mountains.  They are reddish to sandy brown in color. These goats are native to North Africa and are vulnerable due to loss of habitat or hunting. Their habitats are steep rocky mountains, they have been introduced into Texas, New Mexico and California.


As we looked up to the top of the cliff, more  Barbary Sheep walked up to the edge as if to check us out too. On the photo above you can see the shaggy hair at the throat. They graze on grasses, bushes and lichen.


I hope you enjoyed my New Mexico birds and the cool looking sheep.

Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.
 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.

60 comments:

  1. there's interesting new territory and photographs; have a nice weekend Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  2. You got some amazing shots, and love reading that information about the Barbary goats!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would certainly have been surprised to see the Barbary sheep! I never expect critters like that. Hubby and I had gone to Valley of Fire park in Nevada and saw Bighorn sheep. I thought they would only be in places like Montana where there is more "lush" growth to eat.
    You got some beautiful shots of them. I enjoyed this!
    Have a great weekend, Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great shots Eileen.....i like them.

    Greetings, Joop

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just Wonderful Eileen. I had never heard of the Barbary Sheep before. I always think of the white ones in the Rocky Mountains for being in USA~

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those Barbary Sheep are absolutely beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hallo Eileen!!
    Great post!!!Amazing pictures!!!I have'nt seen Barbary Sheep before!!So beautiful and cute!Thank you for sharing!!!Have a happy weekend!!Hugs!!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
  8. HI Eileen Yes I did enjoy your birds and goats from New Mexico and thanks for the information on the goats

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful photos of the bird and the animal and this special area. Have a nice weekend, Eileen. Best regards, Synnöve

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your posts . . . always introducing me to something new, beautiful birds, handsome animal life!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice photos, Eileen! I have never heard of Barbary Sheep. Interesting looking critters.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A really neat collection of wildlife Eileen. Must have been a fun trip! Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have new friends in your blog post.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Really wonderful images, Eileeen! Congrats on your lifers. Amazing how the towhee and canyon wren blend so well into their surroundings. The sheep along the cliff edge is really well done!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful pictures Eileen.
    Very well photographed.
    Greetings Irma

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful pictures of the Aoudad (that should be a good Scrabble word!) or Barbary sheep. We didn't see those! Love your birds too! Another lifer. You are the best birder!! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The lark bunting is such a pretty bird . Splendid pictures Eileen :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. The sheep are quite extraordinary! And what landscape!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Eileen - this is magic! You really have the eye (and the cam) to see all those birds and animals and it is a fantastic and fascinating hobby too! The sheeps look strong and healthy! I hope so are you! CHrista

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful sheep.. I had never seen nor heard of these… I would have said "Bighorn" also.. You are smart to research them… Thanks!!!!!

    Glad you saw some new 'lifer' birds on this trip….

    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Interesting to read that that the Barbary Sheep were introduced. I wonder why?

    ReplyDelete
  22. The sheep is really cool. They look like goats to me!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Impressive photos and a nice area. This new introduced species can be a problematic. Thank you for the comment and have a great sunday,

    ReplyDelete
  24. I had not been aware of Barbary Sheep. The horns are definitely different from those of Bighorn Sheep. Thanks for the education and for the wonderful bird pictures as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congrats on your lifers Eileen.
    The Barbary Sheep would have taken me by surprise too. I have seen lots of Bighorn but had no idea these had been introduced here.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful photos, Eileen!
    Greetings, RW & SK

    ReplyDelete
  27. Lovely shot of the Lark Bunting. That perch is one you need to land on very, very carefully! Interesting story of the barbary sheep.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello Eileen,
    That is as very interesting post!
    You made me discover the Barbary Sheep, a gorgeous animal!
    I wonder why they were introduced to Mexico and if they are hunted....
    Cheers and keep well!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lindas e bem feitas as fotos, bem diferentes momentos! beijos,tudo de bom,lindo domingo! chica

    ReplyDelete
  30. Those sheep are superb, thanks Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Superb post, love the cave shot... very striking indeed

    ReplyDelete
  32. SO loving the Barbary Sheep!!! Although they look more like a cross between a goat and a yak, haha!! Birds are all very well, but those horns are WAY more attention grabbing!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow Eileen...fabulous photos this weekend. Y'know, I lived in Colorado for over 40 years, and the Lark Bunting is the state bird....and I only saw ONE in my entire life. Love the cactus shot.

    ReplyDelete
  34. You saw some great birds in those caves and canyons Eileen. Never heard of Canyon Towhee and with that name it must be very specialised and local? Nice shots of the Lark Bunting and Rock Wren too. Have a good week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome shots of both birds and sheep. Enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Superb shots!
    Those rounded horns... they look great!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Beautiful picture series you show. I love sheep and goats. Wish you a good Sunday :) Hanne Bente

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great photos! I love the sheep! They're much more slender than Bighorns. Texas, in particular, has a lot of introduced exotics.

    ReplyDelete
  39. How exciting to see this barbary sheep!! But why are they called sheep when in reality they're goats?? You are amazing in the birds that you find - the one in the cactus?? They are so well hidden, of course by design - but the goats!! Now that's a prize!! Amazing!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Beautiful animals, I had never heard of Barbary sheep, surprising is that they all have horns !

    ReplyDelete
  41. wundervoll eingefangen Eileen

    Danke für die schönen Bilder

    mit einem LG vom katerchen zum Sonntag

    ReplyDelete
  42. Those sheep do look a bit out of place, but I'm sure they are enjoying their new habitat.

    Congrats on your new birds. Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The Barbary Sheep are magnificent animals. They look huge. That last picture of him surveying his world is spectacular. A most impressive shot.

    ReplyDelete
  44. wow, what a great find, they do look amost like the bighorn sheep, but yes, with some slight differences on their horn and shape of face.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wonderful sheep, Eileen. Perfectly captured!
    Thanks for visiting :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love the Barbary Sheep on the cliff - awesome photo! And congrats on the lifers :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Very nice birds on the cacti, but Aoudad sheep I find really nice. Those in the cave is a wonderful photo. Lovely to see :-)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Those Barnaby Sheep are rather magnificent... not a critter you would want to come face to face with! I love those sweet little birds hiding in the cactus.

    ReplyDelete
  49. These are all amazing shots!

    ReplyDelete
  50. The Barbary Sheep are so majestic looking. Those horns are just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Wouaf, wonderfull fotos, congratulations. have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts." Rick's Cafe, N...