Petroglyph National Monument Gallery

One of my favorite places on our weeklong trip to New Mexico, Petroglyph National Monument is located in Albuquerque.

Petroglyphs

Petroglpyh of what appears to be a cat at Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico

I Don't Think He's Right But …

Sometimes I think I take just a few too many pictures of my cats, but this glyph in the Rinconada Canyon makes me think a kindred spirit once roamed these hills. Templeton thought it might be an image made of him, but I thought no since he was far too young. He said in human years yes but in cat years no. I don't think that's how it works, but on the other hand …

Flora

Red-and-yellow flowers in Rinconada Canyon at Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico

Red & Yellow

These colorful beauties really stood out among the greens and earth tones of Rinconada Canyon in Petroglyph National Monument.

Wildlife

It was particularly enjoyable to see the animals wandering in the same rocks where their forebears were immortalized in the rocks.

Coyote

Adaptable

No longer hunted as extensively as they once were, coyote numbers have rebounded across the United States. Coyotes are adaptable creatures — tolerating a varied diet of both plant and animal life, living in climates hot and cold and wet and dry, and even living in close quarters with humans. My wife and I came across this coyote while hiking in Rinconada Canyon. It was one of a pair that were working their way up into the canyon.

Mourning Dove

Birds in the Rocks

We hiked the Rinconada Canyon Trail amidst the many petroglyphs new and old, many depicting the animals of the canyon, such as this petroglyph of a bird (a roadrunner perhaps?). I spotted another bird in the jumbled rocks, this one very much alive, a mourning dove sitting on a thin nest of grasses. We hiked during the evening hours and heard doves calling from all around the park, bringing back fond memories of growing up back east where the coo-coo-cooing of doves serenaded us on many a night.

A petroglyph of a bird in Rinconada Canyon at Petroglyph National Monument

A mourning dove sits on its nest in Rinconada Canyon at Petroglyph National Monument

Desert Cottontail

Between the Toes

We came across this desert cottontail in Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque. Even though we were excited to see the many rock drawings, the little rabbit of course was just going about its daily routine, mostly just resting during the day, here taking a moment to clean out between its toes.

Or flashing me the peace sign. Or telling me to live long and prosper.

Hard to say.

A desert cottontail tucks its head in tight to groom the fur on its chest in Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Charge of the Bunny Brigade

While it might look like I'm about to get the world's softest headbutt, the little cottontail tucked its head in tight to groom the fur of its chest.

A desert cottontail blends into the desert in Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Fitting In

The desert cottontail's coloring is well-suited to the desert where it lives. I didn't get the composition quite right on this one but oh how I adore the soft light on this lovely little rabbit.

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