There's something about New Mexico's state park system I really love. Each park I've stayed at has surprised and enchanted me. The parks seem humble and unassuming, but each one contains some magic or treasure. Percha Dam State Park, near Arrey, was no exception.
After I left White Sands National Park, I headed north on I-25, unsure of where I would spend the night. I had a couple of parks highlighted on my map and luckily for me Percha Dam State Park was one of them. I drove down a tiny road through a farmer's field, found a likely looking campsite in the park and began setting up my site for the night. The sun was setting as I hooked up my electricity when suddenly in the rosy-orange sky, dozens and dozens of birds flew overhead, landing out of sight. I'm used to migrating Canada geese, but these birds were huge, probably herons or cranes. I stood transfixed, never even thinking about my camera until it was too late.
I was up before sunrise the next morning, this time with my camera, hoping to see the birds again. I never did see them, but I did talk to a camper who said he and his wife stay there for several weeks, every spring and fall, to see the birds. It seem Percha Dam State Park is one of the top birding locations in the state. I'm definitely coming back.
The second surprising memory of my stay was after I left the park. Remember that tiny road through the farmer's field? As I drove down it on my way out, the morning sun made the field glow and I realized it was a field of shiny red peppers. Maybe an ordinary sight for someone from New Mexico, but for a gal from Michigan it was a first and another amazing memory of a state I've grown to love.
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