- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* August 4, 2006
* NMEX0608.04
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Common Loon (Colfax)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks (Hidalgo)
Peregrine Falcon (Otero)
Dusky (Blue) Grouse (Rio Arriba)
Montezuma Quail (Catron)
Snowy Plover (Eddy)
Mountain Plover (Taos)
Black-necked Stilt (Otero)
American Avocet (Otero)
Solitary Sandpiper (Catron)
Red Knot (Sierra)
Wilson’s Phalarope (Otero)
Sabine’s Gull (Colfax)
Laughing Gull and Arctic Tern (Sierra)
Forster’s and Least Terns (Eddy)
Black Tern (Colfax, Catron, Otero, Dona Ana, Eddy)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Burrowing Owl (Dona Ana)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Rio Arriba)
Black Swift (Sandoval)
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Hidalgo)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
Blue-throated Hummingbird (Grant)
Anna’s Hummingbird (Eddy. Grant)
Calliope Hummingbird (Catron, Otero, Eddy)
Rufous Hummingbird (Otero)
ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (Grant)
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Los Alamos)
Acorn Woodpecker (Colfax)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Sandoval, Los Alamos, Otero, Rio Arriba, Catron)
Greater Pewee (Dona Ana)
Red-eyed Vireo (Bernalillo)
Gray Jay Rio Arriba
Purple Martin (Otero)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Veery (Rio Arriba)
Gray Catbird (Colfax)
Bendire’s Thrasher (Hidalgo)
Hermit Warbler (Hidalgo)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows (Colfax)
FOX SPARROW (Rio Arriba)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax)
Bronzed Cowbird (Dona Ana)
Pine Grosbeak (Los Alamos)
White-winged Crossbill (Conejos County, Colo.)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 4, 2006
RBA phone number 505-884-3269
compiler Patricia R. Snider
home phone number 505-884-1320
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for August 4, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going. Highlights: Black-capped
Gnatcatchers, Fox Sparrow, Arctic Tern, Laughing Gull, Reddish Egret, Sabine’s
Gull, Greater Pewee.
The recent rains have been needed, but have brought muddy roads with rocks
and washouts and raging streams, totally unsafe to cross. Bad are the roads
into Clanton Canyon, south in AZ from San Simon to Portal, and floods on I-25.
CL got on the wrong side of a flood and was stranded for two hours at
Elephant Butte Lake.
US Fish and Wildlife plans to release 11 captive NORTHERN APLOMADO FALCONS
on the Armendariz Ranch (of parrot fame) on August 3.
Most places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird
Finding Guide. All N.M. phone numbers are area code 505, though a second
number may be added soon. For past RBA's check the NMOS web page at
_www.nmosbirds.org_ (http://www.nmosbirds.org) . For photos of rarities and
directions to
some birding sites check hometown.aol.com/borealowl.
For the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes please send reports to
Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to
_sunbittern@earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern@earthlink.net) .
In Rio Arriba County:
JBl on July 22 at the top of Cumbres Pass above Chama a half mile up FR 686
(to Apache Creek drainage) near the Colorado line saw an adult SAW-WHET OWL
being mobbed by GRAY JAYS and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS with a DUSKY (Blue)
GROUSE present. A half mile into the Dixie Creek drainage to the west in Colorado
was a singing adult female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
BW and JNM on July 11 found a VEERY and a singing FOX SPARROW along the
river in Chama south of the Elkhorn Café.
In Taos County:
JP had four MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the area near Tres Piedras on US 285 between
mile posts 406 and 407. There are gates on each side with dirt roads (high
clearance best). Take the east road a half mile to where a dirt track goes
off to the right. Park here and walk the flat areas for the plovers. BW and
JNM on July 11 saw seven .8 of a mile from US 285.
In Sandoval County:
BV on July 9 had two BLACK SWIFTS and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Jemez
Falls west of Los Alamos off NM 4.
In Los Alamos County:
DB saw four THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS at the Apache Springs area of the
Bandelier NM on July 9 west of Los Alamos. Across Hwy. 4 on a road at American
Springs he found another woodpecker. This is part of the Santa Fe NF. GM and JK
on July 9 had two LEWIS’S WOODPECKERS below the Pajarito Ski Area and at the
ski area PINE GROSBEAKS.
In Colfax County:
On Miami Lake July 28 DC found the COMMON LOON still present. On the way to
the lake on NM 21 at mile marker 15 there were two CATBIRDS/
DC on July 31 had an immature SABINE’S GULL on Stubblefield and 40 BLACK
TERNS on Laguna. On July 13 he had two DICKCISSELS between the two ranch homes
on Hwy. A1 with LARK BUNTINGS on the Maxwell Refuge. Around Laguna Madre
(north of Stubblefield) there was a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, three SAVANNAH
SPARROWS, with a colony of EARED, WESTERN, and CLARK’S GREBES. The sparrows
and grebes were still present on July 19.
At Sugarite State Park near Raton DC saw four ACORN WOODPECKERS at Lake
Alice on July 12.
In Bernalillo County:
CD on July 26 had a RED-EYED VIREO in Albuquerque at the yellow footbridge
that goes from the Thomas Village neighborhood to the bike path along the Rio
Grande.
In Sierra County:
JP on July 29 found good shorebird habitat at South Monticello Point at
Elephant Butte Lake with a breeding plumage RED KNOT on the south side mud flats.
At Three Sisters Point to the south there was a flying ARCTIC TERN. GP on
July 30 did not find the knot, but had the tern and an immature LAUGHING GULL
on South Monticello Point.
In Catron County:
JH on July 28 found 14 BLACK TERNS on Quemado Lake. There was a SOLITARY
SANDPIPER on the pond at their ranch east of Datil on July 30.
CL found the road into the Snow Lake and Willow Creek areas east of Mogollon
was closed after the recent Bear Fire. At a primitive camp site where NM
159 is closed he had two to three THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS. The site is 22.1
miles east of US 180.
On July 22-23 he found a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL with young on the edge of
Mogollon. At feeders in the town there were a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD
and up to 20 CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS.
In Grant County:
JP and WW on July 17 had a male and a female ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD at JDM’s
banding station near Roberts Lake. She had a female BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
on July 24 with a female ANNA’S.
CL on Jack’s Peak in the Big Burros had three YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS. They were
within .3 of a mile from the top.
In Hidalgo County:
WW and WK on the way to Whitmire Canyon north of Clanton Canyon found two
HERMIT WARBLERS on July 31.
At Dunagan’s Crossing on Co. 1 south of Animas WW and WK saw a ZONE-TAILED
HAWK, a GRAY HAWK, a BARN OWL, and a BOTTERI’S SPARROW. BW and JNM on August
1 had two singing Botteri’s and two BENDIRE’S THRASHERS.
RH re-found an adult male BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER in the New Mexico part of
Guadalupe Canyon on July 9 3.5 miles from the entrance gate. (one must walk
in). He also reported two GRAY HAWKS in the NM part. JP reported a nesting
pair of the gnatcatchers on July 22 seen by many. They were past the
orchard at the 14th stream crossing. Go up the creek for 75 yards to a rock cairn
JP built. JO, MB, and NP found the nest abandoned on July 28. The canyon
can be fun in floods and BW and JNM on August 2 found each crossing knee deep
in water. They did not find the gnatcatchers with a VIOLET-CROWNED
HUMMINGBIRD at Hadley’s feeder.
MA on July 10 on Gin Road near Rodeo 150 yards east of the junction with
Stateline Road saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE. On July 29 CL found on Stateline Road
two BOTTERI’S SPARROWS, one on each side of the state line. PDH on July 39
found that recent rains had made the road in bad shape to drive. BW and JNM on
August 2 at Rodeo had a GRAY HAWK and a male PAINTED BUNTING.
County Hwy. 1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray) Ranch. Because of
events with thoughtless birders, one must not go off the road.
In Luna County:
The waste treatment ponds in Deming have been closed for construction and
birding till further notice.
In Dona Ana County:
JZ and MS on August 1 had a calling GREATER PEWEE in their yard in Radium
Springs, photographed.
CL on July 28 found two BLACK TERNS over the Rio Grande near Mesilla a mile
south of the Calle de Norte bridge.
DG at his home northeast of Las Cruces reported three pairs of BURROWING
OWLS are east of his home. On July 23 he had a male BRONZED COWBIRD there.
In Otero County:
WW on July 11 in the Sacramento Mountains found PURPLE MARTINS and a pair of
THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS in a burn area southeast of Cloudcroft. It might be
a good idean to get a Lincoln NF map. He went down Scott Able Road. No sign
anymore for it, but a sign does say to Sacramento.off of Hwy. 63 near
Sunspot. The site is near an old 4-H camp on a logging dirt road. He hiked about
300 yards up from the camp for the woodpeckers. The martins were in Agua
Chiquita a half mile further and past a yellow cattle guard.
DG on Otero Mesa on July 22 had many returning LARK BUNTINGS in flocks of up
to 30. On July 25 he again found many Lark Buntings still in black plumage,
with many RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS crossing the mesa with a few CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRDS. Flowers are in bloom after recent rains.
CL and CBr found good shorebird habitat at the Holloman Lakes on July 27
with two PEREGRINE FALCONs, a BLACK TERN, hundreds of WILSON’S PHALAROPES, and
dozens of AVOCETS AND BLACK-NECKED STILTS.
At the Holloman Lakes near Alamogordo the "no access" signs are for hunters
only. The entire shore is open to birding. A board has been installed for
birders to list their sightings.
In Eddy County:
RD on August 2 had an immature REDDISH EGRET at the northwest corner of
Brantley Lake near the large mud flat. He also saw 30 FORSTER’S TERNS, 17 BLACK
TERNS, three LEAST TERNS, and SNOWY PLOVERS.
BE on July 27 at a home in Carlsbad reported adult male CALLIOPE and ANNA’S
HUMMINGBIRDS at a feeder. Do not go into the yard (Doberman present) but one
can see the feeders on the front porch from the fence at the shooting range
property on North Happy Valley Road.
SW found ELF OWLS in Last Chance Canyon of the Guadalupe Mts. near Carlsbad.
INITIALS USED:
MA, Moez Ali; DB, Dan Battaglia; MB. Matt Baumann; JBl, James Black:
CBr, Charles and/or Chandra Britt; DC, David Cleary; CD, Carol Davis; JDM,
Joan Day-Martin; rd, Rob Doster; BE, Bates Estabrooks; DG, David Griffin;
JH, Joan Hardie; RH, Rich Hoyer; PH, PD Hulse; JK, Jerri Kerr; WK, Woody
Kuehn; CL, Carl Lundblad; GM. Gail Morris; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JO,
Jerry Oldenettel; GP, Gary Parker; JP, John Parmeter; NP, Nick Pederson; MS,
Marcy Scott; BV, Brad Vaughn; BW, Bill West; SW. Steve West; WW, Bill
Wittman; JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie.
Field Trips:
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. For details call
Margaret Wallen at 341-0928. Check as there may be a last minute change in
plans. August 10 to Embudo Canyon in the western Sandia Foothills with Rebecca
Gracey, August 17 to Bosque del Apache with Pat Franklin-Henden, and August
24 to Sulfur and Cienega Canyons in the eastern Sandias with Sally Burke.
Finally on August 31 to the Belen (Taco Bell) Marsh with Rebecca Gracey.
Southwestern, Central, and Mesilla Valley will have no summer trips.
Sangre de Cristo will bird at Apache Springs near Los Alamos for the
three-toed woodpeckers and other highland species on Sunday, August 13. Contacts
are Lonnie Howard at 995-9799 and Gail Szpatura at 471-4496.
On Saturday, August 19, will be the strenuous three-hour hike up to the
Santa Barbara Ridge at 12,000 feet below Jicarita Peak for the White-tailed
Ptarmigans and other high altitude species. Contact is Jim Pausel at 501-4085 or
_titus@photocorral.com_ (mailto:titus@photocorral.com) .
Central Audubon will have a three-day trip on August 25 to 27 to
southwestern New Mexico including Percha Dam and Caballo Lake, Roberts Lake, the Grey
Feathers Lodge, Cherry Creek and the Gila River, Glenwood Catwalk, and return.
Call Sei Tokuda for details at 266-2480.
Mesilla Valley on Saturday, August 26, will resume trips with one to Bosque
del Apache Refuge for migrants. Call Walt Whitford at 521-1358.
End transcript.
* New Mexico Bird Report
* August 4, 2006
* NMEX0608.04
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Common Loon (Colfax)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks (Hidalgo)
Peregrine Falcon (Otero)
Dusky (Blue) Grouse (Rio Arriba)
Montezuma Quail (Catron)
Snowy Plover (Eddy)
Mountain Plover (Taos)
Black-necked Stilt (Otero)
American Avocet (Otero)
Solitary Sandpiper (Catron)
Red Knot (Sierra)
Wilson’s Phalarope (Otero)
Sabine’s Gull (Colfax)
Laughing Gull and Arctic Tern (Sierra)
Forster’s and Least Terns (Eddy)
Black Tern (Colfax, Catron, Otero, Dona Ana, Eddy)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Burrowing Owl (Dona Ana)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Rio Arriba)
Black Swift (Sandoval)
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Hidalgo)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
Blue-throated Hummingbird (Grant)
Anna’s Hummingbird (Eddy. Grant)
Calliope Hummingbird (Catron, Otero, Eddy)
Rufous Hummingbird (Otero)
ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (Grant)
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Los Alamos)
Acorn Woodpecker (Colfax)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Sandoval, Los Alamos, Otero, Rio Arriba, Catron)
Greater Pewee (Dona Ana)
Red-eyed Vireo (Bernalillo)
Gray Jay Rio Arriba
Purple Martin (Otero)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Veery (Rio Arriba)
Gray Catbird (Colfax)
Bendire’s Thrasher (Hidalgo)
Hermit Warbler (Hidalgo)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows (Colfax)
FOX SPARROW (Rio Arriba)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax)
Bronzed Cowbird (Dona Ana)
Pine Grosbeak (Los Alamos)
White-winged Crossbill (Conejos County, Colo.)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 4, 2006
RBA phone number 505-884-3269
compiler Patricia R. Snider
home phone number 505-884-1320
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for August 4, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going. Highlights: Black-capped
Gnatcatchers, Fox Sparrow, Arctic Tern, Laughing Gull, Reddish Egret, Sabine’s
Gull, Greater Pewee.
The recent rains have been needed, but have brought muddy roads with rocks
and washouts and raging streams, totally unsafe to cross. Bad are the roads
into Clanton Canyon, south in AZ from San Simon to Portal, and floods on I-25.
CL got on the wrong side of a flood and was stranded for two hours at
Elephant Butte Lake.
US Fish and Wildlife plans to release 11 captive NORTHERN APLOMADO FALCONS
on the Armendariz Ranch (of parrot fame) on August 3.
Most places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird
Finding Guide. All N.M. phone numbers are area code 505, though a second
number may be added soon. For past RBA's check the NMOS web page at
_www.nmosbirds.org_ (http://www.nmosbirds.org) . For photos of rarities and
directions to
some birding sites check hometown.aol.com/borealowl.
For the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes please send reports to
Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to
_sunbittern@earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern@earthlink.net) .
In Rio Arriba County:
JBl on July 22 at the top of Cumbres Pass above Chama a half mile up FR 686
(to Apache Creek drainage) near the Colorado line saw an adult SAW-WHET OWL
being mobbed by GRAY JAYS and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS with a DUSKY (Blue)
GROUSE present. A half mile into the Dixie Creek drainage to the west in Colorado
was a singing adult female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
BW and JNM on July 11 found a VEERY and a singing FOX SPARROW along the
river in Chama south of the Elkhorn Café.
In Taos County:
JP had four MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the area near Tres Piedras on US 285 between
mile posts 406 and 407. There are gates on each side with dirt roads (high
clearance best). Take the east road a half mile to where a dirt track goes
off to the right. Park here and walk the flat areas for the plovers. BW and
JNM on July 11 saw seven .8 of a mile from US 285.
In Sandoval County:
BV on July 9 had two BLACK SWIFTS and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Jemez
Falls west of Los Alamos off NM 4.
In Los Alamos County:
DB saw four THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS at the Apache Springs area of the
Bandelier NM on July 9 west of Los Alamos. Across Hwy. 4 on a road at American
Springs he found another woodpecker. This is part of the Santa Fe NF. GM and JK
on July 9 had two LEWIS’S WOODPECKERS below the Pajarito Ski Area and at the
ski area PINE GROSBEAKS.
In Colfax County:
On Miami Lake July 28 DC found the COMMON LOON still present. On the way to
the lake on NM 21 at mile marker 15 there were two CATBIRDS/
DC on July 31 had an immature SABINE’S GULL on Stubblefield and 40 BLACK
TERNS on Laguna. On July 13 he had two DICKCISSELS between the two ranch homes
on Hwy. A1 with LARK BUNTINGS on the Maxwell Refuge. Around Laguna Madre
(north of Stubblefield) there was a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, three SAVANNAH
SPARROWS, with a colony of EARED, WESTERN, and CLARK’S GREBES. The sparrows
and grebes were still present on July 19.
At Sugarite State Park near Raton DC saw four ACORN WOODPECKERS at Lake
Alice on July 12.
In Bernalillo County:
CD on July 26 had a RED-EYED VIREO in Albuquerque at the yellow footbridge
that goes from the Thomas Village neighborhood to the bike path along the Rio
Grande.
In Sierra County:
JP on July 29 found good shorebird habitat at South Monticello Point at
Elephant Butte Lake with a breeding plumage RED KNOT on the south side mud flats.
At Three Sisters Point to the south there was a flying ARCTIC TERN. GP on
July 30 did not find the knot, but had the tern and an immature LAUGHING GULL
on South Monticello Point.
In Catron County:
JH on July 28 found 14 BLACK TERNS on Quemado Lake. There was a SOLITARY
SANDPIPER on the pond at their ranch east of Datil on July 30.
CL found the road into the Snow Lake and Willow Creek areas east of Mogollon
was closed after the recent Bear Fire. At a primitive camp site where NM
159 is closed he had two to three THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS. The site is 22.1
miles east of US 180.
On July 22-23 he found a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL with young on the edge of
Mogollon. At feeders in the town there were a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD
and up to 20 CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS.
In Grant County:
JP and WW on July 17 had a male and a female ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD at JDM’s
banding station near Roberts Lake. She had a female BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
on July 24 with a female ANNA’S.
CL on Jack’s Peak in the Big Burros had three YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS. They were
within .3 of a mile from the top.
In Hidalgo County:
WW and WK on the way to Whitmire Canyon north of Clanton Canyon found two
HERMIT WARBLERS on July 31.
At Dunagan’s Crossing on Co. 1 south of Animas WW and WK saw a ZONE-TAILED
HAWK, a GRAY HAWK, a BARN OWL, and a BOTTERI’S SPARROW. BW and JNM on August
1 had two singing Botteri’s and two BENDIRE’S THRASHERS.
RH re-found an adult male BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER in the New Mexico part of
Guadalupe Canyon on July 9 3.5 miles from the entrance gate. (one must walk
in). He also reported two GRAY HAWKS in the NM part. JP reported a nesting
pair of the gnatcatchers on July 22 seen by many. They were past the
orchard at the 14th stream crossing. Go up the creek for 75 yards to a rock cairn
JP built. JO, MB, and NP found the nest abandoned on July 28. The canyon
can be fun in floods and BW and JNM on August 2 found each crossing knee deep
in water. They did not find the gnatcatchers with a VIOLET-CROWNED
HUMMINGBIRD at Hadley’s feeder.
MA on July 10 on Gin Road near Rodeo 150 yards east of the junction with
Stateline Road saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE. On July 29 CL found on Stateline Road
two BOTTERI’S SPARROWS, one on each side of the state line. PDH on July 39
found that recent rains had made the road in bad shape to drive. BW and JNM on
August 2 at Rodeo had a GRAY HAWK and a male PAINTED BUNTING.
County Hwy. 1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray) Ranch. Because of
events with thoughtless birders, one must not go off the road.
In Luna County:
The waste treatment ponds in Deming have been closed for construction and
birding till further notice.
In Dona Ana County:
JZ and MS on August 1 had a calling GREATER PEWEE in their yard in Radium
Springs, photographed.
CL on July 28 found two BLACK TERNS over the Rio Grande near Mesilla a mile
south of the Calle de Norte bridge.
DG at his home northeast of Las Cruces reported three pairs of BURROWING
OWLS are east of his home. On July 23 he had a male BRONZED COWBIRD there.
In Otero County:
WW on July 11 in the Sacramento Mountains found PURPLE MARTINS and a pair of
THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS in a burn area southeast of Cloudcroft. It might be
a good idean to get a Lincoln NF map. He went down Scott Able Road. No sign
anymore for it, but a sign does say to Sacramento.off of Hwy. 63 near
Sunspot. The site is near an old 4-H camp on a logging dirt road. He hiked about
300 yards up from the camp for the woodpeckers. The martins were in Agua
Chiquita a half mile further and past a yellow cattle guard.
DG on Otero Mesa on July 22 had many returning LARK BUNTINGS in flocks of up
to 30. On July 25 he again found many Lark Buntings still in black plumage,
with many RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS crossing the mesa with a few CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRDS. Flowers are in bloom after recent rains.
CL and CBr found good shorebird habitat at the Holloman Lakes on July 27
with two PEREGRINE FALCONs, a BLACK TERN, hundreds of WILSON’S PHALAROPES, and
dozens of AVOCETS AND BLACK-NECKED STILTS.
At the Holloman Lakes near Alamogordo the "no access" signs are for hunters
only. The entire shore is open to birding. A board has been installed for
birders to list their sightings.
In Eddy County:
RD on August 2 had an immature REDDISH EGRET at the northwest corner of
Brantley Lake near the large mud flat. He also saw 30 FORSTER’S TERNS, 17 BLACK
TERNS, three LEAST TERNS, and SNOWY PLOVERS.
BE on July 27 at a home in Carlsbad reported adult male CALLIOPE and ANNA’S
HUMMINGBIRDS at a feeder. Do not go into the yard (Doberman present) but one
can see the feeders on the front porch from the fence at the shooting range
property on North Happy Valley Road.
SW found ELF OWLS in Last Chance Canyon of the Guadalupe Mts. near Carlsbad.
INITIALS USED:
MA, Moez Ali; DB, Dan Battaglia; MB. Matt Baumann; JBl, James Black:
CBr, Charles and/or Chandra Britt; DC, David Cleary; CD, Carol Davis; JDM,
Joan Day-Martin; rd, Rob Doster; BE, Bates Estabrooks; DG, David Griffin;
JH, Joan Hardie; RH, Rich Hoyer; PH, PD Hulse; JK, Jerri Kerr; WK, Woody
Kuehn; CL, Carl Lundblad; GM. Gail Morris; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JO,
Jerry Oldenettel; GP, Gary Parker; JP, John Parmeter; NP, Nick Pederson; MS,
Marcy Scott; BV, Brad Vaughn; BW, Bill West; SW. Steve West; WW, Bill
Wittman; JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie.
Field Trips:
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. For details call
Margaret Wallen at 341-0928. Check as there may be a last minute change in
plans. August 10 to Embudo Canyon in the western Sandia Foothills with Rebecca
Gracey, August 17 to Bosque del Apache with Pat Franklin-Henden, and August
24 to Sulfur and Cienega Canyons in the eastern Sandias with Sally Burke.
Finally on August 31 to the Belen (Taco Bell) Marsh with Rebecca Gracey.
Southwestern, Central, and Mesilla Valley will have no summer trips.
Sangre de Cristo will bird at Apache Springs near Los Alamos for the
three-toed woodpeckers and other highland species on Sunday, August 13. Contacts
are Lonnie Howard at 995-9799 and Gail Szpatura at 471-4496.
On Saturday, August 19, will be the strenuous three-hour hike up to the
Santa Barbara Ridge at 12,000 feet below Jicarita Peak for the White-tailed
Ptarmigans and other high altitude species. Contact is Jim Pausel at 501-4085 or
_titus@photocorral.com_ (mailto:titus@photocorral.com) .
Central Audubon will have a three-day trip on August 25 to 27 to
southwestern New Mexico including Percha Dam and Caballo Lake, Roberts Lake, the Grey
Feathers Lodge, Cherry Creek and the Gila River, Glenwood Catwalk, and return.
Call Sei Tokuda for details at 266-2480.
Mesilla Valley on Saturday, August 26, will resume trips with one to Bosque
del Apache Refuge for migrants. Call Walt Whitford at 521-1358.
End transcript.