- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* August 20, 2006
* NMEX0608.20
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Common Loon (Colfax)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Western Grebe (Hidalgo)
Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret (Dona Ana)
Great Egret (Sierra)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
Cattle Egret (Valencia)
Black-crowned Night and Green Herons (Dona Ana)
Wood Duck (Socorro)
Common Merganser (Catron)
Osprey (McKinley)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Gray Hawk (Hidalgo)
Ferruginous Hawk (Valencia, Catron)
Peregrine Falcon (Hidalgo, Bernalillo, Socorro, Sierra)
Wild Turkey (San Miguel)
Montezuma Quail (Catron, Grant, Hidalgo)
Virginia Rail (San Juan)
Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet (Otero)
Black-bellied Plover (Chaves)
Willet (Sierra, Otero)
Upland Sandpiper (Sierra, Chaves)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra)
Marbled Godwit (San Miguel)
Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers (Otero)
Franklin’s and California Gulls (Sierra)
Least Tern (Eddy)
Black Tern (Otero, Eddy, San Juan, Hidalgo)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Whiskered Screech-Owl and Ship-poor-will (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD (Hidalgo)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Los Alamos, Catron)
Greater Pewee (Catron)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Dona Ana, Chaves)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Cochise Co. AZ)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Hidalgo)
Carolina Wren )Bernalillo)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Sandoval)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Sierra)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Gray Catbird (Grant)
Lucy’s Warbler (McKinley)
Hermit warbler (Hidalgo)
Red-faced Warbler (Catron, Hidalgo)
Cassin’s sparrow (Grant)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Hidalgo_
Indigo Bunting (Grant, San Juan)
Lazuli Bunting (Sierra, San Juan, Torrance, Grant, Hidalgo)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo, Socorro, Otero, Chaves, Sierra)
Varied Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax, Eddy)
Orchard Oriole (Dona Ana)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 20, 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 20, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going. Highlights: Black-capped
Gnatcatchers, Reddish Egret.
We are saddened by the death of Douglas Emkalns on August 14. Among his
accomplishments as a good birder, was updating the checklist of Bosque del
Apache birds.
The recent rains have brought muddy roads with rocks, washouts and raging
streams, totally unsafe to cross.
US Fish and Wildlife released 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) or at _www.birder.com_
(http://www.birder.com) . 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 San Juan County;
WW on August 15 had several BLACK TERNS on Morgan Lake and a VIRGINIA RAIL
at the B-Square Ranch in Farmington.
In Animas Park there was LAZULI BUNTINGS with a female INDIGO BUNTING.
In Sandoval County:
WW on August 14 at Cochiti Lake saw two LAZULI BUNTINGS and a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER.
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 on NM 4.
In San Miguel County:
LD on August 12 on the Mineral Hill road near Las Vegas had six WILD TURKEYS.
LD had a MARBLED GODWIT on the Middle Marsh at the Las Vegas Refuge on
August 17.
In Colfax County:
On Miami Lake July 28 DC found the COMMON LOON still present.
DC had two DICKCISSELS between the two ranch homes on Hwy. A-1 with LARK
BUNTINGS on the Maxwell Refuge. Around Laguna Madre (north of Stubblefield)
there was a colony of EARED, WESTERN, and CLARK’S GREBES.
In McKinley County:
JT on August 17 had an immature female LUCY’S WARBLER at the Ramah Lake
Fishing Access area. Because of rocks one must walk in. He also had several
OSPREYS there.
In Cibola County:
JT on August 12 had a RED-FACED WARBLER in the Zuni Mountains in upper
Diener Canyon in sight of Mt. Sedgwick.
In Bernalillo County:
CB on August 18 had a CAROLINA WREN in the eastern Sandia Mts. east of
Albuquerque at the Sulphur Springs Picnic Area at the first parking lot by the
entrance.
MG on August 15 saw a PEREGRINE FALCON at the corner of Menaul and Wyoming
in Albuquerque.
In Valencia County:
WW on August 7 found that rains have flooded the road farther from the marsh
behind the Taco Bell in Belen. He found an amazing 135 CATTLE EGRETS there.
On August 15 he found a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Hwy. 47 southeast of Belen.
In Torrance County:
WW on August 15 had LAZULI BUNTINGS at the sewage ponds in Mountainair.
In Socorro County:
CL on August 3 at Bosque del Apache Refuge south of San Antonio had a pair
of PAINTED BUNTINGS near the EXIT sign at the visitor center parking lot.
KP on August 17 at the refuge had a PEREGRINE FALCON on the Marsh Loop and
four WOOD DUCKS on the pond at the Norton Blind at the Farm Loop.
In Chaves County:
JP on August 18 reported two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on Unit 3 of the Bitter
Lake Refuge near Roswell. He also said there was a female PAINTED BUNTING, a
male VERMILION FLYCATCHER, and a fly over UPLAND SANDPIPER.
In Sierra County:
At Caballo Lake on August 15 JN reported a PEREGRINE FALCON and four PAINTED
BUNTINGS (3 juveniles).
JO on August 11 found the shorebird flats at South Montecello Point were
under water at Elephant Butte Lake. A WILLET was seen. On August 12 JP and WW
found two adult CALIFORNIA GULLS at Three Sisters Point and at South
Monticello two fly-over UPLAND SANDPIPERS, two FRANKLIN’S GULLS, and a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW with a count of 40 GREAT EGRETS in the area. There was a BLACK-TAILED
GNATCATCHER at South Highlands Point.
At Paseo del Rio Park below the dam there was a LAZULI BUNTING.
In Catron County:
JoS found a FERRUGINOUS HAWK at Quemado Lake on August 12.
JD on August 10 found a RED-FACED WARBLER on the JH ranch east of Datil. JH
had a brief visit from a MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD on August 19.
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. EW on August 11 found all of the road east of Mogollon
was closed. She had a GREATER PEWEE just west of Mogollon. PT did have the
woodpecker before the road was closed on August 8.
DB reported two COMMON MERGANSERS at the fish hatchery in Glenwood on
August12.
On July 22-23 CL found MONTEZUMA QUAIL on the edge of Mogollon. At feeders
in the town there were a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD.
CBr found the road into Whitewater Canyon at Glenwood was a bit of a problem.
In Grant County:
EW found CASSIN’S SPARROWS still in good numbers along the Gila River. She
reported that 22 LAZULI BUNTING were banded at the Gila Bird Farm on August
13.
CBr on August 5 had four INDIGO BUNTINGS at the Gila Bird Farm near Cliff.
BB reports CATBIRD in his Silver City yard since July 31. DB had two
MONTEZUMA QUAIL at the Little Walnut Picnic Area in Silver City on August 1.
In Hidalgo County:
JO on August 11 at Clanton Canyon had an adult GRAY HAWK on the entrance
road and a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK above the main campground. On August 12
he had the calling WHISKERED SCREECH-OWLS and up to three WHIP-POOR-WILLS with
two female HERMIT WARBLERS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. On August 13 he had
a RED-FCED WARBLER at the campground and the female LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD
again on the west side of the pass. A quarter mile south of the campground on
August 14 there was a MONTEZUMA QUAIL.
CL reported a male LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD on August 5 in Clanton Canyon .15
mile below Geronima Pass at the top. (The wast side is actually Cottonwood
Canyon). And on August 6 he saw a female Lucifer’s at the same site.
The BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER nest in the New Mexico part of Guadalupe Canyon
fledged young. CR and MH on August 6 reported a family group near the
orchard. The canyon can be ‘fun’ in floods, so be careful. . BW and JNM on
August 2 found each crossing knee deep in water, but DK on August 6 found it only
boot deep. On August 8 RV, SNC, and CW found the family of five
gnatcatchers in the stream bed at the orchard. There were two or three adult GRAY
HAWKS
present.
In the Arizona part of the canyon near the NM line DK on August 6 found a
calling ROSE-THROATED BECARD. He found quite a few VARIED BUNTINGS in the
canyon.
At Dunagan’s Crossing on Co. 1 south of Animas WW and WK saw a GRAY HAWK and
a BOTTERI’S SPARROW. BW and JNM on August 1 had two singing Botteri’s.
JO on August 14 at mile marker 22 south of the crossing had an adult PEREGRINE
FALCON, with an immature GRAY HAWK at mile marker 15, and a BOTTERI’S SPARROW
sat the usual spot at mile marker 14.
CL on August 3 had an adult male PAINTED BUNTING with two ‘green’ ones on
the Arizona side of Stateline Road near Rodeo. The road is sloppy but
passable. JP, JO, and WW had the buntings on August 5 in a row of trees just north
of Rodeo. They also found the WHITE-TAILED KITE a mils south of Rodeo along
US 80. JO on August 14 found a BARN OWL and up to 20 Lazuli BUNTINGS in the
row of trees.
DB on August 1 had two WESTERN GREBES on the sewage ponds at Lordsburg. JO
had five BLACK TERNS there on August 14.
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 Doña Ana County:
CL on August 9 had a concentration of herons on the sandbars at the Mesilla
Dam with 10 BLACK-CROWNED, five GREAT BLUES, a GREEN, and a SNOWY EGRET. On
August 5 CBr had a male VERMILION FLYCATCHER at the dam.
JZ and MS on August 4 had a male ORCHARD ORIOLE in their Radium Springs yard.
In Otero County:
CL and CBr found good shorebird habitat at the Holloman Lakes with dozens of
AVOCETS AND BLACK-NECKED STILTS. On August 19 they saw a WILLET and two
BLACK TERNS present there. DB on August 5 found thick mud barring the way to
Lagoon G, but saw a male PAINTED BUNTING, eight BLACK TERNS, a STILT SANDPIPER,
and many BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS.
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.
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:
At Rattlesnake Springs near Whites City on August 20 there was a DICKCISSEl
for JP..
RD on August 2 had an immature REDDISH EGRET at the northwest corner of
Brantley Lake near the large mud flat. WW found the egret on August 8 hiding in
reeds at the northern end. Signs there say “Keep out Habitat Restoration.”
He saw nine BLACK TERNS near Cheapskate Point. JP again saw the egret on
the northeast part of Brantley Lake on August 19 and 20. Scope east from the
north shore. There were LEAST TERNS on August 19.
SW found ELF OWLS in Last Chance Canyon of the Guadalupe Mts. near Carlsbad.
INITIALS USED:
DB, Dan Battaglia; DB, David Beatty; CBr, Charles and/or Chandra Britt;
CB, Celestyn Brozek; DC, David Cleary; SNC, Steve and Nancy Cox, LD, Lyn
Dominguez; RD, Rob Doster; JD, John Dunn: MG, Mike Gianfriddo; DG, David
Griffin; JH, Joan Hardie; MH, Michael Hilchey; DK, David Krueper; WK,
Woody Kuehn; CL, Carl Lundblad; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JN, Josh Nemeth; BN,
Bill Norris; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; KP, Kitty Pokorny;
CR, Chris Rustay; MS, Marcy Scott; JS, Joan Silagy; PT, Pat Tabor; JT,
John Trochet; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BW, Bill West; SW. Steve West; WW,
Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; EW, Eleanor Wootten; 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 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.
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 have a trip to Bosque del Apache
Refuge for migrants. Call Walt Whitford at 521-1358.
- End transcript.
* New Mexico Bird Report
* August 20, 2006
* NMEX0608.20
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Common Loon (Colfax)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Western Grebe (Hidalgo)
Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret (Dona Ana)
Great Egret (Sierra)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
Cattle Egret (Valencia)
Black-crowned Night and Green Herons (Dona Ana)
Wood Duck (Socorro)
Common Merganser (Catron)
Osprey (McKinley)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Gray Hawk (Hidalgo)
Ferruginous Hawk (Valencia, Catron)
Peregrine Falcon (Hidalgo, Bernalillo, Socorro, Sierra)
Wild Turkey (San Miguel)
Montezuma Quail (Catron, Grant, Hidalgo)
Virginia Rail (San Juan)
Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet (Otero)
Black-bellied Plover (Chaves)
Willet (Sierra, Otero)
Upland Sandpiper (Sierra, Chaves)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra)
Marbled Godwit (San Miguel)
Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers (Otero)
Franklin’s and California Gulls (Sierra)
Least Tern (Eddy)
Black Tern (Otero, Eddy, San Juan, Hidalgo)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Whiskered Screech-Owl and Ship-poor-will (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD (Hidalgo)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Los Alamos, Catron)
Greater Pewee (Catron)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Dona Ana, Chaves)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Cochise Co. AZ)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Hidalgo)
Carolina Wren )Bernalillo)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Sandoval)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Sierra)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Gray Catbird (Grant)
Lucy’s Warbler (McKinley)
Hermit warbler (Hidalgo)
Red-faced Warbler (Catron, Hidalgo)
Cassin’s sparrow (Grant)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Hidalgo_
Indigo Bunting (Grant, San Juan)
Lazuli Bunting (Sierra, San Juan, Torrance, Grant, Hidalgo)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo, Socorro, Otero, Chaves, Sierra)
Varied Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax, Eddy)
Orchard Oriole (Dona Ana)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 20, 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 20, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going. Highlights: Black-capped
Gnatcatchers, Reddish Egret.
We are saddened by the death of Douglas Emkalns on August 14. Among his
accomplishments as a good birder, was updating the checklist of Bosque del
Apache birds.
The recent rains have brought muddy roads with rocks, washouts and raging
streams, totally unsafe to cross.
US Fish and Wildlife released 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) or at _www.birder.com_
(http://www.birder.com) . 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 San Juan County;
WW on August 15 had several BLACK TERNS on Morgan Lake and a VIRGINIA RAIL
at the B-Square Ranch in Farmington.
In Animas Park there was LAZULI BUNTINGS with a female INDIGO BUNTING.
In Sandoval County:
WW on August 14 at Cochiti Lake saw two LAZULI BUNTINGS and a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER.
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 on NM 4.
In San Miguel County:
LD on August 12 on the Mineral Hill road near Las Vegas had six WILD TURKEYS.
LD had a MARBLED GODWIT on the Middle Marsh at the Las Vegas Refuge on
August 17.
In Colfax County:
On Miami Lake July 28 DC found the COMMON LOON still present.
DC had two DICKCISSELS between the two ranch homes on Hwy. A-1 with LARK
BUNTINGS on the Maxwell Refuge. Around Laguna Madre (north of Stubblefield)
there was a colony of EARED, WESTERN, and CLARK’S GREBES.
In McKinley County:
JT on August 17 had an immature female LUCY’S WARBLER at the Ramah Lake
Fishing Access area. Because of rocks one must walk in. He also had several
OSPREYS there.
In Cibola County:
JT on August 12 had a RED-FACED WARBLER in the Zuni Mountains in upper
Diener Canyon in sight of Mt. Sedgwick.
In Bernalillo County:
CB on August 18 had a CAROLINA WREN in the eastern Sandia Mts. east of
Albuquerque at the Sulphur Springs Picnic Area at the first parking lot by the
entrance.
MG on August 15 saw a PEREGRINE FALCON at the corner of Menaul and Wyoming
in Albuquerque.
In Valencia County:
WW on August 7 found that rains have flooded the road farther from the marsh
behind the Taco Bell in Belen. He found an amazing 135 CATTLE EGRETS there.
On August 15 he found a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Hwy. 47 southeast of Belen.
In Torrance County:
WW on August 15 had LAZULI BUNTINGS at the sewage ponds in Mountainair.
In Socorro County:
CL on August 3 at Bosque del Apache Refuge south of San Antonio had a pair
of PAINTED BUNTINGS near the EXIT sign at the visitor center parking lot.
KP on August 17 at the refuge had a PEREGRINE FALCON on the Marsh Loop and
four WOOD DUCKS on the pond at the Norton Blind at the Farm Loop.
In Chaves County:
JP on August 18 reported two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on Unit 3 of the Bitter
Lake Refuge near Roswell. He also said there was a female PAINTED BUNTING, a
male VERMILION FLYCATCHER, and a fly over UPLAND SANDPIPER.
In Sierra County:
At Caballo Lake on August 15 JN reported a PEREGRINE FALCON and four PAINTED
BUNTINGS (3 juveniles).
JO on August 11 found the shorebird flats at South Montecello Point were
under water at Elephant Butte Lake. A WILLET was seen. On August 12 JP and WW
found two adult CALIFORNIA GULLS at Three Sisters Point and at South
Monticello two fly-over UPLAND SANDPIPERS, two FRANKLIN’S GULLS, and a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW with a count of 40 GREAT EGRETS in the area. There was a BLACK-TAILED
GNATCATCHER at South Highlands Point.
At Paseo del Rio Park below the dam there was a LAZULI BUNTING.
In Catron County:
JoS found a FERRUGINOUS HAWK at Quemado Lake on August 12.
JD on August 10 found a RED-FACED WARBLER on the JH ranch east of Datil. JH
had a brief visit from a MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD on August 19.
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. EW on August 11 found all of the road east of Mogollon
was closed. She had a GREATER PEWEE just west of Mogollon. PT did have the
woodpecker before the road was closed on August 8.
DB reported two COMMON MERGANSERS at the fish hatchery in Glenwood on
August12.
On July 22-23 CL found MONTEZUMA QUAIL on the edge of Mogollon. At feeders
in the town there were a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD.
CBr found the road into Whitewater Canyon at Glenwood was a bit of a problem.
In Grant County:
EW found CASSIN’S SPARROWS still in good numbers along the Gila River. She
reported that 22 LAZULI BUNTING were banded at the Gila Bird Farm on August
13.
CBr on August 5 had four INDIGO BUNTINGS at the Gila Bird Farm near Cliff.
BB reports CATBIRD in his Silver City yard since July 31. DB had two
MONTEZUMA QUAIL at the Little Walnut Picnic Area in Silver City on August 1.
In Hidalgo County:
JO on August 11 at Clanton Canyon had an adult GRAY HAWK on the entrance
road and a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK above the main campground. On August 12
he had the calling WHISKERED SCREECH-OWLS and up to three WHIP-POOR-WILLS with
two female HERMIT WARBLERS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. On August 13 he had
a RED-FCED WARBLER at the campground and the female LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD
again on the west side of the pass. A quarter mile south of the campground on
August 14 there was a MONTEZUMA QUAIL.
CL reported a male LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD on August 5 in Clanton Canyon .15
mile below Geronima Pass at the top. (The wast side is actually Cottonwood
Canyon). And on August 6 he saw a female Lucifer’s at the same site.
The BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER nest in the New Mexico part of Guadalupe Canyon
fledged young. CR and MH on August 6 reported a family group near the
orchard. The canyon can be ‘fun’ in floods, so be careful. . BW and JNM on
August 2 found each crossing knee deep in water, but DK on August 6 found it only
boot deep. On August 8 RV, SNC, and CW found the family of five
gnatcatchers in the stream bed at the orchard. There were two or three adult GRAY
HAWKS
present.
In the Arizona part of the canyon near the NM line DK on August 6 found a
calling ROSE-THROATED BECARD. He found quite a few VARIED BUNTINGS in the
canyon.
At Dunagan’s Crossing on Co. 1 south of Animas WW and WK saw a GRAY HAWK and
a BOTTERI’S SPARROW. BW and JNM on August 1 had two singing Botteri’s.
JO on August 14 at mile marker 22 south of the crossing had an adult PEREGRINE
FALCON, with an immature GRAY HAWK at mile marker 15, and a BOTTERI’S SPARROW
sat the usual spot at mile marker 14.
CL on August 3 had an adult male PAINTED BUNTING with two ‘green’ ones on
the Arizona side of Stateline Road near Rodeo. The road is sloppy but
passable. JP, JO, and WW had the buntings on August 5 in a row of trees just north
of Rodeo. They also found the WHITE-TAILED KITE a mils south of Rodeo along
US 80. JO on August 14 found a BARN OWL and up to 20 Lazuli BUNTINGS in the
row of trees.
DB on August 1 had two WESTERN GREBES on the sewage ponds at Lordsburg. JO
had five BLACK TERNS there on August 14.
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 Doña Ana County:
CL on August 9 had a concentration of herons on the sandbars at the Mesilla
Dam with 10 BLACK-CROWNED, five GREAT BLUES, a GREEN, and a SNOWY EGRET. On
August 5 CBr had a male VERMILION FLYCATCHER at the dam.
JZ and MS on August 4 had a male ORCHARD ORIOLE in their Radium Springs yard.
In Otero County:
CL and CBr found good shorebird habitat at the Holloman Lakes with dozens of
AVOCETS AND BLACK-NECKED STILTS. On August 19 they saw a WILLET and two
BLACK TERNS present there. DB on August 5 found thick mud barring the way to
Lagoon G, but saw a male PAINTED BUNTING, eight BLACK TERNS, a STILT SANDPIPER,
and many BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS.
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.
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:
At Rattlesnake Springs near Whites City on August 20 there was a DICKCISSEl
for JP..
RD on August 2 had an immature REDDISH EGRET at the northwest corner of
Brantley Lake near the large mud flat. WW found the egret on August 8 hiding in
reeds at the northern end. Signs there say “Keep out Habitat Restoration.”
He saw nine BLACK TERNS near Cheapskate Point. JP again saw the egret on
the northeast part of Brantley Lake on August 19 and 20. Scope east from the
north shore. There were LEAST TERNS on August 19.
SW found ELF OWLS in Last Chance Canyon of the Guadalupe Mts. near Carlsbad.
INITIALS USED:
DB, Dan Battaglia; DB, David Beatty; CBr, Charles and/or Chandra Britt;
CB, Celestyn Brozek; DC, David Cleary; SNC, Steve and Nancy Cox, LD, Lyn
Dominguez; RD, Rob Doster; JD, John Dunn: MG, Mike Gianfriddo; DG, David
Griffin; JH, Joan Hardie; MH, Michael Hilchey; DK, David Krueper; WK,
Woody Kuehn; CL, Carl Lundblad; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JN, Josh Nemeth; BN,
Bill Norris; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; KP, Kitty Pokorny;
CR, Chris Rustay; MS, Marcy Scott; JS, Joan Silagy; PT, Pat Tabor; JT,
John Trochet; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BW, Bill West; SW. Steve West; WW,
Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; EW, Eleanor Wootten; 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 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.
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 have a trip to Bosque del Apache
Refuge for migrants. Call Walt Whitford at 521-1358.
- End transcript.