- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* August 24, 2006
* NMEX0608.24
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Eared Grebe (Torrance)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Western Grebe (Hidalgo)
Least Bittern (Dona Ana)
Great Egret (Sierra)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
Cattle Egret (Valencia)
Green Heron (Guadalupe)
Wood Duck (Socorro)
Common Merganser (Catron)
Osprey (McKinley, Sierra)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Northern Goshawk (Colfax)
Gray Hawk (Hidalgo)
Ferruginous Hawk (Catron)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Hidalgo)
Peregrine Falcon (Hidalgo, Bernalillo, Socorro, Sierra, Otero)
Montezuma Quail (Grant, Hidalgo)
Virginia Rail (San Juan)
Sora (Guadalupe)
Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet (Otero)
Black-bellied Plover (Chaves)
Willet (Sierra, Otero)
Solitary Sandpiper (Dona Ana)
Upland Sandpiper (Sierra, Chaves)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra, Dona Ana)
Marbled Godwit (San Miguel)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Otero)
Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers (Otero. Dona Ana)
Franklin’s and California Gulls (Sierra)
Forster's Tern (Torrance)
Least Tern (Eddy)
Black Tern (Otero, Eddy, San Juan, Hidalgo, Torrance, Catron,
Dona Ana)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Whiskered Screech-Owl and Whip-poor-will (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Hidalgo)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Guadalupe)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Dona Ana)
Greater Pewee (Catron)
Eastern Phoebe (Guadalupe)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Dona Ana, Chaves, Hidalgo)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Catron)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Grant)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Cochise Co. AZ)
Bell's Vireo (hdalgo)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Hidalgo)
Carolina Wren )Bernalillo)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Sandoval)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Sierra)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Lucy’s Warbler (McKinley)
Hermit warbler (Hidalgo, Catron)
American Redstart (Catron)
Northern Waterthrush (Bernalillo)
Red-faced Warbler (Cibola, Catron, Hidalgo)
Cassin’s sparrow (Grant, Catron)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Torrance)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (HidalgO)
Indigo Bunting (San Juan)
Lazuli Bunting (Torrance, Grant, Hidalgo, Sandoval)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo, Otero, Chaves, Sierra)
Varied Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax, Eddy)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 24, 2006
RBA phone number 505-884-3269
compiler Patricia R. Snider
home phone number 505-884-1320
cell phone number 505-803-1807
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for August
24, 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,
Scissor-tailed and Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Carolina Wren.
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 a female INDIGO BUNTING.
In Sandoval County:
WW on August 14 at Cochiti Lake saw two LAZULI BUNTINGS and a
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
In San Miguel County:
LD had a MARBLED GODWIT on the Middle Marsh at the Las Vegas
Refuge on August 17.
In Colfax County:
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.
LD saw an immature GOSHAWK at Angel Fire on August 19.
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 found at the
first parking lot by the entrance. He saw it again on August 20 at
the stream by the Crest Hwy. DP found it on August 21 and JP said
it was singing on August 22.
JJ on August 20 at the Bosque Trail at the Rio Grande Nature
Center in Albuquerque found a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH near a bench by
the ditch.
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.
In Torrance County:
WW on August 15 had LAZULI BUNTINGS at the sewage ponds in
Mountainair. On August 22 he saw an EARED GREBE, three FORSTER'S
TERNS, and later two BLACK TERNS present with a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.
In Guadalupe County:
WW on August 23 at Power Dam Park in Santa Rosa had a RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, a GREEN HERON, and an EASTERN PHOEBE. Near Puerto de
Luna south of Santa Rosa at a marsh to the right a mile from town
he heard a SORA.
In Socorro County:
KP on August 17 at Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio
had a PEREGRINE FALCON on the Marsh Loop and four WOOD DUCKS on the
pond at the Norton Blind on 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:
CL and CBr on August 24 had an OSPREY at Paseo del Rio Park below
the Elephant Butte Dam.
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.
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.
JPi on August 10 at the Gila Cliff Dwellings saw a male AMERICAN
REDSTART. On the same date at the Little Creek Campsite he heard a
possible SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
MS on August 19 found many CASSIN'S SPARROWS singing along
Whitewater Mesa between Glenwood and Mogollon with two MAGNIFICENT
HUMMINGBIRDS at feeders in Mogollon and a HERMIT WARBLER on August
21 at mile post 5 on the road to Mogollon. EW on August 11 found
all of the road east of Mogollon was closed. She had a GREATER
PEWEE just west of Mogollon.
DBe reported two COMMON MERGANSERS at the fish hatchery in
Glenwood on August12.
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.
On August 22 EW on US 180 3.3 miles south of Mangas Springs
saw a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER on a fence.
DBe 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-FACED
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 and CBr
had the Lucifer again on August 19. JO had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK
August 17. JO on August 18 saw a female ANNA'S Hummingbird in
the lower part of Clanton.
CL reported a male LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD on August 5 in
Clanton Canyon .15 mile below Geronima Pass at the top. (The
west 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.
DBe on August 1 had two WESTERN GREBES on the sewage ponds at
Lordsburg. JO had five BLACK TERNS there on August 14. CL and CBr
on August 19 at Rodeo saw a BELL'S VIREO and a VERMILION FLYCATCHER.
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:
JN at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park on August 19 found many
mosquitoes, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, LEAST BITTERN, and an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER.
He found water in Isaak Lake northeast of Las Cruces on August
22 with about 1000 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, ten BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS,
five BLACK TERNS, and two LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.
On August 5 CBr had a male VERMILION FLYCATCHER at the Mesilla
Dam.
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. On August 24 CL and CBr saw a SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER and two PEREGRINE FALCONS at the lakes.
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; DBe, 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; JJ, Jim Joseph; DK, David Krueper; WK, Woody Kuehn; CL,
Carl Lundblad; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JN, Josh Nemeth; JO, Jerry
Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; JP, John Parmeter; JPi, James Pike;
KP, Kitty Pokorny; CR, Chris Rustay; JS, Joan Silagy; MS, Mark
Stevenson; JT, John Trochet; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BW, Bill
West; SW. Steve West; WW, Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; EW,
Eleanor Wootten.
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. 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 24, 2006
* NMEX0608.24
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Eared Grebe (Torrance)
Eared, Western and Clark’s Grebes (Colfax)
Western Grebe (Hidalgo)
Least Bittern (Dona Ana)
Great Egret (Sierra)
Reddish Egret (Eddy)
Cattle Egret (Valencia)
Green Heron (Guadalupe)
Wood Duck (Socorro)
Common Merganser (Catron)
Osprey (McKinley, Sierra)
White-tailed Kite (Hidalgo)
Northern Goshawk (Colfax)
Gray Hawk (Hidalgo)
Ferruginous Hawk (Catron)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Hidalgo)
Peregrine Falcon (Hidalgo, Bernalillo, Socorro, Sierra, Otero)
Montezuma Quail (Grant, Hidalgo)
Virginia Rail (San Juan)
Sora (Guadalupe)
Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet (Otero)
Black-bellied Plover (Chaves)
Willet (Sierra, Otero)
Solitary Sandpiper (Dona Ana)
Upland Sandpiper (Sierra, Chaves)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra, Dona Ana)
Marbled Godwit (San Miguel)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Otero)
Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers (Otero. Dona Ana)
Franklin’s and California Gulls (Sierra)
Forster's Tern (Torrance)
Least Tern (Eddy)
Black Tern (Otero, Eddy, San Juan, Hidalgo, Torrance, Catron,
Dona Ana)
Barn Owl (Hidalgo)
Whiskered Screech-Owl and Whip-poor-will (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Eddy)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Hidalgo)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Guadalupe)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Dona Ana)
Greater Pewee (Catron)
Eastern Phoebe (Guadalupe)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Dona Ana, Chaves, Hidalgo)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Catron)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Grant)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Cochise Co. AZ)
Bell's Vireo (hdalgo)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Hidalgo)
Carolina Wren )Bernalillo)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Sandoval)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Sierra)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Hidalgo)
Lucy’s Warbler (McKinley)
Hermit warbler (Hidalgo, Catron)
American Redstart (Catron)
Northern Waterthrush (Bernalillo)
Red-faced Warbler (Cibola, Catron, Hidalgo)
Cassin’s sparrow (Grant, Catron)
Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Torrance)
Lark Bunting (Colfax, Otero)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (HidalgO)
Indigo Bunting (San Juan)
Lazuli Bunting (Torrance, Grant, Hidalgo, Sandoval)
Painted Bunting (Hidalgo, Otero, Chaves, Sierra)
Varied Bunting (Hidalgo)
Dickcissel (Colfax, Eddy)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: August 24, 2006
RBA phone number 505-884-3269
compiler Patricia R. Snider
home phone number 505-884-1320
cell phone number 505-803-1807
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for August
24, 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,
Scissor-tailed and Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Carolina Wren.
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 a female INDIGO BUNTING.
In Sandoval County:
WW on August 14 at Cochiti Lake saw two LAZULI BUNTINGS and a
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
In San Miguel County:
LD had a MARBLED GODWIT on the Middle Marsh at the Las Vegas
Refuge on August 17.
In Colfax County:
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.
LD saw an immature GOSHAWK at Angel Fire on August 19.
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 found at the
first parking lot by the entrance. He saw it again on August 20 at
the stream by the Crest Hwy. DP found it on August 21 and JP said
it was singing on August 22.
JJ on August 20 at the Bosque Trail at the Rio Grande Nature
Center in Albuquerque found a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH near a bench by
the ditch.
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.
In Torrance County:
WW on August 15 had LAZULI BUNTINGS at the sewage ponds in
Mountainair. On August 22 he saw an EARED GREBE, three FORSTER'S
TERNS, and later two BLACK TERNS present with a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.
In Guadalupe County:
WW on August 23 at Power Dam Park in Santa Rosa had a RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, a GREEN HERON, and an EASTERN PHOEBE. Near Puerto de
Luna south of Santa Rosa at a marsh to the right a mile from town
he heard a SORA.
In Socorro County:
KP on August 17 at Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio
had a PEREGRINE FALCON on the Marsh Loop and four WOOD DUCKS on the
pond at the Norton Blind on 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:
CL and CBr on August 24 had an OSPREY at Paseo del Rio Park below
the Elephant Butte Dam.
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.
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.
JPi on August 10 at the Gila Cliff Dwellings saw a male AMERICAN
REDSTART. On the same date at the Little Creek Campsite he heard a
possible SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
MS on August 19 found many CASSIN'S SPARROWS singing along
Whitewater Mesa between Glenwood and Mogollon with two MAGNIFICENT
HUMMINGBIRDS at feeders in Mogollon and a HERMIT WARBLER on August
21 at mile post 5 on the road to Mogollon. EW on August 11 found
all of the road east of Mogollon was closed. She had a GREATER
PEWEE just west of Mogollon.
DBe reported two COMMON MERGANSERS at the fish hatchery in
Glenwood on August12.
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.
On August 22 EW on US 180 3.3 miles south of Mangas Springs
saw a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER on a fence.
DBe 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-FACED
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 and CBr
had the Lucifer again on August 19. JO had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK
August 17. JO on August 18 saw a female ANNA'S Hummingbird in
the lower part of Clanton.
CL reported a male LUCIFER’S HUMMINGBIRD on August 5 in
Clanton Canyon .15 mile below Geronima Pass at the top. (The
west 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.
DBe on August 1 had two WESTERN GREBES on the sewage ponds at
Lordsburg. JO had five BLACK TERNS there on August 14. CL and CBr
on August 19 at Rodeo saw a BELL'S VIREO and a VERMILION FLYCATCHER.
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:
JN at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park on August 19 found many
mosquitoes, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, LEAST BITTERN, and an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER.
He found water in Isaak Lake northeast of Las Cruces on August
22 with about 1000 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, ten BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS,
five BLACK TERNS, and two LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.
On August 5 CBr had a male VERMILION FLYCATCHER at the Mesilla
Dam.
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. On August 24 CL and CBr saw a SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER and two PEREGRINE FALCONS at the lakes.
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; DBe, 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; JJ, Jim Joseph; DK, David Krueper; WK, Woody Kuehn; CL,
Carl Lundblad; JNM, Jim Nelson-Moore; JN, Josh Nemeth; JO, Jerry
Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; JP, John Parmeter; JPi, James Pike;
KP, Kitty Pokorny; CR, Chris Rustay; JS, Joan Silagy; MS, Mark
Stevenson; JT, John Trochet; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BW, Bill
West; SW. Steve West; WW, Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; EW,
Eleanor Wootten.
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. 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.