- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* December 25, 2006
* NMEX0612.25
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Pacific Loon (Doņa Ana)
Common Loon (Colfax, Quay)
Horned Grebe (Quay, Sandoval)
American White Pelican (Quay)
American Bittern (Chaves), Doņa Ana)
REDDISH EGRET (Chaves)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Chaves, Bernalillo)
Cackling Goose (Bernalillo)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Bernalillo)
Tundra Swan (Chaves, Colfax)
Wood Duck (Doņa Ana, Sandoval, Grant)
Greater Scaup (Quay)
White-winged Scoter (Colfax)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Colfax)
Hooded Merganser (Sierra)
Red-breasted Merganser (Sierra)
Osprey (Sierra)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Doņa Ana, Eddy)
Bald Eagle (Sandoval)
Northern Goshawk (Hidalgo0
Harris's Hawk (Grant, Luna)
Rough-legged Hawk (Socorro, Colfax)
Golden Eagle (Colfax)
Merlin (Sierra, Grant)
Sandhill Crane (Catron)
Least Sandpiper (Socorro)
Dunlin (Otero)
California and Bonaparte's Gulls (Sierra)
Herring Gull (Sierra, Doņa Ana, Sandoval)
ICELAND GULL (Doņa Ana)
Inca Dove (Sierra)
Burrowing Owl (Grant)
Long-eared Owl (Hidalgo, Luna, Doņa Ana)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Doņa Ana)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Colfax)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sierra, Socorro)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Bernalillo)
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Bernalillo)
Hammond's Flycatcher (Sierra)
Dusky Flycatcher (Socorro)
Eastern Phoebe (Doņa Ana)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Doņa Ana, Bernalillo)
Northern Shrike (Colfax)
Blue Jay (Colfax)
Pinyon Jay (Grant, Cibola)
American Crow (Doņa Ana)
Winter Wren (Grant)
American Dipper (Sierra)
Eastern Bluebird (Doņa Ana, Luna, Bernalillo, Sierra)
Mountain Bluebird (Bernalillo, Grant, Bernalillo)
Cedar Waxwing (Sierra)
Phainopepla (Socorro)
Common Yellowthroat (Doņa Ana)
American Tree and Lincoln's Sparrows (Bernalillo)
Savannah Sparrow (Grant)
Slate-colored and red Fox Sparrows (Bernalillo, Socorro)
Swamp Sparrow (Doņa Ana)
White-throated Sparrow (Socorro, Sierra, Bernalillo)
Harris's Sparrow (Socorro)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Doņa Ana))
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Quay)
Rosy Finches (Bernalillo)
Red Crossbill (Bernalillo)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: December 25, 2006
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
I have moved to Colorado.
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for December 25, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are
given for private property, please call before going. Highlights: ICELAND
GULL, White-tailed Kites, Rusty Blackbirds. White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed
Ducks, Barrow's Goldeneye.
Surviving the blizzard caused a major delay in getting e-mail.
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. Check
_www.birder.com_ (http://www.birder.com) and _www.nmosbirds.org_
(http://www.nmosbirds.org)
for earlier reports. 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 Sandoval County:
BH and GP on December 10 at Cochiti Lake had a HORNED GREBE, two adult BALD
EAGLES, and two WOOD DUCKS near the spillway. The same day DB saw an
immature HERRING GULL at the spillway.
In San Miguel County:
The Clabber Hill Ranch near Conchas Lake is now closed to birding.
In Colfax County:
DC has seen on Lake 13 a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER present for about two
weeks. DC reports that the ice by December 12 had mostly melted on the lake
and the scoter was far out in the middle of the lake, tho' it has been cold
again. . It was seen by MH, CW, and BT on December 18 and DC on December 19.
The MH trio also saw the N0RTHERN SHRIKE again. DC found the lake frozen on
December 23 and no sign of the scoter.
On nearby Stubblefield Lake found a few spots open on December 23 with two
COMMON LOONS, .three TUNDRA SWANS, the one male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and a
female LONG-TAILED DUCK.
DC on December 22 between the Golf Course and NM 555 in Raton had a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. On NM 72 to Sugarite Canyon SP there were three LEWIS'S
WOODPECKERS and five BLUE JAYS.
On I-25 at mile marker 424 two miles south of Maxwell DC has found two
GOLDEN EAGLES since November 20.
In Quay County:
DC on December 9 found the four RUSTY BLACKBIRDS still present at a woodlot
near headquarters of Ute Lake SP. On the lake there was a COMMON LOON, three
HORNED GREBES, four WHITE PELICANS, and nine GREATER SCAUP.
In Cibola County:
NG found Bluewater Lake completely frozen on December 13. The PINYON JAYS
were still at Bluewater Village.
In Bernalillo County:
At the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque JP found a high count of 480
CACKLING GEESE on the parking lot pond. . JJ on December 9 saw seven ROSS'S
GEESE and ten SNOW GEESE. DP saw three WHITE-FRONTED GEESE there December
13. DP had a SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROW at the entrance feeder on December 9.
He saw it again December 11 and on December 13, 15, and 19 it was near the
observation feeder. He has seen some red and wonders if it may not be a
zaboria. On the River Trail at the Rio Grande there was a flock of up to 60
MOUNTAIN and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on December 19. BR saw the sparrow on December 22
and CL had it on December 23.
CR hiked up the east side of the Rio Grande from the Alameda Bridge on
December 24. He had an immature VERMILION FLYCATCHER along the ditch at mile
marker 9.5, with two TREE SPARROWS, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and four
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.
On December 22 BR hiked the Pino Trail on the west side of the Sandia Mts.
and found a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER flying over.
At the Sandia Crest House east of Albuquerque there is a good number of
BLACK ROSY-FINCHES with a few BROWN-CAPPED and GRAY-CROWNED. CR snd BN on
December 2 had the Hepburn's subspecies present, seen by several on December 3 and
14. On December 10 SNC reported they only had Blacks, banded 41 (now 137
this season) with five repeats from 2005 and last winter.
DG on December 14 found a flock Of about 50 RED CROSSBILLS just below the
Crest. JJ on December 3 at Sandia Crest found a female THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
on the east side of the Kiwanis Meadow.
In Chaves County:
JH at the Bitter Lake Refuge near Roswell on December 11 had an AMERICAN
BITTERN on Unit 7 and a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on Unit 16. He had another bittern
on Unit 5 December 14 and 19 and found that the REDDISH EGRET has returned
to Unit 5, and again on December 22 with a bad foot.
PB on December 15 reported TUNDRA SWANS on Van Lake near Dexter.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio NG had a YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER at the Cactus Garden on December 15. There was a male ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
on the Farm Loop with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and a LEAST SANDPIPER at the
Norton Blind. BH counted a DUSKY FLYCATCHER and a PHAINOPEPLA. At the
visitor center on December 22 CL had a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and a red FOX
SPARROW.
At his home near Luis Lopez south of Socorro JO reported two WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS and an immature HARRIS'S SPARROWS.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park CL on December 9 saw the DIPPER, WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER with many CEDAR WAXWINGS still present.
South of the park he found an OSPREY and a MERLIN. CR and BN had a
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER there on December 17. On December 22 CL saw the flycatcher, the
sapsucker, two of the sparrows, and 15 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
In Riverside Park below Caballo Dam JP, LL, and WW on December 8 found
another White-throated Sparrow.
At the Oxbow lake in Truth or Consequences on December 8 JP and crew had one
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. CL had a HOODED MERGANSER and an OSPREY December
9.
CL saw the two INCA DOVES in Paseo del Rio Park below Elephant Butte Dam on
December 9. CL on December 22 at the lake's Rock Canyon Marina recorded a
CALIFORNIA and a BONAPARTE'S GULL with several HERRING GULLS.
In Catron County:
TPS found 54 SANDHILL CRANES in Pleasanton that may winter.
In Grant County:
PINYON JAYS have appeared in numbers in the Silver City area. FL on
December 3 had 60 near the Spirit Lake Lodge at Roberts Lake.
EW had 40 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS at her home near Cliff on November 29.
At the Tyrone Sewage Ponds EL saw 70 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and a MERLIN on
December 2. With others on December 10 saw three male WOOD DUCKS at the ponds.
DBe on November 30 in the San Vicente Creek part of Silver City had a WINTER
WREN.
HW found a BURROWING OWL south of Hurley December 3.
In Hidalgo County:
LM in Clanton Canyon on December 11 reported a GOSHAWK, a LONG-EARED OWL,
and a SAW-WHET OWL.
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:
LM on December 1 counted seven HARRIS'S HAWKS in so. Grant and Luna Counties.
On December 9 he had two LONG-EARED OWLS and six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in the
Mountain View Cemetery in Deming with a PEREGRINE FALCON at the city limits on
December 11.
The waste treatment ponds in Deming have been closed for construction and
birding till further notice.
In Doņa Ana County:
JPa found a first winter ICELAND GULL on the Sunland Park racetrack pond on
December 5. It stays on the water on the lake's east side with a HERRING
GULL. Photos have been taken by JO. It was seen December JP advises that one
needs to get permission to look for it from the casino there. The office is
near the Jack Pot Grill. There is a platform from which it can be scoped.
CL and CCBr saw the Iceland and the Herring on December 8. On December 9 it
was found by SNC, SW, LS, WSH, TL and others. MT and MD saw the gull across
from the casino on December 12. CR and BN had both gulls on December 17 with
an adult PACIFIC LOON on the lake.
JN on November 30 found water still in Isaack's Lake with many ducks and
sparrows present, as well as a WHITE-TAILED KITE. JO found two kites present on
December 7; CL and CBr had the two kites a half mile north of the lake on
December 8. CCBr saw them again on December 8 and 9; JP and WW on December 8 a
mile north of the lake. Cr and BN did not see it December 17 but saw many
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS. CL and DG on December 16 at the lake found a
roost of five LONG-EARED OWLS.
JZ and MS at their home near Radium Springs have had two immature males
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. The two males were still seen on December 9 with eight
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
At his home in Mesilla JN found on December 11 the male VERMILION FLYCATCHER
survived the cold and is still there with an EASTERN PHOEBE.
There has been an invasion of CROWS in the Rio Grande area near Las Cruces.
CL on December 8 had a high count of 47 WOOD DUCKS north of the Mesilla Dam.
MB again saw the AMERICAN BITTERN at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park on
December 9 by the pond with a SWAMP SPARROW. CL had a immature male YELLOWTHROAT
present on December 14.
In Otero County:
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. BB on November 22 at the lakes saw a DUNLIN.
JO saw it on December 8.
In Eddy County:
SW reported a WHITE-TAILED KITE on December 9 at the Seven Rivers Waterfowl
Area north of Brantley Lake. JO saw it again on December 21.
INITIALS USED:
BB, Bob Barber; DB, Dan Battaglia; DBe, David Beatty; PB, Peg Briney;
CCBr, Charles and Chandra Britt; MB, Matt Brooks; DC, David Cleary; SNC,
Steve and Nancy Cox; MD, Merce Dostale; NG, Noah Gaines; DG, David Griffin;
MH, Michael Hilchey; WSH, Wally and Sue Hill; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff
Howland; JJ, Jim Joseph; FL, Fran Land; TL, Tim Lawton; LL, Lane Leckman;
EL, Gene Lewis; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; JN, Josh Nemeth; BN,
Bruce Neville; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; GP, Gary Parker;
JP, John Parmeter; JPa, James Paton; BR, Bill Rowe; CR, Chris Rustay; LS,
Lorraine Schulte; MS. Marcy Scott; TPS, Tom and Pat Steinberg; BT, Bill
Talbot; MT, Michael Tarachow; SW, Steve West; HW, Hamilton Williams; 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. On December 21 they go to the Rio Grande Nature Center with Madge
Wallen. No trip is planned for December 28.
To get to a list of Christmas Counts, go to the NMOS web page listed above,
and in the second paragraph of the counts click on "excellent page". It has
a chart with the dates and compilers and a map showing where the counts are.
The next banding date for the Sandia Crest rosy finches will be on January 7.
- End transcript.
* New Mexico Bird Report
* December 25, 2006
* NMEX0612.25
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Pacific Loon (Doņa Ana)
Common Loon (Colfax, Quay)
Horned Grebe (Quay, Sandoval)
American White Pelican (Quay)
American Bittern (Chaves), Doņa Ana)
REDDISH EGRET (Chaves)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Chaves, Bernalillo)
Cackling Goose (Bernalillo)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Bernalillo)
Tundra Swan (Chaves, Colfax)
Wood Duck (Doņa Ana, Sandoval, Grant)
Greater Scaup (Quay)
White-winged Scoter (Colfax)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Colfax)
Hooded Merganser (Sierra)
Red-breasted Merganser (Sierra)
Osprey (Sierra)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Doņa Ana, Eddy)
Bald Eagle (Sandoval)
Northern Goshawk (Hidalgo0
Harris's Hawk (Grant, Luna)
Rough-legged Hawk (Socorro, Colfax)
Golden Eagle (Colfax)
Merlin (Sierra, Grant)
Sandhill Crane (Catron)
Least Sandpiper (Socorro)
Dunlin (Otero)
California and Bonaparte's Gulls (Sierra)
Herring Gull (Sierra, Doņa Ana, Sandoval)
ICELAND GULL (Doņa Ana)
Inca Dove (Sierra)
Burrowing Owl (Grant)
Long-eared Owl (Hidalgo, Luna, Doņa Ana)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Doņa Ana)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Colfax)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sierra, Socorro)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Bernalillo)
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Bernalillo)
Hammond's Flycatcher (Sierra)
Dusky Flycatcher (Socorro)
Eastern Phoebe (Doņa Ana)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Doņa Ana, Bernalillo)
Northern Shrike (Colfax)
Blue Jay (Colfax)
Pinyon Jay (Grant, Cibola)
American Crow (Doņa Ana)
Winter Wren (Grant)
American Dipper (Sierra)
Eastern Bluebird (Doņa Ana, Luna, Bernalillo, Sierra)
Mountain Bluebird (Bernalillo, Grant, Bernalillo)
Cedar Waxwing (Sierra)
Phainopepla (Socorro)
Common Yellowthroat (Doņa Ana)
American Tree and Lincoln's Sparrows (Bernalillo)
Savannah Sparrow (Grant)
Slate-colored and red Fox Sparrows (Bernalillo, Socorro)
Swamp Sparrow (Doņa Ana)
White-throated Sparrow (Socorro, Sierra, Bernalillo)
Harris's Sparrow (Socorro)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Doņa Ana))
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Quay)
Rosy Finches (Bernalillo)
Red Crossbill (Bernalillo)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: December 25, 2006
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
I have moved to Colorado.
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for December 25, 2006,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are
given for private property, please call before going. Highlights: ICELAND
GULL, White-tailed Kites, Rusty Blackbirds. White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed
Ducks, Barrow's Goldeneye.
Surviving the blizzard caused a major delay in getting e-mail.
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. Check
_www.birder.com_ (http://www.birder.com) and _www.nmosbirds.org_
(http://www.nmosbirds.org)
for earlier reports. 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 Sandoval County:
BH and GP on December 10 at Cochiti Lake had a HORNED GREBE, two adult BALD
EAGLES, and two WOOD DUCKS near the spillway. The same day DB saw an
immature HERRING GULL at the spillway.
In San Miguel County:
The Clabber Hill Ranch near Conchas Lake is now closed to birding.
In Colfax County:
DC has seen on Lake 13 a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER present for about two
weeks. DC reports that the ice by December 12 had mostly melted on the lake
and the scoter was far out in the middle of the lake, tho' it has been cold
again. . It was seen by MH, CW, and BT on December 18 and DC on December 19.
The MH trio also saw the N0RTHERN SHRIKE again. DC found the lake frozen on
December 23 and no sign of the scoter.
On nearby Stubblefield Lake found a few spots open on December 23 with two
COMMON LOONS, .three TUNDRA SWANS, the one male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and a
female LONG-TAILED DUCK.
DC on December 22 between the Golf Course and NM 555 in Raton had a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. On NM 72 to Sugarite Canyon SP there were three LEWIS'S
WOODPECKERS and five BLUE JAYS.
On I-25 at mile marker 424 two miles south of Maxwell DC has found two
GOLDEN EAGLES since November 20.
In Quay County:
DC on December 9 found the four RUSTY BLACKBIRDS still present at a woodlot
near headquarters of Ute Lake SP. On the lake there was a COMMON LOON, three
HORNED GREBES, four WHITE PELICANS, and nine GREATER SCAUP.
In Cibola County:
NG found Bluewater Lake completely frozen on December 13. The PINYON JAYS
were still at Bluewater Village.
In Bernalillo County:
At the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque JP found a high count of 480
CACKLING GEESE on the parking lot pond. . JJ on December 9 saw seven ROSS'S
GEESE and ten SNOW GEESE. DP saw three WHITE-FRONTED GEESE there December
13. DP had a SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROW at the entrance feeder on December 9.
He saw it again December 11 and on December 13, 15, and 19 it was near the
observation feeder. He has seen some red and wonders if it may not be a
zaboria. On the River Trail at the Rio Grande there was a flock of up to 60
MOUNTAIN and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on December 19. BR saw the sparrow on December 22
and CL had it on December 23.
CR hiked up the east side of the Rio Grande from the Alameda Bridge on
December 24. He had an immature VERMILION FLYCATCHER along the ditch at mile
marker 9.5, with two TREE SPARROWS, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and four
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.
On December 22 BR hiked the Pino Trail on the west side of the Sandia Mts.
and found a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER flying over.
At the Sandia Crest House east of Albuquerque there is a good number of
BLACK ROSY-FINCHES with a few BROWN-CAPPED and GRAY-CROWNED. CR snd BN on
December 2 had the Hepburn's subspecies present, seen by several on December 3 and
14. On December 10 SNC reported they only had Blacks, banded 41 (now 137
this season) with five repeats from 2005 and last winter.
DG on December 14 found a flock Of about 50 RED CROSSBILLS just below the
Crest. JJ on December 3 at Sandia Crest found a female THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
on the east side of the Kiwanis Meadow.
In Chaves County:
JH at the Bitter Lake Refuge near Roswell on December 11 had an AMERICAN
BITTERN on Unit 7 and a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on Unit 16. He had another bittern
on Unit 5 December 14 and 19 and found that the REDDISH EGRET has returned
to Unit 5, and again on December 22 with a bad foot.
PB on December 15 reported TUNDRA SWANS on Van Lake near Dexter.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio NG had a YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER at the Cactus Garden on December 15. There was a male ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
on the Farm Loop with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and a LEAST SANDPIPER at the
Norton Blind. BH counted a DUSKY FLYCATCHER and a PHAINOPEPLA. At the
visitor center on December 22 CL had a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and a red FOX
SPARROW.
At his home near Luis Lopez south of Socorro JO reported two WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS and an immature HARRIS'S SPARROWS.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park CL on December 9 saw the DIPPER, WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER with many CEDAR WAXWINGS still present.
South of the park he found an OSPREY and a MERLIN. CR and BN had a
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER there on December 17. On December 22 CL saw the flycatcher, the
sapsucker, two of the sparrows, and 15 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
In Riverside Park below Caballo Dam JP, LL, and WW on December 8 found
another White-throated Sparrow.
At the Oxbow lake in Truth or Consequences on December 8 JP and crew had one
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. CL had a HOODED MERGANSER and an OSPREY December
9.
CL saw the two INCA DOVES in Paseo del Rio Park below Elephant Butte Dam on
December 9. CL on December 22 at the lake's Rock Canyon Marina recorded a
CALIFORNIA and a BONAPARTE'S GULL with several HERRING GULLS.
In Catron County:
TPS found 54 SANDHILL CRANES in Pleasanton that may winter.
In Grant County:
PINYON JAYS have appeared in numbers in the Silver City area. FL on
December 3 had 60 near the Spirit Lake Lodge at Roberts Lake.
EW had 40 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS at her home near Cliff on November 29.
At the Tyrone Sewage Ponds EL saw 70 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and a MERLIN on
December 2. With others on December 10 saw three male WOOD DUCKS at the ponds.
DBe on November 30 in the San Vicente Creek part of Silver City had a WINTER
WREN.
HW found a BURROWING OWL south of Hurley December 3.
In Hidalgo County:
LM in Clanton Canyon on December 11 reported a GOSHAWK, a LONG-EARED OWL,
and a SAW-WHET OWL.
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:
LM on December 1 counted seven HARRIS'S HAWKS in so. Grant and Luna Counties.
On December 9 he had two LONG-EARED OWLS and six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in the
Mountain View Cemetery in Deming with a PEREGRINE FALCON at the city limits on
December 11.
The waste treatment ponds in Deming have been closed for construction and
birding till further notice.
In Doņa Ana County:
JPa found a first winter ICELAND GULL on the Sunland Park racetrack pond on
December 5. It stays on the water on the lake's east side with a HERRING
GULL. Photos have been taken by JO. It was seen December JP advises that one
needs to get permission to look for it from the casino there. The office is
near the Jack Pot Grill. There is a platform from which it can be scoped.
CL and CCBr saw the Iceland and the Herring on December 8. On December 9 it
was found by SNC, SW, LS, WSH, TL and others. MT and MD saw the gull across
from the casino on December 12. CR and BN had both gulls on December 17 with
an adult PACIFIC LOON on the lake.
JN on November 30 found water still in Isaack's Lake with many ducks and
sparrows present, as well as a WHITE-TAILED KITE. JO found two kites present on
December 7; CL and CBr had the two kites a half mile north of the lake on
December 8. CCBr saw them again on December 8 and 9; JP and WW on December 8 a
mile north of the lake. Cr and BN did not see it December 17 but saw many
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS. CL and DG on December 16 at the lake found a
roost of five LONG-EARED OWLS.
JZ and MS at their home near Radium Springs have had two immature males
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. The two males were still seen on December 9 with eight
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
At his home in Mesilla JN found on December 11 the male VERMILION FLYCATCHER
survived the cold and is still there with an EASTERN PHOEBE.
There has been an invasion of CROWS in the Rio Grande area near Las Cruces.
CL on December 8 had a high count of 47 WOOD DUCKS north of the Mesilla Dam.
MB again saw the AMERICAN BITTERN at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park on
December 9 by the pond with a SWAMP SPARROW. CL had a immature male YELLOWTHROAT
present on December 14.
In Otero County:
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. BB on November 22 at the lakes saw a DUNLIN.
JO saw it on December 8.
In Eddy County:
SW reported a WHITE-TAILED KITE on December 9 at the Seven Rivers Waterfowl
Area north of Brantley Lake. JO saw it again on December 21.
INITIALS USED:
BB, Bob Barber; DB, Dan Battaglia; DBe, David Beatty; PB, Peg Briney;
CCBr, Charles and Chandra Britt; MB, Matt Brooks; DC, David Cleary; SNC,
Steve and Nancy Cox; MD, Merce Dostale; NG, Noah Gaines; DG, David Griffin;
MH, Michael Hilchey; WSH, Wally and Sue Hill; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff
Howland; JJ, Jim Joseph; FL, Fran Land; TL, Tim Lawton; LL, Lane Leckman;
EL, Gene Lewis; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; JN, Josh Nemeth; BN,
Bruce Neville; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; GP, Gary Parker;
JP, John Parmeter; JPa, James Paton; BR, Bill Rowe; CR, Chris Rustay; LS,
Lorraine Schulte; MS. Marcy Scott; TPS, Tom and Pat Steinberg; BT, Bill
Talbot; MT, Michael Tarachow; SW, Steve West; HW, Hamilton Williams; 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. On December 21 they go to the Rio Grande Nature Center with Madge
Wallen. No trip is planned for December 28.
To get to a list of Christmas Counts, go to the NMOS web page listed above,
and in the second paragraph of the counts click on "excellent page". It has
a chart with the dates and compilers and a map showing where the counts are.
The next banding date for the Sandia Crest rosy finches will be on January 7.
- End transcript.