- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* January 11, 2007
* NMEX0701.11
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Pacific Loon (San Miguel)
Common Loon (Colfax, San Miguel)
Horned Grebe (San Miguel, Quay)
Clark's, and Western Grebes (San Miguel)
Double-crested Cormorant (Doņa Ana)
REDDISH EGRET and American Bittern (Chaves)
Cattle Egret (Socorro)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Socorro)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Don\ņa Ana)
Cackling Goose (Colfax)
Tundra Swan (Colfax)
Wood Duck (Hidalgo)
Cinnamon Teal and Canvasback (Dona Ana)
White-winged Scoter (Colfax)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Colfax)
Common Goldeneye (Grant, Lea)
Mergansers (Grant)
Hooded Merganser (Socorro)
Red-breasted Merganser (Quay)
Bald Eagle (Colfax)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Doņa Ana)
Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk (San Miguel, Sierra, Doņa Ana)
Rough-legged Hawk (Colfax, San Miguel, Torrance)
Ferruginous Hawk (San Miguel)
Golden Eagle (Doņa Ana)
CRESTED CARACARA (Hidalgo)
Merlin (Hidalgo, Luna, Bernalillo)
Scaled Quail (Doņa Ana)
Northern Bobwhite (Quay)
Montezuma Quail (Hidalgo)
Sora (Doņa Ana)
California and Bonaparte's Gulls (Sierra)
MEW GULL (Sierra, Doņa Ana))
Herring Gull (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
ICELAND GULL (Doņa Ana)
White-winged Dove (San Miguel)
Inca Dove (Sierra)
Common and RUDDY Ground-Doves (Hidalgo)
Great Horned Owl (Doņa Ana)
Western Screech-Owl (Hidalgo)
Long-eared Owl (Hidalgo)
Short-eared Owl (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Doņa Ana)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Colfax, Hidalgo)
Acorn Woodpecker (Doņa Ana)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sierra, Socorro)
Arizona Woodpecker (Hidalgo)
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Santa Fe)
Eastern Phoebe (Doņa Ana, Socorro)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Bernalillo, Sierra)
Northern Shrike (Colfax)
Cassin's and Hutton's Vireos (Doņa Ana)
Blue Jay (Colfax, Quay)
Western Scrub-Jay (Doņa Ana)
Pinyon Jay (Grant)
American Crow (Hidalgo)
Common Raven (Doņa Ana)
Mountain Chickadee (Socorro, Doņa Ana)
Juniper Titmouse and Red-breasted Nuthatch (Doņa Ana)
House Wren (Sierra)
American Dipper (Sierra)
Eastern Bluebird (Luna, Bernalillo, Sierra, Hidalgo, San Miguel)
Brown Thrasher (Quay)
Sprague's Pipit (Socorro, Doņa Ana)
Cassin's Sparrow (Hidalgo)
American Tree Sparrow (Bernalillo, Harding)
Black-throated and Sage Sparrows (Bernalillo)
Rufous-crowned and Black-chinned Sparrows (Doņa Ana)
Grasshopper and Baird's Sparrows (Hidalgo)
Slate-colored Fox Sparrows (Bernalillo, Socorro)
Swamp Sparrow (Hidalgo, Doņa Ana, Quay)
White-throated Sparrow (Socorro, Sierra, Bernalillo, Doņa Ana)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Sandoval)
Harris's Sparrow (Grant)
Lapland Longspur (Colfax, Harding)
Common Grackle (Hidalgo)
Rosy Finches (Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Lawrence's Goldfinch (Grant, Hidalgo)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: January 11, 2007
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
Cell phone 505-803-1807
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 January 11, 2007,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are
given for private property, please call before going. Highlights: ICELAND GULL,
Mew Gulls, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye,
Lawrence's Goldfinch.
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 Countuy:
JM had a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH at his home in Placitas at the north end of
the Sandia Mts. on December 29. It was still there on December 30 with a
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.
In Santa Fe County:
DW photographed a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER in his Santa Fe yard on January 5.
In San Miguel County:
On January 5 CW, MH, and BT on Conchas Lake saw six COMMON LOONS, one
PACIFIC LOON, and several HORNED GREBES. On January 6 JP and WW saw three Common
Loons and a CLARK'S GREBE, but not the Pacific Loon there. At the Adobe Belle
Resort there was a WHITE-WINGED DOVE and three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
MR and SF found most of the lakes at the Las Vegas Refuge frozen December
25. There were two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, up to five FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, and a
HARLAN'S HAWK. On Storrie Lake there was a COMMON LOON and two WESTERN GREBES.
The Clabber Hill Ranch near Conchas Lake is now closed to birding.
In Harding County:
JP and WW on January 6 on Trigg Road north of Ute Lake found three TREE
SPARROWS and two LAPLAND LONGSPURS
In Colfax County:
Lake 13 on the Maxwell Refuge has been frozen. On January 1 DC saw the
NORTHERN SHRIKE, three TUNDRA SWANS, and 100 CACKLING GEESE.
On nearby Stubblefield Lake he found a few spots open on December 23 with
two COMMON LOONS, the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and a female LONG-TAILED DUCK.
At the lake on December 28 he saw the BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and 28 BALD EAGLES.
The WHITE-WINGED SCOTER female was on Stubblefield on December 31 with a
LONG-TAILED DUCK, nd four LAPLAND LONGSPURS. On January 1 DC saw the
long-tailed Duck, two Barrow's Goldeneyes, and the scoter.
On NM 445 north of Maxwell there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. a LEWIS'S
WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a BLUE JAY January 1.
In Quay County:
At Ute Lake on January 6 JP and WW saw four RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, about
two HORNED GREBES, a BROWN THRASHER, two BLUE JAYS, two SWAMP SPARROWS, and a
BOBWHITE.
In Bernalillo County:
At the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque DP had a SLATE-COLORED FOX
SPARROW at the entrance feeder near the observation feeder. WW saw it on
January 3; JP and HS on January 7, and CW on January 9.
JP had a MERLIN fly over his Albuquerque home near Juan Tabo on January 6
and saw another flying over the downtown on January 7.
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, and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. CL saw the
flycatcher December 25 with two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. JJ saw the flycatcher,
white-throated and tree Sparrows on December 30.
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. The SNC banding
team reported that on January 7 they banded a incredible 104 ROSY FINCHES. 38
were GRAY-CROWNED, with of these there was an amazing 26 of the HEPBURN'S
race. Also banded were one BROWN-CAPPED and 65 BLACKS.
In Torrance County:
West of Encino on January 5 WW and JP had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
In Chaves County:
JH at the Bitter Lake Refuge near Roswell had an AMERICAN BITTERN on Unit 5
And found that the REDDISH EGRET has returned to Unit 5 on December 22 with a
bad foot, and again seen on December 28.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio at the visitor center on
December 29 CL found a slate-colored FOX SPARROW, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and a
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. RC saw a CATTLE EGRET on the refuge on January 1. On
January 5 JP, WW, and LL found the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, Fox Sparrow, and
two White-throated Sparrows at the visitor center. At the south end of the
Marsh Loop with the Snow Geese was two WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. DP on January 7
saw the sapsucker, white-throated sparrows with an EASTERN PHOEBE at the Flight
Deck and seven HOODED MERGANSERS at the Norton Blind.
In the area 16 miles east of San Antonio on County Rd. 127 they found one
SPRAGUE'S PIPIT with many longspurs.
JO has had three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at his home in Luis Lopez south of
Socorro.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park CL on December 22 CL saw the YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and 15 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. JP and WW found
the DIPPER still present on January 1. On the Caballo CBC at Percha on
December 30 CL and CCBr found six VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, two HOUSE WRENS, 25
eastern bluebirds, a HARLAN'S HAWK, and two INCA DOVES.
CL found an adult MEW GULL on Caballo Lake on December 29 at a road marked
Caballo Dam East. It was seen December 30 by BV.
CL on December 22 at Elephant Butte Lake's Rock Canyon Marina recorded a
CALIFORNIA and a BONAPARTE'S GULL with several HERRING GULLS.
In Grant County:
At the Tyrone Sewage Ponds EL saw 47 CEDAR WAXWINGS on December 30.
MC and TH found a HARRIS'S SPARROW in the Arenas Valley on Hwy. 180 through
December 25.
DBe reported 150 PINYON JAYS near the Bear Mt. Lodge north of Silver City on
December 21.
LM at Roberts lake on December 28 found all three mergansers and a COMMON
GOLDENEYE.
RSh photographed a LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH along Carlisle Road east of Duncan,
AZ. December 31.
In Hidalgo County:
NP and MB on January 5 at the San Simon Cienega north of Rodeo found at
least seven LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. The former marsh is at mile marker 16.7 on US
80. Driving south, take a dirt road on the right at a cattle guard.
On December 31 CR, BT, CCBr, and CL saw an immature CARACARA along Animas
Creek between mile markers 13 and 15. JP did not see it on January 1, nor did
NP and MB on January 5.
JP and WW on December 29 had a SWAMP SPARROW at Dunagan's Crossing on Cty.
Hwy. 1 south of Animas. On December 31 they saw four WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS,
six LONG-EARED OWLS, a male RUDDY GROUND-DOVE, a male WOOD DUCK, three SWAMP
SPARROWS, and 28 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS there.
At Cotton City they saw a RUDDY GROUND-DOVE and a COMMON GROUND-DOVE on the
29th and December 30.
In the Peloncillo Mts. area CR and crew found four SHORT-EARED OWLS, four
BAIRD'S SPARROWS, four GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, seven CASSIN'S SPARROWS, and a
MERLIN.
In Virden on December 29 JP and WW saw three LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, a COMMON
GRACKLE, and a CROW. In Clanton Canyon on December 30 there was a MONTEZUMA
QUAIL on the road and three ARIZONA WOODPECKERS.
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:
On December 24 JJ found a MERLIN and four EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Pancho Villa
SP.
The waste treatment plant in Deming is now open to birding.
In Dona Ana County:
JPa found a first winter ICELAND GULL on the Sunland Park racetrack pond
December 5. It stays on the water on the lake's east side with a HERRING GULL
and seems to appear in the late afternoon. JP advises that one needs to get
permission to look for it from the casino there. The office is near the
Jackpot Grill. There is a platform from which it can be scoped. But JB and JO
say that the racetrack does not want any birders there when the horses are
racing on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning at 12:15 p.m. MS
and JZ saw both on January 5 (as well as earlier on Keystone Lake in Texas);
CL saw it on January 6. JPa saw it on January 8 with an adult MEW GULL.
CL had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park south of Mesilla
on January 6 with a SWAMP SPARROW. On January 7 he saw three CINNAMON TEAL
there. JZ and MS did not find the hawk on January 7, but did have a dark
HARLAN'S HAWK and a COMMON RAVEN.
On January 8 at Aguirre Springs SP east of the Organ Mts. MS and JZ found a
SCRUB JAY on the entrance road with a CASSIN'S VIREO and seven SCALED QUAIL,
RUFOUS-CROWNED and BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS. On the Pine Tree Trail there were
several ACORN WOODPECKERS, two JUNIPER TITMICE, and two MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES,
with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the trail's head.
CL in Fillmore Canyon on the west side of the Organ Mts. on January 8 saw
two HUTTON'S VIREOS and two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
At a ditch off of Snow Road near Mesilla and the NMSU Plant Science Center
CL has had an EASTERN PHOEBE. JZ and MS found it on January 7 with a SORA.
They had a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at Burn Lake in Las Cruces on January 7.
Exiting I-10 onto county rd. C01 they found four immature GOLDEN EAGLES at a
carcass and in tobosa grass near a tank they found four SPRAGUE'S PIPITS
near NM 549.
Also they had calling HORNED OWLS on Conway Street in Mesilla Park on
January 7.
JZ and MS saw a CANVASBACK male at Leasburg SP January 5.
They had five SNOW GEESE and a ROSS'S GOOSE at a field on Girl Scout Road on
January 5.
JZ and MS at their home near Radium Springs have had immature male ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRDS. Three males were still seen on December 25.
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.
In Lea County:
RC had a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Chaparral Park lake in Lovington on January
1.
INITIALS USED:
MB, Matt Bauman; DBe, David Beatty; JB, Jim Black; CCBr, Charles and
Chandra Britt; MC, Mark Cantrell; RC, Robert Cates; DC, David Cleary; SNC,
Steve and Nancy Cox; SF, Steve Fettig; MH, Michael Hilchey; JH, Jeff
Howland; TH, Trish Hurley; JJ, Jim Joseph; LL, Lane Leckman; EL, Gene Lewis;
CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; JM, Jim McPhee; JO, Jerry Oldenettel;
DP, Danny Paez; JP, John Parmeter; JPa, James Paton; NP, Nick Pederson;
MR, Mary Ristow; CR, Chris Rustay; MS. Marcy Scott; HS, Heidi Simms;
RSh, Robert Shantz; BT, Bill Talbot; BV, Brad Vaughn; DW, Dan Williams; WW,
Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; 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 January 18 the trip is to the Los Poblanos Open Space off Montaņo
with Mary Lou Arthur, and on January 25 to Cochiti Lake with Sei Tokuda.
The next banding dates for the Sandia Crest rosy finches will be on Sundays,
January 14, 21, and 28.
On Saturday, January 13, Sangre de Cristo Audubon will bird the Maxwell
Refuge. Contact is Mary Ristow at 820-0906.
Central Audubon will bird the Las Vegas and Maxwell Refuges on the weekend
of January 20-21. Contact is Sei Tokuda at 266-2480 or Sonia Santa Anna at
688-0688.
Southwestern Audubon will bird Lake Roberts on Saturday, January 20. Call
534-1450 for information.
- End transcript.
* New Mexico Bird Report
* January 11, 2007
* NMEX0701.11
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Pacific Loon (San Miguel)
Common Loon (Colfax, San Miguel)
Horned Grebe (San Miguel, Quay)
Clark's, and Western Grebes (San Miguel)
Double-crested Cormorant (Doņa Ana)
REDDISH EGRET and American Bittern (Chaves)
Cattle Egret (Socorro)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Socorro)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Don\ņa Ana)
Cackling Goose (Colfax)
Tundra Swan (Colfax)
Wood Duck (Hidalgo)
Cinnamon Teal and Canvasback (Dona Ana)
White-winged Scoter (Colfax)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Colfax)
Common Goldeneye (Grant, Lea)
Mergansers (Grant)
Hooded Merganser (Socorro)
Red-breasted Merganser (Quay)
Bald Eagle (Colfax)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Doņa Ana)
Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk (San Miguel, Sierra, Doņa Ana)
Rough-legged Hawk (Colfax, San Miguel, Torrance)
Ferruginous Hawk (San Miguel)
Golden Eagle (Doņa Ana)
CRESTED CARACARA (Hidalgo)
Merlin (Hidalgo, Luna, Bernalillo)
Scaled Quail (Doņa Ana)
Northern Bobwhite (Quay)
Montezuma Quail (Hidalgo)
Sora (Doņa Ana)
California and Bonaparte's Gulls (Sierra)
MEW GULL (Sierra, Doņa Ana))
Herring Gull (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
ICELAND GULL (Doņa Ana)
White-winged Dove (San Miguel)
Inca Dove (Sierra)
Common and RUDDY Ground-Doves (Hidalgo)
Great Horned Owl (Doņa Ana)
Western Screech-Owl (Hidalgo)
Long-eared Owl (Hidalgo)
Short-eared Owl (Hidalgo)
Anna's Hummingbird (Doņa Ana)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Colfax, Hidalgo)
Acorn Woodpecker (Doņa Ana)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sierra, Socorro)
Arizona Woodpecker (Hidalgo)
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Santa Fe)
Eastern Phoebe (Doņa Ana, Socorro)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Bernalillo, Sierra)
Northern Shrike (Colfax)
Cassin's and Hutton's Vireos (Doņa Ana)
Blue Jay (Colfax, Quay)
Western Scrub-Jay (Doņa Ana)
Pinyon Jay (Grant)
American Crow (Hidalgo)
Common Raven (Doņa Ana)
Mountain Chickadee (Socorro, Doņa Ana)
Juniper Titmouse and Red-breasted Nuthatch (Doņa Ana)
House Wren (Sierra)
American Dipper (Sierra)
Eastern Bluebird (Luna, Bernalillo, Sierra, Hidalgo, San Miguel)
Brown Thrasher (Quay)
Sprague's Pipit (Socorro, Doņa Ana)
Cassin's Sparrow (Hidalgo)
American Tree Sparrow (Bernalillo, Harding)
Black-throated and Sage Sparrows (Bernalillo)
Rufous-crowned and Black-chinned Sparrows (Doņa Ana)
Grasshopper and Baird's Sparrows (Hidalgo)
Slate-colored Fox Sparrows (Bernalillo, Socorro)
Swamp Sparrow (Hidalgo, Doņa Ana, Quay)
White-throated Sparrow (Socorro, Sierra, Bernalillo, Doņa Ana)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Sandoval)
Harris's Sparrow (Grant)
Lapland Longspur (Colfax, Harding)
Common Grackle (Hidalgo)
Rosy Finches (Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Lawrence's Goldfinch (Grant, Hidalgo)
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: January 11, 2007
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
Cell phone 505-803-1807
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 January 11, 2007,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are
given for private property, please call before going. Highlights: ICELAND GULL,
Mew Gulls, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye,
Lawrence's Goldfinch.
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 Countuy:
JM had a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH at his home in Placitas at the north end of
the Sandia Mts. on December 29. It was still there on December 30 with a
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.
In Santa Fe County:
DW photographed a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER in his Santa Fe yard on January 5.
In San Miguel County:
On January 5 CW, MH, and BT on Conchas Lake saw six COMMON LOONS, one
PACIFIC LOON, and several HORNED GREBES. On January 6 JP and WW saw three Common
Loons and a CLARK'S GREBE, but not the Pacific Loon there. At the Adobe Belle
Resort there was a WHITE-WINGED DOVE and three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
MR and SF found most of the lakes at the Las Vegas Refuge frozen December
25. There were two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, up to five FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, and a
HARLAN'S HAWK. On Storrie Lake there was a COMMON LOON and two WESTERN GREBES.
The Clabber Hill Ranch near Conchas Lake is now closed to birding.
In Harding County:
JP and WW on January 6 on Trigg Road north of Ute Lake found three TREE
SPARROWS and two LAPLAND LONGSPURS
In Colfax County:
Lake 13 on the Maxwell Refuge has been frozen. On January 1 DC saw the
NORTHERN SHRIKE, three TUNDRA SWANS, and 100 CACKLING GEESE.
On nearby Stubblefield Lake he found a few spots open on December 23 with
two COMMON LOONS, the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and a female LONG-TAILED DUCK.
At the lake on December 28 he saw the BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and 28 BALD EAGLES.
The WHITE-WINGED SCOTER female was on Stubblefield on December 31 with a
LONG-TAILED DUCK, nd four LAPLAND LONGSPURS. On January 1 DC saw the
long-tailed Duck, two Barrow's Goldeneyes, and the scoter.
On NM 445 north of Maxwell there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. a LEWIS'S
WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a BLUE JAY January 1.
In Quay County:
At Ute Lake on January 6 JP and WW saw four RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, about
two HORNED GREBES, a BROWN THRASHER, two BLUE JAYS, two SWAMP SPARROWS, and a
BOBWHITE.
In Bernalillo County:
At the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque DP had a SLATE-COLORED FOX
SPARROW at the entrance feeder near the observation feeder. WW saw it on
January 3; JP and HS on January 7, and CW on January 9.
JP had a MERLIN fly over his Albuquerque home near Juan Tabo on January 6
and saw another flying over the downtown on January 7.
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, and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. CL saw the
flycatcher December 25 with two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. JJ saw the flycatcher,
white-throated and tree Sparrows on December 30.
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. The SNC banding
team reported that on January 7 they banded a incredible 104 ROSY FINCHES. 38
were GRAY-CROWNED, with of these there was an amazing 26 of the HEPBURN'S
race. Also banded were one BROWN-CAPPED and 65 BLACKS.
In Torrance County:
West of Encino on January 5 WW and JP had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
In Chaves County:
JH at the Bitter Lake Refuge near Roswell had an AMERICAN BITTERN on Unit 5
And found that the REDDISH EGRET has returned to Unit 5 on December 22 with a
bad foot, and again seen on December 28.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio at the visitor center on
December 29 CL found a slate-colored FOX SPARROW, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and a
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. RC saw a CATTLE EGRET on the refuge on January 1. On
January 5 JP, WW, and LL found the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, Fox Sparrow, and
two White-throated Sparrows at the visitor center. At the south end of the
Marsh Loop with the Snow Geese was two WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. DP on January 7
saw the sapsucker, white-throated sparrows with an EASTERN PHOEBE at the Flight
Deck and seven HOODED MERGANSERS at the Norton Blind.
In the area 16 miles east of San Antonio on County Rd. 127 they found one
SPRAGUE'S PIPIT with many longspurs.
JO has had three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at his home in Luis Lopez south of
Socorro.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park CL on December 22 CL saw the YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and 15 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. JP and WW found
the DIPPER still present on January 1. On the Caballo CBC at Percha on
December 30 CL and CCBr found six VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, two HOUSE WRENS, 25
eastern bluebirds, a HARLAN'S HAWK, and two INCA DOVES.
CL found an adult MEW GULL on Caballo Lake on December 29 at a road marked
Caballo Dam East. It was seen December 30 by BV.
CL on December 22 at Elephant Butte Lake's Rock Canyon Marina recorded a
CALIFORNIA and a BONAPARTE'S GULL with several HERRING GULLS.
In Grant County:
At the Tyrone Sewage Ponds EL saw 47 CEDAR WAXWINGS on December 30.
MC and TH found a HARRIS'S SPARROW in the Arenas Valley on Hwy. 180 through
December 25.
DBe reported 150 PINYON JAYS near the Bear Mt. Lodge north of Silver City on
December 21.
LM at Roberts lake on December 28 found all three mergansers and a COMMON
GOLDENEYE.
RSh photographed a LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH along Carlisle Road east of Duncan,
AZ. December 31.
In Hidalgo County:
NP and MB on January 5 at the San Simon Cienega north of Rodeo found at
least seven LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. The former marsh is at mile marker 16.7 on US
80. Driving south, take a dirt road on the right at a cattle guard.
On December 31 CR, BT, CCBr, and CL saw an immature CARACARA along Animas
Creek between mile markers 13 and 15. JP did not see it on January 1, nor did
NP and MB on January 5.
JP and WW on December 29 had a SWAMP SPARROW at Dunagan's Crossing on Cty.
Hwy. 1 south of Animas. On December 31 they saw four WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS,
six LONG-EARED OWLS, a male RUDDY GROUND-DOVE, a male WOOD DUCK, three SWAMP
SPARROWS, and 28 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS there.
At Cotton City they saw a RUDDY GROUND-DOVE and a COMMON GROUND-DOVE on the
29th and December 30.
In the Peloncillo Mts. area CR and crew found four SHORT-EARED OWLS, four
BAIRD'S SPARROWS, four GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, seven CASSIN'S SPARROWS, and a
MERLIN.
In Virden on December 29 JP and WW saw three LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, a COMMON
GRACKLE, and a CROW. In Clanton Canyon on December 30 there was a MONTEZUMA
QUAIL on the road and three ARIZONA WOODPECKERS.
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:
On December 24 JJ found a MERLIN and four EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Pancho Villa
SP.
The waste treatment plant in Deming is now open to birding.
In Dona Ana County:
JPa found a first winter ICELAND GULL on the Sunland Park racetrack pond
December 5. It stays on the water on the lake's east side with a HERRING GULL
and seems to appear in the late afternoon. JP advises that one needs to get
permission to look for it from the casino there. The office is near the
Jackpot Grill. There is a platform from which it can be scoped. But JB and JO
say that the racetrack does not want any birders there when the horses are
racing on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning at 12:15 p.m. MS
and JZ saw both on January 5 (as well as earlier on Keystone Lake in Texas);
CL saw it on January 6. JPa saw it on January 8 with an adult MEW GULL.
CL had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park south of Mesilla
on January 6 with a SWAMP SPARROW. On January 7 he saw three CINNAMON TEAL
there. JZ and MS did not find the hawk on January 7, but did have a dark
HARLAN'S HAWK and a COMMON RAVEN.
On January 8 at Aguirre Springs SP east of the Organ Mts. MS and JZ found a
SCRUB JAY on the entrance road with a CASSIN'S VIREO and seven SCALED QUAIL,
RUFOUS-CROWNED and BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS. On the Pine Tree Trail there were
several ACORN WOODPECKERS, two JUNIPER TITMICE, and two MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES,
with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the trail's head.
CL in Fillmore Canyon on the west side of the Organ Mts. on January 8 saw
two HUTTON'S VIREOS and two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
At a ditch off of Snow Road near Mesilla and the NMSU Plant Science Center
CL has had an EASTERN PHOEBE. JZ and MS found it on January 7 with a SORA.
They had a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at Burn Lake in Las Cruces on January 7.
Exiting I-10 onto county rd. C01 they found four immature GOLDEN EAGLES at a
carcass and in tobosa grass near a tank they found four SPRAGUE'S PIPITS
near NM 549.
Also they had calling HORNED OWLS on Conway Street in Mesilla Park on
January 7.
JZ and MS saw a CANVASBACK male at Leasburg SP January 5.
They had five SNOW GEESE and a ROSS'S GOOSE at a field on Girl Scout Road on
January 5.
JZ and MS at their home near Radium Springs have had immature male ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRDS. Three males were still seen on December 25.
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.
In Lea County:
RC had a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Chaparral Park lake in Lovington on January
1.
INITIALS USED:
MB, Matt Bauman; DBe, David Beatty; JB, Jim Black; CCBr, Charles and
Chandra Britt; MC, Mark Cantrell; RC, Robert Cates; DC, David Cleary; SNC,
Steve and Nancy Cox; SF, Steve Fettig; MH, Michael Hilchey; JH, Jeff
Howland; TH, Trish Hurley; JJ, Jim Joseph; LL, Lane Leckman; EL, Gene Lewis;
CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; JM, Jim McPhee; JO, Jerry Oldenettel;
DP, Danny Paez; JP, John Parmeter; JPa, James Paton; NP, Nick Pederson;
MR, Mary Ristow; CR, Chris Rustay; MS. Marcy Scott; HS, Heidi Simms;
RSh, Robert Shantz; BT, Bill Talbot; BV, Brad Vaughn; DW, Dan Williams; WW,
Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; 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 January 18 the trip is to the Los Poblanos Open Space off Montaņo
with Mary Lou Arthur, and on January 25 to Cochiti Lake with Sei Tokuda.
The next banding dates for the Sandia Crest rosy finches will be on Sundays,
January 14, 21, and 28.
On Saturday, January 13, Sangre de Cristo Audubon will bird the Maxwell
Refuge. Contact is Mary Ristow at 820-0906.
Central Audubon will bird the Las Vegas and Maxwell Refuges on the weekend
of January 20-21. Contact is Sei Tokuda at 266-2480 or Sonia Santa Anna at
688-0688.
Southwestern Audubon will bird Lake Roberts on Saturday, January 20. Call
534-1450 for information.
- End transcript.