- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* April 5, 2007
* NMEX0704.05
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: April 5, 2007
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
Cell phone 505-803-1807
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for April 5, 2007,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going.
Highlights: Carolina Wren, Zone-tailed Hawk, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Cave
Swallows at a new site. Lesser Prairie Chickens have begun their show.
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) 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) .
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Horned Grebe (Colfax)
American White Pelican (Sandoval, Chaves)
Double-crested Cormorant (Chaves)
American Bittern (Chaves, Doņa Ana)
Snowy Egret (Colfax)
Cattle Egret (Sierra)
Turkey Vulture (Sierra, Sandoval, Taos)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Colfax, Sandoval)
Greater and Lesser Scaups (Sandoval)
Canvasback (Sandoval)
Lesser Scaup (3 county lines)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Common Goldeneye (Doņa Ana)
Common Merganser (Chaves, Grant, Doņa Ana))
Hooded Merganser (Chaves)
Red-breasted Merganser (Colfax, Chaves)
Osprey (Sierra, Grant, Chaves, Doņa Ana)
Northern Harrier (Doņa Ana)
Bald Eagle (Colfax)
Northern Goshawk (Sandoval)
Harris's Hawk (Otero)
Common Black-Hawk (Grant, Hidalgo)
Swainson's Hawk (Doņa Ana, 3 county lines, Eddy, Hidalgo)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Socorro, Hidalgo, Grant, Sierra)
Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawk (Sierra, Doņa Ana, Luna lines)
Golden Eagle (Grant)
Peregrine Falcon (Doņa Ana, Hidalgo, Sandoval)
Lesser Prairie Chicken (Chaves)
Chukar and Northern Bobwhite (Luna)
Ring-necked Pheasant (Luna, Colfax)
Snowy Plover (Chaves)
Black-necked Stilt (Valencia, Socorro)
American Avocet (Colfax)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Socorro)
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Doņa Ana, 3 county lines)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra, Chaves, Doņa Ana, Colfax)
Least Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher (Luna, Sierra, Doņa Ana County
lines)
Wilson's Snipe (Doņa Ana)
Red-necked Phalarope (Chaves)
Wilson's Phalarope (Socorro, Hidalgo)
Franklin's Gull (Colfax, Socorro, Hidalgo, Sandoval, Chaves)
Bonaparte's Gull (Socorro)
Herring Gull (Colfax)
Barn Owl (Colfax, Hidalgo)
Western and Whiskered Screech-Owls (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Hidalgo, Grant)
Burrowing Owl (Valencia, Chaves, Sandoval)
Northern Pygmy Owl (Grant, Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Long-eared Owl (Colfax, Roosevelt)
Rufous and Magnificent Hummingbirds (Grant)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Grant, Doņa Ana))
Williamson's Sapsucker (Hidalgo)
Arizona Woodpecker (Hidalgo
Lewis's Woodpecker (Hidalgo)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Hammond's Flycatcher (Sierra)
Eastern Phoebe (Luna)
Gray Flycatcher (Hidalgo)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Roosevelt, Chaves)
Western Kingbird (Doņa Ana)
Cassin's Vireo (Doņa Ana)
Hutton's Vireo (Luna, Sierra, Doņa Ana, Hidalgo)
Chihuahuan Raven (Sandoval)
Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows (Sandoval)
Cliff and Cave Swallows (Eddy)
Bridled Titmouse (Sierra)
Cactus Wren (Sierra)
Carolina Wren (Santa Fe)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chaves)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chaves)
Sage Thrasher (Hidalgo, Colfax)
Brown Thrasher (Eddy)
Cedar Waxwing (Santa Fe))
Olive Warbler (Doņa Ana, Sierra)
Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler (Eddy)
Painted Redstart (Grant)
Cassin's Sparrow (Roosevelt, Chaves, Grant)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Sierra)
Black-throated Sparrow (Bernalillo)
Swamp Sparrow (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
White-throated Sparrow (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
Chestnut-collared longspur (Colfax)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Colfax)
Bronzed Cowbird (Luna)
Hooded Orioles (Grant, Doņa Ana, Hidalgo)
Scott's Oriole (Grant)
Cassin's Finch (Luna)
In Sandoval County:
WW on April 4 took NM 126 north of La Cueva in the Jemez and had a
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER female on a dead tree at 22.7 miles with a lone SNOW GOOSE at
the Seven Springs Fish Hatchery, a PEREGRINE near Fenton Lake and a GOSHAWK on
a snag at 35.7 miles.
At Cochiti Lake on April 2 WW had 12 WHITE PELICANS. On April 1 BV reported
a male GREATER SCAUP on the lake with seven FRANKLIN'S GULLS present, and
the BURROWING OWL still on a post at mile 3 of NM 16. BH on April 1 reported
17 CANVASBACKS and 48 LESSER SCAUPS, but did not see the Greater. He also
found two CHIHUAHUAN RAVENS there and CLIFF and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were
present with six TURKEY VULTURES.
CP on March 26 reported an adult PYGMY OWL high in a snag a mile up Trail
137 near Battleship Rock in the western Jemez. Mountains on NM 4 east of Jemez
Springs.
In Taos County:
SH on April 2 had his first TURKEY VULTURE in Taos.
In Santa Fe County:
JB reports that BW and AF on March 29-30 had a singing CAROLINA WREN in
Santa Fe, seen later by AF on March 1. JB got it on April 3. It is in a closed
area for parking at the State Library compound, so one should park on Don
Gaspar and walk to DeVargas. The song is easily heard. Do not drive into the
state parking area. RE had it on April 5. The area is south of the Supreme
Court and north of the round capitol (and across from where I used to work).
RE had a small group of CEDAR WAXWINGS on March 28 near the Randall Davey
Audubon Center in Santa Fe.
In San Miguel County;
A telescope will be replaced soon for the one stolen at Crane Lake on the
Las Vegas Refuge.
In Colfax County:
DC on April 3 at Stubblefield Lake saw the female LONG-TAILED DUCK still
present and eight (one female) RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. On April 1 at the lake
he had four HORNED GREBES in breeding plumage, an immature BALD EAGLE, and a
HERRING and a FRANKLIN'S GULL.
A male RING-NECKED PHEASANT was at Lake 14 of the adjacent Mexwell Refuge on
April 4.
At Springer Lake on April 1 he found seven CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS,
three SNOW GEESE, a ROSS'S GOOSE, and three YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.
There was only one BARN OWL at the roost in the thicket near the 't' with
Hwys. A5 and A1 on April 4, but he found a roost with eight LONG-EARED OWLS on
private property a couple of miles out of the refuge. Migrants in the area
now include a LONG-BILLED CUIRLEW, AVOCET, SNOWY EGRET, and SAGE THRASHER.
In Bernalillo County:
JE on April 1 had eight singing BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS at Rinconada Canyon
of the Petroglyphs NM.
JP on March 25 had a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER on the path from the Crest
parking lot near the Kiwanis Meadow and a calling PYGMY OWL near the start of the
track that leads downhill from the south end of the parking area to the
Meadow.
In Valencia County:
At the marsh behind the Taco Bell in Belen RB on March 18 found six
BLACK-NECKED STILTS and the BURROWING OWLS are still near the Taco Bell.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio JP and WW on March 31 saw 30
BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 12 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, and two WILSON'S PHALAROPES. JN at the refuge on March 30 had a
ZONE-TAILED HAWK adult near the Willow Deck.
In Roosevelt County:
At the migrant trap 11 miles west of Melrose on March 25 DH found a
LONG-EARED OWL and a VERMILION FLYCATCHER with CASSIN'S SPARROWS singing nearby.
In Chaves County:
JH on Bitter Lake Refuge on March 22 reported two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS,
lingering HOODED MERGANSERS, SNOWY PLOVERS coming in, and single AMERICAN
BITTERNS on Units 5 and 15. CW on March 25 at the refuge found a VERMILION
FLYCATCHER male at the Pajaro Blind, two BURROWING OWLS on Unit 7, a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER at the headquarters, and two COMMON MERGANSERS. MR and SF on April
1 had 50 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, singing CASSIN'S SPARROWS, a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,
an OSPREY, with fly-over 50 DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANTS and 11 WHITE PELICANS.
CW on March 25 saw 29 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS in a field on the northeast corner
of Main Street and Pine Lodge Rd. in Roswell on March 25.
JP, WW, and LL had a good LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN show with 22 present on
March 17 north of the Waldrop Road Rest (40 miles east of Roswell) on the
Mescalero Sands.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park JP and WW on March 24 saw a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER,
one LONG-BILLED CURLEW, the two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and one SWAMP SPARROW.
JP at the Oxbow Lake in Truth or Consequences reported on March 24 two
CATTLE EGRETS with two OSPREYS flying over the town.
KS on March 24 on Animas Creek near Caballo Lake saw RUFOUS-CROWNED and many
other sparrows and a roost of up to 30 TURKEY VULTURES. JE on March 31 in
the canyon found a ZONE-TAILED HAWK, two BRIDLED TITMICE, and a CACTUS WREN.
A Emory Pass in the Black Range on the county line with Grant County JP and
WW on March 30 had OLIVE WARBLER and HUTTON'S VIREO.
In Grant County:
At Redrock on March 30 JP and WW had the BLACK HAWK, an OSPREY, and on the
way to Virden a GOLDEN EAGLE.
DBe had BLACK HAWK on March 26 to 30 in Silver City.
CA had a HOODED ORIOLE at their home on March 19 and BN saw another on March
26 and 28.
On March 27 LM had a singing CASSIN'S SPARROW at the City of Rocks State
Park.
On March 27 EW had two male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS at her feeder near
Cliff and an ELF OWL at the Mogollon Creek Campground.
JBi had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK over his Silver City yard on March 25.
EL had a COMMON MERGANSER at the Tyrone Sewage Ponds on March 25..
JP and WW at the Iron Creek Campground in the Black Range had a singing
PAINTED REDSTART on March 30.
JDM at her home at Roberts Lake had a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD male on March 19
and a male MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD March 22.
In Hidalgo County:
JP and WW on March 30 at the Lordsburg sewage ponds had a WILSON'S
PHALAROPE. On March 31 they saw four FRANKLIN'S GULLS and a PEREGRINE FALCON there.
At Virden there were two BLACK HAWKS, a ZONE-TAILED HAWK, a SWAINSON'S HAWK,
a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, a calling HOODED ORIOLE, and a SCOTT'S ORIOLE.
In Clanton Canyon on March 31 they saw three WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS, a
WHISKERED OWL, an ELF OWL, a GRAY FLYCATCHER, two WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, five
ARIZONA WOODPECKERS, and several HUTTON'S VIREOS.
North of Lordsburg on March 30 JP and WW had several SAGE THRASHERS.
RS on March 26 and 28 had BARN OWLS in Steeple Rock Canyon north of Virden.
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 March 19 in Deming at the Mounain View Cemetery saw a CASSIN'S FINCH,
HUTTON'S VIREO, and EASTERN PHOEBE. At the Pecan Park trailer area there was
a BRONZED COWBIRD.
LM reports that Katfish Kove is no longer open to birders. He says four
CHUKARS, three BOBWHITES, and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT were introduced in the
county along the Mimbres River Road.
At the county line of Sierra, Doņa Ana, and Luna Counties from Nutt to Hatch
KS ON March 24 at a pond had up to 40 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 30 LEAST
SANDPIPERS, with two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, one SWAINSON'S HAWK.
CBr at the Uva's Dairy playa on March 28 had GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS
and 12 LESSER SCAUPS on NM 26.
In Doņa Ana County:
CL on March 26 had 33 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS about three miles south of Mesilla
on NM 28.
A COMMON GOLDENEYE was photographed by JZ and MS on March 22 four miles
south of Hatch on the Rio Grande. CL had a pair that afternoon at the NM 154
bridge. It was seen again below the 'rapids' at Rincon on April 2 by JZ and MS.
CL on March 25 south of Garfield had a PEREGRINE FALCON, a dark morph
SWAINSON'S HAWK, with two light morphs along the Rio Grande.
In Fillmore Canyon in the western Organ Mts. CBr found a female OLIVE
WARBLER.
CL on March 29 had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the La Cueva picnic area near
Dripping Springs, a CASSIN'S VIREO at Mesilla Park, and an OSPREY at Burn
Lake. He had the AMERICAN BITTERN at the Mesilla Bosque Park on March 31 with
two SWAMP SPARROWS.
LS had a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD and a HOODED ORIOLE at her Las
Cruces feeder on March 29. She has gone out of town, but CL saw the oriole on
April 4 and says birders may visit her yard on Fairfax near Triviz. JZ and MS
saw it on April 2.
JZ and MS had another HOODED ORIOLE at their home near Radium Springs on
April 4.
KS on April 1 at the Mesilla Valley Park had the AMERICAN BITTERN, seven
HARRIERS together, and four COMMON MERGANSERS. KS saw the BITTERN on April 2
and the first WESTERN KINGBIRDS at his home in Las Cruces. JZ and MS got the
bittern on April 2 at the North Pond.
CL on April 1 on the Pine Tree Trail at Aguirre State Park had two HUTTON'S
VIREOS with 16 SNIPES at Swan Pond north of Radium Springs.
In Otero County:
CL and CBr on March 20 saw a HARRIS'S HAWK over US54 ten miles south of
Alamogordo.
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:
CW at Rattlesnake Springs on March 25 reported a male MYRTLE WARBLER, and a
dark morph SWAINSON'S HAWK. SRW on March 18 saw a BROWN THRASHER there.
SW found CLIFF and CAVE SWALLOWS at an apparent new nesting site on US 295
1.1 miles north of the road to Sitting Bull Falls under a culvert.
INITIALS USED:
CA, Connie Adler; JB, Jonathan Batkin; DBe, David Beatty; RB, Ross Bevan;
JBi, Jerry Bird; CBr, Charles Britt; DC. David Cleary; JDM, Joan
Day-Martin; RE, Richard Ellenberg; JE, John Esterl; AF, Andrew Fenner; SF,
Steve Fettig; SH, Steve Hanks; DH, David Hawksworth; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff
Howland; LL, Lane Leckman; EL, Gene Lewis; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry
Malone; JN, Josh Nemeth: BN, Bill Norris; JP, John Parmeter; CP, Chadette
Pfaff; MR, Mary Ristow; LS, Lorraine Schulte; MS, Marcy Scott; RS,
Robert Shantz; KS, Ken Stinnett; BV, Brad Vaughn; BW, Bill West; SRW, Steve
and Renee 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. April 12 is to Belen and the Isleta Marshes with Judy Liddell
(271-0912); on April 19 they go to Bosque del Apache Refuge with Mary Lou Arthur
(299-2565); and on April 26 a hike in Otero Canyon with Rebecca Gracey (242-3821).
On April 7 the Gila Native Plant Society will have a birding field trip up
Gold Gulch Road into the Big Burro Mts for mountain migrants. Contact is
Donna Stevens at _donnastevens@axnex.net_ (mailto:donnastevens@axnex.net) .
The annual Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival at Milnesand will be April 13 to
15. More details later on field trips.
The Bird Migration Sensation at Percha Dam State Park (which includes
Caballo and Elephant Butte Lakes) will be April 20-21.
There will be a birding breakfast, identification bird hikes. Contact is
the park at 743-3942.
On April 21 Southwestern Audubon will go down Separ Road for early migrants.
Contact is 534-1450.
On Saturday, April 29 Central Audubon will go to Bitter Lake Refuge.
Contact Chris Rustay at 255-7786.
On April 28 Mesilla Valley Audubon will bird La Luz Canyon in the Sacramento
Mts. Contact is Walt Whitford at 521-1358 or _wlawhit@zianet.com_
(mailto:wlawhit@zianet.com) .
- End transcript.
* New Mexico Bird Report
* April 5, 2007
* NMEX0704.05
- Transcript
hotline: New Mexico
date: April 5, 2007
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
Cell phone 505-803-1807
e-mail address _pinyonjay@aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com)
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for April 5, 2007,
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given
for private property, please call before going.
Highlights: Carolina Wren, Zone-tailed Hawk, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Cave
Swallows at a new site. Lesser Prairie Chickens have begun their show.
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) 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) .
Birds Mentioned and Counties:
Horned Grebe (Colfax)
American White Pelican (Sandoval, Chaves)
Double-crested Cormorant (Chaves)
American Bittern (Chaves, Doņa Ana)
Snowy Egret (Colfax)
Cattle Egret (Sierra)
Turkey Vulture (Sierra, Sandoval, Taos)
Snow and Ross's Geese (Colfax, Sandoval)
Greater and Lesser Scaups (Sandoval)
Canvasback (Sandoval)
Lesser Scaup (3 county lines)
Long-tailed Duck (Colfax)
Common Goldeneye (Doņa Ana)
Common Merganser (Chaves, Grant, Doņa Ana))
Hooded Merganser (Chaves)
Red-breasted Merganser (Colfax, Chaves)
Osprey (Sierra, Grant, Chaves, Doņa Ana)
Northern Harrier (Doņa Ana)
Bald Eagle (Colfax)
Northern Goshawk (Sandoval)
Harris's Hawk (Otero)
Common Black-Hawk (Grant, Hidalgo)
Swainson's Hawk (Doņa Ana, 3 county lines, Eddy, Hidalgo)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Socorro, Hidalgo, Grant, Sierra)
Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawk (Sierra, Doņa Ana, Luna lines)
Golden Eagle (Grant)
Peregrine Falcon (Doņa Ana, Hidalgo, Sandoval)
Lesser Prairie Chicken (Chaves)
Chukar and Northern Bobwhite (Luna)
Ring-necked Pheasant (Luna, Colfax)
Snowy Plover (Chaves)
Black-necked Stilt (Valencia, Socorro)
American Avocet (Colfax)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Socorro)
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Doņa Ana, 3 county lines)
Long-billed Curlew (Sierra, Chaves, Doņa Ana, Colfax)
Least Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher (Luna, Sierra, Doņa Ana County
lines)
Wilson's Snipe (Doņa Ana)
Red-necked Phalarope (Chaves)
Wilson's Phalarope (Socorro, Hidalgo)
Franklin's Gull (Colfax, Socorro, Hidalgo, Sandoval, Chaves)
Bonaparte's Gull (Socorro)
Herring Gull (Colfax)
Barn Owl (Colfax, Hidalgo)
Western and Whiskered Screech-Owls (Hidalgo)
Elf Owl (Hidalgo, Grant)
Burrowing Owl (Valencia, Chaves, Sandoval)
Northern Pygmy Owl (Grant, Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Long-eared Owl (Colfax, Roosevelt)
Rufous and Magnificent Hummingbirds (Grant)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Grant, Doņa Ana))
Williamson's Sapsucker (Hidalgo)
Arizona Woodpecker (Hidalgo
Lewis's Woodpecker (Hidalgo)
Three-toed Woodpecker (Bernalillo, Sandoval)
Hammond's Flycatcher (Sierra)
Eastern Phoebe (Luna)
Gray Flycatcher (Hidalgo)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Roosevelt, Chaves)
Western Kingbird (Doņa Ana)
Cassin's Vireo (Doņa Ana)
Hutton's Vireo (Luna, Sierra, Doņa Ana, Hidalgo)
Chihuahuan Raven (Sandoval)
Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows (Sandoval)
Cliff and Cave Swallows (Eddy)
Bridled Titmouse (Sierra)
Cactus Wren (Sierra)
Carolina Wren (Santa Fe)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chaves)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Chaves)
Sage Thrasher (Hidalgo, Colfax)
Brown Thrasher (Eddy)
Cedar Waxwing (Santa Fe))
Olive Warbler (Doņa Ana, Sierra)
Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler (Eddy)
Painted Redstart (Grant)
Cassin's Sparrow (Roosevelt, Chaves, Grant)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Sierra)
Black-throated Sparrow (Bernalillo)
Swamp Sparrow (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
White-throated Sparrow (Sierra, Doņa Ana)
Chestnut-collared longspur (Colfax)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Colfax)
Bronzed Cowbird (Luna)
Hooded Orioles (Grant, Doņa Ana, Hidalgo)
Scott's Oriole (Grant)
Cassin's Finch (Luna)
In Sandoval County:
WW on April 4 took NM 126 north of La Cueva in the Jemez and had a
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER female on a dead tree at 22.7 miles with a lone SNOW GOOSE at
the Seven Springs Fish Hatchery, a PEREGRINE near Fenton Lake and a GOSHAWK on
a snag at 35.7 miles.
At Cochiti Lake on April 2 WW had 12 WHITE PELICANS. On April 1 BV reported
a male GREATER SCAUP on the lake with seven FRANKLIN'S GULLS present, and
the BURROWING OWL still on a post at mile 3 of NM 16. BH on April 1 reported
17 CANVASBACKS and 48 LESSER SCAUPS, but did not see the Greater. He also
found two CHIHUAHUAN RAVENS there and CLIFF and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were
present with six TURKEY VULTURES.
CP on March 26 reported an adult PYGMY OWL high in a snag a mile up Trail
137 near Battleship Rock in the western Jemez. Mountains on NM 4 east of Jemez
Springs.
In Taos County:
SH on April 2 had his first TURKEY VULTURE in Taos.
In Santa Fe County:
JB reports that BW and AF on March 29-30 had a singing CAROLINA WREN in
Santa Fe, seen later by AF on March 1. JB got it on April 3. It is in a closed
area for parking at the State Library compound, so one should park on Don
Gaspar and walk to DeVargas. The song is easily heard. Do not drive into the
state parking area. RE had it on April 5. The area is south of the Supreme
Court and north of the round capitol (and across from where I used to work).
RE had a small group of CEDAR WAXWINGS on March 28 near the Randall Davey
Audubon Center in Santa Fe.
In San Miguel County;
A telescope will be replaced soon for the one stolen at Crane Lake on the
Las Vegas Refuge.
In Colfax County:
DC on April 3 at Stubblefield Lake saw the female LONG-TAILED DUCK still
present and eight (one female) RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. On April 1 at the lake
he had four HORNED GREBES in breeding plumage, an immature BALD EAGLE, and a
HERRING and a FRANKLIN'S GULL.
A male RING-NECKED PHEASANT was at Lake 14 of the adjacent Mexwell Refuge on
April 4.
At Springer Lake on April 1 he found seven CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS,
three SNOW GEESE, a ROSS'S GOOSE, and three YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.
There was only one BARN OWL at the roost in the thicket near the 't' with
Hwys. A5 and A1 on April 4, but he found a roost with eight LONG-EARED OWLS on
private property a couple of miles out of the refuge. Migrants in the area
now include a LONG-BILLED CUIRLEW, AVOCET, SNOWY EGRET, and SAGE THRASHER.
In Bernalillo County:
JE on April 1 had eight singing BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS at Rinconada Canyon
of the Petroglyphs NM.
JP on March 25 had a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER on the path from the Crest
parking lot near the Kiwanis Meadow and a calling PYGMY OWL near the start of the
track that leads downhill from the south end of the parking area to the
Meadow.
In Valencia County:
At the marsh behind the Taco Bell in Belen RB on March 18 found six
BLACK-NECKED STILTS and the BURROWING OWLS are still near the Taco Bell.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio JP and WW on March 31 saw 30
BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 12 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, and two WILSON'S PHALAROPES. JN at the refuge on March 30 had a
ZONE-TAILED HAWK adult near the Willow Deck.
In Roosevelt County:
At the migrant trap 11 miles west of Melrose on March 25 DH found a
LONG-EARED OWL and a VERMILION FLYCATCHER with CASSIN'S SPARROWS singing nearby.
In Chaves County:
JH on Bitter Lake Refuge on March 22 reported two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS,
lingering HOODED MERGANSERS, SNOWY PLOVERS coming in, and single AMERICAN
BITTERNS on Units 5 and 15. CW on March 25 at the refuge found a VERMILION
FLYCATCHER male at the Pajaro Blind, two BURROWING OWLS on Unit 7, a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER at the headquarters, and two COMMON MERGANSERS. MR and SF on April
1 had 50 FRANKLIN'S GULLS, singing CASSIN'S SPARROWS, a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,
an OSPREY, with fly-over 50 DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANTS and 11 WHITE PELICANS.
CW on March 25 saw 29 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS in a field on the northeast corner
of Main Street and Pine Lodge Rd. in Roswell on March 25.
JP, WW, and LL had a good LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN show with 22 present on
March 17 north of the Waldrop Road Rest (40 miles east of Roswell) on the
Mescalero Sands.
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam State Park JP and WW on March 24 saw a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER,
one LONG-BILLED CURLEW, the two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and one SWAMP SPARROW.
JP at the Oxbow Lake in Truth or Consequences reported on March 24 two
CATTLE EGRETS with two OSPREYS flying over the town.
KS on March 24 on Animas Creek near Caballo Lake saw RUFOUS-CROWNED and many
other sparrows and a roost of up to 30 TURKEY VULTURES. JE on March 31 in
the canyon found a ZONE-TAILED HAWK, two BRIDLED TITMICE, and a CACTUS WREN.
A Emory Pass in the Black Range on the county line with Grant County JP and
WW on March 30 had OLIVE WARBLER and HUTTON'S VIREO.
In Grant County:
At Redrock on March 30 JP and WW had the BLACK HAWK, an OSPREY, and on the
way to Virden a GOLDEN EAGLE.
DBe had BLACK HAWK on March 26 to 30 in Silver City.
CA had a HOODED ORIOLE at their home on March 19 and BN saw another on March
26 and 28.
On March 27 LM had a singing CASSIN'S SPARROW at the City of Rocks State
Park.
On March 27 EW had two male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS at her feeder near
Cliff and an ELF OWL at the Mogollon Creek Campground.
JBi had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK over his Silver City yard on March 25.
EL had a COMMON MERGANSER at the Tyrone Sewage Ponds on March 25..
JP and WW at the Iron Creek Campground in the Black Range had a singing
PAINTED REDSTART on March 30.
JDM at her home at Roberts Lake had a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD male on March 19
and a male MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD March 22.
In Hidalgo County:
JP and WW on March 30 at the Lordsburg sewage ponds had a WILSON'S
PHALAROPE. On March 31 they saw four FRANKLIN'S GULLS and a PEREGRINE FALCON there.
At Virden there were two BLACK HAWKS, a ZONE-TAILED HAWK, a SWAINSON'S HAWK,
a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, a calling HOODED ORIOLE, and a SCOTT'S ORIOLE.
In Clanton Canyon on March 31 they saw three WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS, a
WHISKERED OWL, an ELF OWL, a GRAY FLYCATCHER, two WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, five
ARIZONA WOODPECKERS, and several HUTTON'S VIREOS.
North of Lordsburg on March 30 JP and WW had several SAGE THRASHERS.
RS on March 26 and 28 had BARN OWLS in Steeple Rock Canyon north of Virden.
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 March 19 in Deming at the Mounain View Cemetery saw a CASSIN'S FINCH,
HUTTON'S VIREO, and EASTERN PHOEBE. At the Pecan Park trailer area there was
a BRONZED COWBIRD.
LM reports that Katfish Kove is no longer open to birders. He says four
CHUKARS, three BOBWHITES, and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT were introduced in the
county along the Mimbres River Road.
At the county line of Sierra, Doņa Ana, and Luna Counties from Nutt to Hatch
KS ON March 24 at a pond had up to 40 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 30 LEAST
SANDPIPERS, with two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, one SWAINSON'S HAWK.
CBr at the Uva's Dairy playa on March 28 had GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS
and 12 LESSER SCAUPS on NM 26.
In Doņa Ana County:
CL on March 26 had 33 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS about three miles south of Mesilla
on NM 28.
A COMMON GOLDENEYE was photographed by JZ and MS on March 22 four miles
south of Hatch on the Rio Grande. CL had a pair that afternoon at the NM 154
bridge. It was seen again below the 'rapids' at Rincon on April 2 by JZ and MS.
CL on March 25 south of Garfield had a PEREGRINE FALCON, a dark morph
SWAINSON'S HAWK, with two light morphs along the Rio Grande.
In Fillmore Canyon in the western Organ Mts. CBr found a female OLIVE
WARBLER.
CL on March 29 had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the La Cueva picnic area near
Dripping Springs, a CASSIN'S VIREO at Mesilla Park, and an OSPREY at Burn
Lake. He had the AMERICAN BITTERN at the Mesilla Bosque Park on March 31 with
two SWAMP SPARROWS.
LS had a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD and a HOODED ORIOLE at her Las
Cruces feeder on March 29. She has gone out of town, but CL saw the oriole on
April 4 and says birders may visit her yard on Fairfax near Triviz. JZ and MS
saw it on April 2.
JZ and MS had another HOODED ORIOLE at their home near Radium Springs on
April 4.
KS on April 1 at the Mesilla Valley Park had the AMERICAN BITTERN, seven
HARRIERS together, and four COMMON MERGANSERS. KS saw the BITTERN on April 2
and the first WESTERN KINGBIRDS at his home in Las Cruces. JZ and MS got the
bittern on April 2 at the North Pond.
CL on April 1 on the Pine Tree Trail at Aguirre State Park had two HUTTON'S
VIREOS with 16 SNIPES at Swan Pond north of Radium Springs.
In Otero County:
CL and CBr on March 20 saw a HARRIS'S HAWK over US54 ten miles south of
Alamogordo.
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:
CW at Rattlesnake Springs on March 25 reported a male MYRTLE WARBLER, and a
dark morph SWAINSON'S HAWK. SRW on March 18 saw a BROWN THRASHER there.
SW found CLIFF and CAVE SWALLOWS at an apparent new nesting site on US 295
1.1 miles north of the road to Sitting Bull Falls under a culvert.
INITIALS USED:
CA, Connie Adler; JB, Jonathan Batkin; DBe, David Beatty; RB, Ross Bevan;
JBi, Jerry Bird; CBr, Charles Britt; DC. David Cleary; JDM, Joan
Day-Martin; RE, Richard Ellenberg; JE, John Esterl; AF, Andrew Fenner; SF,
Steve Fettig; SH, Steve Hanks; DH, David Hawksworth; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff
Howland; LL, Lane Leckman; EL, Gene Lewis; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry
Malone; JN, Josh Nemeth: BN, Bill Norris; JP, John Parmeter; CP, Chadette
Pfaff; MR, Mary Ristow; LS, Lorraine Schulte; MS, Marcy Scott; RS,
Robert Shantz; KS, Ken Stinnett; BV, Brad Vaughn; BW, Bill West; SRW, Steve
and Renee 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. April 12 is to Belen and the Isleta Marshes with Judy Liddell
(271-0912); on April 19 they go to Bosque del Apache Refuge with Mary Lou Arthur
(299-2565); and on April 26 a hike in Otero Canyon with Rebecca Gracey (242-3821).
On April 7 the Gila Native Plant Society will have a birding field trip up
Gold Gulch Road into the Big Burro Mts for mountain migrants. Contact is
Donna Stevens at _donnastevens@axnex.net_ (mailto:donnastevens@axnex.net) .
The annual Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival at Milnesand will be April 13 to
15. More details later on field trips.
The Bird Migration Sensation at Percha Dam State Park (which includes
Caballo and Elephant Butte Lakes) will be April 20-21.
There will be a birding breakfast, identification bird hikes. Contact is
the park at 743-3942.
On April 21 Southwestern Audubon will go down Separ Road for early migrants.
Contact is 534-1450.
On Saturday, April 29 Central Audubon will go to Bitter Lake Refuge.
Contact Chris Rustay at 255-7786.
On April 28 Mesilla Valley Audubon will bird La Luz Canyon in the Sacramento
Mts. Contact is Walt Whitford at 521-1358 or _wlawhit@zianet.com_
(mailto:wlawhit@zianet.com) .
- End transcript.