Capulin Spring Picnic Area and ‘The Log’ Re-Opens

Cassin’s Finches and Western Tanager

A Band-tailed Pigeon flew off as we approached ‘The Log’ at Capulin Spring Picnic Area, one of the featured sites in Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico.

After setting up our folding chairs, Barbara Hussey and I noticed three Cassin’s Finches in the branches above our head. After a few minutes, they flew down to drink from the trickling water at the bottom of the log trough.

“Oh, look, a beautiful male Western Tanager has joined them,” I exclaimed.

It had been several years since I last enjoyed watching the birds at Capulin Springs. For the past three years the US Forest Service and certified volunteers from the Friends of Sandia Mountain have been cutting and removing trees damaged by bark beetle – many of which had fallen precariously – and updating the entire picnic area. The road down to the viewing area is closed and it is strictly a walking path.

The picnic table has been removed and replaced by comfortable benches. It used to be a real disappointment to arrive to view the birds and find people picnicking at that table, unaware of nature’s parade of avian species coming and going. The new picnic area is further down the road next to a new restroom.

Both Yellow-rumped and Graces Warblers called from the tops of the conifers. We were glad we had not let the forecast for heavy winds deter us. While the winds kept picking up, we were sitting in a semi-protected area and the gusts didn’t discourage the birds from going about their business.

A parade of woodpeckers visited the log: a stunning male Red-naped Sapsucker,

Red-naped Sapsucker letting Cassin’s Finch know he was there first.

a Hairy Woodpecker,

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

and a Downy Woodpecker who didn’t stay long enough to be photographed.

Nearby, we watched a pair of chattering House Wrens obtaining nesting material from a remaining brush pile, and then taking it bit by bit up a tree to where they were building a nest.

“What’s that in front of us?” Barb asked. When we could view it better, we identified it as a Dusky Flycatcher.

Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin and a Hermit Thrush took turns bathing in the shallow water that pooled in the bottom of the hollowed-out and deteriorating log. We were glad that collaborative plans with the US Forest Service and Central New Mexico Audubon are under consideration to replace the log.

We had heard the peet of a Cordilleran Flycatcher in the trees. It finally flew in and perched on the fence surrounding the area that protects the spring.

A Spotted Towhee called from behind us, then flew to another branch and called again. In the midst of his circling the log area, as if staking his claim, he stopped for a drink.

Spotted Towhee

A Black-headed Grosbeak sang sweetly from nearby and finally visited the log briefly before we had to be on our way.

It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the birds at Capulin Spring again.

From Barn Owls to Northern Waterthrush – South Santa Fe County

As we got out of our cars at a ranch near Stanley, the air was filled with the bickering sounds of Western Kingbirds that were jostling for territories. Before we left that location, we had counted almost 30 kingbirds!

Western Kingbird

Barn Swallows darted every which way.

There are some birding destinations that I look forward to each year – and this is one of them. Each spring the Central New Mexico Audubon Thursday Birders make a trip to the farm and range lands of south Santa Fe County and always stop at this private ranch that is an oasis in the middle of an agricultural area.

“The owl has been roosting in one of the trees in the front,” the homeowner told us. The opportunity to see their resident Barn Owl is always one of the highlights of the trip.

When I didn’t see the owl in the area she suggested, I made my way around the back of the house. Before long, it flew from behind the storage shed towards the tree near where I was standing. It was being chased by a Western Kingbird. The kingbird didn’t let it stay in the tree for long before it started harassing again – and off it flew.

As the first owl took off, another one flew in to take its place. Two owls! This one stayed long enough for me to get its picture.

Barn Owl

A Western Meadowlark called from nearby.

As I walked back to join the others, I noted a Yellow Warbler in the shrubs along the street. Then a Bullock’s Oriole flew by towards the driveway.

While I was off chasing the owl, some of the others had seen an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Western Tanager.

“I heard and then saw a Killdeer in the corral area,” Lefty told us.

Before heading on, we watched a Northern Mockingbird fly off its perch along a distant fence-line to scrounge for something in the dirt – and then fly back up again.

Our next stop was along Valley Irrigation Road to search for the stock pond where an Eared Grebe had been reported the prior day. Shortly after turning onto Dinkle Rd., we spotted a Lark Bunting. The lead car was able to see it feeding in a field. Our car was able to see its distinctive wing pattern as it flew across the road to the other side.

Lark Bunting – photo by Joe Schelling

Further along the way we spotted Cassin’s Kingbird, Great-tailed Grackle and Brewer’s Blackbird, along with a couple of Swainson’s Hawks and a late Northern Harrier.

Unfortunately, we were looking into the sun reflecting off the water of the stock pond, which made picking out a grebe difficult among the Gadwalls, Mallards and Ruddy Ducks. I searched in vain through my scope without success. Gary was able to locate it and several were able to see it. Gary also counted 6 Solitary Sandpipers on the far side of the pond.

We dipped on Burrowing Owls at a spot where we usually had been able to see them.

Our final stop of the day was in the Galisteo Basin Preserve. The whistling song of a Mountain Chickadee cascaded from the trees in a residential area as we walked from where we had parked to the preserve.

“It is really slow here today,” Cheryl told us. Cheryl birds with Sangre de Cristo Audubon and had met us at the preserve.

Bridge to Galisteo Preserve

The breeze rustling through the cottonwood leaves was the only sound we heard as we walked along the trail, until the calls of two White-breasted Nuthatches greeted us. An occasional Black-chinned Hummingbird buzzed in the trees and an occasional Spotted Towhee sang from the understory.

“Northern Waterthrush,” someone called. It had been foraging along the stream edge when the group flushed it. Fortunately, it flew into a tree just ahead of me, giving me the opportunity to see its eyebrow and streaked breast before it flew off again.

Things were picking up.

A Plumbeous Vireo called as it moved from tree to tree along the boundary of the preserve. Some in the group had never seen one and trip leader, Rebecca, kept on it until those who wanted to look at it had an opportunity.

We almost missed a Western Bluebird sitting quietly on a branch in the woods.

Some narrow logs had been laid across the stream to assist people to navigate across the running water. The most sure-footed crossed first, and then Barb and Rebecca hoisted up the ends of one of the logs and held it to form a ‘railing’ to assist the rest of us to cross.

After eating our lunch in the community park, we went over the checklist for the day – 57 species.

It had been a varied and delightful morning of birding.

Great Horned Owlet Captivated Us at Quarai

The surface of the water at Manzano Pond, was like glass with the shimmering reflection of the fresh green leaves of the cottonwood trees. A couple of American Coots made their way along the in the reeds at the west end of the small fishing lake.

As I caught up with the group of Central New Mexico Audubon Thursday Birders, they were all staring into the top of one of the trees.

“What do you see?” I inquired.

“A Yellow Warbler,” someone replied. It didn’t take long before it flitted into view – a tiny spot of yellow among the green.

A couple of people had seen a Red-naped Sapsucker before it flew off.

At the far end of the pond, a male Bullock’s Oriole foraged in another tree.

“There’s the female,” someone pointed out.

The questioning call of a Plumbeous Vireo came from the trees, but we could not locate it.

The chattering of several Western Kingbirds sounded like a tape-recorder on rewind as they chased each other in and out of the trees.  Nearby we heard a Cassin’s Kingbird calling.

Five Spotted Sandpipers bobbed along the east shore. In their breeding plumage, they sported orange beaks and the identifiable round, brown spots on their breasts. They flew up and out over the pond, circled around and landed back on the shore. A short time later, they flew to the far shore.

Spotted Sandpipers

A few Barn and Violet-green Swallows swooped over the water.

As we worked our way around the north side of the water, we watched two Hairy Woodpeckers fly into a tree overhead.

“There’s also a Ladder-backed Woodpecker in that tree,” someone in the group said as he pointed.

“Eastern Phoebe,” Rebecca exclaimed. “Its distinctive fee bee call was coming from the depths of a large tree. A few minutes later it flew out and headed in the opposite direction.

Our next stop was the Quarai Unit of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, one of the sites featured in Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico.

‘Blinky’ – Great Horned owlet

“About a week ago when I was volunteering at Wildlife Rescue,” trip leader Bonnie Long told us, “I took a phone call from the ranger about a Great Horned Owl chick that had fallen from the nest high up in one of the niches in the ruins.  When I went to check on it the following day, it had walked out of the convento ruins and around the corner where it would be at risk from predators.”

She went onto tell us that as a result of her training, she was able to pick it up with gloves, put it in a box and place it back inside the ruins. The ranger has cordoned off the area with cones to protect it, and someone has nick-named it ‘Blinky.’

We entered the ruins in small groups. It was dozing in a far corner.

“The parents are feeding it,” the ranger told us. “We found the end of a snake one morning and yesterday there was the tail end of a rabbit. Both were soon devoured. We hope that it continues to thrive.”

We could see that it is growing its flight feathers and were in awe of the little owlet’s spunk.

We followed the trail into the riparian area where we could hear a Yellow-breasted Chat calling and could see it perched in a tree across a clearing.

I was near the end of our group of 27 birders and saw a bird with a black hood and the distinctive wing bars of a grosbeak fly by and into a nearby tree.

“Rose-breasted Grosbeak,” someone at the head of the line called. We learned that it has been coming to the ranger’s feeders adjacent to the monument.

There weren’t as many species as we had hoped – and no migrating flycatchers or warblers, which was a puzzle. This normally is a great spot for these species in mid-May.

As we ate our lunch under the cottonwood trees, several Black-headed Grosbeaks entertained us with their frolicking and calling, while Barn Swallows flew low over the field in search of insects.

Even though the Eastern Phoebe was a second county record for Torrance County, we all agreed that the owlet was the ‘bird of the day.’

Spring Migration in SE Arizona

I had been awake since 5:30 when I heard an unusual clucking bird call outside the bedroom window of our cottage at Rail Oaks Ranch near Sierra Vista. I was afraid to open the blind for fear of scaring whatever it was, so I peered beneath six inch gap at the below the shade. All I could see were some frolicking White-winged Doves – not the source of the sound I heard.

“A Scott’s Oriole flew in behind you,” I signaled to Bonnie as we were eating breakfast.

Bullock’s Oriole

It was one of the 10 species that morning that visited the various feeders conveniently placed within view of the dining area.

“You just missed some Montezuma Quail,” Karl told us. He and his wife Mary, Bonnie’s friends from Alaska who had come to SE Arizona for spring migration, were staying in the adjacent cottage. “In fact,” Karl continued, “I thought they were going to jump into the back seat when I opened the door.”  Montezuma Quail was on my wish list for the trip.

As we drove towards Fort Huachucha, I clicked on my Sibley’s app and played the various calls for Montezuma Quail. The sound I heard at 5:30 a.m. was not a quail.

“A pair of Elegant Trogans looked as though they were exploring a nest hole in the large sycamore tree at the edge of the parking lot when I was here two days ago,” Karl told us. While Bonnie and I had both seen the trogon on prior trips, we both hoped to be able to photograph it.

There was no sign of the trogan, so we headed up the rocky trail. Before long we encountered two Brown-crested Flycatchers. We heard their whip calls in amongst the foliage before they came into view.  Before long we ran into Charles, another birder from Albuquerque, and he joined us for the rest of the morning.

Further up the canyon we entered a hub of bird activity – Plumbeous and Hutton’s Vireos, Painted Redstart and Black-throated Gray and Townsend’s Warblers.

“Have you seen a trogon?” we asked the leader of a group of birders heading back down the canyon.

“No, but we heard one a short distance up,” he responded.

We also heard the distinctive barking, but didn’t catch a glimpse.  It is notorious for sitting quietly unnoticed. Since we returned from Arizona, Bonnie heard from Karl and Mary. They tried finding the Elegant Trogon again.  Karl hiked up the trail further than when were there and Mary stayed down in the parking lot.  Karl heard the trogon but never saw one.  Mary saw the pair at the Sycamore tree after everyone left the parking lot!

That evening we drove to the Battiste Bed and Breakfast for the ‘Elf Owl Show,’ arriving shortly before dark.

We watched May’s ‘super moon’ rise while we waited for the owls to come out of their nesting hole in an abandoned power pole in the middle of their yard.

“Keep an eye on the top hole,” Tony told us as he shone a light just below the hole. “That is the male’s hole. You will see his head appear at the opening and then he will start calling to the female.”

As if on cue, the diminutive head of the Elf Owl filled its hole, barely protruding, and he began to call.

Elf Owl peeking from hole – photo by Bonnie Long

“That’s the sound I heard outside of my window this morning,” I exclaimed. “There must have been a couple of Elf Owls in the tree that I could not see through the window opening.

All of a sudden, an Acorn Woodpecker flew into one of the six holes, followed by its mate. The wire mesh was placed on the pole when it was used by the power company to prevent the woodpeckers from drilling any more holes in it.

Acorn Woodpecker – Photo by Bonnie Long

Elf Owls, like other owl species, do not build their own nests, but appropriate the nests of other species. The Elf Owl frequently moves into the hole of an Acorn Woodpecker, as it did at this location. The woodpecker, not about to give up its permanent roosting spot, flew into one of the other holes.

After the male had successfully roused the female, he flew out of his hole and landed on a nearby branch. Before long he took off to hunt.

The next morning we headed to Patagonia, a new location for me, arriving at Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve at 7:30. We didn’t stay to watch the hummingbird feeders and headed to the Creek Trail to look for riparian species. In the distance we could hear the whistle of the Gray Hawk; however, it was over-powered by the calls of Gila Woodpeckers that abounded at this location.

We spotted a few migrating Wilson’s and Yellow Warblers. Song Sparrows called from along the creek.

“Look, a Vermilion Flycatcher is feeding chicks,” Bonnie alerted us. The small cup-shaped nest was secured to a limb over the trail. We could see little mouths propped open above the rim of the nest. And, then one of the chicks flew out of the nest and to a limb in an adjacent tree. As we watched, it gathered itself together and flew back to the nest tree, while its sibling watched hesitantly. We quickly walked on so we wouldn’t disturb them.

Vermilion Flycatcher nest and chicks

As we walked along the trail, we had the opportunity to observe numerous Black-headed Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers and Brown-crested Flycatchers. We encountered a pair of Abert’s Towhees.

As we looped back we heard the distinctive call of a Northern Cardinal and then saw it and its mate. We looked unsuccessfully for a Rufous-backed Robin that had been reported near a spring.

As we approached the Visitor Center, we saw people looking skyward with their binoculars. A Gray Hawk was circling for overhead – and then disappeared over the horizon.

I am always grateful to the Nature Conservancy for their efforts in acquiring and preserving wonderful wild areas such as this.

Our next stop was Patton’s Feeders, famous for its Violet-crowned Hummingbirds. While there were many other birds that visited their feeders, I was primarily interested in the opportunity to see the Violet-crowned Hummingbird, so I focused on the row of nectar feeders. In addition to the many hummers – primarily Broad-billed, Anna’s

Anna’s Hummingbird

and Black-chinned, I was amused by the persistent Gila Woodpecker that took over one of the feeders.

Gila Woodpecker

“There’s an Indigo Bunting at the feeder near the fence,” someone signaled. After sitting on the sidelines for a while, it finally came in and fed opposite a Lazuli Bunting.

Lazuli and Indigo Buntings

While I was watching the buntings, I missed a visit by my target hummingbird and vowed I would not be distracted again. After about 15 more minutes, I was rewarded with my life bird.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

“We can go to lunch now,” I announced to my companions.

Before leaving the area, we visited the famous Patagonia Roadside Rest where a number of rare species have been spotted over the years. There had been recent reports of a Thick-billed Kingbird. While we didn’t see the kingbird, we were surprised to see a Townsend’s Solitaire.

On our last full day in the Sierra Vista area, we spent the morning trekking through the bosque adjacent to Casa de San Pedro.  The lush riparian habitat was in vast contrast to Chihuahuan desert scrub in other areas.

Many of the species were similar to those we had seen at Patagonia, with far more Vermilion Flycatchers.

Vermilion Flycatcher

“Gray Hawk,” Karl motioned. It was circling well within view – and then flew into a cottonwood along the trail where it became impossible to see. “We think they must have a nest near here, as we have seen them in this area often.”

At this location, each pair of Abert’s Towhees had a Green-tailed Towhee tagging along.

We watched as two male Summer Tanagers vied for the attention of a female. She didn’t seem pleased with either one and flew off.

That afternoon we went to Ash Canyon B & B, famous for its hummingbird feeders where we ran into Lefty, another birder from Albuquerque. Mary Jo Ballator, the owner joined us under the portal, with her companion cockatoo on her shoulder. Hers was one of the few residences that survived the wildfire a year ago, and signs of devastation were everywhere. While it has affected the number of hummingbirds that visit her yard there were plenty of other species of birds at and below the seed feeders.

Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow

A Bullock’s Oriole took advantage of an empty hummingbird feeder,

Bullock’s Oriole

and a pair of Mexican Jays paid a visit.

Mexican Jay

That evening, we were glued to the windows at Karl and Mary’s cottage soaking in the many birds, including a pair of Pyrrhuloxia

Pyrrhuloxia

And numerous Gambel’s Quail.

Gambel’s Quail

An Acorn Woodpecker was busy outside the window of the cottage as we made breakfast the last morning.

Acorn Woodpecker

Before heading back to Albuquerque the last morning, we visited the hummingbird feeders at Beatty’s Guest Ranch and Orchard located 5800 feet in a pine-oak woodland. They also suffered the results of the wildfire and subsequent flash flooding during the monsoon season.

We picked our way down through the boulders that had washed down the arroyo and up the steep trail to the viewing platform where we were rewarded with a multitude of hummingbirds buzzing in and out of the feeders.

“The Blue-throated Hummingbird will be perched strategically in the middle of all of the feeders,” Edith Beatty told us before we headed up the trail. “It seems determined to spend all of its time chasing off the maggies.”

Blue-throated Hummingbird – Photo by Bonnie Long

Sure enough, the Blue-throated hummer was easy to spot.

While it actively pursued any Magnificent Hummingbird that attempted to feed, and we mostly saw Magnificents sitting on the sidelines, few persistent ones were able to sneak in unnoticed.

Magnificent Hummingbird – Photo by Bonnie Long

Other hummingbird species included Broad-tailed, Black-chinned and Broad-billed. We spent a contented hour watching the action before we reluctantly had to leave. During our visit we also saw an Arizona Woodpecker, our only sighting of the trip.

Our whirl-wind trip had been a wonderful opportunity to enjoy not only migrating and summer nesting birds, but also Arizona endemics.

Unusual Sightings at Bachechi Open Space and Alameda Wetlands

“Before we explore the Alameda Open Space,” trip leader Kathleen told the assembled Central New Mexico Audubon Thursday Birders, “we are going to walk through the new Bachechi Open Space where I saw a Killdeer with her chicks yesterday.”

Alameda Open Space is one of the sights in Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico. One of the field trip participants told me she had reviewed the site description before the trip.

As we walked around the east end of the Alameda wetlands, we stopped to scan the waterfowl on the pond. There were a few Mallards and a couple of Cinnamon Teal, but only one Wood Duck pair, compared with earlier in the year. Since this is nesting season, chances are they are near their nests in trees throughout the Open Space.

A few swallows darted around over where we stood. “They are Violet-green Swallows,” I stated. “I can see their white cheeks and rump patches.”

After crossing a bridge over the inlet stream, we entered the Bachechi Open Space and walked through areas with newly planted natives which had recently been flooded with irrigation water from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District’s old Lane Lateral, the running ditch at the north side of Bachechi between the new open space and the ponds. While the water had seeped into the soil in most planting beds, the area planted with native grasses still had surface water.

We could hear a Killdeer calling and soon located mama, who was hustling to the edge of the wetlands calling her brood. With careful scrutiny, we located the three tiny chicks walking towards her on their still-spindly legs. One, by one, they joined her and huddled under her wings, with just their legs showing.

baby Killdeer sheltered by mother - photo by Joe Schelling

From the far side of the wetlands, papa was calling, as if to say “is everyone safe?”

The chicks were not content to stay sequestered under their mother’s wings for long. First one, and then the others ventured out and began exploring again.

Killdeer chick

Once again, mom called them back to the safety of her spread wings. It was time to move on so as not to disturb the Killdeer family any more.

We exited the Bachechi Open Space, walked north a short distance, crossed over the Bridge at the Alameda Open Space and then walked up onto the levee and over to the river next to the Water Re-Use Facility mentioned above.

As we were crossing the bridge, someone spotted a bird perched high on a bare snag in a cottonwood tree up on the levee. We set up the scopes to get a better look. The sky was gray behind the bird, making it difficult to ferret out field marks with our binoculars.

“Blue Grosbeak,” someone stated. It is blue with rusty wing-bars.

“We need to make sure it isn’t an Indigo Bunting,” Rebecca replied. The bunting would be more probable for this time period, rather than the grosbeak that normally doesn’t arrive until early May.

Our final conclusion was a Blue Grosbeak. Fortunately, Phil Trine captured a photo, which with considerable editing, was able to bring out the colors.

Blue Grosbeak - photo by Phil Trine

We heard the scratchy call of a Bewick’s Wren coming from a bush near the top of the levee. Before long the wren popped into view before flying into another bush.

There were a few pairs of Canada Geese on the river and we could see a few female nesting on sandbars.

We headed north through the bosque, stopped to scan the trees for the Yellow-rumped Warblers we could hear calling – 3 Audubon’s and 1 Myrtle.

“There’s a Western Kingbird,” someone exclaimed. “It is on the backside of the tree with the warblers.”

It was a ‘first of season’ for me.

Along the river north of the bridge, we again scanned the water. Rebecca was sure she could see a Peregrine Falcon eating prey on a sandbar. We trekked further north to get a better view – and confirm the sighting.

A large raptor flew into the top of a cottonwood on the far side of the river across from where we stood. Unfortunately, it landed with its back to us, so it took a while for it to turn enough to see its sides and throat – a Swainson’s Hawk.

Eastern Phoebe - photo be Joe Schelling

Before heading to the cars, we took time to scan the trees and shrubs along the drain. When we were almost to the bridge, Rebecca called out that she was hearing an Eastern Phoebe.

“I don’t know their song,” I said.

“It sounds like they are singing their name,” Gale replied. “phoebe, phoebe – with a lilt.”

“Well, we won’t have travel all the way to Villanueva this year to see one,” I stated. We usually see them near the bridge over the river just before the state park there.

According to Sibley’s field guide, they nest almost exclusively on man-made structures such as bridges. The following day on eBird’s report of rare birds for New Mexico, someone reported seeing two of them in the same location that acted as if they might be nest-building. If so, it would be a Bernalillo County record.

As we gathered in the parking lot to go over the bird list, it was hard to decide the ‘bird of the day’ – the Killdeer, the Blue Grosbeak or the Eastern Phoebe.

Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm Petrels of North America – a Review

I became fascinated with Sooty Shearwaters after watching them – from shore – off Monterey Bay at the end of September. They were part of a mixed feeding flock, which enabled me to see their unique behavior. When in flight, they barely skimmed the water with shallow wing-beats and then would suddenly plunge into the water to feed. I returned home wanting to learn more about them.

The letter from Princeton University Press that accompanied the review copy introduced Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide by Steven H.G. Howell, as a “must-have resource for your next trip on the briny deep…”

Even though I don’t willingly participate on pelagic bird-watching trips due to extreme motion sensitivity, I found the book fascinating and enlightening.

Howell provides detailed descriptions to aid in field identification of the three main families of “tubenoses” – Petrels, which includes shearwaters, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels. The nostrils of this group of seabirds are encased in one or two tubes on their hooked bills, thus the term tubnose. As seabirds, they spend their entire life on the ocean, with the exception of breeding, which normally occurs on off-shore islands.

One of the most interesting sections of the book was the description of ocean habitats, currents, and the nature of water masses that influence food supply and consequently the distribution of seabirds at different times of the year. There is a discussion, with diagrams, of the influence of wind on flight behavior.

Howell also provides information on the threats to seabirds and how they serve as an index of marine ecosystem health. His photo of plastic that had been ingested by an Albatross reminded me of an exhibit I had seen in a marine museum in Hawaii illustrating the devastating effect of plastic in the ocean on seabirds.

A section of the book is also devoted to helping the reader have a successful pelagic trip, as well as strategies for observing pelagic species from land.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to participate in serious pelagic birding, as well as ‘land-lubbers’ who want to gain a more in-depth appreciation of the inter-relationship between ocean habitats and related factors and the birds that live there.

Early Spring Birding in Southwest New Mexico

The snow was coming down steadily as my friend Sue and I headed south on I-25 after I picked her up from her flight from Denver. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to traverse the dirt roads north of Magdalena in search of a Bendire’s Thrasher in this kind of weather. However, by time we headed west from Socorro, the snow was tapering off and we decided to give it a try.

We turned north on Main Street in Magdalena. Just past the old railroad station we turned right on forest service road 354, which passed the sewage ponds and a cemetery, before heading into and over some low foothills. Our directions led us onto another forest service road. The piñon-juniper habit quickly phased into desert scrub and we drove through a stand of cholla. The snow had ended and birds were beginning to stir. We stopped across from a dilapidated corral – and there was a Bendire’s Thrasher perched on the top of a cholla. Smaller than a Curve-billed Thrasher, with a yellow, rather than orange eye, it had a shorter, straighter bill. It gave a series of quiet chucks before flying down and out of sight. We got out of the car. Another one flew up and perched where we could see it. A life bird for both of us.

As we passed the sewage ponds on the way back to the highway, there was a flock of Franklin Gulls.

Our next stop was the Apache Creek Forest Campground, where I had seen Lewis’s Woodpeckers nesting a few years ago and hoped to find one for Sue. The Lewis’s is one of her nemesis birds. We were entertained by a flock of Pygmy Nuthatches and enjoyed Cinnamon Teal in the pond, but didn’t find the woodpecker we were seeking.

It was late afternoon by time we rolled into Glenwood and registered at the Double T Homestead east of town where we had reserved a cabin. After dinner, we stopped to watch the Turkey Vultures cruise in and settle into their roost tree along the road to the Catwalk.

Turkey Vulture roost tree

We were at the parking lot of the Catwalk National Recreation Area by 8:30 the next morning and discovered that most of the birds were not yet venturing out into the 34 F shade of the canyon. Only the trill of a Canyon Wren serenaded us as we walked along the north side of the canyon.

“There’s your redstart,” I stated as I pointed into the trees above our head on one of the grated platforms on the trail, as the sun began to peer into the canyon. A Painted Redstart sang and then flew – over and over. Unfortunately, it was too fast for me to capture its picture. Sue was enthralled by its crimson breast and white wing-patches on its black wings. Another redstart flew in nearby. Before we left the recreation area, we spotted six of the colorful warblers.

Near the beginning of the trail, we spotted Bridled Titmouse, another life bird for Sue. A flock of Chipping Sparrows foraged in the picnic area. I searched unsuccessfully for MY New Mexico nemesis bird – American Dipper. Lucy’s Warbler’s were singing in the scrub on either side of the parking area.

The next morning on our way to Silver City, we turned off to drive towards Bill Evans Lake, in hopes of spotting a Common Black Hawk. We hadn’t gone far when we saw three of them still perched on the branches of a weathered cottonwood tree. Another life bird for Sue.

Common Black Hawk

At Mangas Springs we heard, but didn’t see several Virginia’s Rails and Soras.

In the afternoon, we headed towards Lordsburg, and then northeast back to Red Rock. The desert habitat might have been drab at another time of year; however, we were treated to mile after mile of California poppies and other yellow wildflowers.

We also encountered a flock of over 100 Lark Buntings, just beginning to molt into their breeding plumage.

migrating Lark Buntings

At the bridge over the Gila River, we spotted three lingering Common Mergansers.

Gila River

The willows on either side of the river were alive with Yellow Warblers,

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Vermilion Flycatcher. A few Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows swooped over the river.

On our way back, we stopped next to a farm to watch another pair of Vermilion Flycatchers and a Northern Cardinal. I heard tapping in the large cottonwood next to the road and finally located the source – a Gila Woodpecker.

Back in Silver City, we settled into The Cabin, a delightful guest house on the outskirts of town that was teeming with birds. “Rather than spend the evening in a restaurant,” I suggested, “let’s go get take-out and bring it back and eat on the patio and watch the birds.

During dinner, we watched Say’s Phoebe, Townsend’s Solitaire, Chipping Sparrows, 11 Gambel’s Quail, Juniper Titmouse and both Oregon and Pink-sided Dark-eyed Juncos. A Chihuahuan Raven clucked from a shrub nearby.

View from The Cabin - photo by Sue Clasen

As I lay in bed that night, I could watch the full moon out of the window above my head before my eyes began to droop.

The next morning on our way to Pino Altos, we stopped to watch small flock of Mexican Jays, another life bird for Sue. Cherry Creek and McMillen Campgrounds had more Painted Redstarts, but no other warblers. At Lake Roberts, we were surprised that there were still 12 Buffleheads among the other waterfowl. As we were about to leave, a Snowy Egret flapped low over the lake.

That evening I discussed Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico< to a record 60 people at the Southwest New Mexico Audubon meeting.

Unfortunately, we were not able to do much birding when we arrived at Percha State Park. There were wall-to-wall campers on every spot of grass. It was hard to hear bird calls above the din of happy families enjoying Easter weekend. In an isolated area, we did see a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Caballo State Park below the dam was equally crowded – so we didn’t even stop.

“There is time for you to get your avocet fix before I have to drop you at the airport,” I told Sue when we approached Belen. She wasn’t disappointed. There were four pairs.

American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts

Twelve Black-necked Stilts busily probed the wetlands, occasionally calling as they flew from one side of the pond to the other. Four Franklin’s Gulls also plied the water.

Franklin's Gulls

As I headed out, I pulled behind Taco Bell so Sue could get a good look at the Burrowing Owl that has taken up residence near the dirt service road.

Burrowing Owl

It had been a fun and productive five-day tour of southwest New Mexico.