Birding Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above Santa Fe, New Mexico

A high pitched whistle, “peet” greeted the 16 Thursday birders as we stopped at the Little Tesuque Picnic Area on the road to the Santa Fe Ski area.
“Cordilleran Flycatcher,” Rebecca, our trip leader, announced. We began to follow the whistle until it flew out and landed in another tree. [...]

Read Full Post »

Birding New Mexico’s Villanueva State Park

“Is that it?” I asked after hearing a musical trill through the open car window. Four cars of Central New Mexico Audubon birders were driving slowly north on Highway 3 about a mile north of Interstate 40 looking for Cassin’s Sparrows.
“Yes,” Rebecca, our trip leader, replied and signaled for the [...]

Read Full Post »

Birding New Mexico’s East Mountain Plains

“Night Jar,” someone announced over the two-way radio. The caravan of 17 Thursday Birders pulled over to the side of Highway 41 near Stanley. A Common Nighthawk was resting on top of a fence post. I had never seen one at close range – close enough to see the golden flecks in [...]

Read Full Post »

Following the Southwest Birding Trail

We exit Interstate 25 at Caballo Lake and head south. The aroma of onions wafts through the windows of the car as we pass fields ready for harvest. Yellow-breasted Chats call from the Russian Olives as we ease the car down the access road to Percha Dam State Park, our first stop along the [...]

Read Full Post »