Spring Birding at Bitter Lake and Rattlesnake Springs

“Let’s look along the fence line at the back of the rest stop,” Barb said.
A large flock of sparrows rustled in the grass beyond the fence. We focused our bins as they popped up. Occasionally one of them would briefly fly up and rest on the fence. Most of them had [...]

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Birding Belen Marsh and Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area

The first thing we noticed were the three Long-billed Dowitchers feeding in the small pond nearest to the I-25 Bypass Road. They were probing the edge of the pond with their characteristic ‘sewing machine’ motion. Their back feathers showed the chestnut patterning and scallops of their emerging breeding plumage. Even though they [...]

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Early Spring Birds at Bernardo and the Belen Marsh

As we got out of our cars at the Bernardo Wildlife Area, we heard and saw White-crowned Sparrows in the bushes next to the viewing platform. A Spotted Towhee was calling. While the morning started out cold, it was clear and only an occasional breeze. The sun was starting to warm [...]

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A Windy Spring Day at Bosque del Apache

As the caravan of Thursday Birders turned down Highway 1 in San Antonio to head towards the refuge, we drove slowly looking for birds along the road. We spotted a couple of American Kestrels, one which was hovering in place over a field. Several Eurasian Collared Doves perched on power lines. White-crowned [...]

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Early Spring at Cochiti and Pena Blanca

White-crowned Sparrows were busy in the bushes along the road as the caravan of Thursday Birders turned to drive through Pena Blanca. We parked and got out to peruse the area.
The sun caught the breast of an American Kestrel perched high in the bare branches of a cottonwood tree. A Western Meadowlark [...]

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