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About

This blog is written by Judy Liddell, a passionate birder from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I became interested in birds in 2002 when a friend placed a seed bell and suet cake in the tree outside of my bedroom window as I was recouperating from having both knees replaced. At first I just enjoyed the noisy chatter. Pretty soon I became interested in figuring out who these new friends were. The day I spotted a Curved-bill Thrasher hanging on the suet feeder, I was excited. A couple of months later, a Northern Flicker perched on my neighbor’s roof. When I looked at him through my binocuars and saw the beautiful coloring, I was thorougly hooked. I bird almost every week with the Thursday Birders, have kept data for Cornell University’s citizen science Feederwatch Program, do wetlands surveys for the Rio Grande Nature Center, am involved with Save the Belen Marsh, serve on the board of Central New Mexico Audubon, and bird whenever I travel.

7 Comments »

7 Responses

on May 31, 2007 at 7:29 pm | Reply RJH

Judy

I have birded with the Thursday birders twice. My daughter lives in ABQ and I hooked up with Rebecca and you kind folks a couple of years ago.

Your work is a source of admiration to me as my blog did not last this long, although I have hopes of re-erecting it.
on October 23, 2007 at 2:29 pm | Reply Raj

Judy,

I chanced upon your wonderful blog while searching for birding areas around Socorro. And I am glad I did. I enjoyed reading your passionate and well written posts.

I was at Bosque Del Apache last November to photograph Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. It was one of the greatest birding experience for me. I am visiting Bosque this year during Christmas week but I wanted to go around to see other birding areas. I am also visiting White Sands during this trip.

Will you be able to guide me to the possible birding opportunities in and around Socorro in December?

Thank you very much.

Regards,
Raj
on October 23, 2007 at 8:11 pm | Reply judysjottings

I would recommend driving out to the Very Large Array. It is about 50 mi. west of Socorro on US 60. The area in which it is located is called the Plains of San Augustin, comprised of dry saltbush flats where you should be able to find Sage Sparrows. It is also a good place to find wintering raptors. At the campground in Water Canyon (16 mi. west from Socorro on US 60)you have a good chance of seeing Acorn Woodpeckers and Red Crossbills.
on October 25, 2007 at 5:44 pm | Reply Raj

Thank you. It would be interesting to get to see the Acorn Woodpecker.
Regards.
on September 19, 2008 at 11:05 pm | Reply Mary Carlson

Hi, I just came across your blog via the Nature Blog Network. What attracted me to your blog was your description about birding in New Mexico. I have lived in northern California (Santa Clara County) for 34 years, but my husband and I had an opportunity to live in ABQ for about 3 years (1996-1998) and I fell in love with the state. We have visited the Bosque del Apache Crane Festival every year since 2003 and always enjoy ourselves when visiting. We will be visiting again this year. Will you be attending? I am going to add you to my RSS feeder since your blog is so enjoyable to read regarding birds and birding in a place I enjoy reading about (New Mexico).

Mary
on April 27, 2009 at 11:48 pm | Reply Craig Tumer

I’m going to be visiting Albuquerque at the end of next week. I’m really interested in seeing black-chinned sparrows and gray vireos. Can you recommend any places near ABQ to see either or both of these species?

Thanks.
Craig
on July 30, 2009 at 11:13 pm | Reply Jeff

Hello, great postings! I am going to be birding this Sunday in the Western Sandia open spaces. Am I likely to see black-chinned and black-throated sparrows? Any local birders that would enjoy going with me?

I am of intermediate experience and would love to go on the Thursday trips if I didn’t work on Thursdays. Therefore, Sunday is my only good day to bird.

Thanks,
Jeff