WINTER NEW MEXICO JANUARY 6 12, 2016 LEADER: BARRY ZIMMER COMPILED BY: BARRY ZIMMER

Transcription

1 WINTER NEW MEXICO JANUARY 6 12, 2016 Hepburn s Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Sandia Crest, New Mexico, January 11, 2016, Barry Zimmer LEADER: BARRY ZIMMER COMPILED BY: BARRY ZIMMER VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS

2 WINTER NEW MEXICO January 6 12, 2016 By Barry Zimmer We arrived at breathtaking Sandia Crest (literally, as we were at 10,678 feet elevation) around midday on the last day of our tour. The scenery was jawdropping, with every spruce and aspen decorated with a thick frosting of snow under a sea of azure-blue skies. From the café inside the Crest House, the jagged peaks of the Sandia Mountains dropped dramatically down to the Rio Grande Valley and the city of Albuquerque below. The amazing scenery temporarily distracted us from the feeder that hung along the deck railing. Quickly though, we were drawn to the frenzied activity of birds coming and going. Countless Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted and White-breasted nuthatches, bold Steller s Jays, and Dark-eyed Juncos (Grayheaded race) all competed for the sunflower seeds on the tray. Our targets here were the rosy-finches, however, and they are notoriously nomadic and erratic. Sandia Crest is one of the best and most reliable places to find all three species in winter though, so we waited hopefully. Fewer than ten minutes had passed when one Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch appeared quietly on the tray. It is somewhat unusual for these gregarious birds to appear alone, but this one bird allowed great studies as we waited for the rest. Then, suddenly, the flock appeared; like snowflakes swirling in a blizzard, they circled about for a moment or two and then descended en masse. The tray was quickly covered in rosy-finches of all three species gorging themselves as if they hadn t eaten in days. For a couple of minutes we enjoyed the spectacle from just fifteen feet away. Then, as quickly and mysteriously as they had arrived, they all burst into flight and disappeared downslope in the snap of a finger. Twenty-five Black Rosy-Finches, three Browncappeds, and 30 or so Gray-crowneds (including two of the very distinctive Hepburn s race) what an incredible show! This was, of course, just one moment of our very successful Winter New Mexico tour. From El Paso to Albuquerque, we scoured the Rio Grande Valley and adjoining mountains for a wide variety of southwestern specialties, as well as impressive numbers of waterfowl, raptors, and sparrows. In the El Paso area, we marveled at the spectacle of 8,000 or more Yellowheaded Blackbirds coming in to roost on our first afternoon. Additionally, we tallied a rare (for mid-winter) drake Cinnamon Teal and a vagrant Lesser Blackbacked Gull among others. The next day, stunning Hooded Mergansers, seven Harris s Hawks, a wonderful adult Golden Eagle, six Black-necked Stilts, two Burrowing Owls at close range, a very rare Blue-throated Hummingbird, Rednaped Sapsucker, an especially cooperative Crissal Thrasher, Green-tailed Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Winter New Mexico 2016

3 Towhee, Black-throated Sparrow, Lark Bunting, and a rare wintering Hooded Oriole were among the many highlights. In the vicinity of Las Cruces, we had (after much effort) our main target, Sagebrush Sparrow, from no more than ten feet away. Western and Eastern bluebirds, Canyon Towhee, and Black-chinned and Rufous-crowned sparrows rounded out the list. Moving northward through Hatch and up to Percha, Caballo, and Elephant Butte state parks, our list continued to grow. Western and Clark s grebes side by side, a regal Ferruginous Hawk, Acorn Woodpeckers, the discovery of a very rare Western Flycatcher (probably Pacific-slope given its response to playback), a flock of 17 Mountain Bluebirds (completing the bluebird hat trick ), Phainopepla, and Brewer s Sparrow were among the more noteworthy. However, a cut alfalfa field with an astounding 12 Greater Roadrunners in view at once probably took the cake. Then it was on to the juniper/oak woodlands of Water Canyon. Here we tallied two more Red-naped Sapsuckers, four Juniper Titmice, six Townsend s Solitaires, Western Scrub-Jays, Bushtit, and more. On the way out, a lovely, perched Prairie Falcon gave superb views. Finally, at world-famous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, we enjoyed the unforgettable sights and sounds of thousands of Snow and Ross s geese bursting into flight and going right over our heads; countless, majestic Sandhill Cranes uttering their prehistoric calls; ten or more Bald Eagles; and a lovely, close Wilson s Snipe. In all, we tallied 21 species of waterfowl, 14 species of raptors, and 17 species of sparrows, in addition to such highly sought southwestern/western specialties as Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Juniper Titmouse, Mountain Bluebird, Crissal Thrasher, and Black-chinned and Sagebrush sparrows. Perhaps it was the bird spectacles that we will remember most of all the Yellowheaded Blackbirds, the amazing geese and cranes at Bosque, and, of course, those incredible rosy-finches! ITINERARY: January 6 Crossroads Pond, El Paso Country Club areas, Sunland Park areas (38 species) January 7 - Ascarate Lake, Border Highway, Rio Bosque Wetland Park, my yard, Rim Road, Franklin Mountains State Park, Barrera s house, drive to Las Cruces (76 species; 88 total) Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Winter New Mexico 2016

4 January 8 - Jornada del Muerto, Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, Baylor Canyon Road, return to Jornada del Muerto, Mesilla Bosque State Park, (47 species; 98 total) January 9 Radium Springs, Fort Selden State Park, Hwys 185 & 187, Percha State Park, Animas Creek, Caballo Lake State Park, west side of Elephant Butte Lake (Rock Canyon Marina) (80 species; 126 total) January 10 - Elephant Butte Lake State Park (Hot Springs Landing, Rock Canyon Marina & Three Sisters Cove), Water Canyon, Bosque del Apache NWR (77 species; 137 total) January 11 - Bosque del Apache NWR, Sandia Crest, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park (61 species; 149 total) KEY: January 12 - departures for home (149 species total) E = all areas in and around El Paso L = Las Cruces, Organ Mountains, Jornada del Muerto P = Radium Springs, Percha State Park, Animas Creek, Elephant Butte B = Bosque del Apache NWR W = Water Canyon A = Albuquerque, Sandia Crest bold-faced species indicate birds of rare, casual, or accidental occurrence underlined species indicate birds of very uncommon occurrence or species which occur regularly but in such low densities as to be easily missed BIRDS: Snow Goose B----we had a great takeoff of thousands in the afternoon at the refuge, as well as a nice morning flight over the crane pond; a fair number of blue morphs mixed in Ross s Goose B----good numbers in the Snow Geese flocks Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Winter New Mexico 2016

5 Snow & Ross s Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico, January 10, 2016, Barry Zimmer Cackling Goose E---one in with Canadas at Ascarate, plus a flock of 160 or so at the Rio Grande Nature Center; rare in El Paso Canada Goose E,P,B,A Wood Duck E,A---stunning; 33 at once Gadwall E,P,B,A American Wigeon E,P,B Mallard E,L,P,B,A Cinnamon Teal E----handsome drake our first afternoon at the Crossroads Pond; rare in mid-winter Northern Shoveler E,P,B,A Northern Pintail E,B Green-winged Teal E,P,B,A Canvasback E,A---flock of eleven at Rio Bosque and three more at the nature center Redhead E,B---fifteen total Ring-necked Duck E,P,B Lesser Scaup E,B,A Bufflehead E,B Hooded Merganser E,---nice studies of three at Ascarate Lake Common Merganser P,B----far fewer than normal Ruddy Duck E,B Scaled Quail E---flock of six flushed in the Franklin Mountains Gambel s Quail E,L,P,B in one day alone Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Winter New Mexico 2016

6 Pied-billed Grebe E,P Horned Grebe P----one at Elephant Butte; very uncommon to rare Eared Grebe E,B---one at the Crossroads Pond & one at Bosque were our only ones of the trip Western Grebe P----many hundreds Clark s Grebe P---more numerous than usual Neotropic Cormorant E---great views at Ascarate (48 birds) & EPCC Double-crested Cormorant P American White Pelican P---a few at Rock Canyon Marina Great Blue Heron E,P,B Great Egret E---very uncommon in winter here, but we had an astounding 33 at Ascarate! Snowy Egret E---as with Great Egret, this species is very uncommon here in winter; we had six at Ascarate Black-crowned Night-Heron E Turkey Vulture E---flock of seven over the Border Highway; rare in winter Bald Eagle B---14 total Northern Harrier L,B---fifteen total Sharp-shinned Hawk E,L,A---five total Cooper s Hawk E,L,P,B---eight total, including a bathing bird spotted by Mary that we watched for several minutes Harris s Hawk E----two family groups totaling seven birds at Rio Bosque! Red-tailed Hawk seen daily in numbers (81 total); including a couple of rufous morphs, and many of the resident Fuertes subspecies Ferruginous Hawk P---a down year for this species with only one seen, but we had excellent prolonged views of that bird near Percha Golden Eagle E---wonderful views of an adult over Trans-Mountain Road; very uncommon Common Gallinule E---two in the Riverside Canal; uncommon in winter American Coot daily Sandhill Crane P,B,A---an estimated 3,000 wintering at the refuge this year and an additional seen in other areas; spectacularly close views Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Winter New Mexico 2016

7 Sandhill Crane, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico, January 11, 2016, Barry Zimmer Black-necked Stilt E---six at Rio Bosque; rare in winter Killdeer E,P,B Spotted Sandpiper P---uncommon in winter; one at Percha Greater Yellowlegs E,B---four total, our first thanks to Buffie; uncommon in winter Least Sandpiper L---flock of 22 on the Rio Grande near Old Mesilla Wilson s Snipe B---uncommon; great views of one in a canal on the refuge Ring-billed Gull E,P California Gull E---first cycle bird at Elephant Butte; very uncommon Herring Gull P---eight total Lesser Black-backed Gull E---first year bird at Sunland Park racetrack; accidental Rock Pigeon seen daily Eurasian Collared-Dove seen daily---a rapidly expanding species Inca Dove E----two in John s yard were our only ones of the trip; a declining species White-winged Dove seen daily with many hundreds total Mourning Dove seen daily Greater Roadrunner E,L,P,W,B---an absolutely astonishing year for this species with 27 birds tallied, including an unbelievable twelve in view at once at Percha; unprecedented numbers Great Horned Owl B---one just before dawn outside the refuge Burrowing Owl E---nice views of two at burrows in southeast El Paso; uncommon & declining Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Winter New Mexico 2016

8 White-throated Swift E---good views of five over Scenic Drive; very uncommon in winter Blue-throated Hummingbird E----this individual was overwintering for a second consecutive year in west El Paso (representing only the second county record ever); thanks to John B. Anna s Hummingbird E----one immature male in my yard; uncommon Rufous Hummingbird E---one immature male in my yard; rare in winter Belted Kingfisher E,P---our first thanks to Lisa Marie Acorn Woodpecker P,W---several nice studies; fourteen total Red-naped Sapsucker E,W---nice views of one at Ascarate and two more in Water Canyon Ladder-backed Woodpecker E,P---eight total Downy Woodpecker A---pair at the nature center Northern Flicker seen daily; the Red-shafted variety American Kestrel seen daily; up to 15 in one day Merlin A---female at the Rio Grande Nature Center Prairie Falcon W---nice scope views of one on road into Water Canyon Peregrine Falcon P---adult over Percha; very uncommon in winter Western Flycatcher P---a great discovery north of Radium Springs; this bird reacted strongly to Pacific-slope tape and not to Cordilleran, suggesting it was that species; a tour first Black Phoebe P---two total, thanks to Mary Eastern Phoebe B----rare; spotted by Mary at Bosque Say s Phoebe L,P,B---23 seen Loggerhead Shrike E,L,P,W,B---25 total Steller s Jay A---subspecies macrolopha Western Scrub-Jay W---subspecies woodhouseii; a likely future split from the one in California American Crow E,L,B,A Chihuahuan Raven E,L,P,B Common Raven P,W,B,A Black-capped Chickadee A---our last new bird Mountain Chickadee B---big numbers at Sandia Crest Juniper Titmouse W---superb views of three; Buffie s 600 th ABA bird!!!; voted the favorite bird of the tour! Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Winter New Mexico 2016

9 Juniper Titmouse, Water Canyon, New Mexico, January 10, 2016, Barry Zimmer Verdin E, L---five total Bushtit W---flock of twelve at our restroom stop Red-breasted Nuthatch A---a few at Sandia Crest White-breasted Nuthatch P,W,A Brown Creeper P---nice study Marsh Wren E,B---one seen at Rio Bosque and another heard at Bosque del Apache Bewick s Wren E,L,P---five total Cactus Wren E,L,P---great views in my yard and elsewhere Ruby-crowned Kinglet E,L,P Eastern Bluebird L,P---nine at Aguirre Springs (where rare) and four at Animas Creek; generally irregular Western Bluebird L,P,B,A---great views at Elephant Butte Mountain Bluebird P---a flock of 17 of this very irregular species was seen around Elephant Butte; often missed entirely Townsend s Solitaire W---great views at Water canyon of a half dozen or so Hermit Thrush P,W---very uncommon this far north in winter American Robin E,L,P,B Curve-billed Thrasher E,L,P,A---excellent views of several; fourteen total Crissal Thrasher E,L---great scope studies at Rio Bosque of this typically skulking species; an impressive nine seen for the trip Northern Mockingbird E,L,P European Starling daily American Pipit E,L,P,B Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Winter New Mexico 2016

10 Cedar Waxwing E---flock of 22 by the country club Phainopepla E,P---eight total Orange-crowned Warbler E---four in my yard; uncommon in winter Yellow-rumped Warbler E,P,A---mostly the Audubon s subspecies, but at least one Myrtle as well Green-tailed Towhee E,P---four total; great studies Spotted Towhee P---nine in one spot and none elsewhere Rufous-crowned Sparrow L,P---cooperative birds at Aguirre Springs, plus one out of place along Hwy 185 Canyon Towhee L,P,W Chipping Sparrow P---about 120 Brewer s Sparrow P---unusually scarce this year with only four seen Black-chinned Sparrow L---two at Aguirre Springs and one out-of-place bird at Animas creek; uncommon Black-throated Sparrow L---thirty total; the best looking sparrow in the US? Sagebrush Sparrow L--- after much effort, we had unsurpassed views of this recently split species (formerly called Sage Sparrow); two total; voted the second Favorite bird of the tour Sagebrush Sparrow, Jornada del Muerto, New Mexico, January 8, 2016, Barry Zimmer Lark Bunting E---a lone bird just outside of Rio Bosque Savannah Sparrow P,B Song Sparrow P,B Lincoln s Sparrow P---only three Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Winter New Mexico 2016

11 Swamp Sparrow P---one near Radium Springs; very uncommon White-throated Sparrow P,B,A---surprisingly, we had six individuals; generally rare in the Southwest White-crowned Sparrow E,L,P,B,A---up to 150 in a day Dark-eyed Junco daily, including Gray-headed, Oregon, and Pink-sided races Pyrrhuloxia E,L,P---25 total Red-winged Blackbird E,L,P,B,A Western Meadowlark P,B Yellow-headed Blackbird E,P---incredible sight of about 8,000+ gathering to roost in west El Paso Yellow-headed Blackbird, El Paso, Texas, January 6, 2016, Barry Zimmer Brewer s Blackbird E,L,P Great-tailed Grackle E,L,P,B Brown-headed Cowbird E,L Hooded Oriole E---female overwintering in my yard made repeated appearances; accidental in winter here Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch A at Sandia Crest, including two of the Hepburn s race; spectacular! Black Rosy-Finch about 25 at Sandia Crest; close & repeated views from 15 feet or less; voted the third favorite bird of the tour! Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Winter New Mexico 2016

12 Black Rosy-Finch, Sandia Crest, New Mexico, January 11, 2016, Barry Zimmer Brown-capped Rosy-Finch three or four at Sandia Crest mixed in with the other rosy-finches House Finch daily Pine Siskin P,W,B Lesser Goldfinch E,P---best in my yard & John s yard American Goldfinch B---generally uncommon & easily missed, but we had a flock of over 100 at Bosque del Apache House Sparrow daily Total species 149 MAMMALS: Rock Squirrel---two total Desert Cottontail---nine seen Black-tailed Jackrabbit----six total Coyote---one seen (spotted by Lisa Marie) and others heard Collared Peccary----one at the radium Springs exit; quite unexpected Mule Deer---six in my yard including one huge buck, and one more in Mountain Park Total species 6 Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Winter New Mexico 2016

13 SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: Two escaped Red-crested Pochards at Ascarate Bigfoot (& his impressive salmon) sighting near Elephant Butte The worst birding jacket ever Son of Doug Beer sampling Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Winter New Mexico 2016