This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for Monday, June 4, 2007, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given for private property, please call before going. Most places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird Finding Guide. Updates to the Bird Finding Guide are posted to the NMOS web page at www.nmosbirds.org/updates.html. All N.M. phone numbers are area code 505. For past RBA's check the NMOS web page at www.nmosbirds.org. For photos of rarities and directions to NM birding sites check hometown.aol.com/borealowl.
Highlights are Tricolored Herons, Glossy Ibis, Bronzed Cowbirds, American Golden-plover, Yellow-crowned Night-heron.
- Birds Mentioned and Counties:
American White Pelican (Rio Arriba)
Tricolored Heron (Colfax, Chaves)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (San Miguel)
GLOSSY IBIS (Socorro, Chaves, Colfax)
Redhead and Lesser Scaup (Doña Ana)
Mississippi Kite (Chaves, Curry, Rio Arriba, Quay, Eddy, Roosevelt)
Harris's and Gray Hawks (Eddy)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Eddy)
Scaled Quail (Roosevelt)
Virginia Rail (Taos)
Common Moorhen (Chaves)
Black-bellied Plover (Colfax)
American Golden-Plover (Colfax)
Snowy Plover (Otero, Chaves)
Mountain Plover (Torrance)
Long-billed Curlew (Doña Ana)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Doña Ana)
White-rumped Sandpiper (Colfax, Socorro, Chaves, Doña Ana, Otero)
Stilt Sandpiper (Colfax)
Wilson's Phalarope (Colfax)
Red-necked Phalarope (Eddy, Rio Arriba, Socorro)
Laughing Gull (Socorro)
California Gull (Colfax, San Juan)
Least Tern (Eddy, Chaves)
White-winged Dive (San Miguel)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (San Miguel, Chaves)
Barn Owl (Roosevelt)
Flammulated Owl (Bernalillo)
Western Screech-Owl (Doña Ana)
Burrowing Owl (Sandoval, Chaves, Bernalillo)
Northern Pygmy-Owl (Grant)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Bernalillo)
Whip-poor-will (Doña Ana, Bernalillo, Grant)
Chimney Swift (Curry, Eddy, Quay, Chaves)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Catron)
Red- headed Woodpecker (Roosevelt)
Willow Flycatcher (Roosevelt)
Gray Flycatcher (San Juan)
Cordilleran Flycatcher (Doña Ana)
Black Phoebe (DeBaca)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Socorro)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Grant)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Curry, Roosevelt, Quay, Eddy)
Bell's Vireo (Socorro, Doña Ana)
Yellow-throated Vireo (DeBaca)
Cassin's Vireo (Grant)
Hutton's Vireo (Grant, Doña Ana)
Gray Vireo (Eddy, Valencia, San Juan)
Warbling Vireo (Sandoval, Bernalillo)
Red-eyed Vireo (Bernalillo)
Pinyon Jay (San Juan)
Cave Swallow (Doña Ana)
Cactus Wren (Bernalillo)
Swainson's Thrush (Roosevelt, Doña Ana)
Veery (Rio Arriba, Taos)
Gray Catbird (Rio Arriba, Socorro)
Sage Thrasher (San Juan)
Brown Thrasher (DeBaca)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Cibola)
Cedar Waxwing (Chaves, DeBaca)
Phainopepla (Socorro, Sandoval)
Lucy's Warbler (Doña Ana, Socorro)
Northern Parula (Sandoval)
Black-and-White Warbler (Roosevelt)
American Redstart (Chaves, Roosevelt)
Kentucky Warbler (Catron)
Hooded Warbler (Bernalillo)
Hepatic Tanager (Eddy)
Summer Tanager (DeBaca)
Black-chinned Sparrow (Cibola)
Brewer's and Sage Sparrows (San Juan)
Vesper Sparrow (Taos)
Savannah Sparrow (Rio Arriba)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant)
Northern Cardinal (Roosevelt)
Pyrrhuloxia (Chaves)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Roosevelt, Eddy)
Varied Bunting (Eddy)
Painted Bunting (DeBaca, Doña Ana)
Dickcissel (Roosevelt)
Eastern Meadowlark (Cibola)
Bronzed Cowbird (Eddy, Chaves, Bernalillo)
Pine Grosbeak and Cassin's Finch (Taos)
Red Crossbill (Bernalillo, Grant)
American Goldfinch (DeBaca, San Miguel, Torrance)
In San Juan County;
DB on May 24 at Morgan Lake near Farmington had two CALIFORNIA GULLS.
On hwy. 2390 in Cedar Hill he had a few singing GRAY FLYCATCHERS, a flock of PINYON JAYS, and six GRAY VIREOS. On the sage flats south of Bloomfield on US 550 there were BREWER'S and SAGE SPARROWS with SAGE THRASHERS.
In Rio Arriba County:
DB on May 23 near the Parkview Fish Hatchery in Los Ojos found SAVANNAH SPARROWS.
On Heron Lake he saw five WHITE PELICANS and six RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
BF on May 20 at the Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Lakes of San Juan Pueblo north of Española had a soaring MISSISSIPPI KITE. Pay fee at the gas station and let them know you are birding.
DS had May 12 a singing VEERY behind the Elkhorn Lodge in Chama. JB on May 13 found a CATBIRD.
In Sandoval County:
In Frijoles Canyon of the Bandelier NM near Los Alamos ED on May 31 had a singing NORTHERN PARULA on the Ceremonial Cave Trail near a sign "You are next to an ecotone". It was singing again for JB on June 3 with a part albino WARBLING VIREO.
LS on May 19 reported seeing again the BURROWING OWL on the way to Cochiti Lake.
In Taos County:
On the Ojo Sarco BBS on June 2 JP had a VEERY on NM 75 near its junction with NM 518. Usually one has to be there very early (dawn) to find them.
Near the junction of NM 75 and 76 behind a church in a marsh near Vadito there was a VIRGINIA RAIL.
At the Taos Ski Valley on the trail to Williams Lake there was for JP and WW a PINE GROSBEAK and CASSIN'S FINCH with snow still on the ground.
SO and JMc on June 2 saw a female PHAINOPEPLA in the Rio Grande bosque at Algodones.
MR and GS on May 27 found nesting VESPER SPARROWS on the mesa above Pilar.
In San Miguel County:
BH on May 24 at Conchas Lake found a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, singing AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and a WHITE-WINGED DOVE.
BW, ST, and AF on May 20 found a nesting YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at the Gallinas River near the Memorial Middle School on Cinder Road. JP and WW found it on May 28, JO on June 1.
In Colfax County:
DC on May 28 had a molting GOLDEN PLOVER on the Maxwell Refuge at a playa on NM505 between mile posts 3 and 4. It was still present on May 30 with a STILT SANDPIPER, 16 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and 32 WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
DC at Springer Lake on May 17 had a breeding plumage BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and nine WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
At Stubblefield Lake on May 15 he saw an adult TRICOLORED HERON, and six CALIFORNIA GULLS. JO On June 1 had a GLOSSY IBIS in breeding plumage near the dam.
In Quay County:
BH on May 20 had a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at the truck stop east of San Jon and another on the Texas border of Glenrio.
On May 24 he saw two CHIMNEY SWIFTS flying over Tucumcari Lake. There were two MISSISSIPPI KITES at Pajarito Creek on Rt. 104 north of Tucumcari.
In Cibola County:
CJG on May 24 reported a CURVE-BILLED THRASHER at Hwy. 53 near the Zuni-Acoma Trailhead in the El Malpais NM. Also present were several EASTERN MEADOWLARKS and BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS singing on NM 117 in the narrows.
In Bernalillo County:
On May 27 and 28 MH found the RED-EYED VIREO behind the San Antonio de Padua Church south of Cedar Crest on NM14 in the eastern Sandias maybe nesting. The female may be a WARBLING VIREO. DB also saw them on May 28. JB found the two species together on May 29.
On May 28 DB had RED CROSSBILLS in Hondo Canyon of the Sandias with a juvenile.
KC at the east end of Menaul Blvd. in Albuquerque on May 18 had a CACTUS WREN.
DB on May 22 at the Sandia Memory Gardens cemetery in northeast Albuquerque found a female BRONZED COWBIRD. JSt found a pair of the cowbirds on May 24 in the cemetery. DP had two males on May 27. JSt again had a male on May 31 and JO saw it on May 30.
BV on May 12 heard a FLAMMULATED OWL and a WHIP-POOR-WILL at the Doc Long Picnic Ground in the eastern Sandia Mountains. DP on May 26 had the Flammulated calling at Capulin Springs and a SAW-WHET OWL below the spring. CL on June 1 had three Flammulted Owls, but did not find the Saw=whet.
On May 27 DP found a HOODED WARBLER on the west side of the Sandia Mts. in Waterfall Canyon at the Piedra Lisa Trail. PSu saw it again on May 28.
Also on May 27 while driving west on Tramway near the Sandia Casino DP saw a BURROWING OWL.
In Valencia Country:
KKW reported that on the trip into Piñon Canyon on the Sevilleta Refuge on May 19 a GRAY VIREO was heard.
In Torrance County:
DB on May 19 while driving the I-40 frontage road at the Stone Gate Turf Farm in Moriarty had two MOUNTAIN PLOVERS. This is at the former Green Chaparral Turf Farm, now off limits to birders. . LN, JZe, and SB on May 30 on the frontage road again saw the two plovers.
TH on June 1 had two pairs of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES nesting at his home in the Manzano Mts. 11 miles northwest of Mountainair.
In DeBaca County:
On May 18 MB and NP saw a singing male PAINTED BUNTING below the Sumner Lake dam. On May 20 DB at the lake reported eight CEDAR WAXWINGS, a pair of SUMMER TANAGERS, and 12 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. DRC on May 26 photographed a singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. It was also seen by JP and WW with a pair of BLACK PHOEBES.
On May 20 at Bosque Redondo Park near Fort Sumner DB saw a singing BROWN THRASHER.
In Roosevelt County:
At the Migrant Trap west of Melrose on May 19 DB found an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, and a female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. JS on May 19 (with JB and AF) found three SCALED QUAIL. On May 25 JP, JO, WW, and LL found one DICKCISSEL. On May 26 JP and WW saw the female CARDINAL and a female BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. On May 31 LN, JZe, and SB found a female AMERICAN REDSTART and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER.
The LN trio on May 30 had a BARN OWL in Boone's Draw near Portales.
JS on May 18 had a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in the Elida area with another May 17 just south of Floyd.
In Curry County:
At the Clovis Sewage Ponds be sure to advise them that you are there to bird.
DB had two MISSISSIPPI KITES roosting in an elm along US 60 west of Melrose and five CHIMNEY SWIFTS over Main St. in Clovis.
JS also saw the two kites on May 19 near mile post 388 and a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER just west of Melrose.
In Socorro County:
At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio CL on May 26 again saw the GLOSSY IBIS near audio stop 6 on the Marsh Loop with a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE near the Flight Deck. Also he found several VERMILION FLYCATCHERS on the Marsh Loop, up to four CATBIRDS on the seasonal road, and a singing BELL'S VIREO near Audio Stop 9. On May 27 DB did not see the ibis, but had an immature Red-necked Phalarope, two female PHAINOPEPLAS at headquarters, and two LUCY'S WARBLERS near Audio Stop 6. JSt on May 30 saw the ibis and the vireo at Audio Stop 9. CL on June 1 saw a first summer LAUGHING GULL in the Flight Deck area with the phalarope. On June 3 CL did not see the gull, ibis, or phalarope, but had a PEREGRINE, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and two Catbirds. A Coatimundi has also been reported on the refuge.
In Chaves County:
JH on Bitter Lake Refuge on May 12 counted two MOORHENS and at headquarters three BRONZED COWBIRDS. On May 18 he had 12 CEDAR WAXWINGS at headquarters. On May 23 there was a TRICOLORED HERON at the northeast corner of the Hunter Marsh with two BURROWING OWLS on Unit 7. JP, JO, WW, and LL had the heron on May 25 on the southeast corner of the tour loop. JH again saw the Tricolored Heron on May 29. DB on May 29 had the GLOSSY IBIS immature on the Oxbow Trail (photo), 34 SNOWY PLOVERS, 26 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 15 LEAST TERNS (some nesting), and two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS at the headquarters.
NG on May 26 had 16 MISSISSIPPI KITES in Roswell at fields at Pine Lodge Road and Main Street.
JP, JO, LL, and WW on May 25 at the Waldrop Rest Stop west of Caprock had a PYRRHULOXIA and a singing immature male AMERICAN REDSTART.
At NMMI in Roswell JP saw the two CHIMNEY SWIFTS while in Cahoon Park a male BRONZED COWBIRD and the expected many MISSISSIPPI KITES were found.
In Catron County:
JBi at the Whitewater Catwalk area at Glenwood on May 18 saw the BLACK HAWK, but not the DIPPERS in the canyon.
BN on May 24 had a KENTUCKY WARBLER near the Heart Bar Wildlife Area by the Gila Hot Springs. DF in late May found a MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD nesting at the Heart Bar Ranch.
In Grant County:
KS on May 25 to 27 at the Cherry Creek Campground north of Pinos Altos had a YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, a HUTTON'S VIREO, a CASSIN'S VIREO, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, and a PYGMY OWL. MF in late May a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER there.
BWi on May 12 had several YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS on Jack's Peak in the Burros with RED CROSSBILLS. JBi and EL did not see the juncos on May 22.
In Hidalgo County:
County Hwy. 1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray) Ranch. Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must not go off the road.
In Luna County:
Katfish Kove is no longer open to birders.
In Doña Ana County:
JZ and MS on May 27 at Camp Robledo north of Radium Springs had a family of LUCY'S WARBLERS, a singing male PAINTED BUNTING, and singing BELL'S VIREOS. There were at least six CAVE SWALLOWS at the Fossil View Road bridge over the Leasburg Main.
At the Uvas Valley playa west of Hatch on May 31 saw three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 26 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, a female LESSER SCAUP, and a pair of REDHEADS. On June 2 they saw a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (great photo), 34 curlews, and the scaup.
On the Pine Tree Trail at Aguirre Springs State Park MS and JZ overnighting on May 12 had a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL with four WHIP-POOR-WILLS.
In Fillmore Canyon in the Organ Mts. near the La Cueva Picnic area on May 27 CL found a singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH, a male INDIGO BUNTING, a HUTTON'S VIREO, and about four CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS.
In Otero County:
CL on May 25 at the Holloman Lakes saw three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 14 SNOWY PLOVERS with chicks.
At the Holloman Lakes near Alamogordo the "no access" signs are for hunters only. The entire shore is open to birding. Due to vandalism the sightings list and box have been removed.
In Eddy County:
LG on May 13 had a male VARIED BUNTING in Walnut Canyon on the way up to the Caverns. It was at the first exhibit pullover below the parking lot.
At Brantley Lake on May 12 RN recorded five LEAST TERNS. JS on May 18 at Cheapskate Point had a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
At Rattlesnake Springs at the NMOS meeting there were two BRONZED COWBIRDS (at the adjacent Washington Ranch). DB on May 29 had a GRAY HAWK. LC also on May 29 had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK near the restrooms and the HARRIS'S HAWK on a pole near the Washington Ranch. CA on June 1 had a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK with a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at the ranch.
DB on May 30 had a MISSISSIPPI KITE over Carlsbad. He also saw a few BLUE JAYS and a CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Also in the Lincoln NF in the Guadalupe Mts. DB had a adult ZONE-TAILED HAWK over the canyon on NM 137 near mile post 25 north of Dark Canyon. He saw many GRAY VIREOS and HEPATIC TANAGERS.
- Initials Used:
CA, Corey Anderson; JB, Jonathan Batkin; MB, Matt Baumann; JBi, Jerry Bird; DB, Devin Bosler; SB, Sally Burke; DRC. Doug and Ramona Campbell; KC, Karen Canon; DC, David Cleary; LC, Louis Cuellar; ED, Eric DeFonso; AF, Andrew Fenner; DF, Denise Ferdinand; BF, Bernard Foy; MF, Mike Fugagli; NG, Noah Gaines; LG, Larry Gorbet; JCG, J.C.Grimes; MH, Michael Hilchey; SWH, Sue and Wally Hill; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff Howland; TH, Tyler Huning: KKW, Kim King-Wrenn; LL, Lane Leckman; EL,, Gene Lewis; CL, Carl Lundblad; JMc, Jim McPhee; LN, Lannois Neely; RN, Robert Nieman; BN, Bill Norris; SO, Steve O'Brien; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; JP, John Parmeter; NP, Nick Pederson; MR, Mary Ristow; MS, Marcy Scott; LS, Laurel Seth; JS, John Shipman; DS, Dale Stahlecker; KS, Ken Stinnett; JSt, James Stuart; PSu, Paul Sunby; GS, Gail Szpatura; ST, Steve Tanner; BV, Brad Vaughn; BW, Bill West; BWi, Bob Wilcox; WW, Bill Wittman; JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie; JZe, Jenine Zenge.
- Field Trips
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. On June 7 they go to Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood with Sara Mathers at 291-3373; on June 14 to the Sandia Ranger Station in Tijeras and Capulin Springs with the Boettchers at 281-6726. On June 21 to the Sandia Mts. Natural History Center in Cedar Crest with Melissa Howard (286-9365); and on June 28 to the Roadrunner Roost B & B in Tome and Riverside Park in Los Lunas with Rebecca Gracey (242-3821).
On Saturday, June 16, Southwestern Audubon will go up the road to the Cherry Creek Campground. Contact is 534-1450.
Also on June 16 Sangre de Cristo Audubon will bird the Orilla Verde Park on the Rio Grande near Pilar. Contact Jerry Friedman at 753-1946.
On Saturday, June 23, Central will 'do' the Villanueva Stat Park on the Pecos Rio with Rebecca Gracey at 242-3821.5
Until October there are Tuesday guided hikes in the Sandia Mts. Meet at 8 am at the ranger station in Tijeras. Also at the Rio Grande Nature Center there are Saturday and Sunday bird walks at 8 am.
- For Bird Records Committee and Field Notes, send reports to
Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III
1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
sunbittern@earthlink.net
- Messages can also be left with your bird reports at pinyonjay@aol.com.
Copyright ©2007 New Mexico Ornithological Society
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Last updated: 04 June 2007
Please send comments to: Bruce Neville