New Mexico Ornithological Society

New Mexico Statewide Hotline, June 18, 2007

This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for Monday, June 18, 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 Heron, Bronzed Cowbirds, Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Kentucky Warbler, Ruddy Turnstone, Green Kingfisher.

- Birds Mentioned and Counties:

      Tricolored Heron (Chaves)
      Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (San Miguel)
      Mexican Mallard and Cinnamon Teal (Luna)
      Mississippi Kite (Chaves)
      Harris's and Zone-tailed Hawks (Eddy)
      Montezuma Quail (Catron)
      Snowy Plover (Otero, Chaves, Eddy)
      Mountain Plover (Torrance, Colfax)
      Long-billed Curlew (Mora)
      RUDDY TURNSTONE (Eddy)
      Least Tern (Eddy, Chaves, Otero)
      Eurasian Collared-Dove (Rio Arriba)
      Barn Owl (Luna)
      Flammulated Owl (Bernalillo)
      Burrowing Owl (Chaves)
      Northern Pygmy-Owl (Grant)
      Long-eared Owl (Luna to Grant)
      Northern Saw-whet Owl (Bernalillo)
      Whip-poor-will (Bernalillo, San Miguel)
      Poorwill-(Torrance)
      Chimney Swift (Curry, Quay, Chaves)
      Green Kingfisher (Grant)
      Lewis's Woodpecker (San Juan)
      Williamson's Sapsucker (Otero)
      Olive-sided Flycatcher (Rio Arriba)
      Vermilion Flycatcher (Socorro)
      Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Eddy)
      Bell's Vireo (Socorro)
      Hutton's Vireo (Grant, Doña Ana)
      Gray Vireo (Eddy, San Juan)
      Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos (Bernalillo)
      Pinyon Jay (San Juan)
      Purple Martin (Colfax, Otero)
      Cave Swallow (Doña Ana)
      Cactus Wren (Bernalillo)
      Golden-crowned Kinglet (Otero)
      Veery (Taos, R`io Arriba)
      Gray Catbird (Socorro, Rio Arriba)
      Cedar Waxwing (Torrance, Rio Arriba)
      Phainopepla (Sandoval)
      Kentucky Warbler (San Juan)
      Red-faced Warbler (Otero)
      Hepatic Tanager (Otero)
      Black-chinned Sparrow (Cibola)
      Lark Bunting (Mora)
      Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant)
      Eastern Meadowlark (Cibola, Harding)
      Brewer's Blackbird (Otero)
      Great-tailed Grackle (Rio Arriba)
      Bronzed Cowbird (Chaves, Bernalillo)
      Orchard Oriole (Quay)
      Scott's Oriole (Santa Fe)
      Pine Grosbeak (Taos)
      Red Crossbill (Bernalillo)

In San Juan County;
      TR reported a male KENTUCKY WARBLER at Berg Park on the Animas River in Farmington from June 5 to June 7 west of the restrooms at the nature trail at the Fairview entrance. DB saw the warbler on June 11 and WW found it June 13 singing loudly.
      WW on June 13 had two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in Riverside Park in Aztec north of Farmington.
      On hwy. 2390 in Cedar Hill DB on May 24 had a flock of PINYON JAYS and six GRAY VIREOS.

In Rio Arriba County:
      At the Elkhorn Lodge in Chama on June 9 BH had four CEDAR WAXWINGS and four CATBIRDS. There are COLLARED DOVES in town. He was not early enough to see the Veery.
      JO on his Cebolla BBS (to El Rito) on June 11 had three OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS with a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in El Rito.

In Sandoval County:
      SO and JMc on June 2 saw a female PHAINOPEPLA in the Rio Grande bosque at Algodones.

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. At the Taos Ski Valley on the trail to Williams Lake there was for JP and WW a PINE GROSBEAK.

In Santa Fe County:
      MR, THo, and DE on the Caja del Rio area in Santa Fe had two SCOTT'S ORIOLES on June 9 in junipers.

In Mora County;
      CR on June 9 at 13 miles east Wagon Mound on Hwy. 120 saw five LARK BUNTINGS and four LONG-BILLED CURLEWS at flooded areas on the north side of the road. There were two more buntings two miles south of Wagon Mound off I-25.

In San Miguel County:
      A nesting YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON has been at the Gallinas River near the Memorial Middle School on Cinder Road near Las Vegas. JP and WW found it on May 28, JO on June 1.
      CR on June 10 had three WHIP-POOR-WILLS calling at dawn in Gallinas Canyon on Hwy. 65 between Montezuma and Gallinas.
      He had fewer CASSIN'SPARROWS on his Variadero BBS west of Conchas Lake on June 10.

In Harding County:
      CR on June 9 had several EASTERN MEADOWLARKS singing just east of the north arm of Ute Lake.

In Colfax County:
      He had a MOUNTAIN PLOVER on NM 58 west of mile marker 8 on June 7.
      On June 6 DC found up to six PURPLE MARTINS on NM 555 to the Vermejo Ranch headquarters at a pond near mile marker 9.

In Quay County:
      DC on June 14 at Ute Lake saw two male ORCHARD ORIOLES singing in the cottonwoods in athe tent/picnic area.
      On May 24 BH saw two CHIMNEY SWIFTS flying over Tucumcari Lake.

In Cibola County:
      CJG on May 24 reported BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS singing on NM 117 in the narrows of the El Malpais NM.

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 along the trail at the Embudo Trailhead at Indian School 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 had a male on May 31 and JO saw it on May 30. BN and CR saw a courting pair on June 2.
      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 Flammulated Owls, but did not find the Saw-whet.

In Torrance County:
      ES on June 9 at his home at 61 Sunglow Loop had three CEDAR WAXWINGS. On the road into the Mountain Valley subdivision off Juan Tomas Rd. east of Rt. 217 are several POORWILLS on June 17.
      DB on May 19 while driving the I-40 frontage road at the Stone Gate Turf Farm in Moriarty had two MOUNTAIN PLOVERS 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.

In Curry County:
      At the Clovis Sewage Ponds be sure to advise them that you are there to bird.
      DB had five CHIMNEY SWIFTS over Main St. in Clovis.

In Socorro County:
      At Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio CL on May 26 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. JSt on May 30 saw the vireo at Audio Stop 9. CL on June 3 had two Catbirds.

In Chaves County:
      JH on Bitter Lake Refuge has had a TRICOLORED HERON at the northeast corner of the Hunter Marsh with two BURROWING OWLS on Unit 7. JH again saw the heron on May 29. DB on May 29 had 34 SNOWY PLOVERS and 15 LEAST TERNS (some nesting). JH on June 6 reported that BB had the heron again on Unit 15.
      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:
      JO had a calling MONTEZUMA QUAIL near Reserve on June 9.

In Grant County:
      RS on June 14 found a female GREEN KINGFISHER (photo) along the Gila River near the Bird Area on FS land near Bill Evans Lake on the road from Cliff. Where the road splits (to the lake) take the dirt road along the rio and go about 5 miles to an overlook. Contact RS for directions at 388-3441 or tyranidae@hotmail.com.
      KS on May 25 to 27 at the Cherry Creek Campground north of Pinos Altos had a YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, a HUTTON'S VIREO, and a PYGMY OWL. DBe reported no junco, but the Hutton's Vireo on a June 16 field trip.

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:
      On June 11 LM at the wastewater ponds in Deming had 18 adult and 39 young MEXICAN MALLARDS with five CINNAMON TEAL and a BARN OWL.
      LM found an injured immature LONG-EARED OWL near Deming in May. It went to a rehabber and was released near the Fort Bayard campus in Grant County.
      Katfish Kove is no longer open to birders.

In Doña Ana County:
      JZ and MS on May 27 had at least six CAVE SWALLOWS at the Fossil View Road bridge over the Leasburg Main.
      In Fillmore Canyon in the Organ Mts. near the La Cueva Picnic area on May 27 CL found a HUTTON'S VIREO.

In Otero County:
      CL on June 16-17 in Scott Able Canyon of the Sacramento Mts. saw a RED-FACED WARBLER and up to four GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. Near the east end of the canyon he found four PURPLE MARTINS along Agua Chiquita Rd. There was up to three HEPATIC TANAGERS in Weed. At the intersection of Agua Chiquita and Potato Canyon Roads three BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS had a begging fledgling. At a mile west of NM 130 along Forest Rd. 5661 he saw a male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER.
      CL on May 25 at the Holloman Lakes saw 14 SNOWY PLOVERS with chicks. He had a LEAST TERN there on June 18.
      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:
      RD on June 8 at Brantley Lake found a RUDDY TURNSTONE adult at the point north of the state park with a SNOWY PLOVER and two LEAST TERNS.
      At Rattlesnake Springs LC 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 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at the ranch.
      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 .

- Initials Used:

      CA, Corey Anderson; JB, Jonathan Batkin; DBe, David Beatty; DB, Devin Bosler; BB, Bill Briney; SB, Sally Burke; KC, Karen Canon; DC, David Cleary; LC, Louis Cuellar; RD. Rob Doster; DE, Deanna Einspahr; JCG, J.C.Grimes; MH, Michael Hilchey; THo, Terry Hodapp; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff Howland; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; JMc, Jim McPhee; LN, Lannois Neely; BN, Bruce Neville; SO, Steve O'Brien; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; TR, Tim Reeves; MR, Mary Ristow; CR, Chris Rustay; MS, Marcy Scott; RS, Roland Shook: ES, Ed Stephens; KS, Ken Stinnett; JSt, James Stuart; BV, Brad Vaughn; WW, Bill Wittman; JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie; JZe, Jenine Zenge.

- Field Trips

Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. 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). No trip planned for July 5. On July 12 the trip is a hike on the 10K Trail in the Sandias with Mary Lou Arthur, 299-2565, on July 19 to the Simms Ranch and Bonnie Long's home in the Manzano Mts. for a potluck lunch, 379-1985. And on July 26 to Ann Sommariva's place in the east Sandias with Madge Wallin, 341-0928.

On Saturday, June 23, Central will 'do' the Villanueva State Park on the Pecos Rio with Rebecca Gracey at 242-3821.

The trip for Sangre de Cristo Audubon on Saturday, July 22 is to Capulin Springs in the Sandias. Contact Gary and Carol Johnson at 466-1303.

On July 13 to 15 is the Osprey Festival at Heron Lake. Information at 588-7410.

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.