New Mexico Ornithological Society

New Mexico Statewide Hotline, June 21, 2007

This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for Thursday, June 21, 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, Green Kingfisher.

- Birds Mentioned and Counties:

      Tricolored Heron (Chaves)
      Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (San Miguel)
      Mexican Mallard and Cinnamon Teal (Luna)
      Harris's and Zone-tailed Hawks (Eddy)
      Snowy Plover (Otero, Chaves, Eddy)
      Mountain Plover (Torrance)
      Long-billed Curlew (Mora)
      White-rumped Sandpiper (Eddy)
      Wilson's Phalarope (Colfax, Eddy)
      Least Tern (Eddy, Chaves)
      Black Tern (Chaves)
      Flammulated Owl (Bernalillo)
      Burrowing Owl (Chaves)
      Northern Saw-whet Owl (Bernalillo)
      Whip-poor-will (San Miguel)
      Poorwill (Torrance)
      Chimney Swift (Curry)
      Green Kingfisher (Grant)
      Lewis's Woodpecker (San Juan)
      Williamson's Sapsucker (Otero)
      Vermilion Flycatcher (Socorro)
      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)
      Golden-crowned Kinglet (Otero)
      Veery (Taos)
      Gray Catbird (Socorro)
      Bendire's Thrasher (Santa Fe)
      Cedar Waxwing (Rio Arriba)
      Chestnut-sided Warbler (Sandoval)
      Kentucky Warbler (San Juan)
      Red-faced Warbler (Otero)
      Cassin's Sparrow (San Miguel)
      Black-throated Sparrow (Santa Fe)
      Lark Bunting (Mora)
      Pyrrhuloxia (Eddy)
      Eastern Meadowlark (Harding)
      Great-tailed Grackle (Rio Arriba)
      Bronzed Cowbird (Bernalillo)
      Orchard Oriole (Quay)
      Scott's Oriole (Santa Fe)

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.
      JO on his Cebolla BBS (to El Rito) on June 11 had a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in El Rito.

In Sandoval County:
      DB on June 18 reported a singing CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in the Corrales Bosque.

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.

In Santa Fe County:
      MR on the Caja del Rio area in Santa Fe reported two SCOTT'S ORIOLES on June 9 in junipers. BW on June 18 found a pair of BENDIRE'S THRASHERS (will send directions if requested, Curve-billed also present), several BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS with young, and one of the orioles.

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:
      DC saw three WILSON'S PHALAROPES still on the Maxwell Refuge at a playa on NM 505 between miles 3 and 4. Going south from mile 3 on hwy. C25 for a mile there were two DICKCISSELS with three more south on C25 and turning right on C23.
      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 at theheadquartrs tent/picnic area.

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.
      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.
      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:
      On the road into the Mountain Valley subdivision off Juan Tomas Rd. east of Rt. 217 ES found several POORWILLS on June 17.

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. DB on June 18 saw a late male HARRIER, 11 lingering WILSON'S PHALAROPES, and a BLACK TERN.

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 HUTTON'S VIREO. DBe reported 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. 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. 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. 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:
      DB on June 18 along NM 31 in Loving saw two HARRIS'S HAWKS with a singing male PYRRHULOXIA at mile post 5.
      At the salt flats along NM 128 at Laguna Grande he saw 12 breeding SNOWY PLOVERS and a late WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER.
      RD on June 8 at Brantley Lake found at the point north of the state park 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.
      Also in the Lincoln NF in the Guadalupe Mts. DB had on NM 137 near mile post 25 north of Dark Canyon many GRAY VIREOS.

- Initials Used:

      JB, Jonathan Batkin; DBe, David Beatty; DB, Devin Bosler; BB, Bill Briney; DC, David Cleary; LC, Louis Cuellar; RD. Rob Doster; MH, Michael Hilchey; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff Howland; CL, Carl Lundblad; LM, Larry Malone; BN, Bruce Neville; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; DP, Danny Paez; 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; BW, Bill West; WW, Bill Wittman; JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie.

- Field Trips

Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. On June 28 they go to the Roadrunner Roost B & B in Tome and Riverside Park in Los Lunas with Rebecca Gracey (242-3821). No trip is 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. The July 26 trip has been cancelled.

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.