Today was cold, windy and rainy. I had been swamped with work all week. I finally had free time in the morning to go birding and the weather wasn’t cooperating. So I decided to bird by car. The rain wasn’t steady but instead would come over in waves. From past experience I knew birding opportunities might be pretty good after a rainy night.

So I headed out early to drive around Stanley, NM. I tried to drive down one of my favorite roads (Valley Irrigation Road) but it was way too muddy. So I had to stick to paved roads.  Even limiting where I could drive I had a great morning.

I saw my nemesis the Lazuli Bunting…will I ever get a nice sharp photo? 

I also saw a couple of warblers which is always exciting. 🙂

And of course there were plenty of flycatchers about.

There were lots of yellow rumped warblers. They always make me smile.

I was very excited to see a Swanson’s hawk with breakfast. I watched him devour an entire rabbit in just a few minutes! I couldn’t help but think of my birding friend Bob 🙂

Lots of evidence of spring. I had noticed a pair of loggerhead shrikes staying in one area for a few weeks. I was rewarded today with the sight of baby loggerhead. Adorable!

Birds gathering nesting materials,  sitting on nests, feeding baby birds and seeing juvenile birds..I love spring!

I was thrilled to have a Western tanager land right in front of me while I was photographing the yellow-rumped warbler.

Because it had rained earlier there were lots of birds grooming themselves. Most especially the swallows.

A trip to Stanley wouldn’t be complete without a Western meadowlark and I wasn’t disappointed. As well as redtailed hawks.

It was a great morning for birds!!! 🙂