I believe the tiny little hummingbirds I get every summer are truly little jewels of the desert. Their iridescent colors just shine like the most precious stones when the light hits them just right.
July and August are my peak months for hummingbirds. In spring I get the Broad-Tailed and Black-Chinned Hummingbirds. They nest here every year. But starting early July, I get the migratory Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds. It’s a wonderful time of year having all four variety of hummingbirds visiting my feeders. I have 3 feeders that hold 2 cups of sugar water each. During July and August I have to fill these feeders twice a day!
These little birds are very fast. Catching them in flight is a real challenge. I got a couple of decent shots in flight but I definitely need to improve on this technique.
Broad-Tailed Hummigbird
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Some years it seems the birds are more brave than others. This year they were a little more hesitant to let me photograph them. I did manage to get a few nice shots. Of the 4 species, the most bullying to other hummers and yet the most shy around people is the Rufous Hummingbird. He’s the most challenging to get a decent photo.
Rufous Hummingbird
The most challenging to get colors to show is the Black-Chinned Hummingbird. They have to turn just right in the light to catch that gorgeous purple throat. After many, many attempts, this is the only photo I got recently that shows the color. Sadly it’s not a very good pic. But I will keep trying!
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
The most common visitor to my feeders is the Broad-Tailed Hummingbird. Over the years I’ve only managed to find a couple of nests though I see plenty of females out there busily gathering nesting materials. And come summer there are lots of young hummers at the feeders.
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Look at that gorgeous color on his throat!
But my most favorite hummer is the Calliope Hummingbird. I love their unique feathers on their throat. When fending off other hummers from the feeder, they can flare out those long pink feathers. Just beautiful! They are considerably smaller than the other 3 species I get. They are the smallest breeding hummingbird in the US. While the other species are generally 3 inches in length, this little guy is around 2.5 inches. They have to really stretch their necks to sit and feed on my feeders.
Calliope Hummigbird
So I think you will agree, hummingbirds are definitely little jewels of the desert!
The next morning of our anniversary trip we drove our ATVs for about 30 minutes to get to a lucky gold spot for my husband. Unfortunately, we can’t ride the ATVs all the way to the location he likes to prospect so we had to hike for another 30 minutes.
On the way to our destination I came around a bend and saw a beautiful Red-Tailed Hawk in the top of a tree. He was at the max range of my lens but I managed to get a pretty good photo.
Red-Tailed Hawk
After a full exciting day in the sun the day before, I wasn’t looking forward to spending another day in the sun. So I parked myself under a big shade tree and birded while sitting down. Lazy right?! LOL! But it was great because none of the birds wanted to be in the sun either and the shade is sparse. So my spot was quite popular with the area birds.
Cactus Wren
Canyon Towhee
Cactus Wren
While relaxing in the shade, I was full entertained by a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. The day before at Caballo Lake I saw quite a few of them but didn’t get any photos as they were staying high up in the foliage.
Well, I was rewarded this day by a very tame male. At first he didn’t like me being so close to his tree. He started scolding me and raised his ruby crown. I didn’t get any photos of him posturing in the sun to really show off that ruby crown. But I am still pleased with the shots I did get.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet – my first shot of him scolding me
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Eventually he settled down and got used to me. Pretty soon he was foraging all around me within a foot. I could have reached out and touched him. I took full advantage of this opportunity and took as many photos and videos as I could. He was happily singing the whole time. I loved that little bird!
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. You can really see his beautiful markings on his back.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. I think he was curious of me. He would land very close to me and look at me before going back to foraging.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet – my favorite photo I took of him. He was so close to me that I almost couldn’t get a photo with my zoom lens.
On the walk back to the ATVs I spotted several variety of butterflies.
Note sure what this one is. Only photo I got.
Acmon Blue
Common Buckeye
Orange Skipperling – I was able to get a better shot of this tiny fast butterfly!
And yes…my husband did find some gold!
My husband metal detecting
The nuggets he found that day
We had a wonderful time enjoying nature together and enjoying the hot spring soaks in the evening. We needed the break together as work has been extremely busy. It was a very fun weekend!
Wow…October was a very busy month for me. All throughout the year I didn’t realize I was scheduling everything in October. I had something planned for practically every weekend!
So the last time I posted it was the first weekend of October and I was in Denver. I called it Part 1. I will write Part 2 soon, but I just had to skip to the second weekend in October. Every year my husband and I go to Truth or Consequences (TorC) for our Anniversary. We ride our ATVs and he hunts for gold and I go exploring and birding. This year was our 19th anniversary! (For our 20th I want to change things up and do an Alaskan cruise…..)
Anyway…we left later on Friday than we originally planned so didn’t get to explore a box canyon my husband told me about in the area. I guess we will save that for next time we visit the area. So I talked him into stopping at Elephant Butte Lake on the way to TorC. I was hoping to see some birds there as the fall migration has begun. We stopped a marina and saw right away lots of Western Grebes. One was looking down and all around him. So I was curious what he was doing.
Western Grebe
Western Grebe
And I was able to catch a funny photo. This grebe looks like it has a fish tail. 🙂 The carp in the lake are very large and this one must have been biting at the grebe’s feet.
Western Grebe with carp under him 🙂
The dock master saw me taking photos and came over. I asked him if he had seen any Clark’s Grebes. This would be a new bird for me. He said he has seen them but they tend to stay out on the lake and not near the shore. He said a rental boat was coming in shortly and if we wanted to wait for it he would take us out on the lake to the grebes. Of course I happily agreed to wait. I thought that was very kind of him to offer.
And sure enough there were lots of Clark’s Grebes out away from the shore. I was so excited to see them! My husband said he couldn’t tell the difference of these from the ones at the dock. So I explained that the Western Grebes have black on their heads that go down to the eye while the Clark’s have white around the eye.
Clark’s Grebe
While at the lake I enjoyed seeing a couple of American Coots snooping around the dock and a very tame Ring-Billed Gull.
American Coot
Ring-Billed Gull
Neotropic Cormorant
When we got to TorC we decided to walk down to the park along the Rio Grande River. There’s a pond there that sometimes has water and with all the rain we’ve had this year that pond was pretty full. We had fun looking for all the pretty green frogs coming to the shoreline to sun themselves. I had hoped to see some birds in the cattails but no luck. But we did see several birds along the river’s edge.
I’m guessing, but I think this is a Northern Leopard Frog
Great Blue Heron…love the knobby knees
White-Winged Dove
Pied-Billed Grebe
The next day we headed to Caballo Lake for the day. Now in the past I have said how I hated the Caballo Mountains as they are just hot, dry, and full of plants with thorns. It’s an awful place. Well….I changed my mind once I got my own ATV. I could now explore to my heart’s content without getting stabbed every 5 steps!
I started my day exploring around the shore of the lake. I usually see quite a few birds in the cottonwood trees at the lake shore. I wasn’t dissappointed. On my way to the shore I saw a whole bunch of Yellow-Rumped Warblers. They were so pretty foraging in a field of yellow flowers. I stood very still and eventually they ignored me and I was able to get good close-up photos of them.
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler. Here you get a good look at that yellow rump!
Yellow-Rumped Warbler I especially liked this photo as you get the yellow flowers blurred in the background.
After spending a good while enjoying the warblers I made my way to the beach. There I saw lots of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets but couldn’t get any decent photos as they wanted to stay high up in the trees. But I did manage to get a Verdin. These birds are so cute.
Verdin
While at the lake shore some bushes were blooming that drew in lots of bees and a few butterflies.
Queen
Tarantula Hawk Wasp. These guys actually catch tarantulas for their young
I believe this is a blue-winged wasp.
While at the shore I saw a variety of birds including one very shy Red-Naped Sapsucker and a couple of Turkey Vultures eating something that had been dead so long it looked like leather.
Snowy Egrets
Chipping Sparrow in winter plumage
Turkey Vulture…ugly aren’t they?
Red-Naped Sapsucker
Scaled Quail…these guys were fast!
White-Crowned Sparrow
I then headed to an arroyo that I enjoy visiting. It has a natural waterfall that flows when it rains. We have had a lot of moisture this year and the waterfall did have a trickle of water running down it. This usually brings in some nice birds. I did see a rock wren and one of my favorite birds, the Black-Throated Sparrow.
Rock Wren
Black-Throated Sparrow
I also saw my first American Snout butterfly. It landed on my ATV as if saying “here i am!”
American Snout
After exploring the natural waterfall area, I started heading back to find my husband and see if he found any gold. I stopped along the way to try and photograph a butterfly that had landed in the road in front of me. I had turned off my ATV so it was quiet. As I was focusing in on that butterfly I heard rocks tumbling down the steep side of the arroyo. I thought maybe it was cows as I see them often on these sloped sides foraging. But I didn’t see any cows. I kept hearing one or two rocks tumbling and I was starting to get creeped out. Then suddenly I saw what was making the rocks move. Big Horn Sheep!!!!!!
I slowly walked toward them so I could get some photos. They were just beautiful! I was so excited to see not only a ram with ewes but a young one too! I took a bunch of photos in hopes of a few good ones. They knew I was there but grazed for awhile. I kept creeping closer and eventually they decided to move on. I will never forget the first time I saw these majestic animals. I wasn’t expecting to see them so it was an amazing surprise!
In this photo you can see how they are easily overlooked. They blend right in to the scenery. One of the ewes had a radio collar on.
Big Horn Sheep – mother with a young one
Big Horn Sheep
Big Horn Sheep Ram – beautiful!
Big Horn Sheep
I couldn’t wait to meet up with my husband to tell him what I saw! And he did find some gold 🙂
Can you see the flake of gold? Personally, I have no idea how he sees those small pieces!
While watching him search for gold I captured a couple more butterflies that day.
Black Swallowtail
Common Checkered Skipper
Orange Skipperling – this guy was super tiny and quick!
On the way back to the hotel that evening we saw some deer foraging in the fields. Always a beautiful sight.
About a week ago I got up extremely early and drove up to Capulin Spring. I think this was the earliest I had ever gotten there – practically still dark as I pulled into the parking area. But the early rising from bed paid off big time! Plus I was excited to use my new camera. I upgraded from a Nikon 1 V1 to a V3. It’s a much better camera with lots more features. It didn’t disappoint in it’s performance in the low light of dawn!
On the drive up the crest road there were lots of mule deer grazing right on the side of the road. I drove very slowly and creeped up to them. They didn’t spook and I was able to get some nice closeups of both the male and female.
Mule Deer Doe – such a sweet face
Buck still in velvet
There were so many birds coming in first thing. I didn’t know where to look as they were EVERYWHERE! A real dilemma for a birder!
I have noticed there at the spring that birds tend to come in by species. You will see mostly one species at a time. First thing I saw that day was lots of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. There were several and they all wanted a bath. One got completely soaked and sat in front of me grooming for at least 5 minutes.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Soon after the kinglets were done bathing the Townsend’s Warblers came in. A real treat as they are so beautiful! One got in a spat with a Yellow-Rumped Warbler and won – surprising because they are quite a bit smaller.
Townsend’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler bullying a Yellow-Rumped Warbler
I usually see lots of Juncos when I’m there but not so many this day. Mostly the really pretty birds came in – to my delight.
Next came the crossbills. I’m always fascinated by their bills. I can see how they are very useful in prying open the pinecones but wonder how difficult it must be to drink and groom.
Red Crossbill – Male
Red Crossbill – Female
Red Crossbill using that unique beak to pry apart a pinecone
While all this activity was happening at the spring, there were about 5 Band-Tailed Pigeons wanting to come in for a drink and a Sharp-Shinned Hawk way up in a dead tree. He never got the nerve up while I was there. I kept as still as I could and was finally rewarded with the pigeons coming in for a drink. They are so nervous.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Band-Tailed Pigeon – there is also one behind him getting a drink
After they left lots of song birds started coming in and the spring got very busy. It was so wonderful to just sit and enjoy seeing all the beautiful birds flying about and getting baths. My jaw hurt from the constant smiling.
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler with a Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Western Tanager – Female
Virginia’s Warbler irked that another bird was splashing him 🙂
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Orange-Crowned Warbler
Lesser Goldfinch
Hermit Thrush
Cassin’s Vireo
I’m always entertained by the little chipmunks running around the area. They are always so busy. While I was there one crawled into my camera bag. Probably smelled the lingering scent of a protein bar I had carried in it. I was especially entertained by a young one. I got a great pic of him enjoying some little morsel he had found.
Chipmunk
There was a Steller’s Jay squawking in the canopy for a while. He didn’t like me there. But my patience was finally rewarded when he came down for a drink. They are my favorite jays. For some reason the white markings on their face make me think of Spy vs Spy (hmmmm…showing my age LOL!)
I got to see a Brown Creeper as well. I’ve gone several years with only seeing one briefly. But this summer I’ve seen several and am always thrilled when I do. This particular creeper flew to the spring but was so nervous he immediately flew back into the trees. I managed to get one decent photo of him in the deep shadows.
Brown Creeper
There was one bird I photographed that I just can’t figure out what it is. I’m hoping someone seeing this blog can let me know what they think. My first guess was a juvenile Hermit Thrush but I’m not so sure after studying the photo.
Mystery bird for me
As the morning passed I was so thankful to have seen so many variety of birds. I will miss this place once winter comes. But for a little while longer I can enjoy it’s bounty.
Green-Tailed Towhee
Northern Flicker
I sat there for about 4 hours. My behind was numb! Next time I need to bring a cushion!
On the way out I noticed the sunflowers in bloom. There were lots of interesting bees on them. I couldn’t resist photographing a couple of them.
Interesting red bee / fly?
I liked the fuzzy butt on this one 🙂
I hated to leave but work was waiting for me. I will have to return again soon before all the birds fly away for the winter.
Last Sunday I met up with my butterfly friends to attend the only annual butterfly count held in New Mexico. The weather has been extremely hot in Albuquerque so I was looking forward to heading north to more normal June temperatures.
The drive there takes about 2 hours and it goes right past one of my favorite birding spots…Valley Irrigation Road in Moriarty. So I left a little early so I could drive down this road.
I hadn’t been down that road for a few weeks. I was surprised to see the Otto Pond migrant trap had tripled in size. I could hear several variety of shore birds but couldn’t see them. But a Great Blue Heron was very close by and lots of doves.
Great Blue Heron
Mourning Dove
Since not much else was out I hit the road. Taking Highway 41 is always a pretty drive. Saw a beautiful prong horn antelope and wide open scenery.
Ortiz Mountains in the distance
Church at Galisteo
Prong Horn Antelope
We were to meet at a location north of Las Vegas called Montezuma. I’d never been there before. It was a beautiful place with lots of water and lush vegetation.
Canada Goose
After everyone met up we were divided up to cover more ground. My group opted for the higher elevations. First we stopped at a campground that is closed for repairs…which was great because we were the only people that were there. We got quite a variety and number of butterflies there. We started out walking together but soon spread out.
I was ahead of Joe and Rebecca by a ways and was searching the stream and grasses on my right not paying attention to my left. All of a sudden I caught my breath because I had just disturbed about 20 swallowtail butterflies and they all flew up around me. I quickly called out “Joe!” He came running up just in time to see them land back on the road. It was so beautiful that he ran back and got Rebecca.
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Two-Tailed Swallowtail
Further up the road we saw many more variety of butterflies.
Mexican Yellow
Western Pine Elfin
Northern Crescent
Painted Lady
Hoary Comma
Hoary Comma
Pacuvius Duskywing
Silvery Checkerspot
Margined White
Northern Cloudywing
Weidemeyer’s Admiral
Echo Azure
Northern Crescent
When we were heading back to the car I heard all this noise in the brush and could see the bushes swaying like something huge was headed my way. I immediately thought “bear!” and my adrenalin kicked in…but then I saw the culprit. Thank God it was a horse!
Next we headed up to Johnson Mesa which is at an altitude of 9,467 feet above sea level. It was a gorgeous location. Thunderstorms were close by but fortunately never came over us.
Joe and Rebecca searching the meadow for butterflies
Selfie 🙂
But because there were more clouds and cooler temperatures there were a lot fewer butterflies flying. We combed the mesa looking for butterflies in the grasses and were rewarded with a few.
Common Alpine
Common Ringlet
Common Checkered Skipper
Painted Crescent
Throughout the day I looked for birds but they were scarce. But on the way down from Johnson Mesa we saw about six male Evening Grosbeak feeding on the side of the road. Gorgeous birds!
Evening Grosbeak
At this point I left Joe and Rebecca and headed to Sapello to see a client for a signature. Since Sapello was still considered in the radius of our day I took some time to search for butterflies there. On the way to Sapello I did get a pretty good pic of a magpie. They had been eluding me all day. And I saw a Yellow-Breasted Chat land not 5 feet from me…but no chance to get a pic…..dang it!
Black-Billed Magpie
By the time I made it to Sapello it was late afternoon. I couldn’t stay long but I still found a few butterflies to add to the count as well as a few fun photos.
Silvery Checkerspot
Red-Winged Blackbird – female
Cloudy Sulphur – mating! 🙂
Old Convent
Overall a very long day by the time I drove two hours back home. But I had a wonderful time and definitely added quite a few new species to my butterfly list!
My husband and I had another opportunity to go to Truth or Consequences, NM, for a weekend before it just gets too hot to visit. We love to get out and go four-wheeling and explore the countryside. As it’s still spring I was hopeful for some good birding opportunities.
Last Saturday we went to Caballo Lake for the day. It was forcasted for sunshine but windy. Wow…it got very windy. My husband loves to prospect for gold. So while he went to a favorite canyon, I headed out to bird along the roads and around the lake. I was able to bird for about 2 hours in the morning but even then it was blowing pretty good. I mostly saw Black-Throated Sparrows and a variety of flycatchers. I was amazed even in that wind that they were able to pluck bugs out of the air with ease.
Western Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Black-Throated Sparrows Adult above and softly colored juvenile below
As the morning progressed it got extremely windy. So I headed back to the truck and took a nice long nap. Upon waking I realized the wind had died down. So I jumped back on the four-wheeler and headed out. I remember last time I was there I saw my first Pyrrhuloxia in a specific canyon. So I decided to head back in that canyon for a second try as my first photos were barely discernible. And I was quickly rewarded with a sighting. And I got some good pics too!
Pyrrhuloxia
Heading back to the truck I saw a few hummingbirds hanging out in a blooming tree. I managed to get a pic of a couple of them.
Black-chinned hummingbirds
The views of the mountains and lake were beautiful. I love photographing vistas.
Caballo Mountains
Caballo Lake
The next morning I saw the hotel owner filling the bird feeders in the front garden area. The birds must be used to the routine because as soon as they saw him they all came flying in. I got a few good pics before we headed out for another day of fun.
Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow
House Finch
On Sunday we headed to the hills around Hillsboro, New Mexico. As I’ve said before, they are like night and day from the Caballo Mountains and they aren’t that far away from each other. I love the more lush landscape and fewer cactus. Plus there’s more historical items left behind to investigate.
The morning weather was beautiful…calm, slightly overcast, cool. The lighting was perfect for photos. As soon as we parked our four-wheelers to hike up a particular canyon, I saw a Scaled Quail calling from atop a bush. I even video taped him singing.
Scaled Quail
As my husband began prospecting for gold, I started hiking, birding and butterflying 🙂
I was rewarded by a sighting of a Macgillivray’s Warbler. I then saw the female and found their nest. Took a quick pic of the nest and then moved on so as not to disturb them. I managed to get one photo of the male. They stayed deep in the foliage.
Macgillivray’s Warbler
Macgillivray’s Warbler nest
I had a great day birding. Because it was cooler the birds were active all day. While eating my lunch I sat beneath a shade tree and was entertained by a pair of Say’s Phoebes who were busy all day feeding their babies. They picked a very unusual location for their nest. There is an old well in the area and the birds have figured out how to dive into it for a drink. The Phoebes have built their nest down in that well. They were busy catching bugs, landing on the barbed wire surrounding the well, and then diving in to feed their babies.
Say’s Phoebe with butterfly for the babies. Maybe Joe can identify this butterfly for me 😉
Old Well that birds fly down to drink. The Phoebes have a nest down there and loved perching on the barbed wire before diving down the well.
Western Tanager coming in for a drink at the well. And this photo is SOOC for those photographers out there 😉
Summer Tanager Female
Because the winds were calm I was able to get several photos of butterflies.
Dainty Sulpher
Mexican Yellow is the butterfly with the white open wings. The other butterfly with the orange inside is a Sleepy Orange.
Acmon Blue
Orange Skipperling
Gray Hairstreak – it must have just emerged because it was sitting and rubbing its wings and was unwilling to fly.
Marine Blue
Small Checkered Skipper
Mexican Cloudywing
The views in Hillsboro were very nice this trip.
Walls left from an old building. This was a pretty large structure for the area.
Unique cloud formations.
On our way back to our four wheelers we scared a bird off the nest which was located in a small, skinny bush not 3 feet high. Didn’t see the bird as it flew off in a flash so not sure what species the eggs are. Then, as we were riding our four wheelers back to the truck Tim came very close to a dove’s nest. The parent went flying off acting injured to lure us away. When we investigated we found two babies. It was a close call because the four wheeler tracks went to each side of the nest. I’m so glad we didn’t run over them.
Baby doves
During our trip we saw quite a variety of lizards. I have always enjoyed watching lizards. Many of these were not scared of me and let me take some good pics.
Common Checkered Whiptail
It was a relaxing weekend with lots of photo opportunities and long soaks in the hot springs at night….wonderful
I participated in my first Birdathon, a fund raiser for the Central New Mexico Audubon Society (CNMAS). We traveled to Fort Sumner and visited several locations in the area. The Birdathon lasted 24 hours. We met at Lake Sumner at 10 am on Thursday, May 7. I didn’t count how many of us were there but it was under 20 people I believe.
We started our bird watching by slowly driving the few miles of road through grasslands toward the lake. I got several good photos of birds I already have on my life list but previously only had poor quality images. Most notably the Lark Bunting and the Scaled Quail. My friend Valerie will remember the first time we photographed a Scaled Quail. We were visiting Chaco Canyon and I didn’t have my long range lens on my camera. So I’m yelling at her to “get that bird!!!” She frantically running down a path trying to shoot that bird in with manual settings. I’m yelling “put your camera on auto!!!” LOL! She did get a picture though…and not too bad a one considering the circumstances. 🙂
Scaled Quail
Lark Bunting on top with a Lark Sparrow down below
As we approached the lake we first went down to the Pecos River below the dam. Someone had spotted a Black-Chinned Hummingbird female in a nest. I was shown the nest and was able to get a great photo of her with moss in her mouth for building her nest. I really enjoyed seeing that. I got a new bird there, an Olive-Sided Flycatcher. Sadly he was directly between me and the sun so the photo isn’t great.
Pecos River just below the dam
Black-Chinned Hummingbird with moss in her mouth
Barn Swallow
From the river area we moved to the shoreline of the lake. I got a new bird there too, a Forster’s Tern. Again, the bird was flying and at such a great distance the photo was not good. Sigh….
After having lunch we went to Redondo Lake near Fort Sumner. This was a nice small lake that you could drive all the way around in just a few minutes. But it offers a large area of cattails that bring in a diverse amount of birds. We noticed a clump of Ruddy Ducks which turned out to be the parents and seven young ones almost full grown. We were treated to the sight of a Blue Jay who posed nicely for everyone to get a good look at. I got to see a Red-Headed Woodpecker (which is a new bird for me) but sadly didn’t get a photograph. 🙁 He will have to go on my Seen/Heard but Not Photographed List.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ruddy Ducks – the adults have the white on their face
Blue Jay
Red-Winged Blackbird – Juvenile
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
We drove along the farm roads in hopes of seeing a variety of blackbirds – most especially the Bronzed Cowbird. No luck with the Bronzed Cowbird but we saw plenty of Brewer’s Blackbirds, Yellow-Headed Blackbirds, Common and Great Tailed Grackles, and Brown-Headed Blackbirds. They were hanging around the cattle eagerly grabbing up the insects stirred up.
A variety of blackbirds including Brewer’s Blackbird and Yellow-Headed Blackbird
We then drove to a location called Melrose Trap. It’s a small grove of trees located in the middle of prairie and farmland. So it’s a huge draw to migrating birds – most especially warblers. We were in high hopes of seeing a variety of species there.
There were lots of Western Kingbirds making lots of racket, which made it difficult for birding by ear. The foliage was dense and lighting low which made for difficult photo ops. But I managed to get some nice pics. Most especially of a Yellow-Rumped Warbler who sat on a limb not 10 feet away just grooming without a care for us. I was thrilled to get a new bird, the Western Wood-Pewee…and a good photo for a change!
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Western Tanager
Western Wood-Pewee
Bullock’s Oriole
Orange-Crowned Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
One of the birds on our “love to get list” was a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher. We drove down the highway from Melrose Trap looking for it but without luck. One my drive back to Fort Sumner that evening I was talking to my husband on the phone and saw one fly up to get a bug. I exclaimed “OH!!! I gotta go! I have to turn around a get a pick of that flycatcher!” I was thrilled to report to the group at dinner that we could add that species to our list.
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
The next morning I got up extremely early (for me) to meet again at the Melrose Trap. The sun was just coming up. I saw there was fog ahead so I wasn’t in any big hurry to get there. There’s this old schoolhouse that I’ve passed many times on this road that I’ve always thought to myself “I’d love to photograph that building”. Well, this morning the lighting was perfect and I had the time to stop. I really enjoyed the photos I was able to capture.
Old School House
I finally arrived at the Melrose Trap. Several birders were already there from our group. The warbler activity was very good but the lighting was very poor due to the foliage of the grove and the fog.
Very difficult birding and photo conditions…but beautiful
Fellow birder Maurice and I quickly found a corner of the grove that was very productive. I got several new birds that morning. But I was able to get a few nice pics. Most especially of the a new bird for me the Chestnut-Sided Warbler. I also got to photograph a Northern Waterthrush and Lincoln’s Sparrow…two new birds!.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
House Wren
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Bullock’s Oriole – Famale
Western Tanager – Female
Northern Waterthrush – sure wish that stick hadn’t been in the way…would’ve been a great photo…
Yellow Warbler
Bullock’s Oriole
All of a sudden in the grasses beyond the grove we saw a big bird land in the sage bushes. We quickly saw it was a baby Great Horned Owl. What a treat!
Baby Great Horned Owl
Part of the group left the grove to go in search of the Bronzed Cowbird that had eluded them the previous day. I decided to stay with Maurice to see if we could get any more new warblers. Sadly about that time the activity seemed to die down. So we decided it was probably time to head back and meet up with the group for the final bird count at 10 am. On my drive back I spotted a large woodpecker fly into a tree. I quickly pulled off to find it. Maurice saw me pull off and followed me in. We both saw two woodpeckers fly off to a further tree. One was clearly a Ladder-Backed Woodpecker but the other was much bigger and had white patches on its wings and rump and red on it’s head. With those markings it was clearly a Sapsucker. After consulting with each other we came to the conclusion that it was a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. Which was a new bird for me! and an uncommon sighting for the area.
We met up with the group at 10 am and heard they finally got their Bronzed Cowbird. Everyone went over their sightings and the group as a whole got 108 birds. Not too bad for how few of us there were.
Afterwards I decided to spend a little more time at Lake Sumner before I headed home. I was rewarded with several birds that surprisingly weren’t seen during the birdathon…a Loggerhead Shrike, a Horned Lark, and a pair of Ash-Throated Flycatchers. I had also heard from the count that Bank Swallows were seen at the dam so I was determined to find them as they would be a new bird for me. I was rewarded to see them exactly where they were decribed to be seen. 🙂
Horned Lark
Loggerhead Shrike
Ash-Throated Flycatcher
Blue Grosbeak
I ventured to the lake and a Turkey Vulture on the shore. I got pretty close and was able to get several pics. I especially liked the ones in flight.
Turkey Vulture
On my way out of the park I saw another lifer! A Grasshopper Sparrow!
Grasshopper Sparrow
Sadly, it was time to head home. I really enjoyed spending two whole days birding. I got several new birds bringing my Life List to 321 birds that I’ve photographed and identified! My total count of Seen/Heard and Photographed is now at 330 birds!
This past week I was able to get out birding several times. The weather was beautiful and my schedule was lighter. So I strapped on my hiking boots, grabbed my camera and hit the trails.
My first stop was Embudito. I knew the orioles had to be there soon and was hoping to get the Scott’s Oriole. I climbed the higher trail instead of hiking along the arroyo. The last couple times I had been there I had heard a lot of birdsong up the hillside. It was a good choice that day. I came around a bend and saw both the Scott’s and Bullock’s Orioles feeding in a bush. They saw me at the same time and flew off. I spent the next 20 minutes hunting them down for a photo. The effort was worth it. The Scott’s Oriole was a lifer for me.
Bullock’s Oriole
Scott’s Oriole
I also got pretty close to a Rufous-Crowned Sparrow singing in a bush along the trail. I made my way down to the spring so I could hike along the arroyo on my way out. I saw a pair of Spotted Towhees and a Juniper Titmouse trying to get the attention of a female. He was so camoflauged that the only way I saw him was because he was singing at the top of his lungs and chasing the female.
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow
Juniper Titmouse
Spotted Towhee
Another day I had to go to Los Lunas so I thought I would take the opportunity to check on the burrowing owls. While there I had a road runner cross my path. He was busy hunting for lizards and didn’t seem to mind me following along with the car. Soon I came to the owls and there was a pair right next to the road. I sat and watched for a while. There was a bush nearby that they loved sitting in for a better view of the surroundings. I think they are used to people watching them because they didn’t seem too concerned about me.
Greater Roadrunner
Burrowing Owl keeping an eye on the sky for predators
Burrowing Owl
Since I had the time I thought I would drive through the Valle de Oro Refuge to see what might be around. I never seem to have any luck there. I always hear of all these sightings of birds that I need for my life list, but they have never been there when I visit. This day didn’t provide anything new, but I did get some nice shots of a variety of birds there enjoying the field being flooded.
Lark Sparrow
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Black-Chinned Hummingbird – giving the evil eye 🙂
One day I took advantage of being on the very north end of town one day and stopped in at the Tramway wetlands. I was rewarded with a pair of Canada Geese with two babies. I’d never seen baby geese before so it was a real treat. Not much else there that day though.
Canada Geese
Lastly I hiked Bear Canyon for the first time. I didn’t have much time and thought it looked like a nice hike. There weren’t many birds out that day. It was windy and there were spotty rain showers all over town. I saw lots of Black-Throated Sparrows. I never tire of these birds. They make me smile every time. Always sitting in the top of a bush or cactus singing away. I especially liked the photo I got of one singing in a bush with flowers around him.
Black-Throated Sparrow
The other bird I saw plenty of was the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. These little guys are so adorable. This particular male wasn’t shy at all and let me get within 10 feet of him. Made for a crisp photo.
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
The view of the Sandias was specatular that day. That trail makes for a nice photo as there aren’t very many houses along the foothills. I soon had to hurry back to my car as the rain showers seemed to be headed my way.
Storm over the south end of Albuquerque
Bear Canyon Trail
Sandia Mountain Range
The week was a success getting that Scott’s Oriole! Next stop the Birdathon at Fort Sumner!
This year I have decided to take every opportunity to re-explore the trails in the Sandia Mountains. I have always enjoyed exploring the varied trails and am looking forward to seeing some favorites as well as some new ones.
I haven’t hiked the Domingo Baca trail in over 10 years. I went with friends to see the airplane crash then. It was a tough hike but well worth the effort. This time I only went as far as the spring as I was by myself.
The weather this spring has been cool and rainy. The view of the Sandia Mountains was very beautiful the morning I set out. It had rained during the night and the clouds were still hovering along the peaks. The air was cool and crisp and the views of Albuquerque were amazing. I was wishing I had my polarized filter for better pics.
City of Albuquerque
I didn’t see too many birds or butterflies but managed to get a few shots. The highlight was seeing a Cooper’s Hawk building a nest in one of the cottonwood trees in the Elena Gallegos picnic area. He was a little too far way for a good pic but it was exciting to see him nonetheless. He flew over me a couple times during the hike as well.
Cooper’s Hawk
I heard several blue-gray gnatcatchers in the trees and bushes while I hiked. I managed to get a couple of nice pics of them even though they are so small and quick!
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
I finally made it to the spring. It was flowing very nicely since we’ve had a lot of rain. It was so nice to sit and relax and enjoy the sound of flowing water (a rarity here in NM). The signs of spring growth were a cheery sight. I am so ready for warm weather!
I don’t know what this growth is on the tree. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It was in patches all over and such a bright orange!
On the way back down the trail I heard the tram overhead and managed to get a quick pic before it disappeared into the clouds above. I saw several butterflies and was able to get pics as they weren’t flying to energetically in the cooler weather.
Painted Lady
Mormon Metalmark
Hmmm….maybe Joe and help me identify this one. He says “they’re easy!” uh….I don’t think so LOL!
No clue yet what this one is either. I can definitely tell I’m a beginner butterfly enthusiast. I will have to spend some time thumbing through my book to identify some of my finds.
I really enjoyed revisiting the Domingo Baca canyon. I’m not sure why I stayed away so long…..
Wow…I’ve gotten way behind on my blog. Life has been very busy. But I have been making time to get out hiking and birding.
On April 23, my friend Bob Hall flew into town from Oregon. He’s a fellow birder and was a field biologist in his working days. This visit was the first time I actually met him in person. The day was fun and Bob was a great birding partner.
Since he hadn’t been to Albuquerque before, I drove him to the top of the Sandia Mountains so he could see the city from the peak. On our way up the crest road we saw wild turkeys. That was the first time I’d actually seen turkey in the Sandias.
Wild Turkey
While there we saw a Yellow-Rumped Warbler singing and feeding in the pines. He was a real treat to watch.
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
We worked out way down the crest road. Our next stop was at the 10K North trail parking lot. We saw swallows flying and heard several woodpeckers in the area as well as other birds singing.
I had told Bob that I needed an American Three-Toed Woodpecker and that I had heard they had been spotted here in the past. While we were watching the Violet-Green Swallows (a new bird for my life list!) we saw a pair of woodpeckers land in a dead pine tree. I quickly took some photos but the distance and lighting didn’t make for great photos. Bob had a good pair of binoculars and he told me “I’m 98% sure those are the three-toed woodpeckers you were looking for.” I was so excited that I exclaimed “REALLY!!???!!!” Well…my delight echoed through the canyon and those woodpeckers took off! Hmmm….I told Bob I guess I needed to work on my birding voice. When I got home I looked through my photos and had one pic that showed the yellow on the head conclusively making the sighting 100% three-toed woodpecker. Another lifer!
American Three-Toed Woodpecker
We worked our way down the road but didn’t see any more interesting birds. But we did get to see a nice group of mule deer.
Mule Deer
Our next stop was the Ojito de San Antonio. I’ve had great luck there recently where the spring makes a pool. Bob was excited to see Cedar Waxwing and a new bird for him, the Evening Grosbeak. Lots of activity at the spring made for a fun time birding. We stopped briefly at the church there next to where we parked and enjoyed watching an Ash-Throated Flycatcher and Western Bluebird feeding.
Evening Grosbeak
Cedar Waxwing
Western Bluebird
Ash-Throated Flycatcher
I asked Bob if he wanted to go into town to the Rio Grande Nature Center along the river or head east and see the prairie lands with Swainson’s Hawks. He said definitely east as Swainson’s were one of his favorite birds and it had been a long time since he’d seen one. So we headed out to Stanley and I drove him down Valley Irrigation Road (one of my favorite drives for birding). And right off the bat a Swainson’s Hawk landed right in front of us. It was a great sight.
Swainson’s Hawk
Along the drive we saw a Lark Sparrow and Burrowing Owls among other things. We made the most of the day and ended up seeing 40 different bird species that day. Very successful!
Western Kingbird
Lark Sparrow
Burrowing Owl
American Kestrel
Horned Lark
I really enjoyed birding with Bob. I’m hoping he can come back again sometime. He was a great birding buddy! And maybe someday I can make it to Oregon to see his neck of the woods. 🙂
