Shipman's field notes, Apr 2009

How to read Shipman's field notes

2009-04-01: NM: Socorro
2009-04-03: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-04-05: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Swainson's Hawk; Pectoral Sandpiper; Franklin's Gull
2009-04-08: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech
2009-04-09: NM: Roswell-Carlsbad
Notable: Blue-winged Teal; Greater Scaup; Orange-crowned Warbler; Orchard Oriole
2009-04-10: NM: Carlsbad-Brantley-Holloman Lakes
Notable: Cassin's Vireo; Brown Thrasher
2009-04-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-04-14: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-04-18: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech
2009-04-21: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-04-22: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech
2009-04-23: NM: Socorro
2009-04-25: NM: Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF
2009-04-28: NM: Socorro
2009-04-29: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-04-30: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Blue-winged Teal; Whimbrel; Bonaparte's Gull; Franklin's Gull

2009-04-01: NM: Socorro

@Soc: Socorro

Owl, Great Horned 1 @Socorro

Pond west of the end of Calle del Lago.

Vocalizations: Deep hoots.

2009-04-03: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Siskin, Pine 10+ @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Working blossoms on my ash tree.

2009-04-05: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Swainson's Hawk; Pectoral Sandpiper; Franklin's Gull

@Chap: Socorro: Chaparral Road

@HFR: Socorro: Hope Farms Road

@Lop: Socorro: Lopezville Road

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@Soc: Socorro

@SocCo: Socorro County

@TBay: Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Teal, Cinnamon 1♂ @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Duck, Ring-necked 2♂ @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Hawk, Cooper's 1 @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Hawk, Swainson's 35 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

In a field that had just been flooded for the first time in the irrigation season; doubtless a bonanza for small rodent prey. The farmer said that gophers were quite feisty when flooded out and would even charge him and try to bite him on the boots.

Biggest group of Swainson's Hawks I've seen with the exception of groups of 70+ at Bosque del Apache and south of Artesia in former years.

Hawk, Red-tailed 1a @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Kestrel, American 1♀ @Socorro

Coot, American 2 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Killdeer # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Yellowlegs, Greater 3+ @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Sandpiper, Pectoral 1 @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Flooded field a short distance east of Chaparral Road, a few blocks north of its intersection with Harold Drive.

dowitcher sp. # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Gull, Franklin's 3+ @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

The next field south from the one with all the Swainson's Hawks had the gulls.

Gull, Ring-billed 40+ @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Pigeon, Rock # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Socorro

Dove, White-winged # @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Vocalizations: Singing.

Dove, Mourning 1 @Socorro

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Phoebe, Black 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Kingbird, Western 1 @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Raven, Chihuahuan @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Near the pig farm.

Vocalizations: 'rack'

Raven, Common @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Vocalizations: Low croaks.

Swallow, Barn # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

First of the season.

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Bluebird, Western 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Bluebird, Mountain 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Starling, European # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Pipit, American # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Warbler, Audubon's 2♂ @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Socorro: Lopezville Road

Junco, Dark-eyed # @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

meadowlark sp. # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Blackbird, Brewer's # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Socorro: Chaparral Road

Finch, House # @Socorro

Sparrow, House @Socorro

2009-04-08: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Junco, Dark-eyed # @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

2009-04-09: NM: Roswell-Carlsbad

Notable: Blue-winged Teal; Greater Scaup; Orange-crowned Warbler; Orchard Oriole

@Art: Artesia

@BL: Bitter Lake NWR

@Cheap: Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

@RS: Rattlesnake Springs

@Ros: Roswell

@day: Roswell-Carlsbad

Route

10:45, leave Roswell.

11:11, Bitter Lake NWR, Skeen Visitor Center. Spent some time carefully scoping from their platform.

13:03, enter the tour loop.

13:30, brief walk south into the Oxbow.

13:40, rolling again.

14:12, leave the tour loop.

Weather High winds from the west all day, 40-50mph. Sunny. The heavy chop on the surfaces of the lakes at Bitter Lake refuge are evident in the photos of the raft of hapless Eared Grebes.

Goose, Lesser Canada 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Lagoon east of the SW corner of the loop.

Description: Only about 1.5x waterline length of Northern Shoveler in direct comparison. Compared to the Sibley field guide illustration of Cackling Goose, this bird had a larger bill and more extensive white chinstrap.

Gadwall @Bitter Lake NWR

Wigeon, American @Bitter Lake NWR

Mallard @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, Blue-winged

2♂ @Bitter Lake NWR

1♀ @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, Cinnamon @Bitter Lake NWR

Shoveler, Northern @Bitter Lake NWR

Pintail, Northern # @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, Green-Winged @Bitter Lake NWR

Redhead @Bitter Lake NWR

Scaup, Greater

Description: Crowns of heads broadly rounded. Flanks of males whiter.

3♂ @Bitter Lake NWR

2♀ @Bitter Lake NWR

Scaup, Lesser 1♂ @Bitter Lake NWR

Bufflehead # @Bitter Lake NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bitter Lake NWR

Turkey, Wild 19 @Rattlesnake Springs

Grebe, Pied-billed 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Grebe, Eared 7 @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Great 3 @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Snowy # @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Cattle 2 @Bitter Lake NWR

Ibis, White-faced 9 @Bitter Lake NWR

Vulture, Turkey

@Artesia

# @Rattlesnake Springs

Harrier, Northern

1 @Bitter Lake NWR

1 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Hawk, Gray ? @Rattlesnake Springs

Description: A raptor flew into one of the big cottonwoods south of the road. I observed only its head: solid dark gray including the chin; orange at the base of the short hooked bill.

Hawk, Swainson's 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Kestrel, American

1 @Roswell

@Bitter Lake NWR

Coot, American # @Bitter Lake NWR

Plover, Snowy 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Killdeer

@Bitter Lake NWR

3 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Stilt, Black-necked 50 @Bitter Lake NWR

Avocet, American # @Bitter Lake NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater # @Bitter Lake NWR

Yellowlegs, Lesser 3 @Bitter Lake NWR

Gull, Bonaparte's / Gull, Franklin's 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Description: Small gull with all-black head. Both Franklin's and Bonaparte's have been reported from here within the last few days.

Gull, Ring-billed 2 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Pigeon, Rock # @Roswell

Dove, White-winged # @Rattlesnake Springs

Dove, Mourning # @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Phoebe, Black 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Phoebe, Say's

@Bitter Lake NWR

@Rattlesnake Springs

Flycatcher, Vermilion # @Rattlesnake Springs

Shrike, Loggerhead 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Swallow, Barn # @Bitter Lake NWR

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Thrush, Hermit # @Rattlesnake Springs

Pipit, American @Bitter Lake NWR

Warbler, Orange-crowned 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Yellow 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Audubon's # @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Myrtle # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Chipping # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Vesper @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Sparrow, Savannah @Bitter Lake NWR

Sparrow, White-crowned

@Bitter Lake NWR

# @Rattlesnake Springs

Junco, Gray-headed # @Rattlesnake Springs

Pyrrhuloxia 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Blackbird, Red-winged @Bitter Lake NWR

Meadowlark, Western @Bitter Lake NWR

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Roswell

Oriole, Orchard 1♂ @Rattlesnake Springs

On the lawn east of the residence.

Description: Bright orange head. Eliminated Hooded Oriole by less extensive black on the throat.

2009-04-10: NM: Carlsbad-Brantley-Holloman Lakes

Notable: Cassin's Vireo; Brown Thrasher

@Alm: Alamogordo

@Art: Artesia

@CBD: Carlsbad

@Cheap: Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

@Hol: Holloman Lakes

My first visit since they opened a road all the way around Raptor Lake. The mudflat south of the dam was good for shorebirds. The lake had a lot of waterfowl.

@May: Mayhill area

@PDSP: Percha Dam area

@RS: Rattlesnake Springs

@day: Carlsbad-Brantley-Holloman Lakes

Route

08:50, leave Carlsbad.

09:10, turn off US 62-180 for Rattlesnake Springs.

09:40, on foot around the pond area.

11:37, exit the park proper.

11:45, back to US 62-180.

13:09 through 13:30, Champion Cove Road.

16:10, arrive at Holloman Lakes area.

17:00, leave Holloman Lakes.

18:30 to 18:50, drove the entrance road to Percha Dam SP but did not enter the park. The place was utterly jammed with youngsters and campers.

Two Javelina were wandering around the flat grassy area near the main gate of the Washington Ranch.

Gadwall # @Holloman Lakes

Teal, Cinnamon # @Holloman Lakes

Shoveler, Northern # @Holloman Lakes

Scaup, Lesser # @Holloman Lakes

Duck, Ruddy # @Holloman Lakes

Grebe, Eared # @Holloman Lakes

Cormorant, Double-crested 2 @Holloman Lakes

Vulture, Turkey @Carlsbad

Kestrel, American

@Mayhill area

@Percha Dam area

Coot, American # @Holloman Lakes

Plover, Snowy 5 @Holloman Lakes

Killdeer # @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Stilt, Black-necked # @Holloman Lakes

Avocet, American

7 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

1 @Holloman Lakes

Sandpiper, Least # @Holloman Lakes

Gull, Ring-billed 2 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Pigeon, Rock

# @Artesia

# @Alamogordo

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Percha Dam area

Dove, White-winged

@Carlsbad

# @Rattlesnake Springs

@Holloman Lakes

@Percha Dam area

Dove, Mourning

@Carlsbad

# @Holloman Lakes

Woodpecker, Ladder-backed 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Phoebe, Black 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Flycatcher, Vermilion # @Rattlesnake Springs

Kingbird, Western 1 @Holloman Lakes

Vireo, Bell's # @Rattlesnake Springs

If you wait for a clear shot at one of these, you will wait a long time. Came in to drink at the spring just west of the pond.

Vireo, Cassin's 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Description: White pothook around the eye. Much yellow on the flanks. Two light wingbars.

raven sp.

@Carlsbad

# @Artesia

Raven, Common @Mayhill area

Swallow, Barn @Percha Dam area

Wren, Bewick's 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Thrush, Hermit # @Rattlesnake Springs

Robin, American

1 @Rattlesnake Springs

@Percha Dam area

Mockingbird, Northern # @Rattlesnake Springs

Thrasher, Brown 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Pipit, American 1 @Holloman Lakes

Warbler, Audubon's # @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Myrtle # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Chipping # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Vesper

1 @Rattlesnake Springs

1 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Sparrow, Black-throated 1 @Percha Dam area

Sparrow, Lincoln's 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, White-crowned

# @Rattlesnake Springs

Junco, Gray-headed # @Rattlesnake Springs

Junco, Oregon 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Cardinal, Northern # @Rattlesnake Springs

Pyrrhuloxia 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Rattlesnake Springs

Grackle, Great-tailed

@Carlsbad

# @Percha Dam area

Finch, House

# @Rattlesnake Springs

@Percha Dam area

2009-04-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

hummingbird sp. @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-04-14: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Siskin, Pine 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-04-18: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Siskin, Pine 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

2009-04-21: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Cowbird, Brown-headed @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: Heard bubbling call

2009-04-22: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Quail, Gambel's 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Crossing Bullock Drive near the MSEC building.

2009-04-23: NM: Socorro

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@Soc: Socorro

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Quail, Gambel's @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Near Fidel Center.

Vocalizations: "Watch-quail" call heard.

Oriole, Bullock's 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

First of the year.

2009-04-25: NM: Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF

@Bel: Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF

Phoebe, Say's @Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF

Kingbird, Western @Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF

raven sp. @Belen: Mesa Road x BNSF

2009-04-28: NM: Socorro

@Soc: Socorro

Phainopepla 1♂ @Socorro

End of Calle del Lago.

2009-04-29: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Nighthawk, Lesser 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

First of the year.

2009-04-30: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Blue-winged Teal; Whimbrel; Bonaparte's Gull; Franklin's Gull

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@SocCo: Socorro County

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Route

11:05, leave home.

11:25, enter refuge; 11:30, enter the loop, proceed to Flight Deck to look for Whimbrel.

12:25, start seasonal road.

12:45, on foot from Catbird Corner (where the seasonal road turns from eastbound back to northbound).

13:26, rolling again on the seasonal road.

14:20, leave the refuge.

Gadwall # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wigeon, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Blue-winged

1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Cinnamon # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shoveler, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pheasant, Ring-necked 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Pied-billed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Great # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Snowy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Ibis, White-faced # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Looks like the bird in the photo has a nice crayfish, which he slurped down just after this was taken.

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Killdeer # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Avocet, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Whimbrel 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

The fifth photo shows two birds; one is mostly behind a tree, but his wing is sticking out.

Sandpiper, Least # @Bosque del Apache NWR

dowitcher sp. # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phalarope, Wilson's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gull, Bonaparte's 5 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gull, Franklin's 4 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Description: All-black heads. Black wingtips with prominent white spots.

Gull, Ring-billed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Dove, Mourning # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Flycatcher, Gray 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Behavior: Pumps tail down, then up.

Phoebe, Black # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Say's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Flycatcher, Ash-throated 1? @Bosque del Apache NWR

raven sp. # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Northern Rough-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Bank 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Cliff # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Barn # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Verdin 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Because this was in some willows near the Flight Deck with a number of warblers, I tried to make this bird into a warbler. The rusty wrist (visible in the second photo) was my first clue that I was in the wrong family altogether. Still, it seems rather large-billed for a Verdin.

Mockingbird, Northern 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Warbler, Yellow-rumped # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Warbler, Audubon's # @Socorro County

Warbler, Myrtle # @Socorro County

Yellowthroat, Common 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Warbler, Wilson's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Towhee, Spotted @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Lark # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Song 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Tanager, Summer 1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grosbeak, Black-headed 1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

meadowlark sp. # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Finch, House # @Bosque del Apache NWR