Shipman's field notes, Aug 2009

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2009-08-01: NM: ABQ-Las Vegas-Montezuma-Bandelier NM
2009-08-07: NM: Socorro-Bosque del Apache-Roswell-Carlsbad
Notable: Bufflehead; Juniper Titmouse; Painted Bunting
2009-08-08: NM: Carlsbad-Roswell-Tatum-Hobbs
Notable: Tricolored Heron; Upland Sandpiper; Black Tern; Yellow-billed Cuckoo
2009-08-09: NM: Hobbs area
Notable: Mississippi Kite; Blue Jay
2009-08-10: NM: Hobbs-Melrose Woods-Socorro
Notable: Sora; Marbled Godwit; Olive-sided Flycatcher
2009-08-12: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-08-20: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech
2009-08-22: NM: Socorro: Hope Farms Road
Notable: Solitary Sandpiper
2009-08-28: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-08-01: NM: ABQ-Las Vegas-Montezuma-Bandelier NM

@Band: Bandelier National Monument

@NNM: ABQ-Las Vegas-Montezuma-Bandelier NM

@UWC: Montezuma: United World College grounds

Flicker, Common 1 @Bandelier National Monument

Empidonax sp. @Montezuma: United World College grounds

Jay, Pinyon 1 @Bandelier National Monument

Raven, Common # @Bandelier National Monument

Swallow, Violet-green 1 @Bandelier National Monument

Nuthatch, Pygmy # @Bandelier National Monument

Common, active, and allowing close approach. Of course I didn't have my bird camera today.

Bluebird, Western # @Bandelier National Monument

Robin, American 1 @Bandelier National Monument

Sparrow, Chipping # @Bandelier National Monument

Finch, House # @Bandelier National Monument

Goldfinch, Lesser # @Bandelier National Monument

2009-08-07: NM: Socorro-Bosque del Apache-Roswell-Carlsbad

Notable: Bufflehead; Juniper Titmouse; Painted Bunting

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@Champ: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

@SAnt: San Antonio

@Sal: Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

@day: Socorro-Bosque del Apache-Roswell-Carlsbad

@road1: US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

@road2: Chaves Co.: US380

@road3: Chaves Co.: Roswell-Eddy line

@road4: Eddy Co.: US-285

Route

1100, leave Socorro, work Bosque refuge.

1400, drive to Salazar.

1535-1635, up Salazar Canyon past where I've been before. The gate about 1.5 miles in used to be posted but isn't now, although the GF ranch has a big sign advising respect for private property.

1830-1855, Champion Cove Road, thence nonstop to Carlsbad and the requisite great dinner at the Red Chimney Pit Barbeque.

A Phrynosoma horned lizard was on NM-1 north of refuge headquarters.

duck sp. @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Description: Smallish size, round head, very short and stubby bill, head dark with a broad transverse white stripe.

Turkey, Wild 1i @Bosque del Apache NWR

Half-grown youngster sneaking from one cool patch of shady undergrowth to another. Generally I see turkeys here either very early or late in the day; this one was moving around in the afternoon heat around 1300.

Grebe, Pied-billed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Western 3 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Clark's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Cormorant, Neotropic 4 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pelican, American White 42 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Great Blue 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Great 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vulture, Turkey

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

Hawk, Swainson's 1 @Chaves Co.: US380

Hawk, Red-tailed @US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

Killdeer 1 @Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

Stilt, Black-necked # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Avocet, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater 1 @Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

The only shorebird at this spot today, not surprisingly, since the shore was being battered by watercraft wakes about every thirty seconds.

dowitcher sp. # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phalarope, Wilson's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @San Antonio

Dove, Mourning

@San Antonio

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

@Eddy Co.: US-285

Roadrunner, Greater @Bosque del Apache NWR

Empidonax sp. 1 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Kingbird, Western # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Scrub-Jay, Western 2 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Raven, Chihuahuan # @US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

Raven, Common 2 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Swallow, Northern Rough-winged 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Cliff # @Bosque del Apache NWR

At least 98% of the swallows I saw on the refuge were Cliff, with one Northern Rough-winged and a scattered few Barn.

Swallow, Barn

@Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Chaves Co.: Roswell-Eddy line

Titmouse, Juniper 2 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Bushtit 20+ @Bosque del Apache NWR

One noisy flock at the very east end of the old "rookery" pond at the east end of the Center Road.

Bluebird, Western 2 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Bluebird, Mountain 2 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Mockingbird, Northern 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Chat, Yellow-breasted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Chipping # @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Sparrow, Lark # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Tanager, Summer 2♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Tanager, Western 1♂ @US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

Grosbeak, Black-headed

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

1 @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Grosbeak, Blue

@Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

Bunting, Painted 1i♂ @Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

Blackbird, Red-winged 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

meadowlark sp. # @Chaves Co.: Roswell-Eddy line

Grackle, Great-tailed

# @Chaves Co.: Roswell-Eddy line

# @Eddy Co.: US-285

Crossbill, Red 1? @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Goldfinch, Lesser # @Lincoln Co.: Salazar Canyon

Sparrow, House

@San Antonio

@US380: San Antonio-Salazar Canyon

2009-08-08: NM: Carlsbad-Roswell-Tatum-Hobbs

Notable: Tricolored Heron; Upland Sandpiper; Black Tern; Yellow-billed Cuckoo

@Art: Artesia area including ag fields to SE

@BLNWR: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

@Champ: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

@RS: Rattlesnake Springs

@WR: Washington Ranch

@day: Carlsbad-Roswell-Tatum-Hobbs

@road1: US 62-180 Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

@road2: Rattlesnake Springs-Brantley Lake

@road3: Artesia-Roswell

@road4: Chaves Co.: Bitter Lake NWR-Lea Co. line

@road5: Lea Co.: Chavez Co. line to Hobbs

Route

0950, Carlsbad to Rattlesnake Springs.

1035, mainly sat around near the pond at Rattlesnake, with one brief foray to the edge of the fence near the southwest corner of the picnic area.

1225, quick pass around the entrance to Washington Ranch.

1245, on the road.

1415-1440, Champion Cove Road.

1450-1615, drove around many farm roads southwest of Artesia looking for, and finding, Upland Sandpipers.

1615-1710, drive to Bitter Lake.

1845, leave Bitter Lake, head east on US-380, very brief and birdless stop at Waldrop Park.

Duck, Ruddy 1 @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Turkey, Wild 4 @Rattlesnake Springs

Just east of the Black River crossing on the way into Rattlesnake.

Heron, Great Blue # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Egret, Great # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Egret, Snowy # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Heron, Tricolored 2 @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

In the pond just northwest of the Pajaro Observation Blind, which is now open. Two birds seen together.

Thanks to the NMRBA, which placed them right at this location.

Ibis, White-faced # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Vulture, Turkey

@Rattlesnake Springs

# @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Hawk, Red-tailed

@Rattlesnake Springs

@Lea Co.: Chavez Co. line to Hobbs

Coot, American 1 @Washington Ranch

Cattail-lined pond to the left of the road into the headquarters building.

Killdeer # @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Stilt, Black-necked # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Yellowlegs, Greater # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sandpiper, Upland 23 @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Philip Johnson told me many years ago that this species was reliable in the first week of August in the fields southwest of Artesia. A typical location was along Fairground Road between Haldeman Road and Johnson Road.

The 103°F temperatures made photography difficult, especially over any great distance.

Phalarope, Wilson's 30+ @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Tern, Black 4 @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Pigeon, Rock

@Artesia area including ag fields to SE

@Artesia-Roswell

Collared-Dove, Eurasian # @Chaves Co.: Bitter Lake NWR-Lea Co. line

Dove, White-winged @Rattlesnake Springs

Dove, Mourning

# @US 62-180 Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

# @Rattlesnake Springs

# @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Cuckoo, Yellow-billed 1-2 @Rattlesnake Springs

Nighthawk, Common @Chaves Co.: Bitter Lake NWR-Lea Co. line

Perched on a fence just west of the entrance to Bitter Lake NWR.

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Flycatcher, Vermilion @Rattlesnake Springs

Flycatcher, Ash-throated 2 @Rattlesnake Springs

Kingbird, Western

@Rattlesnake Springs

@Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

# @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Vireo, Solitary @Carlsbad-Roswell-Tatum-Hobbs

One quick look at a gray bird with a pothook eye-ring.

Vireo, Bell's 2 @Rattlesnake Springs

Vocalizations: Identified by song.

Raven, Chihuahuan # @Rattlesnake Springs-Brantley Lake

Swallow, Cave # @Rattlesnake Springs

Robin, American 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Mockingbird, Northern # @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Wilson's 1? @Rattlesnake Springs

Chat, Yellow-breasted 1-3 @Rattlesnake Springs

Vocalizations: Call, an insistent single 'cheewp'. Also various astonishingly loud outbursts suggesting automatic weapons and small boiler explosions.

Sparrow, Cassin's # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Chipping # @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Sparrow, Lark

@Rattlesnake Springs

# @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

# @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

# @Chaves Co.: Bitter Lake NWR-Lea Co. line

Tanager, Summer @Rattlesnake Springs

Tanager, Western

1♂ @Rattlesnake Springs

3♀ @Rattlesnake Springs

Cardinal, Northern @Rattlesnake Springs

Grosbeak, Black-headed 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Grosbeak, Blue

@Rattlesnake Springs

@Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

meadowlark sp. @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Meadowlark, Western # @Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Vocalizations: Singing. Somewhat different than the songs of our Rio Grande Valley birds, but much closer than to Easterns.

Grackle, Great-tailed

# @US 62-180 Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

@Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate Point)

# @Chaves Co.: Bitter Lake NWR-Lea Co. line

Cowbird, Brown-headed # @Artesia area including ag fields to SE

Finch, House @Rattlesnake Springs

Goldfinch, Lesser # @Rattlesnake Springs

2009-08-09: NM: Hobbs area

Notable: Mississippi Kite; Blue Jay

@GML: Hobbs area: Green Meadow Lake

@Hob: Hobbs area

@Oco: Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

@Park: Hobbs City Park

Route

1000, work City Park. Drive to Green Meadow lake on the Lovington Highway (NM-18) around 1100.

1110-1225, work the margins of Ocotillo Park, a few miles north of town.

domestic goose sp. # @Hobbs area: Green Meadow Lake

domestic duck sp. # @Hobbs area: Green Meadow Lake

Kite, Mississippi

5 @Hobbs City Park

7 @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Conspicuous and active at both locations. In the city park, the roost tree is near the south center of the park area, a bit northwest of the Headstart complex. At Ocotillo Park, common and active near the entrance to Harry McAdams Park, and two in another location near the southeast corner of the golf course. Some immatures.

Hawk, Swainson's @Hobbs area

Killdeer # @Hobbs area: Green Meadow Lake

Pigeon, Rock @Hobbs area: Green Meadow Lake

Collared-Dove, Eurasian 3 @Hobbs City Park

Kingbird, Western @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Photo shows direct size and shape comparison with a nearby Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed 9 @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Jay, Blue 2 @Hobbs City Park

Raven, Chihuahuan # @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Mockingbird, Northern # @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1-2 @Hobbs area: Ocotillo Park

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Hobbs City Park

Sparrow, House # @Hobbs City Park

2009-08-10: NM: Hobbs-Melrose Woods-Socorro

Notable: Sora; Marbled Godwit; Olive-sided Flycatcher

@Mel: Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

@Oco: Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Tatum: Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Recent rains have left this sizeable pothole, just west of NM-206, with plenty of water.

GPS: 331738.5n 1031900.2w None

@day: Hobbs-Melrose Woods-Socorro

Route

10:30--11:00, brief look around Ocotillo Park.

12:00, stopped at the Tatum pothole for a few minutes.

14:00--16:45, worked around Melrose Woods.

Missed Ten minutes late to get a glimpse of the male Prairie Warbler in Melrose. Jerry Oldenettel saw it, and Jim Black got there just in time.

Egret, Great 1 @Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Ibis, White-faced # @Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Also documented in the photo above under Great Egret.

Kite, Mississippi @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Kestrel, American @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sora @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Heard only, grunting from cover in the northwest corner.

Avocet, American 10+ @Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Curlew, Long-billed 125+ @Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Godwit, Marbled 1 @Tatum: pothole 2.5 N

Dove, Mourning @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Flycatcher, Olive-sided 1 @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Wood-Pewee, Western

@Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Flycatcher, "Western" @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Flycatcher, Willow @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Kingbird, Western

@Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Vireo, Plumbeous @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Vireo, Warbling @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Swallow, Barn @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Robin, American @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Mockingbird, Northern @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Warbler, Yellow @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sparrow, Chipping @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sparrow, Lark @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Tanager, Western @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Grosbeak, Black-headed @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Grosbeak, Blue @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

meadowlark sp. @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Grackle, Great-tailed @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Sparrow, House @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

2009-08-12: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Thrasher, Curve-billed @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: 'whick-whick' call.

2009-08-20: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Warbler, Wilson's 1♀ @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Working around the big salt cedar by the stairs down to Speare basement.

2009-08-22: NM: Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Notable: Solitary Sandpiper

@Hope: Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Route This was going to be just a quick look to see if the sparrows were starting to move, but the field by the "Diagonal" had just been irrigated and was hopping with ibis and some shorebirds.

Ibis, White-faced 150+ @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Killdeer # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Sandpiper, Solitary 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Description: Roughly the size of a Lesser Yellowlegs. Head and shoulders plain brown. Complete, distinct white eyering. Bill about Lesser Yellowlegs length.

With the yellowlegs group. Flew before I got get a photo.

Yellowlegs, Greater # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Yellowlegs, Lesser 7 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Kingbird, Cassin's 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Kingbird, Western # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Swallow, Barn # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Starling, European # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Sparrow, Chipping 1 @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Sparrow, Lark # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

There were plenty of adult Lark Sparrows around. However, I'm not completely sure about the ID of any of these photos.

Bunting, Lark ? @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

This bird didn't look that different than the ones I was calling Lark Sparrows, but the white patch at the edge of the folded wing suggested Lark Bunting to me. I never did see whether it had a dark malar stripe, though.

Blackbird, Yellow-headed 30+ @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Grackle, Great-tailed @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

Cowbird, Brown-headed # @Socorro: Hope Farms Road

2009-08-28: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Kingbird, Cassin's 3 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

On wires over the alley.

Description: Two regrowing rectrices.