Shipman's field notes, Sep 2009

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2009-09-01: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.
2009-09-04: NM: Socorro-Roswell-Carlsbad
Notable: Olive-sided Flycatcher; Lark Bunting
2009-09-05: NM: Rattlesnake Springs-Hobbs
Notable: Harris' Hawk; Ferruginous Hawk; Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; Rock Wren; Virginia's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler
2009-09-06: NM: Hobbs-Melrose Woods
Notable: Long-billed Curlew; Red-headed Woodpecker; House Wren; Painted Bunting
2009-09-07: NM: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Clovis
Notable: Black Phoebe; Red-breasted Nuthatch; House Wren; Orange-crowned Warbler; Townsend's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; American Redstart
2009-09-08: NM: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Socorro
Notable: Red-breasted Nuthatch; Townsend's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; Painted Bunting
2009-09-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.
2009-09-19: NM: Socorro
2009-09-26: NM: Socorro-Alamogordo-Socorro
Notable: Black Tern; Barn Owl

2009-09-01: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

Kingbird, Western

On wires at home, late in the day.

3a @Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

On wires at home, late in the day.

1a @Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

On wires at home, late in the day.

2009-09-04: NM: Socorro-Roswell-Carlsbad

Notable: Olive-sided Flycatcher; Lark Bunting

@BL: Bitter Lake NWR

@Champ: Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

@day: Socorro-Roswell-Carlsbad

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

@road1: Socorro-San Antonio

@road2: San Antonio-Carrizozo

@road3: Carrizozo-Capitan

@road4: Capitan-Salazar Canyon

@road5: Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

@road6: Lincoln-Riverside

@road7: Riverside-Roswell

@road8: Brantley Lake-Carlsbad

Route

11:05, leave Socorro via Luis Lopez and A-101.

11:35, US-380^W.

12:30, Carrizozo.

12:50, Capitan.

13:00–13:10, Baca Campsite and very little of Salazar Canyon.

13:20, Lincoln.

13:45, Riverside.

14:55, arrive Bitter Lake, drive the loop.

15:50, leave the loop.

16:45, Artesia.

17:10–17:25, Champion Cove Road.

17:40, arrive Carlsbad.

Gadwall @Bitter Lake NWR

Mallard @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, Blue-winged @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, Cinnamon @Bitter Lake NWR

Pintail, Northern @Bitter Lake NWR

Teal, American Green-winged @Bitter Lake NWR

Duck, Ruddy 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Pelican, American White @Bitter Lake NWR

Heron, Great Blue @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Snowy @Bitter Lake NWR

Night-Heron, Black-crowned 1i @Bitter Lake NWR

Ibis, White-faced @Bitter Lake NWR

Vulture, Turkey

@Socorro-San Antonio

@Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

@Lincoln-Riverside

@Riverside-Roswell

@Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

@Brantley Lake-Carlsbad

Hawk, Swainson's @San Antonio-Carrizozo

Hawk, Red-tailed

@San Antonio-Carrizozo

@Carrizozo-Capitan

@Lincoln-Riverside

Kestrel, American

@Socorro-San Antonio

@San Antonio-Carrizozo

Coot, American @Bitter Lake NWR

Killdeer 2 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Stilt, Black-necked @Bitter Lake NWR

Avocet, American @Bitter Lake NWR

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Socorro-San Antonio

Dove, White-winged

@Riverside-Roswell

@Bitter Lake NWR

Dove, Mourning

@Socorro-San Antonio

@Riverside-Roswell

Roadrunner, Greater @Bitter Lake NWR

Nighthawk, Common @Riverside-Roswell

Pine Lodge Road, not far west of the Bitter Lake refuge entrance.

Kingfisher, Belted @Bitter Lake NWR

Flicker, Red-shafted @Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

Flycatcher, Olive-sided @Bitter Lake NWR

Wood-Pewee, Western @Bitter Lake NWR

Kingbird, Western

@Socorro-San Antonio

@Capitan-Salazar Canyon

@Bitter Lake NWR

Scrub-Jay, Western

@Capitan-Salazar Canyon

@Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

raven sp.

@San Antonio-Carrizozo

@Capitan-Salazar Canyon

@Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

Crow, American 100 @Socorro-San Antonio

First of the season.

Swallow, Barn

# @Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

@Salazar Canyon-Lincoln

Sparrow, Chipping @Bitter Lake NWR

Sparrow, Lark

@Socorro-San Antonio

@Bitter Lake NWR

Bunting, Lark

# @Bitter Lake NWR

1 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road

Grosbeak, Blue

@Socorro-San Antonio

@Bitter Lake NWR

Grackle, Great-tailed @Riverside-Roswell

Finch, House @Bitter Lake NWR

2009-09-05: NM: Rattlesnake Springs-Hobbs

Notable: Harris' Hawk; Ferruginous Hawk; Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; Rock Wren; Virginia's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler

@Brin: Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

@CotDU: Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

@Eun: Eunice area

@Lea21: Lea Co.: Lea-21

@LeaCo: Lea Co.

@RS: Rattlesnake Springs

@WashRRd: Washington Ranch Road

@day: Rattlesnake Springs-Hobbs

@road1: Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

Route

07:35, turn off US 62-180 to Rattlesnake Springs.

08:15, on foot past the fence.

09:00, inside the fence.

11:05, leave Rattlesnake, quick look at Washington Ranch.

11:40, look at Cottonwood Day Use Area, new site.

12:20–13:10, explore a few miles north on Eddy-418 = Washington Ranch Road, turn around at the junction with Eddy-422.

14:15–14:30, Champion Cove Road, no birds.

15:00, leave Carlsbad on Loving Highway = NM-128. No birds at Laguna Grande.

15:40, enter Lea County, drive north from NM-128 a few miles on Brininstool Road, looking for the real Bell Lake, couldn't find it.

16:50, take Lea-21 north and then east to Eunice.

17:45–18:00, cemetery in Eunice, then north on NM-18.

Quail, Gambel's @Rattlesnake Springs

Turkey, Wild # @Rattlesnake Springs

Vulture, Turkey

@Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

@Rattlesnake Springs

Harrier, Northern 1ϕ @Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

Hawk, Harris' @Lea Co.: Lea-21

Hawk, Swainson's

@Washington Ranch Road

@Lea Co.

@Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

@Lea Co.: Lea-21

@Eunice area

Hawk, Red-tailed

@Washington Ranch Road

Description: White scapulars not evident.

@Lea Co.

Hawk, Ferruginous 1 @Lea Co.: Lea-21

Near the straight segment of Lea-21 that runs right into Eunice.

Kestrel, American

1♂ @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

1♀ @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

Dove, White-winged @Rattlesnake Springs

Dove, Mourning

@Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

@Lea Co.

Roadrunner, Greater @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Wood-Pewee, Western @Rattlesnake Springs

Phoebe, Black @Rattlesnake Springs

Flycatcher, Vermilion

@Rattlesnake Springs

@Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

Kingbird, Cassin's @Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

Kingbird, Western @Washington Ranch Road

Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed

@Washington Ranch Road

Near the intersection with Ballard Ranch Road.

@Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

@Lea Co.: Lea-21

Shrike, Loggerhead @Lea Co.: Lea-21

Vireo, Bell's @Rattlesnake Springs

Swallow, Cave @Rattlesnake Springs

Swallow, Barn @Rattlesnake Springs

Wren, Cactus @Lea Co.

South end of Lea County 21, right at the Jal-Loving Highway.

Wren, Rock @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Robin, American @Eunice area

Mockingbird, Northern

@Rattlesnake Springs

@Lea Co.: Lea-21

Thrasher, Curve-billed @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Waxwing, Cedar @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Virginia's @Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

Hopping around the mesquite near the restroom.

Warbler, Black-and-white 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Wilson's @Rattlesnake Springs

Chat, Yellow-breasted @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Cassin's @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Chipping @Washington Ranch Road

Sparrow, Brewer's @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Black-throated @Rattlesnake Springs

Bunting, Lark 100+ @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Tanager, Summer @Rattlesnake Springs

Tanager, Western @Rattlesnake Springs

Cardinal, Northern @Rattlesnake Springs

Pyrrhuloxia @Eunice area

Grosbeak, Black-headed @Rattlesnake Springs

Grosbeak, Blue @Rattlesnake Springs

meadowlark sp. @Lea Co.: Brininstool Road

Grackle, Great-tailed @Carlsbad-Rattlesnake Springs

Cowbird, Brown-headed 8+ @Washington Ranch Road

Oriole, Bullock's @Lea Co.: Lea-21

Finch, House @Rattlesnake Springs

Goldfinch, Lesser @Carlsbad Caverns NP: Cottonwood Day-Use Area

Vocalizations: 'tear-der'

2009-09-06: NM: Hobbs-Melrose Woods

Notable: Long-billed Curlew; Red-headed Woodpecker; House Wren; Painted Bunting

@Hob: Hobbs

@Lov: Lovington: Chaparral Park

@Mel: Melrose Woods

@Oco: Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Pep: Pep area

@TPot: Pothole 2.5 mi N of Tatum

@day: Hobbs-Melrose Woods

@road1: Hobbs-Lovington

@road2: Lovington-Tatum

@road3: Dora-Elida

@road4: Elida-Melrose

Route

09:55, Hobbs City Park, pretty dead.

10:40–12:30, Ocotillo Park.

13:00–13:15, Lovington, Chaparral Park, then continue north on NM-206.

13:50, brief stop at the pothole north of Tatum.

14:30, Pep.

14:40, Dora; NM-114 west to Elida. There is some interestingly wrinkled terrain on the midpoint of this road, roughly 33°56'N, 103°29'W, or around mile marker 11 (decreasing westbound); is this a continuation of the Caprock?

15:00, Elida, north on NM-330, then NM-267.

15:45, US-60 west.

16:00–17:20, at Melrose Woods.

Two hummingbird feeders were filled at Melrose, a small spherical one near the north fence, and a big cylindrical one a few yards southeast of the parking area.

duck sp. @Lovington: Chaparral Park

Description: Eclipse plumage. No reason they couldn't be Mallards, and there was a group of these separate from the more obviously domestic quackers.

Quail, Scaled 3 @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Kite, Mississippi 10 @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Hawk, Swainson's @Elida-Melrose

Hawk, Red-tailed

1i @Melrose Woods

i @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Hawk, Ferruginous @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Description: Tail white basally; distal half is dark.

Kestrel, American

@Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Dora-Elida

Killdeer 1 @Pothole 2.5 mi N of Tatum

Sandpiper, Solitary

@Pothole 2.5 mi N of Tatum

1 @Pothole 2.5 mi N of Tatum

Curlew, Long-billed 500 @Pothole 2.5 mi N of Tatum

A conservative count. There were probably more whose heads were not sticking out of the vegetation. The first photo is a wide-angle view; the rest are a left-to-right panorama. See also the photo under Solitary Sandpiper.

Pigeon, Rock @Hobbs-Lovington

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Hobbs

Dove, Mourning

@Hobbs

# @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Lovington-Tatum

@Dora-Elida

@Elida-Melrose

Roadrunner, Greater @Elida-Melrose

hummingbird sp. 1♀ @Melrose Woods

Woodpecker, Red-headed

1a @Melrose Woods

1i @Melrose Woods

Wood-Pewee, Western @Melrose Woods

Kingbird, Western @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed

@Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

@Pep area

Raven, Chihuahuan

@Dora-Elida

@Elida-Melrose

Swallow, Barn @Lovington: Chaparral Park

Wren, House 2 @Melrose Woods

Robin, American

@Hobbs

@Lovington: Chaparral Park

Thrasher, Curve-billed 2 @Hobbs: Ocotillo Park

Starling, European @Hobbs

Warbler, Wilson's @Melrose Woods

Bunting, Lark

@Dora-Elida

@Elida-Melrose

Bunting, Painted 1♀ @Melrose Woods

Description: Unicolored but back shows some blue-green iridescence. The pink bill didn't seem to fit the field guides, which show a darker bill.

A highly uncooperative skulker. Shoot it through intervening foliage or not at all.

meadowlark sp.

@Dora-Elida

@Elida-Melrose

Grackle, Great-tailed @Lovington: Chaparral Park

Sparrow, House @Hobbs

2009-09-07: NM: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Clovis

Notable: Black Phoebe; Red-breasted Nuthatch; House Wren; Orange-crowned Warbler; Townsend's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; American Redstart

@Mel: Melrose Woods

@day: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Clovis

@road1: Clovis-Melrose

@road2: Melrose-Melrose Woods

@road3: Melrose-Taiban-Melrose

Route

08:20, leave Clovis.

09:10, in Melrose.

12:15–13:00, drove a few miles west on US-60, as far as Taiban, then returned to Melrose.

15:25, left Melrose, back to Clovis.

Sometime between last night at 17:20 when I left Melrose and very early this morning when Oldenettel and others appeared, someone blew the more southerly hummingbird feeder into bits with a shotgun, and left an angry note implying that they did not care for birdwatchers.

Hawk, Swainson's @Clovis-Melrose

Kestrel, American @Melrose Woods

Wood-Pewee, Western @Melrose Woods

Empidonax sp. @Melrose Woods

Phoebe, Black @Melrose Woods

raven sp. 2 @Melrose-Melrose Woods

Raven, Chihuahuan 40 @Melrose-Taiban-Melrose

About 40 birds at Valley Sand & Gravel's Tolar Pit near Taiban.

Nuthatch, Red-breasted @Melrose Woods

Wren, House @Melrose Woods

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned @Melrose Woods

Thrush, Hermit @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Orange-crowned 1 @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Yellow 1♀ @Melrose Woods

The photo shows the distinctive undertail pattern, with a Y-shaped yellow feature reaching to the tail tip.

Warbler, Audubon's @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Townsend's 3-5 @Melrose Woods

At one point I had at least three in view at once, and two more had gone by just previously. Some of them were pretty tame; a bird right in the middle of the woods was too close for my lens to focus, maybe eight feet away.

Warbler, Black-and-white 1 @Melrose Woods

Redstart, American 2 @Melrose Woods

Warbler, MacGillivray's @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Wilson's @Melrose Woods

Tanager, Western 1♀ @Melrose Woods

Grackle, Great-tailed @Clovis-Melrose

Sparrow, House @Clovis-Melrose

2009-09-08: NM: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Socorro

Notable: Red-breasted Nuthatch; Townsend's Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; Painted Bunting

@Mel: Melrose Woods

@day: Clovis-Melrose Woods-Socorro

@road1: Clovis-Melrose Woods

@road2: Melrose Woods-Socorro

Route

06:10, leave Clovis, westbound on US-60.

06:50–09:30, in Melrose.

10:00, Fort Sumner.

10:20, Yeso.

11:00, Vaughn.

11:40, Encino.

12:20, Willard.

12:35, Mountainair.

13:25, Bernardo.

14:15, back to Socorro.

Vulture, Turkey @Melrose Woods-Socorro

Socorro County.

Hawk, Swainson's @Melrose Woods-Socorro

Hawk, Red-tailed @Clovis-Melrose Woods

Dove, Mourning @Melrose Woods-Socorro

Socorro County.

Woodpecker, Red-headed 1a @Melrose Woods

Raven, Chihuahuan @Clovis-Melrose Woods

Swallow, Barn @Melrose Woods-Socorro

Mountainair area.

Nuthatch, Red-breasted 1 @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Townsend's 1 @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Black-and-white 1 @Melrose Woods

Warbler, MacGillivray's @Melrose Woods

Warbler, Wilson's @Melrose Woods

I wish I hadn't left the camera set on ISO 1600 this whole time, but I had set it that way in the middle of the woods for some birds that were in deep shade. For this shot, though, there was plenty of light for ISO 200. Note the sparse dark crown feathers.

Bunting, Lark @Melrose Woods-Socorro

Yeso-Vaughn leg.

Tanager, Summer @Melrose Woods

Bunting, Painted 1♀ @Melrose Woods

meadowlark sp. @Clovis-Melrose Woods-Socorro

Encino-Willard leg.

2009-09-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

Thrasher, Curve-billed @Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

2009-09-19: NM: Socorro

@NMT: New Mexico Tech

@Soc: Socorro

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

Swallow, Barn @New Mexico Tech

Thrasher, Curve-billed 2 @Socorro: 507 Fitch St.

Behavior: Late in the day (19:30 MST), one calling in my orchard, while another stood motionless on top of the nest where this species bred this summer, as I exited my car five feet away.

Warbler, MacGillivray's @New Mexico Tech

In the bushes near the Tech Swim Center.

2009-09-26: NM: Socorro-Alamogordo-Socorro

Notable: Black Tern; Barn Owl

@Hol: Holloman Lakes

@day: Socorro-Alamogordo-Socorro

@road1: Socorro-Alamogordo

@road2: Alamogordo-Socorro

Route Purpose of the trip was the Oktoberfest held on Holloman AFB. However, I did get a quick look into Holloman Lakes.

Gadwall @Holloman Lakes

Shoveler, Northern @Holloman Lakes

Teal, Green-Winged @Holloman Lakes

Grebe, Eared @Holloman Lakes

Vulture, Turkey @Socorro-Alamogordo

Coot, American @Holloman Lakes

Killdeer @Holloman Lakes

Stilt, Black-necked @Holloman Lakes

Avocet, American @Holloman Lakes

Yellowlegs, Lesser @Holloman Lakes

Phalarope, Wilson's @Holloman Lakes

Tern, Black @Holloman Lakes

Owl, Barn @Alamogordo-Socorro

A few miles north of Tularosa at 20:00MDT.

Behavior: Flushed from the highway shoulder.

raven sp. @Socorro-Alamogordo

Sparrow, Savannah @Holloman Lakes