Shipman's field notes, Oct 2009

How to read Shipman's field notes

2009-10-02: NM: Socorro County-Sierra County
2009-10-03: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Ross' Goose; Sandhill Crane; Canyon Towhee
2009-10-04: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2009-10-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
Notable: Gray Catbird
2009-10-15: NM: Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake
2009-10-16: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Juniper Titmouse; Sage Sparrow
2009-10-27: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh
2009-10-28: NM: New Mexico Tech: Speare Hall
Notable: Juniper Titmouse

2009-10-02: NM: Socorro County-Sierra County

@Chap: Socorro: Chaparral Drive

@Esc: Socorro: Escondida exit area

@Harold: Socorro: Harold Drive

@TBay: Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

@day: Socorro County-Sierra County

Wigeon, American 11 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

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

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

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

Roadrunner, Greater 2 @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

Flicker, Red-shafted @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Phoebe, Say's @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

Kingbird, Western

@Socorro: Harold Drive

@Socorro: Chaparral Drive

Raven, Chihuahuan # @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

Wren, Rock @Socorro: Escondida exit area

Just north of the road that goes west from I-25, in stony slopes.

Vocalizations: 'tuh-weee' call

Thrush, Hermit @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Robin, American @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

Starling, European @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

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

meadowlark sp. # @Socorro: Chaparral Drive

Finch, House @Socorro: New Mexico Tech: Turtle Bay

2009-10-03: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Ross' Goose; Sandhill Crane; Canyon Towhee

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@EBLSP: Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

@RRR: Socorro County: Red Rocks Road

@SocCo: Socorro County

@a101: Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@road1: Socorro County: San Antonio-Bosque del Apache

Route

10:15–11:10, Socorro-Bosque refuge. Worked the Marsh Loop, walked out on the Boardwalk and scoped the pond, then worked the Farm Loop, doing the center road both ways twice.

11:10–14:00, Bosque refuge, then south on I-25. Trying to find North Monticello Point but I had bad directions and hadn't done my map homework. Mapped all kinds of roads around South Monticello Point and various freeway exits.

Goose, Ross' 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Description: Small compared to adjacent Canada Geese. Head round, bill more like a 45-degree triangle than a 30-60, no black grinning patch, small khaki-colored triangle on the sides.

Scoped at about 150 yards with the Questar 3.5" at about 90x.

Goose, Canada # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gadwall @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wigeon, American @Bosque del Apache NWR

Mallard @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shoveler, Northern @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Green-Winged @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ring-necked # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pheasant, Ring-necked 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Aechmophorus sp. # @Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

Scoped way out on the lake, at least a few score.

Grebe, Western 4 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Clark's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

cormorant sp. 1 @Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

Cormorant, Neotropic 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Great Blue 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Snowy @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vulture, Turkey @Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

Harrier, Northern @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed

1i @Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

1i @Bosque del Apache NWR

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kestrel, American @Bosque del Apache NWR

Coot, American @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

First of the fall.

dowitcher sp. # @Bosque del Apache NWR

The southernmost pond visible from NM-1.

A small flock, at least ten.

Gull, Ring-billed 2 @Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

Near the old South Monticello Point boat ramp.

Dove, White-winged # @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Dove, Mourning

@Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

@Bosque del Apache NWR

Roadrunner, Greater @Socorro County: Red Rocks Road

Flicker, Northern @Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shrike, Loggerhead @Socorro County: San Antonio-Bosque del Apache

raven sp. @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crow, American

500 @Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

15 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Barn

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

Robin, American # @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Warbler, Audubon's 1 @Socorro County: Red Rocks Road

Not far west of NM-1.

Towhee, Canyon 2 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

I was headed out the back door with my camera rig, carrying some other equipment. As I opened the door, there were two birds on the bird bath a few feet away. Dropping the other equipment scared them away before I could get what might have been an amazing closeup.

Sparrow, Chipping # @Socorro County A-101 (Farm-Market Road)

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Brewer's # @Socorro County: San Antonio-Bosque del Apache

Finch, House @Sierra County: Elephant Butte Lake SP

Goldfinch, Lesser # @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-10-04: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Siskin, Pine 2 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-10-11: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Notable: Gray Catbird

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Catbird, Gray 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Description: Robin-sized bird, completely dark gray except black cap; did not observe vent area.

Watched for about 30 seconds on my birdbath through the back door at 5m range. Catbird records have been rather more frequent lately, but this is certainly a first for my yard!

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Siskin, Pine # @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2009-10-15: NM: Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

@Terry: Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

Wigeon, American 10+ @Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

Duck, Ruddy # @Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

Grebe, Pied-billed 1 @Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

Coot, American 150 @Socorro: NM Tech: Terry Lake

2009-10-16: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Juniper Titmouse; Sage Sparrow

@Soc: Socorro

@SocCo: Socorro County

@WC: Magdalenas: Water Canyon

@WCR: Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

@road1: Socorro-US 60 to Water Canyon turnoff

Route

11:00, leave Socorro westbound on US-60.

11:20, turn off on Water Canyon Road. Very slow, working the sparrows along the road.

11:50, in the canyon proper; on foot at the end of the pavement around 12:10, walking a half-mile or so up the canyon.

13:30, drive up Langmuir Road to Trail 13 head, then up the old North Fork Road to the Group Camp.

14:20, short walk upstream, just past the “gates” above the first stream crossing.

14:50, rolling back out, sat for a while right at the end of the pavement.

15:40, drove by the Kelly Ranch slowly.

15:55, back to Water Canyon Road.

16:25, US-60 back to town.

16:50–17:50, roads east and south of Socorro.

Butterfly note: Kaufman's Field guide to butterflies of North America calls it Arizona Sister; previously my notes have called it a California Sister. Perched on a Gambel's Oak.

Quail, Gambel's # @Socorro

Hawk, Red-tailed

1a @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

1a @Socorro

Pigeon, Rock # @Socorro

Collared-Dove, Eurasian # @Socorro

Sapsucker, Red-naped 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Socorro

Jay, Steller's 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Scrub-Jay, Western 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

raven sp. 2 @Socorro-US 60 to Water Canyon turnoff

Raven, Chihuahuan # @Socorro

Not in focus, but note the feathering extending more than half the length of the upper mandible.

Raven, Common 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Vocalizations: Low croaks heard.

Titmouse, Juniper 2 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Nuthatch, White-breasted 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Creeper, Brown 2 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Commonest bird in the canyon today. Quite challenging to photograph, since they seldom sit still for long.

Bluebird, Western # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Bluebird, Mountain 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Robin, American # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Starling, European # @Socorro

Warbler, Audubon's

# @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Behavior: Several dozen were assiduously crawling over the leggy sunflowers along the road.

# @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Sparrow, Chipping # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Sparrow, Sage 2 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

On the fence, closer to the US-60 end of the road than to the canyon.

Sparrow, Lincoln's 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Behavior: Poking around the dry creek bed.

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Junco, Dark-eyed # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Junco, Gray-headed # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

One of my better junco photos. Stopping down to f/11 really helps the depth of field.

Junco, Oregon # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Junco, Pink-sided 2 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Blackbird, Red-winged 20 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Behavior: In a tight flock, apparently feeding on sunflowers.

Meadowlark, Western # @Socorro

Vocalizations: By song, fields near Hope Farms Road.

Siskin, Pine

# @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

# @Socorro

Goldfinch, American 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Behavior: Feeding on the small orange flowers along the road.

2009-10-27: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

@TBM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

On the east side of Don Felipe Road, just south of Business I-25.

teal sp. # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Gadwall # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Mallard # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Shoveler, Northern # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Duck, Ruddy # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Harrier, Northern 1ϕ @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Behavior: Feeding in tall grass.

Coot, American # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Meadowlark, Western # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

2009-10-28: NM: New Mexico Tech: Speare Hall

Notable: Juniper Titmouse

@nmt: New Mexico Tech: Speare Hall

Titmouse, Juniper 1 @New Mexico Tech: Speare Hall

Not new to my office window list; seen previously 2006-10-03.