Shipman's field notes, Aug 2012

How to read Shipman's field notes

2012-08-05: NM: Socorro County: Nogal-Box-Bosque del Apache
2012-08-09: NM: Albuquerque
2012-08-11: NM: Socorro
2012-08-11: NM: Magdalenas: Copper Canyon
2012-08-17: NM: Socorro-Clovis
Notable: Orchard Oriole
2012-08-18: NM: Clovis to Carlsbad
Notable: Red-eyed Vireo
2012-08-19: NM: Carlsbad-Roswell-Socorro
Notable: Louisiana Waterthrush
2012-08-25: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Bell's Vireo
2012-08-27: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh
2012-08-29: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2012-08-31: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

2012-08-05: NM: Socorro County: Nogal-Box-Bosque del Apache

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@NB: Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

@SocCo: Socorro County: Nogal-Box-Bosque del Apache

@WG: Socorro Co.: Nogal Canyon: Walnut grove

Same one I worked on 1985-05-17 and last week.

@road1: Luis Lopez-San Antonio

Route

0800, pick up John Bertrand in Luis Lopez.

0900, out of the slot canyon, worked the walnut grove on foot.

1050-1205, drive back to Luis Lopez; lunch at the San Antonio Crane.

1315-1610, Bosque del Apache: South Loop (formerly known as the Marsh Loop) and the Seasonal Road.

Goose, Canada 140 @Bosque del Apache NWR

All in one group, grazing in the middle of a unit.

Quail, Gambel's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Western # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Boardwalk pond.

Grebe, Clark's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Boardwalk pond.

The photo shows the Clark's on the left and the Western on the right. Note how the lower margin of the dark on the Western's face angles down to the bill much further back, while on the Clark's it turns sharply just anterior to the eye. I doubt that the differences in neck or body color are diagnostic, and they may be due to lighting (the birds were backlit).

Cormorant, Neotropic 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Great Blue # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Snowy 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Green 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Night-Heron, Black-crowned 1i @Bosque del Apache NWR

The “rookery” at the east end of the center road.

The long thin spots on the folded wing indicate this species, not the tiny round spots seen on immatures of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. The last photo shows the flat pale tan primaries, proving that it is not a bittern.

Vulture, Turkey # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Hawk, Red-tailed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Ferruginous 1 @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Feeding on a small mammal.

Kestrel, American 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sora 1[fide unknown] @Bosque del Apache NWR

While peering at the clumps of cattails on the east side of the first section of the seasonal road, I was chatting with a lady about how this was the ideal time of year and location to see young Soras that were old enough to move around but not old enough to be wary. I left, but later she told me she had indeed seen one there.

Coot, American 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sandpiper, Spotted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Dove, Mourning # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Nighthawk, Common 1 @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Woodpecker, Ladder-backed @Socorro Co.: Nogal Canyon: Walnut grove

1♂ @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

1♀ @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Phoebe, Black 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kingbird, Cassin's 1 @Socorro Co.: Nogal Canyon: Walnut grove

Kingbird, Western # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Scrub-Jay, Western 2 @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

One near the walnut grove; another west of the BLM sign marking the midpoint of the route.

Swallow, Barn # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wren, Rock # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Catbird, Gray 3+ @Bosque del Apache NWR

We call it Catbird Corner for good reason: right where the seasonal road turns from eastbound to northbound.

Vocalizations: 'rayer'; heard only.

Mockingbird, Northern

# @Luis Lopez-San Antonio

# @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Phainopepla 1 @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Warbler, Virginia's 2 @Socorro Co.: Nogal Canyon: Walnut grove

Yellowthroat, Common 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Chat, Yellow-breasted # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Chipping 1a @Bosque del Apache NWR

Walnut grove.

Description: Adult with solid rusty cap, pale gray superciliary, strong dark eyeline.

Sparrow, Black-throated # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Grosbeak, Black-headed # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

Grosbeak, Blue

1♂ @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

1♀ @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

I was fascinated by the detail in the feather patterns around the vent and tail.

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Luis Lopez-San Antonio

Oriole, Bullock's 1♀ @Socorro Co.: Nogal Canyon: Walnut grove

Finch, House # @Socorro Co.: San Antonio-Nogal Canyon-Box Canyon

2012-08-09: NM: Albuquerque

@ABQ: Albuquerque

Crow, American @Albuquerque

On Garfield near Columbia.

First of the year.

2012-08-11: NM: Socorro

@Soc: Socorro

Dove, Inca @Socorro

On Neel Avenue near Houghton.

Vocalizations: By call: 'cow-cook'

2012-08-11: NM: Magdalenas: Copper Canyon

@Cop: Magdalenas: Copper Canyon

Redstart, Painted [fide Josef Brown] @Magdalenas: Copper Canyon

Josef is a relatively inexperienced birder, but we discussed the field marks, and he eliminated any other possibilities.

2012-08-17: NM: Socorro-Clovis

Notable: Orchard Oriole

@Mel: Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

@day: Socorro-Clovis

@road1: Bernardo to Abo

@road2: Abo to Mountainair

@road3: Mountainair to Willard

@road4: Willard to Encino

@road5: Vaughn to DeBaca County

@road6: US 60^E, DeBaca County line to Fort Sumner

@road7: US 60^E, Fort Sumner to Taiban

Route

Leave Socorro 1145, US 60^E.

1535–1810, in Melrose Woods.

Vulture, Turkey

# @Bernardo to Abo

@Willard to Encino

# @US 60^E, DeBaca County line to Fort Sumner

Hawk, Red-tailed 1 @US 60^E, DeBaca County line to Fort Sumner

Kestrel, American

1 @Bernardo to Abo

1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Collared-Dove, Eurasian

@Vaughn to DeBaca County

# @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Dove, Mourning

# @Bernardo to Abo

6 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Hummingbird, Rufous 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Woodpecker, Red-headed

1a @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

1i @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Wood-Pewee, Western @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Empidonax sp. @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

@Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Individual #1.

@Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Individual #2. Willow?

Flycatcher, Least @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

I sent these photos to several of my favorite experts, and the general consensus was Least. When I first saw the photos I was leaning toward “Western” because of the almond-shaped eyering, but the experts say it was nowhere near yellow enough. The small bill suggests Least.

Flycatcher, Ash-throated 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Kingbird, Western

@Willard to Encino

# @US 60^E, DeBaca County line to Fort Sumner

Vireo, Warbling 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

raven sp. # @Bernardo to Abo

Raven, Chihuahuan @Mountainair to Willard

Raven, Common @Abo to Mountainair

Swallow, Barn

@Abo to Mountainair

@US 60^E, Fort Sumner to Taiban

Mockingbird, Northern

@Mountainair to Willard

# @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Starling, European # @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Warbler, Yellow @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

♂ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

I called the pale streaky individual an Orange-crowned at the time, but the face is wrong. The eye is in a flat yellow field, but an Orange-crowned would have a broken eyering.

Sparrow, Cassin's 1 @Willard to Encino

Sparrow, Lark # @Willard to Encino

Bunting, Lark

1 @Bernardo to Abo

# @Willard to Encino

# @US 60^E, DeBaca County line to Fort Sumner

Tanager, Summer 1♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sibley says the warmer color on the female is characteristic of eastern birds. I haven't seen females in the Rio Grande Valley with this much warm color.

Grosbeak, Black-headed 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Bunting, Painted 1♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

meadowlark sp. # @Bernardo to Abo

Oriole, Orchard 1♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

2012-08-18: NM: Clovis to Carlsbad

Notable: Red-eyed Vireo

@Bit: Bitter Lake NWR

@Cheap: Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

@Mel: Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

@day: Clovis to Carlsbad

@road1: Clovis to Melrose Woods

@road10: Artesia: Atoka Road area

@road2: US 60^E, Roosevelt Co.

@road3: NM 267^S, Curry Co.

@road4: NM 267^S, Roosevelt Co.

@road5: NM 330^S

@road6: Elida Cemetery

@road7: US 70^W, Elida to Chaves Co.

@road8: US 70^W, Chaves Co. to Roswell

@road9: Roswell to Artesia

Route

0845, leave Clovis.

0915–1100, Melrose Woods.

1335–1500, Bitter Lake NWR.

1645–1740, agricultural areas south of Artesia in and around Atoka Road.

Quail, Scaled 2 @Artesia: Atoka Road area

The third photo shows a different individual with more blue color. Around Hobbs this species is colloquially known as “blue quail.”

Egret, Great # @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Snowy # @Bitter Lake NWR

Vulture, Turkey

@US 70^W, Chaves Co. to Roswell

# @Bitter Lake NWR

@Roswell to Artesia

Kite, Mississippi 1 @Clovis to Melrose Woods

Not far west of Clovis, right on US-60.

Hawk, Swainson's

1 @NM 267^S, Roosevelt Co.

# @NM 330^S

Hawk, Red-tailed @NM 330^S

Kestrel, American

1 @US 60^E, Roosevelt Co.

1 @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Plover, Snowy 2 @Bitter Lake NWR

Plover, Semipalmated # @Bitter Lake NWR

Killdeer

# @Bitter Lake NWR

# @Artesia: Atoka Road area

# @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

Stilt, Black-necked # @Bitter Lake NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater

# @Bitter Lake NWR

# @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

Yellowlegs, Lesser # @Bitter Lake NWR

Sandpiper, Upland # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Sandpiper, Western # @Bitter Lake NWR

Sandpiper, Baird's # @Bitter Lake NWR

Phalarope, Wilson's # @Bitter Lake NWR

Tern, Black 5 @Bitter Lake NWR

Dove, White-winged 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Dove, Mourning

# @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

# @NM 267^S, Roosevelt Co.

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

Nighthawk, Common 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Roosting and preening in a tree over a residence.

hummingbird sp. @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

My best guess is that it's a female Calliope, but the gorget pattern seems entirely different than the one I'm calling a Calliope.

Hummingbird, Calliope 1♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Woodpecker, Red-headed

1a @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

1i @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Wood-Pewee, Western # @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Empidonax sp. @Clovis to Carlsbad

Even calling this an Empidonax is guesswork. I really don't have any idea what it is. Maybe a young or leucistic phoebe or pewee?

Flycatcher, Ash-throated 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Kingbird, Western

# @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

@NM 267^S, Curry Co.

@US 70^W, Chaves Co. to Roswell

Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed 1 @US 70^W, Elida to Chaves Co.

Vireo, Red-eyed 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Description: Bolder face pattern than Warbling Vireo; dark line through the eye; light superciliary contrasts with darker cap.

State bird for me. I was lucky to get even this one photo. The bird was hiding inside the foliage of a large cottonwood and vanished just after I got this shot. Thanks to Jerry Oldenettel who told me where to look.

Raven, Chihuahuan

@NM 267^S, Curry Co.

@NM 267^S, Roosevelt Co.

Swallow, Cliff

# @Clovis to Melrose Woods

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Mockingbird, Northern # @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Vocalizations: 'chup'/'whee' duetting, probably parent and nestling.

Warbler, Wilson's 1 @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sparrow, Chipping # @Elida Cemetery

Sparrow, Brewer's # @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Sparrow, Lark # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Bunting, Lark # @NM 267^S, Roosevelt Co.

Near Elida.

Tanager, Summer # @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

Grosbeak, Blue # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Grackle, Great-tailed

# @Clovis to Melrose Woods

# @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Cowbird, Brown-headed # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Abundant at the dairy form just south of Atoka Road near Artesia.

Oriole, Orchard 1♀ @Roosevelt Co.: Melrose Woods

2012-08-19: NM: Carlsbad-Roswell-Socorro

Notable: Louisiana Waterthrush

@Bit: Bitter Lake NWR

@Cheap: Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

@RS: Rattlesnake Springs

@WR: Washington Ranch

@day: Carlsbad-Roswell-Socorro

@road1: Carlsbad to Rattlesnake Springs

@road2: Rattlesnake Springs to Carlsbad

@road3: Artesia: Atoka Road area

@road4: Roswell to Bitter Lake NWR

Route

0800, leave Carlsbad.

0835-1300, Rattlesnake Springs.

1445-1530, agricultural areas south of Artesia in and around Atoka Road.

1625-1725, Bitter Lake NWR.

Shoveler, Northern # @Bitter Lake NWR

Turkey, Wild 15 @Rattlesnake Springs

Heron, Great Blue # @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Great

# @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Egret, Snowy

# @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Heron, Green 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Ibis, White-faced # @Bitter Lake NWR

Vulture, Turkey # @Carlsbad to Rattlesnake Springs

Plover, Semipalmated # @Bitter Lake NWR

Stilt, Black-necked # @Bitter Lake NWR

Avocet, American # @Bitter Lake NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater # @Bitter Lake NWR

Yellowlegs, Lesser # @Bitter Lake NWR

The last photo shows how easy it is to key out these two species when they are together. It is solitary birds that are problematic. I look at the bill. For a Lesser, the bill is straight and shorter than 120% of the extension of the gape line to the back of the head. Greaters have a decurved bill that is longer than 120% of that line.

Sandpiper, Upland # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Sandpiper, Western # @Bitter Lake NWR

Sandpiper, Least # @Bitter Lake NWR

Last two photos shows size difference vs. Baird's.

Sandpiper, Baird's # @Bitter Lake NWR

Gull, Ring-billed

2a @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

2 @Bitter Lake NWR

Tern, Black 3 @Bitter Lake NWR

Pigeon, Rock # @Roswell to Bitter Lake NWR

Dove, White-winged # @Rattlesnake Springs

Dove, Mourning

# @Carlsbad to Rattlesnake Springs

# @Brantley Lake: Champion Cove Road (Cheapskate)

# @Roswell to Bitter Lake NWR

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Rattlesnake Springs to Carlsbad

Nighthawk, Common 1 @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Roosting and preening on a wire off US-285 south of Artesia.

Flycatcher, Vermilion 1♀ @Rattlesnake Springs

A good quiz photo: not much to go on!

Kingbird, Cassin's # @Rattlesnake Springs

Kingbird, Western # @Rattlesnake Springs

Vireo, Bell's 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Swallow, Tree 1 @Bitter Lake NWR

Swallow, Cliff

# @Rattlesnake Springs

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Swallow, Cave # @Rattlesnake Springs

Swallow, Barn

# @Rattlesnake Springs

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Mockingbird, Northern # @Rattlesnake Springs

Warbler, Yellow # @Rattlesnake Springs

Waterthrush, Louisiana 1 @Rattlesnake Springs

Description: White superciliary stripe is wide and long posterior to the eye. Buff color on the flanks. Unstreaked throat.

Chat, Yellow-breasted # @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Cassin's @Rattlesnake Springs

Sparrow, Chipping

# @Rattlesnake Springs

# @Roswell to Bitter Lake NWR

Sparrow, Lark

1 @Washington Ranch

# @Roswell to Bitter Lake NWR

Tanager, Summer # @Rattlesnake Springs

Tanager, Western 1♀ @Rattlesnake Springs

Cardinal, Northern 1♂ @Rattlesnake Springs

Grosbeak, Blue

# @Rattlesnake Springs

The first photo shows the massive width of the bill.

# @Bitter Lake NWR

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Artesia: Atoka Road area

Oriole, Orchard 1♀ @Rattlesnake Springs

Finch, House # @Rattlesnake Springs

Goldfinch, Lesser # @Rattlesnake Springs

2012-08-25: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Bell's Vireo

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@SocCo: Socorro County

@road1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

@road2: San Antonio: San Antonito Road

Quail, Gambel's # @San Antonio: San Antonito Road

Cormorant, Neotropic 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Ibis, White-faced 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vulture, Turkey @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kestrel, American @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

Coot, American 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Collared-Dove, Eurasian @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

Dove, White-winged @San Antonio: San Antonito Road

Dove, Mourning # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kingbird, Cassin's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kingbird, Western

@Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

@Bosque del Apache NWR

Vireo, Bell's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

About 100 yards north of Catbird Corner (where the Seasonal Road turns back to the north), heard from behind the wall of willows and other vegetation.

Vocalizations: The same unmistakable twinned phrases I heard so often recently at Rattlesnake Springs.

Check sound recording #25 on the digital voice recorder.

Swallow, Cliff @San Antonio: San Antonito Road

Swallow, Barn

@Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

@San Antonio: San Antonito Road

Warbler, Wilson's @Bosque del Apache NWR

Chat, Yellow-breasted # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Chipping # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Tanager, Summer 1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grosbeak, Black-headed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Finch, House

@Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

@Bosque del Apache NWR

Goldfinch, Lesser @Bosque del Apache NWR

2012-08-27: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

@TBM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

duck sp. @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

teal sp. @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Killdeer @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Stilt, Black-necked @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Avocet, American @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

2012-08-29: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Thrasher, Curve-billed @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: 'whick-whick'

2012-08-31: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Warbler, Wilson's 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch