Shipman's field notes, Nov 2012

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2012-11-03: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Dunlin; Eastern Bluebird; Slate-colored Fox Sparrow
2012-11-06: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2012-11-08: NM: Socorro
2012-11-10: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2012-11-16: NM: Bosque del Apache NWR
2012-11-17: NM: Bosque del Apache NWR
Notable: Eastern Phoebe
2012-11-25: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Northern Shrike; Western Scrub-Jay

2012-11-03: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Dunlin; Eastern Bluebird; Slate-colored Fox Sparrow

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@JOWR: Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

@Soc: Socorro

@SocCo: Socorro County

@road1: Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

@road2: San Antonio: Miera Road

Goose, Blue # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, white Snow # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, Ross' # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gadwall # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wigeon, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Mallard # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Cinnamon # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shoveler, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pintail, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ring-necked 1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Quail, Gambel's # @Socorro

Grebe, Eared 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Extreme southwest corner of the Display Pond, the flooded unit where the Flight Deck is located.

Grebe, Western 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

The last photo shows the grebe in what Leonard Compagno dubbed the “tape dispenser” posture. For distant birds this posture makes it nearly impossible to determine the species. Fortunately this bird pulled his head out.

Heron, Great Blue 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Eagle, Bald 1a @Bosque del Apache NWR

Harrier, Northern 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed

1a @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

1a @Bosque del Apache NWR

Description: Dark phase.

Kestrel, American 1♀ @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Killdeer # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

One of the birds was missing a leg. It continued to hop along on the other one, feeding actively. Good luck, fella.

Dunlin 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Thanks to Celestyn Brozek who found two here the previous day and was kind enough to let the hotline know.

Dowitcher, Long-billed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Snipe, Wilson's 5 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gull, Ring-billed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

At the last remnant of the Boardwalk Pond.

Collared-Dove, Eurasian # @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Dove, White-winged # @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Dove, Mourning # @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Socorro

Woodpecker, Ladder-backed

1♂ @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

1♀ @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Shrike, Loggerhead 1 @San Antonio: Miera Road

Scrub-Jay, Western

3 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Near NM-1 between the headquarters and the north refuge boundary.

Crow, American 100 @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Raven, Chihuahuan @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Nuthatch, White-breasted 1 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Bluebird, Eastern 2 @Socorro Co. A-101: Luis Lopez to US-380

Warbler, Audubon's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Slate-colored Fox 1 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

A cooperative stakeout bird.

Sparrow, White-throated 1 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Sparrow, White-crowned @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

i @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

i @Bosque del Apache NWR

This immature bird shows the golden color in the forecrown that gave me so much trouble in California telling this species from Golden-crowned Sparrow. This color is always between rufous stripes, never between black stripes like in the Golden-crowned.

Junco, Pink-sided 1 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Pyrrhuloxia 1 @San Antonio: Miera Road

Blackbird, Red-winged

# @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Meadowlark, Western 1 @Luis Lopez: Oldenettel Wildlife Refuge

Near the bend at the NE corner of A-101.

Vocalizations: By song.

Finch, House # @Socorro

2012-11-06: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2012-11-08: NM: Socorro

@Soc: Socorro

Observed a Gray Fox near the end of Calle de Lago around 2230 MST. Fine-looking adult.

2012-11-10: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2012-11-16: NM: Bosque del Apache NWR

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

Route Interpreter duty on the Marsh Deck 1200-1600. Afterwards drove around the loop including the new Intermittent Road that branches off the North Loop at its northeast corner and meanders around the north end of the refuge, rejoining the North Loop before the blind.

Goose, Snow # @Bosque del Apache NWR

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

Pintail, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Green-Winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Eared 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Harrier, Northern #i @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Eagle, Golden 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Black 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crow, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pipit, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

2012-11-17: NM: Bosque del Apache NWR

Notable: Eastern Phoebe

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

Route Interpreter duty on the Chupadera Deck 1200-1600. I couldn't answer this common question at the time, but apparently Chupadera means “hummingbird.”

Teal, Cinnamon # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Canvasback 1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead

1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

2♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Great Blue 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Eagle, Bald 1a @Bosque del Apache NWR

Harrier, Northern

1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

#i @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kestrel, American 1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Killdeer 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Black 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Eastern 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crow, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Raven, Chihuahuan 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Song 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Junco, Dark-eyed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

2012-11-25: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Northern Shrike; Western Scrub-Jay

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@SocCo: Socorro County

@road1: Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

Route

1230, Luis Lopez.

1305, at the refuge.

1330-1520, hiked the so-called Marsh Overlook Trail clockwise from the Boardwalk. More like the Mud Overlook trail, as they have drained the entire area inside this trail. They're just starting to put water back in Boardwalk pond; at the moment it covers maybe 15% of the mudflat there.

1520-1650, drove the South Loop and bailde out around sundown.

Missed Not a single Gadwall today, and several missing divers: Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, and Canvasback.

Found a beehive embedded in the cliff face at the south end of the trail, just packed with honeycombs and bees.

Goose, Blue # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, white Snow # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, Ross' # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, Canada # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wigeon, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Mallard # @Bosque del Apache NWR

The photo of the drake shows a double highlight in the eye: one for the direct sun, one for its reflection in the water.

Shoveler, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pintail, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

By far the most numerous puddle duck, with numbers far beyond the sum of all other dabblers.

Teal, American Green-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Scaup, Lesser

1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Pied-billed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Eared 3 @Bosque del Apache NWR

The red light of late afternoon really lights up the red eye of this beast.

Heron, Great Blue # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Harrier, Northern 1♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed

1i @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

Darker than usual, but not a true dark-phase bird.

2a @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

2a @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kestrel, American

1 @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Killdeer # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Yellowlegs, Greater 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

In the east end of the large flooded unit just west of the Old Rookery at the east end of the center road.

Dowitcher, Long-billed 3 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gull, Ring-billed 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

One of the large flooded units north of the center road at about that road's midpoint.

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Say's

1 @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shrike, Loggerhead 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shrike, Northern @Socorro County

Description: Compared to Loggerhead, black mask is narrower behind the eye and does not extend before or above the eye. White superciliary. Basal half of the bill is a pale horn color, and the hook at the end is longer. Fine scalloped barring on the underparts.

Scrub-Jay, Western 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Near the south end of the Marsh Overlook Trail.

Crow, American

# @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Wren, Marsh 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

It's been a long time since I've seen or even heard one of these! I had to play back the call to make sure I had it right; at that point I put it down as IV (Identified by Voice). Then by virtue of sitting around for a while I got some looks at it.

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Song 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vocalizations: By its 'beerp' call.

Sparrow, White-crowned

# @Socorro Co. A-101, NM-1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

meadowlark sp. 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Finch, House 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR