Shipman's field notes, Mar 2015

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2015-03-08: NM: Socorro County
2015-03-09: NM: Socorro County
2015-03-10: NM: Socorro
Notable: Common Poorwill; Pyrrhuloxia
2015-03-15: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Canyon Wren
2015-03-16: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
Notable: Pyrrhuloxia
2015-03-17: NM: Socorro
2015-03-23: NM: Socorro
2015-03-26: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech
2015-03-28: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Western Scrub-Jay
2015-03-31: NM: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

2015-03-08: NM: Socorro County

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@FMRd: Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

@SocCo: Socorro County

@Viejo: Bosque del Apache NWR: Rio Viejo Trail

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Route

1155, leave Socorro.

1210, Luis Lopez.

1330, Bosque refuge.

Three full-grown Javelina loitering on the west side of the North Loop just a few yards north of that loop's entrance gate.

The docents report a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers near the southeast corner of the eastern route of the South Loop.

First Mourning Cloak butterfly of the year.

Time hacks: currently the D300a body is set to MST plus about 1:50; the Fuji S1 is set to MST minus about 2:00.

Goose, white Snow # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, Ross' # @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

Teal, Cinnamon # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Shoveler, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Pintail, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Compared to some times when these ducks are by far the most numerous on the refuge, at the moment their numbers are rather thin. I was well around the South Loop before I saw any at all.

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

Canvasback # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Redhead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ring-necked # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Scaup, Lesser # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Cormorant, Neotropic 3 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed

3i @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1u @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

2a @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1a @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

The photo is what I've heard called “intermediate phase,” but I call it “red phase.” It's instructive to compare it with the dark phase Ferruginous photos. I've reduced the contrast in the flight shot, which shows the dark belly band better than it showed in the field. The tarsi are partially feathered in a flat red: compare the fully feathered, dark-barred tarsi of the Ferruginous.

Hawk, Harlan's 1a @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

As usual, along the southbound leg of Farm-Market Road not too far from the northeast corner.

This is a pretty dark bird below, although the photo doesn't show that well. The white tail with the dark gradient at the end is characteristic of Harlan's.

Hawk, Ferruginous 1a @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Another hawk identified after the fact when reviewing the photos. The pure white tail shows no trace of red on either dorsal or ventral aspect. The dark red barring on the tarsi is a Ferruginous characteristic even though it is less obvious compared to the darker feathering in that area overall. I have never seen a Red-tail whose head is this shade of gray.

Kestrel, American

1♀ @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1♂ @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Crane, Sandhill

# @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Stilt, Black-necked 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Dowitcher, Long-billed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Roadrunner, Greater 4 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Woodpecker, Ladder-backed 1♀ @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Rio Viejo Trail

Phoebe, Black 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Shrike, Loggerhead 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Raven, Chihuahuan # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Chickadee, Mountain 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Working the bushes hard by the main entrance to the Visitor Center.

Bluebird, Western # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Robin, American

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Rio Viejo Trail

Thrasher, Curve-billed

1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: Silent.

1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Vocalizations: Singing.

Phainopepla # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Warbler, Yellow-rumped # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Sparrow, Savannah 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Junco, Oregon 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Rio Viejo Trail

Junco, Pink-sided 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Rio Viejo Trail

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Finch, House # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

2015-03-09: NM: Socorro County

@NRAO: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

@SocCo: Socorro County

@TBM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Mallard # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Teal, American Green-winged # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Duck, Ruddy 1 @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Coot, American # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Killdeer # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Avocet, American 1 @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Chickadee, Mountain 1 @Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

2015-03-10: NM: Socorro

Notable: Common Poorwill; Pyrrhuloxia

@CdL: Socorro: Calle de Lago

@Soc: Socorro

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Poorwill, Common 1 @Socorro: Calle de Lago

Around 1935, I was driving west on Calle de Lago and the bird flew up from resting on the street.

Pyrrhuloxia 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2015-03-15: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Canyon Wren

@Box: Socorro Co.: The Box

Better known locally in the past as just “Box Canyon,” and according to Joe Martinic known more accurately in historic times as “One Oxcart Wide Canyon,” this site has been developed as “The Box” with signage to that effect at the US-60 turnoff. The swarms of rock-climbers here appreciate the good road in, the huge parking lot, and the two-room outhouse. Today I walked from the parking lot north all the way to the US-60 bridge and back.

@NF: Magdalenas: North Fork

Impassable to anything but an ATV or a rockhopper jeep due to washouts right above the Group Camp. If you can negotiate that, a bit further up there is a nasty spot where the road is not only sharply downhill but also tilted sharply to the left. I saw an ATV get around this on April 5 by going uphill.

@SocCo: Socorro County

@WC: Magdalenas: Water Canyon

@WCRd: Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

@road1: US-60^W: Socorro to Water Canyon Road

Route

1120, leave Socorro.

1140, Water Canyon Road.

1150, Water Canyon proper.

1210, afoot from the Group Camp up the North Fork “road”.

1315, turnaround, 34°01'47" N, 107°09'28"W.

1430, just leaving Group Camp.

1445, Water Canyon Road.

1510, The Box.

Mourning Cloak butterflies.

Swift, White-throated # @Socorro Co.: The Box

Woodpecker, Acorn 2 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Phoebe, Say's 1 @Socorro Co.: The Box

Jay, Steller's # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Vocalizations: 'kway^{3..6}' about 4/second.

raven sp.

1 @US-60^W: Socorro to Water Canyon Road

1 @Socorro Co.: The Box

Nuthatch, White-breasted 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Vocalizations: 'yatta^3'

Wren, Rock 2 @Socorro Co.: The Box

Wren, Canyon 1 @Socorro Co.: The Box

This is a big rock-climbing destination, and the wren was not ten yards from a climber.

Vocalizations: The characteristic descending roller-coaster song is, to me, always one of the sweetest sounds in nature.

I was hoping for three species – this, Rock Wren, and White-throated Swift – and was delighted to get the hat trick!

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Junco, Dark-eyed # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Junco, Oregon # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Finch, House 1 @Socorro Co.: The Box

2015-03-16: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Notable: Pyrrhuloxia

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: 'chuck chuck chuck' calls

Pyrrhuloxia 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Vocalizations: Singing!

Rare enough in my yard, I don't recall it singing before.

2015-03-17: NM: Socorro

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NRAO: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

@Soc: Socorro

Vulture, Turkey # @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

First of the year in the big roost at the southeast corner of campus.

Nuthatch, Red-breasted 1 @Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

Warbler, Yellow-rumped 1 @Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

2015-03-23: NM: Socorro

@NRAO: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

@Soc: Socorro

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Hawk, Sharp-shinned 1 @Socorro: 507 Fitch

Nuthatch, Red-breasted 1 @Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

2015-03-26: NM: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

@NMT: Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Chickadee, Mountain 1 @Socorro: New Mexico Tech

Just north of Fidel Center.

2015-03-28: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Western Scrub-Jay

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@FMRd: Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

@MVT: Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

@SAnt: San Antonio area

@SocCo: Socorro County

@TFWC: Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Signs discourage traveles from leaving the county road, so I couldn't get very close to the substantial pond near the center-pivot farming sites. However, I could see lots of waterfowl.

GPS: 341520n 1073820w Approximate center of the pond.

@road1: US-60^W: Socorro to Magdalena

@road2: US-60^W: Magdalena to VLA

Route

1055, leave Socorro.

1105, Luis Lopez.

1130, San Antonio.

1200, Bosque del Apache NWR.

1240, afoot on the Marsh View Trail.

1415, rolling.

1640, leave Socorro on US-60^W.

Goose, Canada # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Gadwall # @Bosque del Apache NWR

A few visible in the unscaled original.

Wigeon, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Mallard # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Blue-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Cinnamon

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Shoveler, Northern

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

# @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

At least one visible in the unscaled original.

Pintail, Northern # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Teal, Green-Winged # @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

A few visible in the unscaled original.

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

Canvasback 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Redhead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ring-necked # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Scaup, Lesser # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bufflehead # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Quail, Gambel's # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Pied-billed

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Intriguing food item.

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Cormorant, Neotropic 3 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Cattle 10 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Red-tailed

1i @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1u @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1a @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

1a @US-60^W: Socorro to Magdalena

Near Box Canyon.

Hawk, Harlan's 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Kestrel, American 1♂ @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Coot, American

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Barely visible in the unreduced original.

Stilt, Black-necked # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Dove, Mourning # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Phoebe, Black

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Phoebe, Say's

# @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

1 @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Shrike, Loggerhead 1 @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Scrub-Jay, Western 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

The embarrassment of Severe Remex Molt!

raven sp.

# @US-60^W: Magdalena to VLA

# @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Crow, American # @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Raven, Chihuahuan 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

Lark, Horned # @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Far and away the most abundant bird, often found in flocks of five or more.

Swallow, Northern Rough-winged 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Warbler, Myrtle 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Towhee, Spotted 1 @Luis Lopez: Farm-Market Road

House at the south end of Farm-Market Road.

Sparrow, White-crowned # @Bosque del Apache NWR: Marsh View Trail

Blackbird, Red-winged # @San Antonio area

Many immatures, silent, all in one nut tree at the midpoint of the southern extension of Farm-Market Road south of US-380.

Meadowlark, Eastern # @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Vocalizations: 'zeet' call.

Saw or heard maybe a handful.

Meadowlark, Western # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vocalizations: ID by song.

Grackle, Great-tailed # @San Antonio area

2015-03-31: NM: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

@NRAO: Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center

Nuthatch, Red-breasted 2 @Socorro: NRAO Domenici Operations Center