Shipman's field notes, Jul 2015

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2015-07-05: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Bell's Vireo; Carolina Wren
2015-07-08: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch
2015-07-12: NM: Socorro County
2015-07-20: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh
2015-07-26: NM: Socorro County
Notable: Least Bittern; Burrowing Owl; Carolina Wren; White-crowned Sparrow

2015-07-05: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Bell's Vireo; Carolina Wren

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@SocCo: Socorro County

@road1: Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Goose, Canada # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Quail, Gambel's # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Pied-billed # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grebe, Western 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Boardwalk pond.

Both Clark's and Western grebes frequent this pond, but often they are all the way out at the north end, and separating them even with 10x binoculars from the Boardwalk is iffy. I took this shot and the one below of Clark's with the 600mm rig and wasn't sure if they would show enough to separate the species, but the photos are pretty clear. I hauled out the Questar and verified the ID: two Westerns, one Clark's.

Grebe, Clark's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Boardwalk pond.

See note under Western Grebe.

Cormorant, Neotropic 2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Great Blue # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Egret, Snowy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Green 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vulture, Turkey # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Hawk, Cooper's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Not a great shot, but I don't have many overwing flight shots of Coops.

Kestrel, American

1♂ @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

1♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

Coot, American # @Bosque del Apache NWR

This coot, moving slowly through a great floating mass of some reddish-brown vegetation, reminded me of woodcuts of sailing ships becalmed in the Sargasso Sea.

Killdeer 1 @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Sandpiper, Least 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

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

Dove, White-winged # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Dove, Mourning # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Roadrunner, Greater 1 @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Hummingbird, Black-chinned

1 @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

#♂ @Bosque del Apache NWR

The first photo shows a feature that is not easy to catch: the contrast between the black chin feathers, which never iridesce, and the purple iridescence of the lower gorget. These photos look like they were taken “in the wild,” but I was comfortably seated on a bench at the Bosque del Apache visitor center when I took them. These birds were waiting their turn at the crowded feeders nearby.

#♀ @Bosque del Apache NWR

In the last shot, note that the little darling is sticking her tongue out at me.

Phoebe, Black # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kingbird, Western # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Vireo, Bell's 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Description: Note that the upper mandible is a bit longer than the lower, and slightly decurved.

Vocalizations: The characteristic song I know so well from Rattlesnake Springs.

Although they are shown on the official refuge checklist as “occasional,” I can remember only one other record, from last summer, and I never saw that bird, just heard it from the depths of a thicket at Catbird Corner. This bird was uncharacteristically visible and cooperative.

Swallow, Cliff # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Barn # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Wren, Carolina 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Robin, American # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Mockingbird, Northern # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Thrasher, Crissal

1 @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

On Miera Road a short hop south of the entrance to the San Antonio dump, a narrow streambed crosses the road, and you can see a sign upstream warning people not to take ATVs there. The mesquites around here have always been one of my more likely spots for Crissal Thrashers.

All the photos show at least a bit of the brick-red vent color. The last photo shows the entire undertail and vent. The first photo was taken with my old 900m rig (manual focus), the rest with the new 600mm rig (autofocus).

2 @Bosque del Apache NWR

My standard advice for people who want to see a Crissal Thrasher is to drive the San Antonito – El Alto – Miera – Eleventh St. loop south of San Antonio, but there's always a good chance to see some relatively tame birds roaming around the immediate area of the Bosque del Apache visitor center restrooms. This bird and his friend were wandering around the bushes immediately west of the hummingbird feeders on the west side of the visitor center; note the drip irrigation line in the background.

Starling, European # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Phainopepla # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Yellowthroat, Common # @Bosque del Apache NWR

One hears these singing all summer all over the refuge. One rarely gets a look at them, though.

Chat, Yellow-breasted # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Lark # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Meadowlark, Western

# @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Vocalizations: Singing.

That last photo really cries out for a silly caption.

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Grackle, Great-tailed # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

The first photo shows the bird's nictitating membrane mostly pulled over the eye, but you can see a thin sliver of uncovered eye at the posterior edge. The second photo shows the eye uncovered.

Cowbird, Brown-headed

# @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

Finch, House # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, House # @Luis Lopez to Bosque del Apache NWR

2015-07-08: NM: Socorro: 507 Fitch

@home: Socorro: 507 Fitch

Quail, Gambel's 1♂ @Socorro: 507 Fitch

2015-07-12: NM: Socorro County

@NF: Magdalenas: North Fork

@SocCo: Socorro County

@WC: Magdalenas: Water Canyon

@WCRd: Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

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

Route

0625, leave Socorro.

0650, Water Canyon Road.

0710, Water Canyon.

0735, afoot at Group Camp, up North Fork road.

1030, turnback above the El Tigre fork.

1215, rolling.

Hawk, Swainson's 1 @US-60^W, Socorro to Water Canyon Road

Dove, Mourning # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Another direct comparison of the 600mm rig (first photo) and the 900mm rig (second photo) from the same position.

Roadrunner, Greater # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

hummingbird sp. 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Woodpecker, Acorn # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Flicker, Red-shafted 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Flycatcher, Gray # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Behavior: Dipping its tail frequently.

Phoebe, Say's

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

1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Flycatcher, Ash-throated # @Magdalenas: North Fork

In my view, any flight shot of a small passerine is a good shot, even a horrible one like this one.

Kingbird, Cassin's 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Kingbird, Western 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Vireo, Plumbeous # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Scrub-Jay, Western 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

raven sp. # @US-60^W, Socorro to Water Canyon Road

Raven, Chihuahuan 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Right at the junction of Water Canyon Road and US-60.

Raven, Common # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Swallow, Violet-green # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

On the wires right at the mouth of Water Canyon, near all the residences.

Swallow, Barn 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon

Nuthatch, White-breasted 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Bluebird, Western 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

The first photo shows the bird scratching indirect, that is, over the wing.

Thrush, Hermit 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Robin, American 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Mockingbird, Northern

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

1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Thrasher, Curve-billed 1 @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Vocalizations: 'whick-whick'

Warbler, Black-throated Gray 1 @Magdalenas: North Fork

Towhee, Spotted # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Not bad for ISO 16,000!

Sparrow, Chipping # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Sparrow, Lark # @US-60^W, Socorro to Water Canyon Road

Sparrow, Black-throated # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Grosbeak, Black-headed # @Magdalenas: North Fork

Meadowlark, Eastern # @Magdalenas: Water Canyon Road

Vocalizations: Call 'bzench'. Song 'tear-der' or 'tear-da-der'.

Sparrow, House # @US-60^W, Socorro to Water Canyon Road

2015-07-20: NM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

@TBM: Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Mallard # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

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

Egret, Snowy # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Egret, Cattle # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Coot, American # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Stilt, Black-necked # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

Blackbird, Red-winged # @Belen: Taco Bell Marsh

2015-07-26: NM: Socorro County

Notable: Least Bittern; Burrowing Owl; Carolina Wren; White-crowned Sparrow

@BdA: Bosque del Apache NWR

@Box: Socorro Co.: The Box

@SocCo: Socorro County

@TFWC: Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

@road1: Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Guests David and Karen.

Goose, Canada # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Mallard # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Duck, Ruddy # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Bittern, Least 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Second one I've ever seen. Thanks to Karen for spotting this bird perched in reeds a meter above the ground; I never would have scanned that area otherwise.

Egret, Cattle # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Heron, Green 10 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Can't remember ever seeing so many Green Herons in one lap around the Bosque.

Ibis, White-faced # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Kestrel, American 1♂ @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Sora # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vocalizations: 'whinny' call

Didn't see any of them well, but we saw two or three thrashing around in a flooded area off the Seasonal Road, and heard a number of their calls.

Collared-Dove, Eurasian # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Dove, White-winged # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Dove, Mourning # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Owl, Burrowing 1 @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Same location as last time, 34d 10' 22" N Lat, 107d 37' 58" W Long. On the Lion Mountain NW 7.5' topo, this is right by a well named East Chavez Windmill, and it is just west of the VLA North Arm.

Phoebe, Say's # @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

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

Swallow, Cliff # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Swallow, Barn # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Wren, Rock # @Socorro Co.: The Box

Wren, Canyon 1 @Socorro Co.: The Box

Vocalizations: One song heard briefly.

Wren, Carolina 1 @Bosque del Apache NWR

Near “Catbird Corner,” the second bend in the Seasonal Road.

Vocalizations: Sang once.

Robin, American # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Starling, European # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Yellowthroat, Common # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Vocalizations: Singing everywhere.

Chat, Yellow-breasted # @Bosque del Apache NWR

Sparrow, Lark

# @Bosque del Apache NWR

# @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

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

Sparrow, White-crowned 1i @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Description: Classic juvenile plumage, with a gold crown stripe between two rusty stripes.

Early return from breeding.

Meadowlark, Western 1 @Socorro Co.: Torstenson Family Wildlife Center

Vocalizations: Singing.

Just after I told my guests that any meadowlark out here was probably Eastern, the unmistakable complex song of the Western drifted in the car window.

Finch, House # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache

Sparrow, House # @Socorro to Bosque del Apache