New Mexico Ornithological Society

Hotline for April 24, 2008

Hotline New Mexico
date: April 24, 2008
compiler Patricia R. Snider
Phone: 719-846-3174
Cell phone 505-803-1807
e-mail address pinyonjay@aol.com <mailto:pinyonjay@aol.com>

This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for April
24, 2008 sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society.
When phone numbers are given for private property, please call
before going to ask permission.

Highlights: White-tailed Kite, Horned Grebe, Baltimore Oriole,
Rufous-backed Robin, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher, Glossy Ibis, Worm-eating Warbler .

Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M.
Bird Finding Guide. Check for earlier reports at
www.nmbirds.org <http://www.nmbirds.org>
or in the archives of the AZ/NM listserve. For photos of
rarities and directions to some birding sites check
hometown.aol.com/borealowl.

For the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes please
send reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview
NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to sunbittern@earthlink.net <mailto:sunbittern@earthlink.net>.

Birds Mentioned and Counties:
* tells that there is new information on this species in this
report.

Horned Grebe (Bernalillo)
American Bittern (Chaves, Socorro)
Great Egret (San Miguel)
Cattle Egret (Chaves)
Green Heron (*Sierra, *Doña Ana)
Glossy Ibis (Socorro)
Hybrid Glossy X White-faced Ibis (Chaves)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Socorro)
Wood Duck (*Sierra, *Doña Ana)
Hooded Merganser (Sierra)
Red-breasted Merganser (*Sierra)
Osprey (Eddy, Sierra)
White-tailed Kite (Bernalillo)
Northern Goshawk (Grant)
Gray Hawk (Hidalgo, * Eddy)
Common Black-Hawk (Lincoln)
Broad-winged Hawk (*Doña Ana)
Ferruginous Hawk (Otero)
Peregrine Falcon (*Dona Ana)
Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Chaves, Roosevelt)
Wild Turkey (Cibola)
Montezuma Quail (Grant)
Black-bellied Plover (*Eddy)
Snowy Plover (*Socorro, Chaves)
Semipalmated Plover (*Socorro)
Black-necked Stilt (San Miguel, Chaves)
Willet (Bernalillo, Eddy, *Sierra
Solitary Sandpiper (Doña Ana)
Long-billed Curlew (*Socorro, *Sierra)
Marbled Godwit (Socorro, Chaves, Eddy, *Sierra)
Sanderling (*Sierra)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Chaves)
Western Sandpiper (Chaves)
Stilt Sandpiper (Chaves, *Socorro)
Long-billed Dowitcher (*Socorro)
Wilson’s Phalarope (San Miguel, *Socorro, Otero)
Red-necked Phalarope (Otero)
Franklin’s Gull (Socorro)
Bonaparte’s Gull (Eddy)
Herring Gull (Eddy)
White-winged Dove (Santa Fe)
Barn Owl (*Sierra)
Flammulated Owl (Otero, Roosevelt)
Spotted Owl (Grant)
Lesser Nighthawk (*Doña Ana)
Magnificent Hummingbird (Grant)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Santa Fe)
Rufous Hummingbird (Socorro)
Willow Flycatcher (Otero)
Gray Flycatcher (Hidalgo, Cibola, Bernalillo, Chaves,
*Sierra, Grant, Otero, *Doña Ana, *Eddy)
Dusky Flycatcher (Roosevelt, *Sierra)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Chaves, Otero)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (*Eddy)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Chaves, Doña Ana)
Gray Vireo (Hidalgo)
Cassin’s Vireo (Eddy, Sierra, *Doña Ana)
Bank Swallow (*Doña Ana)
Verdin (Sierra)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (*Sierra)
Townsend’s Solitaire (Grant)
Rufous-backed Robin (Sierra)
Cedar Waxwing (*Sierra)
Olive Warbler (Grant)
WORM-EATING WARBLER (*Eddy)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Grant)
Nashville Warbler (Roosevelt)
Virginia’s Warbler (Doña Ana)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Roosevelt)
Townsend’s Warbler (*Sierra)
Ovenbird (Roosevelt)
Wilson’s Warbler (*Doña Ana)
Red-faced Warbler (Grant)
Cassin’s Sparrow (*Chaves)
Black-chinned Sparrow (Grant)
White-throated Sparrow (Socorro)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Bernalillo)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant)
Bronzed Cowbird (Doña Ana)
Baltimore Oriole (Eddy)
Hooded Oriole (Socorro, *Doña Ana)
Scott’s Oriole (*Sierra)
Cassin’s Finch (Doña Ana, Socorro, Sandoval, *Santa Fe,
Bernalillo, *Sierra)
Pine Siskin (Doña Ana, *Eddy)
Evening Grosbeak (*Santa Fe, Sandoval)

In Sandoval County:
BV on April 20 at the north end of the Corrales Bosque saw up
to 12 CASSIN’S FINCHES and 21 EVENING GROSBEAKS.

In Santa Fe County:
JB on April 19 had in Santa Fe a BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD,
with a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at 8800 feet! RY also had many
EVENING GROSBEAKS and CASSIN’S FINCHES on April 22.

In San Miguel County:
At the Las Vegas Refuge at Brown’s Marsh JA on April 20 still
had dozens of WILSON’S PHALAROPES and BLACK-NECKED STILTS with
a GREAT EGRET.

In Roosevelt County:
at Milnesand the LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN population is reported
to be steadily growing. WR on April 20 was at a lek with 23 males and five females.
At the migrant trap west of RV, MH, and BT on April 20 found
a female BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and a male NASHVILLE
WARBLER.
They had a DUSKY FLYCATCHER in Boone’s Draw near Portales on
April 19. On April 20 there was a FLAMMULATED OWL while SC
had an OVENBIRD.

In Curry County:
At the Clovis Sewage Ponds be sure to tell them that you are
there to bird.

In Cibola County:
At the El Morro NM CJG had on April 19 three TURKEYS east of
El Morro.
On APRIL 19 at El Malpais NM there was several GRAY
FLYCATCHERS.

In Bernalillo County:
CW found the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW again on April 20 on the north side of the Alameda Bridge in Albuquerque near the
picnic area.
CW, MB, and NP discovered a WHITE-TAILED KITE on April 5 in
the area of the Open Space Offices. Drive on I-25 to south of
Rio Bravo. Go east on Bobby Foster Rd. Immediately after you
pass over the freeway turn left onto Los Picaros Rd. Go
straight on it a mile or two until you reach the Open Space
offices. On the left (north) side of the road is a frisbee
golf field. Scope the trees in this area as well as up canyon
(east) for it. JM saw it April 17, CP on April 18.
A HORNED GREBE has been on the parking lot pond at the Rio
Grande Nature Center. DH on April 11 found it and a GRAY FLYCATCHER on the Bosque Trail. BG reported it April 14.
JP on April 20 found four WILLETS at the Tramway Wetlands. CW
on April 20 found that due to the earlier dredging there was
lots of water and no mudflats.
HS at his Albuquerque home on April 16 saw an immature
CASSIN’S FINCH.

In Torrance County:
HS on April 16 had his first GRACE’S WARBLER at Tajique in the
Manzano Mts. There is a forest fire in the mountains going towards Manzano and Torreon.

In Socorro County:
At the Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio DC on April 8
had an AMERICAN BITTERN west of the Flight Deck. On April 19
he found ten WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the Seasonal Road, a
GLOSSY IBIS at the south end of the Marsh Loop. DG and LS on
April 19 found three FRANKLIN’S GULLS and a male RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD at the Boy Scout Deck. JP, WW, LL, and JO on
April 19 at the refuge found a SNOWY PLOVER at the Flight Deck
pond. On April 16 DC had five MARBLED GODWITS on the refuge.
DC on April 23 had the glossy ibis north of Audio Stop 5, the Snowy Plover, 12 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, two STILT SANDPIPERS, with high counts of 1109 WILSON’S
PHALAROPES and 518 DOWITCHERS.
JO at his home near Luis Lopez south of Socorro by April 15
there still were ten CASSIN’S FINCHES and the three
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. A male HOODED ORIOLE appeared on
April 16.

In Chaves County:
JSa on the Bitter Lake Refuge count of April 16 recorded a
PECTORAL SANDPIPER on Unit 6, four MARBLED GODWITS, a CATTLE
EGRET, two STILT SANDPIPERS, and an OSPREY, with high counts
of 247 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 624 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 82
SNOWY PLOVERS. Four AMERICAN BITTERNS were on Unit 6 and one
on Unit 15. RV, MH, and BT on April 19 saw a hybrid GLOSSY X
WHITE-FACED IBIS on Unit 16. They had a GRAY FLYCATCHER at
the headquarters, while on April 19 MH reported a male
VERMILION FLYCATCHER there. JH on April 23 had several
CASSIN’S SPARROWS at the Goose Hill Overlook.
CT on April 5 found up to 50 LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKENS in the
Mesacalero Sands leks near the Waldrop Rest Stop 40 miles east
of Roswell. JH on April 19 had 20 chickens at the lek, plus
four SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS in the rest stop area. MH,
SNC, AM and LG on April 19 had about 25 of the chickens.

In Lincoln County:
DB on April 13 reported a BLACK HAWK on US 70 between Ruidoso
Downs and Glencoe at the (former?) Fox Cave Restaurant area.

In Sierra County:
JS again saw the RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN at the Alamosa Creek
Nursery in Animas Canyon on April 12.
At Percha Dam Park DC on April 19 had a female HOODED
MERGANSER and a CEDAR WAXWING. On April 21 he had a
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER and a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. JL on April 21 saw
two WOOD DUCKS, a GREEN HERON, a CASSIN’S VIREO, and a male
SCOTT’S ORIOLE. He had a BARN OWL in the grove to the north.
Below Elephant Butte Dam at Paseo del Rio Park on April 14 JL
saw four WOOD DUCKS. DC on April 22 at the park saw an OSPREY
and a GRAY FLYCATCHER.
At Elephant Butte SP DC saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 12 MARBLED
GODWITS, eight WILLETS, and a SANDERLING on April 23.
At the damsite marina at the lake JL had a female RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER and the Osprey on April 16.
At the Lions Beach Campground DC on April 23 had three of the
gnatcatchers and a male TOWNSEND’S WARBLER.
DC at the Luchini Trail near the Elephant Lake h.q. had a
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER again. He had three on April 23.
DC has had a VERDIN at his home at Truth or Consequences.
At his home JL had a female CASSIN’S FINCH on April 21-22 and
CEDAR WAXWINGS.

In Grant County:
FL on April 17 had a male MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD at the
Spirit Canyon Lodge at Lake Roberts. FL had a SPOTTED OWL
near the east end of the lake on April 11 at night.
In the Burro Mountains south of Silver City on Jack’s Peak DG
on April 18 had an adult GOSHAWK, a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL, a
GRAY FLYCATCHER, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, a singing ORANGE-
CROWNED WARBLER, a male RED-FACED WARBLER, a few OLIVE
WARBLERS, singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS, and four YELLOW-EYED
JUNCOS.
The Hummingbird Festival at Lake Roberts has been canceled
this year.

In Hidalgo County:
In Guadalupe Canyon east of Douglas on April 5 JP, LL, WW, CW,
MB, and NP found two GRAY VIREOS singing, and two GRAY
FLYCATCHERS. Three GRAY HAWKS were in the NM part.
County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray)
Ranch. Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must
NOT go off the road.

In Doña Ana County:
KS and SH on April 19 at the Mesilla Valley Bosque SP found a
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (photos) just north of the visitor
center.
JN on April 23 saw three WOOD DUCKs, three GREEN HERON, a
PEREGRINE, two GRAY FLYCATCHERS, a CASSIN’S VIREO, 57 WILSON’S
WARBLERS, three BANK SWALLOWS at the Mesilla Dam with a LESSER
NIGHTHAWK in town.
JG on April 20 saw a dark morph BROAD-WINGED HAWK in Mesilla
Park.
LS and SWH on April 13 at La Mesa saw a SOLITARY SANDPPIPER in
a pecan grove.
On April 16 at her Las Cruces home LS had a HOODED ORIOLE and
a BRONZED COWBIRD. She still had the oriole male on April 21.
At his home in northeast Las Cruces DG on April 17 saw a
VIRGINIA’S WARBLER with 12 PINE SISKINS still present.

In Otero County:
At the Holloman Lakes near Alamogordo the lakes are open to
birding, but permission is needed from Holloman AF Base to
bird the Lake G area to the north.
JN on April 19 saw over 300 WILSON’S PHALAROPES with one
‘ratty’ male RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
On April 19 JN at the White Sands NM saw a male VERMILION
FLYCATCHER, a GRAY and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. On a pole just
west of the White Sands there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK.
SW on April 5 had a FLAMMULATED OWL at Alamos Spring on Otero
Mesa.

In Eddy County:
SW at the Loving Sewage Ponds on April 21 had a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
At Brantley Lake on April 19 MH, BT, and RV had WILLETS,
MARBLED GODWITS, a HERRING GULL, an OSPREY, and two
BONAPARTE’S GULLS.
SW at Rattlesnake Springs on April 13 had a GRAY HAWK (photo).
SW on April 22 found a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER and the Gray
Hawk. On April 22 DG had a WORM-EATING WARBLER near the
chinaberry grove, the gray hawk, SISKINS, and a GRAY
FLYCATCHER.
ReW on April 13 had a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE at their home in
Carlsbad.

Initials of Observers:

JA, Jan Arrott; JB, Jonathan Batkin; MB, Matt Baumann; DB,
Dedrick Benz; DC, David Cleary; SNC, Steve and Nancy Cox;
LG, Larry Gorbet; DG, David Griffin; CJG, C.J. Grimes; BG,
Bill Groll; JG, John Grove; DH, David Hawksworth; MH,
Michael Hilchey; SWH, Sue and Wally Hill; JH, Jeff Howland;
JL, Joe LaFleur; FL, Fran Land; LL, Lane Leckman; AM, Ashli
Maruster; JM, Jim Mosley; JN, Josh Nemeth; JO, Jerry
Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; CP, Cathy Pasterczyk; NP, Nick Pederson; WR, Wes Robertson; JSa, Jeff Sanchez; LS,
Lorraine Schulte; HS, Hart Schwarz; JS, Jacob Spendelow;
KS, Ken Stinnett; BT, Bill Talbot; CT, Christopher Taylor;
RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BV, Brad Vaughn; RW, Renee West;
SW, Steve West; WW, Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf;
RY, Rob Yaksich.

Field Trips:

Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. May
1 is to the Coronado State Monument at Bernalillo with Lannois
Neely, 890-7881, on May 15 to Hondo Canyon in the southern
Sandias with Mary Lou Arthur, 299-2565.

On Saturday, April 26, Central Audubon will do the Hawk Watch
site in the Sandia Mts. (quite a hike up of 2 miles round
trip). Leader is Pat Franklin at 505-856-7443.

Sangre de Cristo Audubon will have a weekend trip to Carlsbad
on May 2 to 4 birding at Rattlesnake Springs, Sitting Bull
Falls, and the Guadalupe Mts. Contact is Jim Paulsel at 505-
501-4085,

Saturday, May 19 is North American Bird Count Day for each
county. Contact the leader of your county. Contact to find
your county leader is Steve West at lobo@swwmail.net <mailto:lobo@swwmail.net> or 575-
885-3636.

The Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque has Saturday and Sunday morning hikes at 8:30 a.m. through May. There is a parking fee.

The Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe on Upper Canyon
Road has Saturday morning bird walks beginning at 8:30 until