New Mexico and Bosque del Apache

[Kin Lau]

My wife and I will be going there next week, specifically for Bosque del Apache.

Has anyone else been down that way this time of the year? I'm interested in just about anything that we don't get up here.

[DarylG]

You could check Arthur Morris' blog.  He posted some commentary on his recent visit to Bosque del Apache that may give you a feel for what to expect.

http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/

Daryl

[Kin Lau]

I have his guide including the updates, but that's very photography-centric.

What I'm more interesting in finding out now, is _birding_ in general, especially any South West specialties.

I already know I'm going to get lots of Western and Clark's Grebes, Roadrunners, Gambel's Quail, Yellowheaded Blackbirds etc, and there's a juvi Aplomado falcon @ Bosque.

We'll be trying for the Rosy finches @ Sandia Crest near Albuquerque - we're suppose to be able to get all 3 kinds together.

I would like to hear from anyone who's been down there around this time of the year, and where did you bird.

[Kin Lau]

Well, we've gone and are back.

We had added about 23 new species to our lifelists, including all 3 Rosy-finches, Rock and Cactus Wren, Roadrunner, Gambel's Quail, Canyon Towhee, Pyrrhuluxia, Curved-billed Thrasher, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Townsends Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, Red-backed Junco, California Gull, White-winged dove, Mountain and Western Bluebirds, Juniper Titmouse, Ross's Goose, Great-tailed Grackle, Chihuahuan Raven and Lesser Goldfinch.

Notable misses were the Aplomado falcon (we think we may have seen it, but it was at a distance and wasn't conclusive), Clark's grebe, Crissal Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Cassin's Finch, Brewer's sparrow (we might still find one in the files).

We got really great looks at many of the above species as well as good looks at the Sandhill Cranes, Snow and Ross's Geese, Harriers, Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Western Red-tailed Hawks etc.

[Margaret]

Hi Kin, I was pleased to see your list in this area as I've never ventured to this state but think I might give it a go on my next visit to relatives in Texas. I've spotted many of the birds you've seen in New Mexico either in Texas or Arizona. I was interested to see you had juniper titmouse on your list. In Ramsey Canyon, S. of Tucson I was delighted to spot a bridled titmouse; also saw acorn woodpeckers there.
Margaret in cold Brampton where 9 A. goldfinches spend a lot of time.

[Kin Lau]

Hi Margaret,

We had Juniper Titmouse twice, once coming down Sandia Crest in a picnic area and once more on the road to Rock Canyon. We probably had about 6 Titmice on that road.