There are many benefits to living in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area. One of the more delightful benefits for birders living here is being able in the winter months to see Rosy-Finches at Sandia Crest outside of Albuquerque. Sandia Crest at 10,600 feet is an easy 45 minute drive from the Albuquerque Metro area. It is one of the few places in the United States where it is possible to see all three species of Rosy-Finches. There is feeding station for Rosy-Finches at the Sandia Crest House at the top of the road up to Sandia Crest It is possible to park, walk into the Crest House, buy hot chocolate and wait inside in cozy warmth waiting for the birds to appear. And appear they do. At intervals throughout the day, a flock of more than 100 Rosy-Finches appear in the trees and at the feeders.
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| Rosy-Finches flock to the Piñon trees around the deck at the Crest House |
They "stage" their approach to the feeder on the deck by gathering in the bare aspen trees below the deck.
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| The flock stages in the bare trees below the feeder. |
When the Rosy-Finches come to the feeder, the activity and the beauty of the birds is almost overwhelming.
The individual birds are lovely:
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| A Black Rosy-Finch flies to the feeder. | | |
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| Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch |
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| Brown-capped Rosy-Finch |
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| Black Rosy-Finch |
There is a banding program most Sundays when the Rosy-Finches are at Sandia Crest. The birds are trapped, banded, weighed, measured and released.
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| A volunteer examines a Hepburn's race (coastal) Grey-crowned Rosy Finch. |
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| A close look at a beautiful wing. |
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| Artist Catherine Hamilton prepares to release the banded and examined bird. |
There are other birds to see at Sandia Crest as well:
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| White-breasted Nuthatch |
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| Steller's Jay |
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| Mountain Chickadee |
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch |
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| Clark's Nutcracker |
Abert's Squirrels lurk in the trees waiting to approach the feeder and share in the birdseed feast.
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| Abert's Squirrel in a tree near the deck. |
The squirrels are very large and plump from a steady diet of bird seed.
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| An Abert's Squirrel forages on the deck below the feeder. |
Sandia Crest is a wonderful place to see Rosy-Finches. It is a "must-do" birding area. You can find out more about the Rosy Finches on the
Rosy-Finch Forum. If the flag in the upper right corner of the page is waving, the Rosy-Finches have arrived!
All photos ©Linda Rockwell. Contact corralena@gmail.com for permission.
Linda, Sandia Crest looks like an amazing place and the Rosy Finches are beautiful! Love the tufted ears of the Abert's Squirrel.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mia. You're just going to have to come to visit and see for yourself! :-)
DeleteThey certainly are beautiful birds, especially in flight.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are incredible Linda.
Thanks for sharing these amazing beauties.
Thank you for your very kind comments Pam. I love the Rosy-Finches, and I'm always happy to share my photos of them.
DeleteI spy some of my favorite Rocky Mountain type birds and critters and those Rosy Finches...what a delight to behold, oh soooo beautiful. I have never seen one, yet maybe this coming September~
ReplyDeleteThe rosies don't usually appear until November; however, there's almost always some decent birding here. Let me know if you decide to visit NM!
DeleteWonderful post and great images!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Beverly!
DeleteFantastic pics, love the Steller's Jay, can't really pick a favourite though :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Alan. Happy that you like the photos! I'm rather partial to Steller's Jays. :-)
DeleteSo many kind of birds. Great pictures./Brita
ReplyDeleteThank you Brita. I'm happy you enjoyed the photos!
DeleteAbsolutely love the Jay in this series, and the Finches are delightful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Richard. I love the Steller's Jays too, but the Rosy-Finches are special to me. :-)
DeleteWhat a wonderful post Linda. Your photos are fantastic, even if you are killing me with envy...
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat. I keep telling you that you're going to have to come to NM! And speaking of envy, your owl photos reduce me to TEARS of envy!
DeleteWow, this is great, I had no idea about this and I live in Rio Rancho. Will they be there all winter?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Hello Steve. Yes, they usually leave sometime in March. Now would be a good time to go. Take your camera!!
DeleteBeautiful images, Linda! You worsen my homesickness for the Land of Enchantment. Ken
ReplyDeleteHappy you like the images Ken. I hoped that you would see this post!
DeleteWow~Love those Rosey Finchs..Such Lovely Pink!
ReplyDeleteI will get there to visit you and the birds!
Lovely Dawn, you must come to New Mexico to see me and the rosies!
DeleteLinda, fabulous action images and close-ups of the Rosy Finches! They really are lovely birds. What a joy it must be to see all of them feeding at once. The Steller's Jay capture is indeed stellar. Sandia Crest looks like a wonderful place to visit. Superb post!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post Linda, love the close look of these gorgeous birds.
ReplyDeleteWe hope to come visit in December! What is the best time of day to come look at the finches? =)
ReplyDelete