New Mexico Trip Report

November 24, 2013

 I am sharing somewhat of a trip report from my vacation to New Mexico October 19-26th.

After a tense time worrying about the Government shutdown, hubby and I enjoyed a week long trip and loop around Southern New Mexico. Dear hubby the spelunker’s main attraction was seeing the Carlsbad Cavern’s National Park. For me any vacation is a chance to see new birds. Before leaving, I spent a fun time searching the internet and using Ebird to find all the best spots for birding.  I had target birds chosen and places to see them.

I found birding spots all along our loop starting with Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell..cool sighting of an American Bittern, Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese and a Loggerhead Shrike.

 At Carlsbad Caverns Nat’l Park I found some birds around the visitor center, Rattlesnake Springs and at the Living Desert Zoo. It at these places I found my life birds the Cave Swallows, Lark Bunting, a Canyon Towhee and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

Guadalupe Mountains Nat’l Park was were I found the Sage Thrasher lifer. At this park I saw lots of Chipping Sparrrows, another Canyon Towhee,  House Finches and the Red-shafted Flickers were pretty common.

Caballo State Park first sighting of the Roadrunner and at Elephant Butte State Park I found my lifers the Western Grebe, Say’s Phoebe, Red-Naped Sapsucker and the Black Phoebe. Other birds seen were the Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, House Wren, GB Heron, Rock Wren and a Red-tailed Hawk.

Bosque Del Apache NWR was great for the Roadrunner, Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese and also for my lifer the Gambel’s Quail. Other birds seen were the Marsh Wren, Northern Harrier, Killdeer and White-Crowned Sparrows.

On the second morning at the Bosque Del Apache NWR  we saw more of the Sandhill Cranes, Sora, Snow Geese, lots of ducks like the Green-winged Teal and Pintails, Red-winged Blackbirds and a few White-faced ibis. Another life bird was the Lesser Goldfinch. I am pretty sure I see an American Wigeon in the bottom right.

 The Greater Roadrunner has been on my top ten list of most want to see birds. I was very happy to see the Roadrunner a few times during our vacation.

A quickie stop at the Belen Marsh...a couple of White-faced Ibis with some ducks.

Rio Grande Nature Center & State park is a pretty park which gorgeous Cottonwood trees.  We arrived later in the afternoon so I considered myself lucky to see any birds at this time of day. But we found a GB Heron, Canada Geese, Coots, Eared Grebe, Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, White breasted Nuthatch and a Spotted Towhee and lots of House Finches.

My New Mexico Lifers:
Black Phoebe
Canyon Towhee
Cave Swallow
Gambel's Quail
Greater Roadrunner
Ladder-Backed Woodpecker
Lark Bunting
Least Sandpiper
Lesser Goldfinch
Pyrrhuloxia
Red-Naped Sapsucker
Sage Thrasher
Say's Phoebe
Western Grebe


I do have to admit, it was a tough time with id-ing some of the birds. I did have to ask for some help from the Facebook id group. Between seeing the first year birds, female and migrating birds and winter birds, it was a little confusing at times. The female Lark Bunting and the Canyon Towhee were the hardest birds for me to id.  I could have spent a couple of weeks birding New Mexico. So, I am happy to share some of the birds I saw and my 14 lifers from our vacation.

Thanks for visiting my post, I hope you enjoyed seeing my New Mexico birds.

EileeninMd
 http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/