CO-NM-AZ Trip ~ May 7, 2009

Back at Patagonia, despite hearing the Sinaloa Wren sing and call most of the early morning hours, we eventually left without an identifiable look at this 1st U.S. record. It was extremely frustrating to hear the bird so close at times and still not being able to see it through the thick vegetation. Common Yellowthroat, Canyon Towhee, and Javelinas with young were new sightings for the area.

We visited the Patagonia roadside rest stop and spotted White-throated Swift and heard Canyon Wren.
Regrettably leaving Patagonia, we headed back into New Mexico by way of I-10. A group of Lark Buntings were found along Highway 26, halfway between Deming and Hatch.

North of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I-25 goes through Monticello Canyon.

Our next stop was Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This Greater Roadrunner perched along one of the impoundment roads.

White-faced Ibis were seen in a few of the impoundments.

Besides the obvious white line around the eye, the overall coloration of this White-faced Ibis is a lot different than the Glossy Ibis that we see in the East.

This male and female Cinnamon Teal swam along the edge of one of the impoundments.

In just a couple hours, this great spot also produced Gadwall, American Wigeon, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Pheasant, Gambel’s Quail, Great and Snowy Egret, Common Moorhen, American Coot, American Avocet, Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black and Say’s Phoebe, Bank, Cliff, and Barn Swallow, and White-crowned Sparrow.

At sunset, hundreds of Lesser Nighthawks darted around over the impoundments.

Note the buffy spots near the trailing edge on this Lesser Nighthawk.

We spent the last night of the trip at the Motel 6 in Socorro.

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