Arizona - New Mexico Trip ~ October 6, 2020

On the drive back south, the pinyon-juniper area of I-25 produced the new trip species of Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, and Western Bluebird. I stopped a couple of times between Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences (yes, that's the name of the town) to take a few photos of the surroundings.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge from I-25

Monticello Canyon along I-25 near Truth or Consequences

I eventually crossed back into Arizona and stopped at Lake Cochise, south of Willcox.

Lake Cochise and the Chiricahua Mountains

A Ruff had been found by my friend there the week before and was still there the day before, but it apparently left just before I got there. A Marbled Godwit was one of the more unusual birds present.

Marbled Godwit

The nice selection of birds included Eared Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Northern Harrier, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Western and Least Sandpiper, Pectoral and Baird's Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Loggerhead Shrike, Lazuli Bunting, Brewer's Blackbird, and American Pipit.

American Pipit

Near sunset, I drove the rest of the way back to Tucson and stayed at the Comfort Suites next to the airport, which had some shady characters and provocatively-dressed females present.

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