ABQ has several great destinations nearby. Sandia Crest is a good high elevation option, with several downslope options on the drive. Tingly Beach has a good riparian area (called a bosque) that can provide fun encounters. Perhaps one of the better known places is the Rio Grande Nature Center <https://shadetreeimaging.com/memories-of-the-rio-grande-nature-center/>. The Botanic Gardens in the BioPark can be fun. There are other locations, but these are some of my favorites.
Spring(mid-February through mid-May)
The wetlands that were home to thousands of ducks, geese, and cranes all winter are slowly emptied of water in the spring, providing prime feeding grounds for migrating sandpipers, stilts, plovers, dunlins, curlews, avocets, and twenty other shorebird species.
Spring wildflowers add a bit more color to the landscape, and greater roadrunners dart across and alongside the auto tour loop and Highway 1 in search of sluggish lizards and snakes.
Spring is also when flycatchers, vireos, and a dozen species of warblers filter through, either as a rest stop on migration or as they determine the best locations for their nesting territories on the refuge.
My husband and I have been there in November and if we ever get to NM again, Bosque is a definite visit.
Lynda
(Eagle, ID)
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> on behalf of JP <johnpowell20@…> Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 3:22 PM To: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> Subject: [IBLE] Albuquerque spots
We are heading to Albuquerque, NM toward the end of March for a short vacation. Does anyone have a couple first-hand suggestions for good birding spots? I won’t have a ton of time, but hope to sneak away a couple times.
We are heading to Albuquerque, NM toward the end of March for a short vacation. Does anyone have a couple first-hand suggestions for good birding spots? I won’t have a ton of time, but hope to sneak away a couple times.
Good deal there on the re-finding Peter. Was hoping the bird would come back for you. When I last saw it yesterday it had shot out of the tree in full AB, sorry, afterburner.
For those of you who want to try for the bird, the Lander St. STP parking is closed due to construction at the plant. Access is from Willow Lane. Enter the park, drive all the way to the rear parking area across from the ball park. Go upstream or East, if you prefer, on the G’belt. Directions as listed in Tom’s posting.
For those of you in the Boise area, I found a Williamson’s Sapsucker today, along the greenbelt, right by the Lander St. sewage treatment plant. There’s a blue sign along the bike path that says “Pedestrian Access.” Behind that are a couple
of pine trees. I was able to watch him work his way up into the top of one of the trees. A gorgeous bird, and one I haven’t seen along the greenbelt in several years. But the last time was in the same area. The Downy Woodpecker in one of the other trees was
a bonus.
I gave Larry and Missy Arnold the same directions and they’ve reported back that they had found the bird.
Last week I talked to my friend Tom about the great bird there I told him it was like the elegant trogon in az.seen it photo it still want to see again finally decided to go today for the bird got there got about 1/2mile in got call from Tom to tell me he just seen the great bird wanted to know if went to see yet told him I just got there met him main st parked across st .did not get out of car great photos went look for red polls found them great day
Last week I saw seven Common Redpolls fly over at Montour, but I would not be surprised if there were many more in the area, given the large numbers that have been seen recently near Blacks Creek. Congratulations on a Lifer! I got my Lifer CORE near Sun Valley a couple of months ago. 😀 — Aidan Lorenz Caldwell
Saw 2 Snow Buntings yesterday while snowshoeing backcountry out of Stanley. Besides 2 others seen a couple wks ago over by Driggs, only ones I’ve seen this winter. Even Horned Lark flocks seem to be rare this winter. Not worth specifics to try to relocate, just keep eyes peeled when along snow-covered, open expanses. There are a few out there.
Also, still have several Common Redpolls coming into thistle feeder at home. Along with a curious, bull moose, who seems to like our front pasture & adjoining cottonwoods.
Brian Carrigan Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
