Bird Sightings Report, December 1 to December 31, 2011
Written by Roland on December 31, 2011 – 11:59 pm -December is a month of cooler temperatures and the “settling in” of winter visitors. This year seems colder than previous years. Because of the drought, food in the wild seems scarce which means winter feeding stations can be a big magnet for birds.
Species Accounts
Ducks: Gene Lewis reported the following species of ducks at the Tyrone sewage ponds on 4 December: Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeons, a Ruddy Duck, Mallards, and Buffleheads. Four Buffleheads were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 28 December).
Hawks: A immature Northern Goshawk was reported by Karen Beckenbach at her Silver City residence (14 December). A Merlin was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Jim Brown, 15 December) and one from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 24 December). A Ferruginous Hawks were seen by Jim Rogers (east of Silver City, 2 December , at Virden (Robert Shantz, 17 December), and at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 17 December). Karyn Neil reported a Bald Eagle flying high over Arenas Valley (26 December) and one was seen flying down the Gila River in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 28 December).
Ferruginous Hawk by Jim Rogers, southwestern NM, 2 December 2011
Gulls: A Ring-billed Gull was reported at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Gene Lewis (4 December).
Pigeons and Doves: Jim Brown reported a dozen Eurasian-collared Doves at the Tyrone sewage pond (15 December).
Hummingbirds: Karyn Neil reported a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird visiting their hummingbird feeders in Indian Hills (26 December).
Woodpeckers: Gene Lewis reported the following woodpeckers from the Tyrone sewage ponds on 4 December: three Lewis’s Woodpeckers, three Acorn Woodpeckers and three Red-naped Sapsuckers. Also a report of a Lewis’s Woodpecker on 17 December (Gene Lewis, Tyrone sewage ponds).
Flycatchers: A Say’s Phoebe was seen and photographed by Robert Shantz on SR 92 in Hidalgo County (27 December) and two were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 28 December).
Say’s Phoebe by Robert Shantz, Virden, NM, 27 December 2011
Shrikes: Four Loggerhead Shrikes were seen at the City of Rocks State Park by Patricia Taber (25 December).
Jays: Elaine Halbedel reported a flock of at least 102 Pinyon Jays near Bear Mountain Lodge (4 December).
Thrushes: Robert Shantz reported Eastern Bluebirds from Verdin (17 December) and one was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 26 December). Robert Shantz also reported a Mountain Bluebird at Virden (27 December). A Hermit Thrush was reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 24 December).
Eastern Bluebird by Robert Shantz, Verdin, NM, 17 December 2011
Mountain Bluebird by Robert Shantz, Virden, NM, 27 December 2011
Waxwings: Patricia Taber reported eight Cedar Waxwings at her Silver City residence (25 December).
Sparrows: Nineteen Brewer’s Sparrows were seen by Gene Lewis at the Tyrone sewage ponds on 4 December. Bob Barnes of Hillsboro reported a Harris’s Sparrow that has been present for the past four winters. To read about the sparrow on Bob’s blog go to http://swbirding.blogspot.com. Gene Lewis saw a White-throated Sparrow at his Silver City residence (24 and 25 December). Numerous Brewer’s Sparrows were seen by Patricia Taber at the City of Rocks State Park (25 December). A Green-tailed Towhee was reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 28 December).
Harris’s Sparrow by Bob Barnes, Hillsboro, NM 2007
Finches: Karen Beckenbach reported two female Cassin’s Finches at her Silver City residence (12 December). Three Lawrence’s Goldfinches were reported by Tom and Susan Lynch south of Silver City (fide Gene Lewis, 17 December).
Gila Bird Area – 10 December – Observations by Roland Shook
Five Duck sp., one Gadwall, 12 American Wigeons, 14 Mallards, one Spotted Sandpiper, three Belted Kingfishers, one Red-naped Sapsucker, one Ladder-backed Woodpecker, four Northern Flickers, one Black Phoebe, three Chihuanhuan Ravens, two Bridled Titmice, one White-breasted Nuthatch, seven Ruby-crowned Kinglets, one Western Bluebird, one Hermit Thrush, four Spotted Towhees, 13 Chipping Sparrows, three Song Sparrows, one Lincoln’s Sparrow, one White-crowned Sparrow, an two American Goldfinches.
Bill Evans Lake – 10 December – Observations by Roland Shook
Two Gadwalls, two Common Mergansers, one Ruddy Duck, 11 Pied-billed Grebes, one Great Blue Heron, one Northern Harrier, 72 American Coots.
Gila Bird Area – 16 December – Observations by Roland Shook
Nine duck sp., 11 American Wigeons, eight Mallards, two Spotted Sandpipers, two Morning Doves, one Hairy Woodpecker, two Northern Flickers, four Chihuanhuan Ravens, one White-breasted Nuthatch, five Ruby-crowned Kinglets, three Western Bluebirds, two American Robins, five Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Green-tailed Towhee, six Spotted Towhees, one Canyon Towhee, six Chipping Sparrows, two Song Sparrows, one White-crowned Sparrow, 21 Dark-eyed Juncos, and three Northern Cardinals.
Bill Evans Lake – 16 December – Observations by Roland Shook
One Ring-necked Duck, five Common Mergansers, 10 Pied-billed Grebes, one Western Grebe, one Great Blue Heron, one immature Bald Eagle, and 62 American Coots.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species, as well as, the full name of the observer. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, November 1 to November 30, 2011
Written by Roland on November 15, 2011 – 9:26 am -The format that has been used in the past may change as we try to make this site more user useful. Suggestions are welcome.
Species Accounts
1 November – Patricia Taber reported a Townsend’s Solitaire at her Silver City residence.
3 November – Kate Moitoret reported a Rufous Hummingbird at her feeder in Tyrone.
5 November – Cathryn Moitoret reported a Phainopepla at her Tyrone bird bath.
10 November – Robert Shantz reported a Great Horned Owl from Upper Box Canyon, Hidalgo County County.
Great Horned Owl by Robert Shantz, Upper Box Canyon, Hidalgo Co., 10 November, 2011
12 November – Cathryn Moitoret reported Lesser Goldfinches at her Tyrone feeder up to this date.
17 November – Jim Rodgers took these pictures near Deming. Can you identify this bird? The answer will be posted in the next few days. Identification of this species has turned out to be a challenging problem!
Photo by Jim Rodger, 17 November, near Deming, NM
Photo by Jim Rogers, 17 November, near Deming, NM
20 November – White-throated Sparrow was seen by Gene Lewis and Ken Dayer at the Tyrone sewage ponds. Two American Pipits and a Lewis’s Woodpecker were also seen at the same location. Robert Shantz also reported a Lewis’s Woodpecker from Thompson Canyon in the Burro Mountains (20 Nov). Cathryn Moitoret reported Red-naped Sapsuckers in the Tyrone Park (one on 13 November and two on 20 November)
Lewis’s Woodpecker by Robert Shantz, Thompson Canyon in Big Burro Mts, 20 November, 2011
21 November – Peggy Spofford reported a male Northern Harrier near her residence in Silver Acres. Jim Rogers reported a Harris’s Hawk near Deming.
Harris’s Hawk by Jim Rogers, Deming, 21 November, 2011
24 November - Ken Dayer reported 3-4 Williamson’s Sapsuckers at Sapillo Creek and another at the Arristra site above Pinos Altos.
24 November – Karen Beckenbach reported a Western Screech Owl roosting in a an owl box at her Silver City residence.
Western Screech Owl by Karen Beckenbach, Silver City, 24 November, 2011
25 November – Karen Beckenbach reported a male Magnificent Hummingbird at her Silver City residence.
26 November – A Bridled Titmouse was reported by Karen Beckenbach at her Silver City residence. Karen reports that she has a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches which visit her feeders almost daily. Cathryn Moitoret has been seeing several Killdeer near the Tyrone Post Office throughout the month.
27 November Gene Lewis reported a Lewis’s Woodpecker at the Tyrone sewage ponds along with two American Pipits. Also present were three Acorn Woodpeckers which have been present for the past few Sundays. Gene also reports seven duck species are present at the Tyrone sewage ponds.
Bill Evans Lake – 23 November – Observations by Roland Shook
Three Pied-billed Grebes, 10 Western Grebes, and 38 American Coots
Gila Bird Area – 23 November – Observations by Roland Shook
Four Mallards, one American Coot, four Spotted Sandpipers, two Belted Kingfishers, one Red-naped Sapsucker, six Northern Flickers, two Black Phoebes, one Mexican Jay, three Chihuahuan Ravens, two Bridled Titmice, three White-breasted Nuthatches, one Canyon Wren, one Bewick’s Wren, 13 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, three Western Bluebirds, one Hermit Thrush, one American Robin, four Yellow-rumped Warblers, 10 Spotted Towhees, one Rufous-crowned Sparrow, one Canyon Towhee, two White-crowned Sparrows, 23 Dark-eyed Juncos, three Northern Cardinals, 19 Meadowlark sp., and one House Finch.
Bill Evans Lake – 29 November – Observations by Roland Shook
Ten Pied-billed Grebes, nine Western Grebes, two Ring-billed Gulls, and 41 American Coots
Gila Bird Area – 29 November – Observations by Roland Shook
Two Mallards, one Spotted Sandpiper, one Belted Kingfisher, two Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, two Hairy Woodpeckers, seven Northern Flickers, five Mexican Jays, one Raven sp., one White-breasted Nuthatch, three Bewick’s Wrens, 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 43 Western Bluebirds, two Phainopeplas, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, seven Spotted Towhees, four Song Sparrows, seven White-crowned Sparrows, five Dark-eyed Juncos, one Northern Cardinal, and six House Finches.
Field Trips
Southwestern New Mexico Audubon’s Field Trip to Lake Roberts
12 November, Leader Brian Dolton
Species List
Gadwall
American Wigeon (c.40)
Mallard (Common)
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal (c.6)
Canvasback (c.20)
Ring-necked Duck (4)
Bufflehad (3)
Hooded Merganser (c.12)
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe (1)
Western Grebe (c.50)
Great Blue Heron (c.6)
American Coot
Wilson’s Snipe (4)
Belted Kingfisher (1)
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Common Raven
Juniper Titmouse
Marsh Wren (1)
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)
Red-winged Blackbird
The Western Grebe were mostly in a loose raft at the dam end of the reservoir; it’s possible there were some Clark’s grebes amongst them but none we could confirm, and the few closer birds were all definitely Western.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species, as well as, the full name of the observer. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, October 1 to October 31, 2011
Written by Roland on October 31, 2011 – 11:59 am -As the below sightings will attest to, fall migration is in full swing during the month of October. Many winter visitors have arrived and there are now very few summer residents. Many of our winter residents have either migrated from northern climes or descended from higher elevations. It is an exciting time of year since the opportunity exists to discover rarities. Owing to scare feed in many locations because of the record drought, people maintaining winter feeding stations have experienced an influx of birds. In the winter open water can also be an important attractant for birds.
Species Accounts
Ducks: Eleanor Wootten reported 78 Northern Shovelers in a small pond at the Animas exit off Interstate 10 (12 October). Five Buffleheads were seen on Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, 28 October).
Grebes: A Clark’s Grebe was reported at the Lordsburg sewage ponds (Brian Dolton, 26 October). Nine Western Grebes were seen on Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, 21 October). Three Eared Grebes were reported from Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, 21 October and three on 28 October).
Pelicans: Kim Muller reported a Brown Pelican on Bill Evans Lake (12 October). The pelican was still there on 13 October, and observed by Kim Muller and Roland Shook. Brown Pelican sightings are very uncommon in our area.
Brown Pelican by Roland Shook, Bill Evans Lake, 13 October 2011
Hawks: Common Black-Hawks were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, three on 11 October, one on 13 October).
Rails: A Virginia Rail and a Sora were reported from Mangas Springs by Patricia Taber and Teri Matelson (31 October).
Shorebirds: Eleanor Wootten reported 51 Long-billed Curlews at the Animas exit off Interstate 10 in a pond that is almost always present (12 October). Brian Dolton reported a Pectoral Sandpiper at the Tyrone sewage ponds (26 October). Gene Lewis reported two Wilson’s Phalaropes at the Tyrone sewage ponds (16 October). Spotted Sandpipers were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, three on 11 October, and two on 21 October)
Owls: A Western Screech Owl was reported vocalizing in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 21 October).
Nighthawks: A Common Poorwill was seen on the Bill Evans Lake Road (Roland Shook 13 October).
Hummingbirds: A couple of October juvenile Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were reported feeding at a hummingbird feeder in Indian Hills (Barbara A. Smith). Paul Boucher reported a Black-chinned Hummingbird and immature Rufous Hummingbird from his Indian Hills’ residency (11 October). Kate Moitoret reported a Rufous Hummingbird at her Tyrone feeder throughout the month of October.
Woodpeckers: Northern Flicker migration has begun. Six Northern Flickers were reported from the Silver City Golf Course by Barbara A. Smith (23 October). A Lewis’ Woodpecker was reported from the Silver City Golf Course by Paul Boucher (11 and 12 October). Gene Lewis reported several Lewis’ Woodpeckers from the Tyrone sewage ponds: five on 2 October, two on 16 October, and one on 20 October. An Acorn Woodpecker was observed at Kate Moitoret’s residence in Tyrone (24 and 29 October), while Gene Lewis reported two Acorn Woodpeckers from the Tyrone sewage ponds (16 October). Three Red-napped Sapsuckers were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 13 October and one on 28 October).
Flycatchers: Gene Lewis reported a number of Cassin’s Kingbirds at the Tyrone sewage ponds: 31 on 2 October, and seven on 16 October.
Thrushes: Pat Taber reported eight Western Bluebirds from her Silver City residence near the WNMU campus. A Townsend’s Solitaire was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 21 October).
Thrashers: Gene Lewis and Ken Dayer reported two Sage Thrashers along Highway 35 “in that open area” on their way to Lake Roberts (15 October).
Waxwings: Barbara A. Smith reported approximately 12 Cedar Waxwings eating Pyracantha berries near WNMU (19 October).
Phainopeplas: Phainopeplas were reported visiting a bird bath in Tyrone several times in October (Kate Moitoret). A Phainopepla was reported at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 2 October).
Warblers: A Northern Waterthrush was seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 20 October). A Common Yellowthroat was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 16 October).
Emberizids: Gene Lewis reported a Lark Bunting from the Tyrone sewage ponds (16 October).
Blackbirds: Four Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 16 October).
Goldfinches: Kate Moitoret reported Lesser Goldfinches at her Tyrone residence throughout October.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species, as well as, the full name of the observer. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, September 1 to September 30, 2011
Written by Roland on September 30, 2011 – 11:59 pm -This September, like the previous one, was a slow month for bird sightings. Warbler migration appeared to be very low. I saw very few warblers moving through the Gila Bird Area. The exception appeared to be a report of numerous Wilson’s Warblers seen at Lake Roberts by Elaine Halbedel. Owing to one of the worst droughts in southern New Mexico, I would predict that winter bird populations in the “wild” will be low. This could mean that individuals with winter feeding stations will see a plethora of birds as they seek food in short supply. Good birding.
Species Acc0unts
Ducks: Gene Lewis reported the following ducks at the Tyrone sewage ponds: 33 Cinnamon Teal (25 September) and 17 Green-winged Teal (18 September).
Grebes: Several Pied-billed Grebes were seen at Lake Roberts by Elaine Halbedel (23 September). Elaine mentioned that there were, “juveniles in all stages of development, from being carried on the adults’ backs to begging near-adults.” Four Eared Grebes were reported from Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, 20 September).
Cormorants: Seven Double-crested Cormorants were seen at Lake Roberts (Elaine Halbedel, 23 September).
Hawks: A Zone-tailed Hawk was seen at Little Walnut Campground (Rick Greenspun, 17 September). Rick Greenspun also reported a Mississippi Kite from Bill Evans Lake Road (13 September). Larry Malone reported a Cooper’s Hawk at his Deming residence (5 September) and a Zone-tailed Hawk over his yard (11 September). A Zone-tailed Hawk was calling near Bill Evans Lake Road (Roland Shook, 5 September). A Swainson’s Hawk was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 5 September). Two immature Common Black-Hawks were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 5 September). A kettle of approximately 50 Turkey Vultures were reported by Roland Shook from the Gila Bird Area (10 September).
Zone-tailed Hawk by Rick Greenspun, Little Walnut Campground, 4 September 2011
Rails: A Virginia Rail was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 11 September).
Shorebirds: The following shorebirds were reported by Gene Lewis from the Tyrone sewage ponds: one American Avocet (4 September); one Solitary Sandpiper (25 September); one Lesser Yellowlegs (4 September); Western Sandpipers (44 on 4 September, 22 on 11 September, four on 18 September, and seven on 25 September); one Baird’s Sandpiper (18 September); one Wilson’s Snipe (25 September); and Wilson’s Phalaropes (67 on 4 September, 25 on 11 September, 13 on 18 September, and 4 on 25 September). Larry Malone reported a Solitary Sandpiper at the Tyrone sewage ponds (2 September). Two Red-necked Phalaropes were reported from the Deming Treatment Plant (Larry Malone, 20 September). Two Spotted Sandpipers were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook 20 September).
Owls: Rick Greenspun reported a Spotted Owl from Spirit Canyon Lodge (5 September).
Goatsuckers: Nine Common Poorwills were seen on the Bill Evans Lake Road before dawn (Roland Shook, 30 September).
Woodpeckers: Karen Blisard reported a Lewis’ Woodpecker on Sanctuary Road near Pinos Altos (23 September). Gene Lewis reported two Lewis’ Woodpeckers at the Tyrone sewage ponds (25 September). Larry Malone reported a Gila Woodpecker near the Iron Bridge in the middle Gila Valley (2 September).
Flycatchers: Larry Malone reported an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Spring Canyon State Park near Deming (20 September). Roland Shook reported a Gray Flycatcher from the Gila Bird Area (10 September). A migrating Empidonax flycatcher was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 10 September).
Vireos: a Bell’s Vireo and a Cassin’s Vireo were reported from Spring Canyon State Park (Larry Malone, 20 September).
Corvids: Pat Taber reported eight American Crows on Little Walnut Road (14 September).
Kinglets: One of the season’s first reported Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen by Larry Malone in his Deming yard (29 September).
Warblers: Elaine Halbedel reported a female American Redstart at Lake Roberts (23 September) along with approximately 100 Wilson Warblers, and a Yellow Warbler. Donna Stevens reported a September Painted Redstart near White Signal (no specific date). A MacGillivray’s Warbler was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 10 September).
Sparrows: Elaine Halbedel reported at least two Lincoln’s Sparrows at Lake Roberts (23 September). Becky Noland-Dees reported her first of the fall White-crowned Sparrow at San Simon, AZ (23 September). Gene Lewis reported two Clay-colored Sparrows from the Tyrone sewage ponds (11 September). Larry Malone reported a Cassin’s Sparrow at the Deming Treatment Plant (12 September) and a Clay-colored Sparrow at Deming (12 September). Steve London reported a Lark Sparrow (26 September) and a Lincoln Sparrow (22 September) near San Lorenzo. Seven Lark Sparrows were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 10 September).
Blackbirds: Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 28 on 4 September, 22 on 11 September and 12 on 25 September).
Limited Edition of Dale Zimmerman Prints available
The New Mexico Ornithological Society is selling limited edition Dale Zimmerman prints of 10 species of New Mexico birds. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these prints please go to the New Mexico Ornithological Society web site. Monies derived from these prints will be used by the Society to promote New Mexico ornithology.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species, as well as, the full name of the observer. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, August 1 to August 31, 2011
Written by Roland on August 31, 2011 – 11:59 pm -I appreciate all the sightings and photos that were submitted this month. I want to encourage all to send in sightings and photos of those species that you feel are rare, uncommon, breeding, early arrivals, late arrivals i.e. those that are unusual in your opinion. The records with number, date(s), observer(s) and location are the most valuable. Try to include both your first and last name so I can correctly credit the observer.
Good Birding.
Quiz Birds
Sandpipers by Rick Greenspun, Tyrone sewage ponds, 9 August 2011
Species Acc0unts
Ducks: Gene Lewis reported the following ducks from the Tyrone sewage ponds: Cinnamon Teal (eight on 21 August); and Northern Shovelers (seven on 21 August and 28 on 28 August). Thirteen female/immature Common Mergansers (possibly a family group) were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 5 August), and 15 (perhaps the same group) were observed on 19 August.
Ibis: Gene Lewis reported a White-faced Ibis from the Tyrone sewage pond (21 August).
Hawks: An Osprey was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 28 August). A kettle of 90 Turkey Vultures was reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 27 August).
Cranes: Carol Fugagli reported hearing the season’s first Sandhill Cranes along the Gila River north of Cliff (24 August).
Shorebirds: Rick Greenspun, visiting from Florida, reported the following sandpipers from the Tyrone sewage ponds, seen 9 August: 15 Wilson’s Phalaropes, a Pectoral Sandpiper, and two Least Sandpipers. The following species were reported by Gene Lewis from the Tyrone sewage ponds: a Semi-palmated Plover (21 August); a Solitary Sandpiper (14 August); a Semi-palmated Sandpiper (14 August); Western Sandpipers (five on 14 August, four on 21 August and 19 on 28 August); and Wilson’s Phalaropes (22 on 14 August, 55 on 21 August and 52 on 28 August).
Cuckoos: Yellow-billed Cuckoos were heard in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, four on 2 August; four on 5 August; one on 12 August; and one on 19 August).
Owls: A Western Screech Owl was heard in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 5 August). Rick Greenspun reported a Spotted Owl at Spirit Canyon Lodge (22 August).
Spotted Owl by Rick Greenspun, Spirit Canyon Lodge, 22 August 2011
Goatsuckers: A Common Poorwill was heard calling in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 12 August).
Hummingbirds: Becky Noland-Dees reported a Broad-billed Hummingbird from San Simon, AZ (17 August).
Kingfishers: Roland Shook reported a Belted Kingfisher in the Gila Bird Area (12 August).
Flycatchers: Larry Malone reported an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Lake Roberts (15 August) and a Greater Pewee along Sapillo Creek (15 August).
Corvids: An American Crow was reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 12 August). Once common in the middle Gila Valley, this species is now uncommon but perhaps increasing in numbers.
Nuthatches: A Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported from Signal Peak (Larry Malone, 15 August).
Mimics: A Crissal Thrasher was heard in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 27 August).
Phainopeplas: A female Phainopepla was reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 2 August).
Emberizids: A Lark Bunting was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 21 August). Larry Malone reported five Lark Buntings from the east side of the Florida Mountains near Deming (31 August). Lark Sparrows were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, one on 2 August, four on 5 August, six on 27 August). A Rufous-crowned Sparrow was observed in the Gila Bird Area carrying food (Roland Shook, 19 August).
Buntings: A Painted Bunting was found dead at Larry Malone’s Deming residence (4 August).
Icterids: Gene Lewis reported Yellow-headed Blackbirds at the Tyrone sewage ponds (21 on 21 August and 22 on 28 August). Gene Lewis also reported juvenile Bronzed Cowbirds still visiting his Silver City residence (one on 6 August and two on 7 August). Two Hooded Orioles (probably migrants) were detected in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 12 August), and two additional ones on 19 August (Roland Shook, Gila Bird Area).
Quiz Birds
The following comments are attributed to Dale Zimmerman, “The larger bird appears to be a Pectoral Sandpiper. The two nearer individuals look like Leasts. It’s hard to be certain of leg/foot color, but it seems yellowish, at least on the one bird. Lighting is not good.” There are times, such as this, when bird identification can be difficult and challenging.
Limited Edition of Dale Zimmerman Prints available
The New Mexico Ornithological Society is selling limited edition Dale Zimmerman prints of 10 species of New Mexico birds. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these prints please go to the New Mexico Ornithological Society web site. Monies derived from these prints will be used by the Society to promote New Mexico ornithology.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species, as well as, the full name of the observer. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, July 1 to July 31, 2011
Written by Roland on July 31, 2011 – 11:59 pm -July marks the end of the breeding season for most species. As the month progressed, the number of species singing greatly diminished. Many species have already begun fall migration as the “Species Accounts” will attest to. Rufous Hummingbirds, several shorebirds, and other have begun moving south. Some local species have begun dispersing, and can on occasion, be found in uncharacteristic habitats. Other species have begun forming winter flocks.
It was with great sadness when I learned about the recent death of Dr. Bruce Hayward. Bruce was on the committee that hired me in 1992, a year before he retired with a long and successful career in the Department of Natural Sciences at Western New Mexico University. Although a mammologist by training, Bruce was actively involved in many aspects of New Mexico bird life. He was a past President of the New Mexico Ornithological Society and an active participant and organizer in several local bird counts such as the Raptor Count, the Christmas Bird Counts and the Gila River Spring Count. He was often in attendance at the Southwestern Audubon meetings. I was honored to call him a friend. He will be missed.
Species Acc0unts
Geese: Seven Canada Geese were reported from the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook 4 July).
Ducks: The following ducks were reported from the Lordsburg sewage treatment plant by Eleanor Wootten: five Ruddy Ducks, 54 Mallards, and a Cinnamon Teal (26 July).
Herons: Two Black-crowned Night Herons were reported by Eleanor Wootten from the Lordsburg sewage treatment plant (26 July).
Hawks: Elaine Halbedel reported a Common Black-Hawk flying over her Cottage San Road residence during July. Robert Shantz reported a Mississippi Kite at Duncan, AZ on 28 July (just across the Arizona border from Virden, NM).
Mississippi Kite by Robert Shantz, Duncan, AZ, 28 July 2011
Shorebirds: Gene Lewis reported the following shorebirds from the Tyrone sewage ponds: a Spotted Sandpiper (24 and 31 July); a Baird’s Sandpiper (17 July); and Wilson’s Phalarope (one on 21 July and two on 31 July). Eleanor Wooten reported the following shorebirds from the Lordsburg sewage treatment plant: 12 Black-necked Stilts, four American Avocets, seven Western Sandpipers, a Long-billed Dowitcher, and 36 Wilson’s Phalaropes (26 July). Eleanor also saw six Least Sandpipers at the Tyrone sewage pond (26 July).
Pigeons and Doves: Karen Beckenbach reported an average of 68 Band-tailed Pigeons throughout July at her Silver City residence. Walter LaFleur reported a number of Band-tailed Pigeons visiting his Bear Mountain property (15 July).
Band-tailed Pigeons by Walter LaFleur, Bear Mountain, 15 July 2011
Owls: A Flammulated Owl was heard calling just after dark near Mogollon (Christopher Rustay, 9 July). Christopher Rustay also heard Elf Owls calling between Glenwood and the Catwalk (9 July).
Goatsuckers: Several Mexican Whip-poor-wills were heard calling just after dark near Mogollon (Christopher Rustay, 9 July).
Hummingbirds: Eleanor Wootten reported her first Rufous Hummingbird on 8 July (middle Gila Valley). Christopher Rustay reported many Rufous Hummingbirds and at least three male and one female Magnificent Hummingbirds at Mogollon (9 July). Donna Stevens reported a Broad-billed Hummingbird from late June through early July at her Silver City residence. Elaine Halbedel reported a Calliope Hummingbird at her Silver City residence since mid-July and, at the same time, a male Lucifer Hummingbird visiting her feeders. Gene Lewis reported a Calliope Hummingbird at his Silver City residence (29 July). A Calliope Hummingbird was also reported by Eleanor Wootten at her middle Gila Valley feeders (17 July) and another report of this species by F. Stephenson at his residence on Pinos Altos Road (31 July).
Calliope Hummingbird by F. Stephenson, Silver City, 31 July 2011
Woodpeckers: Christopher Rustay reported a pair of American Three-toed Woodpeckers above Mogollon on the way to Willow Creek Campground (10 July).
Vireos: Gray Vireos were heard singing just north of Glenwood along Highway 180 and the first three miles along the road to Mogollon (Christopher Rustay, 10 July).
Corvids: A pair of Clark’s Nutcrackers were reported above Mogollon on the way to Willow Creek Campground (Christopher Rustay, 10 July). Karen Beckenbach reported that the Pinyon Jays that were visiting her Silver City residence were last seen 6 July.
Sparrows: Eleanor Wootten reported a singing Cassin’s Sparrow at her middle Gila Valley residence (12 July).
Cardinals and kin: Roger Lanse reported a Painted Bunting that visited his Arenas Valley residence on 21 July. The bird was featured in “The front yard birder,” which Roger writes for the Daily Press. Cinda Cole reported a Painted Bunting on the Pitch Fork Ranch south of Silver City (31 July). Karen Beckenbach reported a daily average of 15 Black-headed Grosbeaks during July visiting her Silver City residence, along with an Indigo Bunting (3 July). Eleanor Wootten reported two Black-headed Grosbeaks visiting her middle Gila Valley residence (26 July). Four Hepatic Tanagers were reported from the Gila Bird Area where they are uncommon (Roland Shook, 4 July).
Painted Bunting by Cinda Cole, Pitch Fork Ranch, 31 July 2011
Cowbirds: Gene Lewis reported one to three adult Bronzed Cowbirds at his Silver City residence from June until 25 July. A juvenile cowbird was present 16 July and 25-28 July. Unusual about the juvenile is like other cowbirds they are raised by non-cowbird foster parents. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nest of other species and do not participate in the early raising of their young. They do flock together in the fall with other icterids and perhaps this juvenile was seeking others of its kind. Patricia Taber also reported a Bronzed Cowbird at her Silver City residence (17 July).
Juvenile Bronzed Cowbird by Gene Lewis, Silver City, 28 July 2011
Limited Edition Dale Zimmerman Prints available
The New Mexico Ornithological Society is selling limited edition Dale Zimmerman prints of 10 species of New Mexico birds. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these prints please go to the New Mexico Ornithological Society web site. Monies derived from these prints will be used by the Society to promote New Mexico ornithology.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Bird Sightings Report, June 1 to June 30, 2011
Written by Roland on June 30, 2011 – 11:59 pm -“The NOAA National Climatic Data Center reports that the first six months of 2011 have been the driest start to any year on record for New Mexico. The statewide average precipitation has only been 30 percent of normal.
Through early July, nearly 50 percent of New Mexico was in exceptional drought, the worst drought category possible. Exceptional drought is essentially a 25 to 50 year recurrence event. Nearly 80 percent of the state was in extreme or exceptional drought.” (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/?n=drought)
The chart below shows the extent of the problem as of July 5, 2011.
This drought certainly has had an impact on avian populations. Gary Emerson sends the following observations and conclusions on the impact of fire on birds near his residence.
“I thought I’d send some observations that we’ve made of our birds here and the possible effects of our early fire here in March. I just found out that we have the “distinction” of being the first home in New Mexico to be impacted in this year’s worst ever fire season.
It appears that we have about 25% of our “normal” Hummingbird population and I suspect that it is due to so many of the scrub oaks burning and having no leaves. In our mob of ravens, it appears we have at least two young ones which is about half of the last two year’s broods. The last two years we’ve had three Say’s Phoebes nests around the house and this year only one but that one is now raising their second brood.
For us the really sad observation is that we have NO quail babies this year, but it’s not surprising because all the ground cover burned. We’ve seen no Poorwills and the Nighthawk population is really down from the last two years. Our Redtail Hawks did not nest in the area this year and I believe that their nest tree was one of the large trees that burned.
On the positive side, we now for the first time have a pair of Roadrunners on our place who come to the bird water several times a day. They are doing well on our large lizard population. The lizard in the enclosed image was caught on our south porch where they frequently hunt. We would love to see some young Roadrunners.
For the past few days, and for the first time ever, we’ve had a female Ladder-backed Woodpecker in the area. For about a week, a few weeks ago, we had a beautiful Swainson’s Hawk in the area.”
While attributing these changes to fire, many could also be attributed, at the same time, to drought.
Greater Roadrunner by Gary Emerson, June/July 2011
Quiz Bird:
Quiz Bird by Dale Zimmerman, Silver City, 5 May 2011
Species Accounts:
Ducks: Gene Lewis reported three Cinnamon Teal at the Tyrone sewage ponds (5 June).
Turkeys: Beginning 13 June, a male and female Wild Turkey have begun appearing almost daily at Karen Beckenbach’s Silver City residence.
Herons: Larry Malone reported a Snowy Egret flying over his Deming residence (14 June).
Hawks: Both Common Black-Hawk nests in the Gila Bird Area produced one young each (Roland Shook). An American Kestrel was heard calling in the Gila Valley above Cliff. Once much more common in the Gila Valley, they are now becoming scarce (Roland Shook, 24 June).
Shorebirds: Two Wilson Phalaropes were reported by Gene Lewis from the Tyrone sewage ponds (26 June).
Gulls and Terns: A Black Tern was reported by Larry Malone at the Deming Waste Water Plant (14 June).
Owls: Karen Beckenbach reported a Western Screech Owl was heard nightly at her Silver City residence throughout the month of June.
Pigeons and Doves: Jim Rogers reported a Band-tailed Pigeon at his residence in Hanover (25 June). Karen Beckenbach reported a few dozen Band-tailed Pigeons visited her Silver City residence on a daily basis during June.
Band-tailed Pigeon by Jim Rogers, Hanover, 25 June, 2011
Hummingbirds: Eleanor Wootten reported a male Magnificent Hummingbird visited her Gila Valley feeder (1 or 2 June). Approximately one week latter, a female Magnificent Hummingbird came to another feeder and was seen for 3 days.
Woodpeckers: A Gila Woodpecker was heard calling the in Gila Bird Area where they are uncommon (Roland Shook, 11 June).
Crows and Jays: Beginning 8 June and daily thereafter, a couple of dozen Pinyon Jays were visiting Karen Beckenbach Silver City residence. An American Crow was heard in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 3 June and two on 18 June). Once relatively common in the middle Gila Valley, it is speculated that West Nile Virus eliminated most members of this species. It is only in the last couple of years that crows are slowly becoming more numerous.
Wrens: Elroy Limmer reported on a pair of nesting Bewick’s Wrens at his Silver City residence. Two young left the nest on 1 June.
Bewick’s Wren by Elroy Limmer, Silver City, 1 June, 2011
Warblers: Larry Malone reported a Red-faced Warbler at Rock Hound State Park (5 June). Larry reported that this was his first report of this species in Luna County. A late migrating Wilson’s Warbler was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 3 June).
Buntings: Karen Beckenbach reported a male Lazuli Bunting at her Silver City residence (28 June).
Cowbirds: One to two Bronzed Cowbirds were reported by Gene Lewis from his Silver City residence (4 to 30 June).
Quiz Bird
Dale Zimmerman writes, “This was in our yard this morning. I’ve never photographed one of these before, so it was a worthy accomplishment, I thought.” In a later discussion we both talked about how rarely one sees this bird. The male is common in the Gila Bird Area, and one would expect the female to be common also, however, the males can be fairly readily seen but not so the females. Note the bill, wing bars and breast streaks. If you concluded that this was a female Indigo Bunting you would be correct.
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.Gila River May Count, 7 May 2011
Written by Roland on May 31, 2011 – 11:59 pm -This count has historically been on the first Saturday of May. Birds are counted in the vicinity of the Gila River from the Cliff Dwellings to the Arizona Border. Compiler of this year’s count was Roland Shook.
| Route Leaders ———> | BH | BN | EL | JB | RSS | BW | LM | Total |
| Route Numbers ——–> | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| Canada Goose | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Gadwall | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Am. Wigeon | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Mallard | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 37 | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Cinnamon Teal | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| N. Pintail | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Redhead | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Ring-necked Duck | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Lesser Scaup | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Com. Merganser | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| Ruddy Duck | 7 | 7 | ||||||
| Gambel’s Quail | 21 | 20 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 87 |
| Wild Turkey | 5 | 9 | 14 | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe | 1 | 9 | 10 | |||||
| Western Grebe | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Dbl.-cr. Cormorant | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Gt. Blue Heron | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 | ||
| Great Egret | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| White-faced Ibis | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 42 | 8 | 92 | |
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Com. Black Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | ||
| Swainson’s Hawk | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Zone-tailed Hawk | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 18 | ||
| Am. Kestrel | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Virginia Rail | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Am. Coot | 1 | 1 | 32 | 34 | ||||
| Killdeer | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 16 | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 13 | |||
| Solitary Sandpiper | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Willet | 34 | 34 | ||||||
| Least Sandpiper | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Wilson’s Snipe | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Wilson’s Phalarope | 5 | 4 | 9 | |||||
| Gull sp | 25 | 25 | ||||||
| Rock Pigeon | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | 8 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 27 | ||
| White-winged Dove | 7 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 26 | ||
| Mourning Dove | 31 | 15 | 27 | 50 | 1 | 40 | 115 | 279 |
| Gr. Roadrunner | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| W. Screech-Owl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Great Horned Owl | 3 | 5 | 8 | |||||
| N. Pygmy-Owl | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Com. Nighthawk | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Mex. Whip-poor-will | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| White-throated Swift | 25 | 25 | ||||||
| Black-chinned Hum. | 3 | 30 | 5 | 38 | ||||
| Broad-tailed Hum. | 35 | 35 | ||||||
| Hummingbird sp | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Acorn Woodpecker | 7 | 1 | 8 | |||||
| Gila Woodpecker | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||
| Ladder-backed Wdpkr. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Northern Flicker | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Western Wood-Pewee | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |||
| Willow Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Empidonax sp | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |||
| Black Phoebe | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 26 | |
| Say’s Phoebe | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | 10 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 31 | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | 4 | 1 | 5 | |||||
| Cassin’s Kingbird | 2 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 50 | |
| Western Kingbird | 6 | 6 | 21 | 23 | 56 | |||
| Loggerhead Shrike | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Bell’s Vireo | 3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Plumbeous Vireo | 4 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| Warbling Vireo | 6 | 5 | 5 | 16 | ||||
| Steller’s Jay | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| W. Scrub-Jay | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| American Crow | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Raven sp. | 6 | 15 | 21 | |||||
| Chihuahuan Raven | 25 | 25 | ||||||
| Common Raven | 8 | 2 | 22 | 32 | ||||
| Purple Martin | 20 | 20 | ||||||
| Violet-green Swallow | 3 | 4 | 104 | 29 | 218 | 358 | ||
| N. Rough-winged Sw. | 5 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 37 | |||
| Bank Swallow | 4 | 1 | 5 | |||||
| Cliff Swallow | 22 | 5 | 51 | 55 | 27 | 160 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |||
| Mountain Chickadee | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Bridled Titmouse | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||||
| Juniper Titmouse | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Verdin | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Bushtit | 4 | 10 | 14 | |||||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||
| Brown Creeper | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Cactus Wren | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Canyon Wren | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||||
| Bewick’s Wren | 6 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 31 | |
| House Wren | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | ||||
| Marsh Wren | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| Western Bluebird | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Hermit Thrush | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| American Robin | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 12 | 54 | |
| N. Mockingbird | 16 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 27 | |||
| Curve-billed Thrasher | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| European Starling | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | |||
| Cedar Waxwing | 15 | 15 | ||||||
| Phainopepla | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | ||
| Nashville Warbler | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Virginia’s Warbler | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| Lucy’s Warbler | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 21 | ||
| Yellow Warbler | 4 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 67 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 5 | 3 | 29 | 42 | 79 | |||
| Myrtle | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Audubon’s | 12 | 3 | 50 | 65 | ||||
| Black-thr. Gray Warbler | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||
| Townsend’s Warbler | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||
| Grace’s Warbler | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| MacGillivray’s Warbler | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Com. Yellowthroat | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 22 | |
| Wilson’s Warbler | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 60 | |
| Red-faced Warbler | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Painted Redstart | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 9 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 30 | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 25 | ||
| Spotted Towhee | 2 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 24 | |||
| Rufous-cr. Sparrow | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||
| Canyon Towhee | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | ||||
| Abert’s Towhee | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Chipping Sparrow | 130 | 21 | 6 | 18 | 36 | 18 | 229 | |
| Brewer’s Sparrow | 8 | 8 | ||||||
| Vesper Sparrow | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Lark Sparrow | 8 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 48 | |
| Black-thr. Sparrow | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||
| Savannah Sparrow | 10 | 10 | ||||||
| Song Sparrow | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |||
| Swamp Sparrow | 0 | |||||||
| White-thr. Sparrow | 12 | 12 | ||||||
| White-cr. Sparrow | 35 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 101 | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Hepatic Tanager | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Summer Tanager | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 40 | |
| Western Tanager | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 18 | ||
| N. Cardinal | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | ||
| Black-hd. Grosbeak | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 37 | |
| Blue Grosbeak | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Lazuli Bunting | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | ||||
| Indigo Bunting | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Red-winged Blackbird | 13 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 52 | |||
| Western Meadowlark | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||
| Meadowlark sp | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Brewer’s Blackbird | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||
| Great-tailed Grackle | 1 | 6 | 7 | 14 | ||||
| Brown-hd. Cowbird | 19 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 20 | 74 | |
| Hooded Oriole | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Bullock’s Oriole | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| House Finch | 5 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 57 | 11 | 101 |
| Pine Siskin | 250 | 11 | 12 | 253 | 526 | |||
| Lesser Goldfinch | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 13 | |
| House Sparrow | 10 | 8 | 18 | |||||
| Total individual birds seen | 663 | 404 | 215 | 530 | 146 | 965 | 1064 | 3987 |
| Total species seen | 157 | |||||||
| Route 1 – River Road, Gila, Road toward Turkey Creek, Duck Creek, Buckhorn | ||||||||
| - Bruce Hayward et al. | ||||||||
| Route 2 – Mangas Springs, Gila River Valley via Highway 180 to Bill Evans Lake | ||||||||
| and Mangas Creek – Bill Norris et al. | ||||||||
| Route 3 – Mogollon Creek Campground, Licty Center on Highway 293 and 211 | ||||||||
| south to Highway 180 – Eugene Lewis et al. | ||||||||
| Route 4 – Gila Bird Area – Jerry Bird et al. | ||||||||
| Route 5 – Redrock area – Roland Shook et al. | ||||||||
| Route 6 – Gila Cliff Dwellings, Lake Roberts, Sapillo Cr., Grape Vine | ||||||||
| Campground and vicinity – Bob Wilcox et al. | ||||||||
| Route 7 – Runyan’s property, from 180 bridge south thru TNC property, | ||||||||
| Sycamore Canyon, Fred McCauley’s property – Larry Malone et al. | ||||||||
Grant County Migratory Count, 14 May 2011
Written by Roland on May 31, 2011 – 11:55 pm -This count historically occurs on the second Saturday of May. The goal is to count all birds within Grant County. This year’s compiler was Jerry Bird. The total number of individuals detected varies slightly between my figures and Jerry’s. Most likely I entered a number incorrectly.
| Species | Regular | At Feeders | Owling | Total |
| Mallard | 30 | 30 | ||
| Common | 23 | 23 | ||
| Mexican | 0 | |||
| Cinnamon Teal | 5 | 5 | ||
| N. Shoveler | 3 | 3 | ||
| Redhead | 2 | 2 | ||
| Lesser Scaup | 2 | 2 | ||
| Com. Merganser | 6 | 6 | ||
| Ruddy Duck | 9 | 9 | ||
| Scaled Quail | 4 | 4 | ||
| Gambel’s Quail | 155 | 25 | 180 | |
| Wild Turkey | 9 | 9 | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | 8 | 8 | ||
| Eared Grebe | 1 | 1 | ||
| Western Grebe | 1 | 1 | ||
| Dbl.-cr. Cormorant | 1 | 1 | ||
| Gt. Blue Heron | 13 | 13 | ||
| Green Heron | 1 | 1 | ||
| Turkey Vulture | 221 | 32 | 253 | |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| Accipiter sp | 1 | 1 | ||
| Com. Black Hawk | 16 | 16 | ||
| Swainson’s Hawk | 4 | 4 | ||
| Zone-tailed Hawk | 2 | 2 | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 21 | 21 | ||
| Buteo sp. | 1 | 1 | ||
| Am. Kestrel | 21 | 21 | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | ||
| Am. Coot | 30 | 30 | ||
| Killdeer | 12 | 12 | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | 25 | 25 | ||
| (Long-billed Curlew) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Western Sandpiper | 1 | 1 | ||
| Least Sandpiper | 1 | 1 | ||
| Wilson’s Phalarope | 44 | 44 | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | 14 | 14 | ||
| Rock Pigeon | 29 | 14 | 43 | |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | 8 | 83 | 91 | |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | 44 | 24 | 68 | |
| White-winged Dove | 78 | 57 | 135 | |
| Mourning Dove | 295 | 48 | 343 | |
| Inca Dove | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 1 | 1 | ||
| Gr. Roadrunner | 2 | 2 | ||
| Flammulated Owl | 3 | 3 | ||
| W. Screech-Owl | 2 | 2 | ||
| Great Horned Owl | 5 | 3 | 8 | |
| N. Pygmy-Owl | 2 | 2 | ||
| Elf Owl | 1 | 7 | 8 | |
| Spotted Owl | 1 | 1 | ||
| Lesser Nighthawk | 6 | 6 | ||
| Com. Poorwill | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Mex. Whip-poor-will | 5 | 5 | ||
| (Br.-billed Hummingbird) | 3 | 3 | ||
| Magnificent Hum. | 5 | 5 | ||
| Black-chinned Hum. | 44 | 88 | 132 | |
| Calliope Hummingbird | 1 | 1 | ||
| Broad-tailed Hum. | 40 | 27 | 67 | |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 4 | 4 | ||
| Hummingbird sp. | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| Acorn Woodpecker | 23 | 7 | 30 | |
| Gila Woodpecker | 18 | 18 | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | 2 | 2 | ||
| Ladder-backed Wdpkr. | 19 | 1 | 20 | |
| Downy Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | 20 | 1 | 21 | |
| Northern Flicker | 10 | 3 | 13 | |
| yellow-shafted | 1 | 1 | ||
| red-shafted | 5 | 5 | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | 6 | 6 | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | 83 | 1 | 84 | |
| Willow Flycatcher | 2 | 2 | ||
| Hammond’s Flycatcher | 2 | 2 | ||
| Gray Flycatcher | 42 | 3 | 45 | |
| Dusky Flycatcher | 9 | 9 | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | 17 | 17 | ||
| Empidonax sp | 21 | 21 | ||
| Black Phoebe | 41 | 41 | ||
| Say’s Phoebe | 32 | 2 | 34 | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | 33 | 33 | ||
| (Dusky-capped Flycatcher) | 3 | 3 | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | 33 | 2 | 35 | |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | 7 | 7 | ||
| Cassin’s Kingbird | 86 | 7 | 93 | |
| Western Kingbird | 125 | 125 | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | 7 | 7 | ||
| Bell’s Vireo | 15 | 15 | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | 29 | 2 | 31 | |
| Cassin’s Vireo | 3 | 3 | ||
| Hutton’s Vireo | 4 | 4 | ||
| Warbling Vireo | 21 | 1 | 22 | |
| Pinyon Jay | 41 | 41 | ||
| Steller’s Jay | 7 | 6 | 13 | |
| W. Scrub-Jay | 59 | 11 | 70 | |
| Mexican Jay | 52 | 9 | 61 | |
| American Crow | 3 | 11 | 14 | |
| Raven sp. | 105 | 9 | 114 | |
| Chihuahuan Raven | 66 | 9 | 75 | |
| Common Raven | 65 | 24 | 89 | |
| Horned Lark | 15 | 15 | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | 228 | 12 | 240 | |
| N. Rough-winged Sw. | 86 | 86 | ||
| Cliff Swallow | 32 | 32 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 52 | 3 | 55 | |
| Swallow sp. | 11 | 11 | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| Bridled Titmouse | 13 | 2 | 15 | |
| Juniper Titmouse | 9 | 4 | 13 | |
| Verdin | 1 | 1 | ||
| Bushtit | 21 | 7 | 28 | |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 4 | 4 | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 32 | 9 | 41 | |
| Pygmy Nuthatch | 6 | 1 | 7 | |
| Brown Creeper | 5 | 5 | ||
| Cactus Wren | 4 | 4 | ||
| Rock Wren | 4 | 4 | ||
| Canyon Wren | 6 | 6 | ||
| Bewick’s Wren | 73 | 4 | 77 | |
| House Wren | 8 | 8 | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 23 | 3 | 26 | |
| Western Bluebird | 13 | 13 | ||
| Swainson’s Thrush | 2 | 2 | ||
| Hermit Thrush | 26 | 2 | 28 | |
| American Robin | 54 | 12 | 66 | |
| N. Mockingbird | 92 | 5 | 97 | |
| Curve-billed Thrasher | 43 | 16 | 59 | |
| Crissal Thrasher | 2 | 2 | ||
| Thrasher sp | 1 | 1 | ||
| European Starling | 15 | 15 | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | 19 | 15 | 34 | |
| Phainopepla | 14 | 4 | 18 | |
| Olive Warbler | 7 | 7 | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 18 | 4 | 22 | |
| Virginia’s Warbler | 10 | 10 | ||
| Lucy’s Warbler | 26 | 26 | ||
| Yellow Warbler | 60 | 3 | 63 | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 55 | 3 | 58 | |
| Myrtle | 0 | |||
| Audubon’s | 51 | 3 | 54 | |
| undifferentiated | 12 | 12 | ||
| Black-thr. Gray Warbler | 17 | 3 | 20 | |
| Townsend’s Warbler | 26 | 3 | 29 | |
| Hermit Warbler | 1 | 1 | ||
| Grace’s Warbler | 22 | 1 | 23 | |
| (American Redstart) | 2 | 2 | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | 2 | 2 | ||
| MacGillivray’s Warbler | 7 | 2 | 9 | |
| Com. Yellowthroat | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
| Wilson’s Warbler | 137 | 13 | 150 | |
| Red-faced Warbler | 11 | 11 | ||
| Painted Redstart | 10 | 2 | 12 | |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 31 | 31 | ||
| Warbler sp | 11 | 11 | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | 25 | 8 | 33 | |
| Spotted Towhee | 93 | 14 | 107 | |
| Rufous-cr. Sparrow | 12 | 12 | ||
| Canyon Towhee | 43 | 18 | 61 | |
| Abert’s Towhee | 13 | 13 | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | 161 | 31 | 192 | |
| Clay-colored Sparrow | 1 | 1 | ||
| Brewer’s Sparrow | 45 | 2 | 47 | |
| Black-chinned Sparrow | 1 | 1 | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | 2 | 2 | ||
| Lark Sparrow | 134 | 33 | 167 | |
| Black-thr. Sparrow | 58 | 58 | ||
| Lark Bunting | 2 | 2 | ||
| Song Sparrow | 2 | 2 | ||
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | 5 | 5 | ||
| Swamp Sparrow | 1 | 1 | ||
| White-thr. Sparrow | 2 | 2 | ||
| (Harris’s Sparrow) | 1 | 1 | ||
| White-cr. Sparrow | 86 | 27 | 113 | |
| Gambel’s | 0 | |||
| Mountain | 0 | |||
| undifferentiated | 15 | 15 | ||
| Sparrow sp. | 1 | 1 | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | 8 | 16 | 24 | |
| Oregon | 0 | |||
| Gray-headed | 0 | |||
| Pink-sided | 0 | |||
| Slate-colored | 0 | |||
| Red-backed | 0 | |||
| undifferentiated | 0 | |||
| (Yellow-eyed Junco) | 2 | 2 | ||
| Hepatic Tanager | 9 | 9 | ||
| Summer Tanager | 46 | 1 | 47 | |
| Western Tanager | 44 | 6 | 50 | |
| N. Cardinal | 32 | 32 | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | 1 | 1 | ||
| Rose-br. Grosbeak | 2 | 2 | ||
| Black-hd. Grosbeak | 69 | 101 | 170 | |
| Blue Grosbeak | 13 | 3 | 16 | |
| Lazuli Bunting | 6 | 29 | 35 | |
| Indigo Bunting | 2 | 2 | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | 40 | 20 | 60 | |
| Eastern Meadowlark | 18 | 18 | ||
| Western Meadowlark | 6 | 6 | ||
| Meadowlark sp | 8 | 8 | ||
| Brewer’s Blackbird | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | 31 | 5 | 36 | |
| Bronzed Cowbird | 1 | 1 | ||
| Brown-hd. Cowbird | 91 | 51 | 142 | |
| Blackbird sp | 21 | 21 | ||
| Hooded Oriole | 12 | 9 | 21 | |
| Bullock’s Oriole | 32 | 22 | 54 | |
| Scott’s Oriole | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Cassin’s Finch | 2 | 2 | ||
| House Finch | 340 | 101 | 441 | |
| Pine Siskin | 122 | 250 | 372 | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | 61 | 34 | 95 | |
| black-backed | 0 | |||
| green-backed | 0 | |||
| undifferentiated | 36 | 36 | ||
| (Lawrence’s Goldfinch) | 0 | |||
| Am. Goldfinch | 3 | 3 | ||
| House Sparrow | 155 | 93 | 248 | |
| Total | 5691 | 1597 | 25 | 7313 |
| Total Species | 189 | 92 | 7 | 203 |
| Total Individuals – Jerry Bird | 5688 | 1596 | 25 | 7309 |
Bird Sightings Report, May 1 to May 31, 2011
Written by Roland on May 31, 2011 – 11:00 pm -May is the month of migration. In the Silver City area our migration appears late, but as you can discern from this monthly report, there were many migrants moving through our area. You will want to visit the 2011 Gila River May Count results on this site, as well as, the 2011 Grant County Migration Count, also posted on this site. We are still in an extreme drought situation, and there is already evidence that local breeding birds numbers will be affected.
Below is a quote from Sandy Williams who was conducting Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) in the southern part of the state. His impressions very likely hold true for our area.
“There was an unusual number of late spring migrants still moving through the creosote bush deserts near Columbus, Hachita, and Animas May 25-27, including Empidonax flycatchers, a Warbling Vireo, Wilson’s Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Western Tanagers. Meanwhile, breeding birds seemed unusually scarce or quiet.”
Species Accounts:
Geese: Two Canada Geese were reported from the Gila River near Cliff (Roland Shook, 10 and 13 May). A single Canada Goose was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 6 and 9 May).
Ducks: Sandy Williams reported five Mexican Ducks from the treatment plant just east of Columbus (25 May). Eleanor Wootten reported the following ducks from the Lordsburg sewage treatment plant (12 May): eight Cinnamon Teal; four Blue-winged Teal; four Green-winged Teal and at least 15 Ruddy Ducks. A female Common Merganser and six chicks were seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 28 May).
Grebes: Brian Dolton reported one Eared Grebe and one Western Grebe on Bill Evans Lake (14 May).
Pelicans: Roland Shook and Rebecca Anderson reported a flock of 44 American White Pelicans flying over the middle Gila Valley (11 May). On the same date, four American White Pelicans were seen on the Gila River near the Iron Bridge.
American White Pelican by Roland Shook, Gila, 11 May 2011
Herons and Ibis: Six White-faced Ibis were reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds by Betty Spence (8 May) and a late flock of 28 were seen flying over the agriculture lands west of Columbus by Sandy Williams (25 May). Eleanor Wootten reported 30 White-faced Ibis at the Lordsburg sewage plant (12 May). Gene Lewis reported a Snowy Egret from the Tyrone sewage ponds (15 May). Gene also saw two Black-crowned Night Herons at the Tyrone sewage ponds (1 May) and one of this species on 8 May. A Green Heron was seen by Roland Shook and Rebecca Anderson in the middle Gila Valley above Gila (17 May).
Eagles and Hawks: Two immature Bald Eagles and an adult Bald Eagle were reported by Kathy Hill (Mimbres, 4 May). Marcia Andre reported a Northern Goshawk from her residence just east of Silver City (17 May). Dale Zimmerman responded to Marcia’s question about the identification, “One or two others have been reported around this year. We’ve not seen one at our place, though in past years we’ve had them several times. However, they’re not usually near Silver at this time of year. Prey must be scarce in their usual haunts. A pair often nests near Pinos Altos, and they do come down to lower elevations on occasions. I enhanced one of your images somewhat in Photoshop and it clearly shows even the bird’s red eyes. The barring below, and the highly prominent supercilliary lines are unmistakable.” A Zone-tailed Hawk is nesting in the middle Gila Valley near Riverside. A member of this species was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 9 May). Gary Emerson reported a Swainson’s Hawk visiting his feeders west of Ridge Road (30 May).
Northern Goshawk by Marcia Andre, Silver City, 17 May 2011
Sandpipers: Teri Matelson reported a Solitary Sandpiper near McMillen Road (1 May). Betty Spence reported 20 Wilson’s Phalaropes at the Tyrone sewage ponds (8 May). Elanor Wooten reported two Black-necked Stilts from the Lordsburg sewage plant (12 May). Gene Lewis reported the following sandpipers from the Tyrone sewage ponds: five Semipalmated Sandpipers (1 May); two Least Sandpipers (1 May); seven Wilson’s Phalaropes (1 May), 57 (8 May), 18 (15 May), one (22 May), and one (29 May); and numerous observations of Spotted Sandpipers with a high number of 19 on 22 May.
Gulls: Gene Lewis reported a Ring-billed Gull at the Tyrone sewage plant (1 May).
Pigeons: Karen Beckenbach reported 30 Band-tail Pigeons visiting her Silver City residence on a daily basis during May. Brian Dolton reported small flocks, five to ten, of Band-tailed Pigeons visiting his Silver City residence in the latter part of the month.
Owls: Two Barn Owls were reported by Roland Shook in the middle Gila Valley near Cliff (13 May).
Hummingbirds: Brian Dolton reported a Calliope Hummingbird (1 May) and a Magnificent Hummingbird (12 May) at his Silver City residence.
Woodpeckers: Roland Shook reported Gila Woodpeckers detected in the middle Gila Valley near Cliff (11 May, 13 May and 17 May), and in the Gila Bird Area (9 May). A Red-naped Sapsucker was seen in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 9 May).
Flycatchers: Karen Beckenbach reports a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers nesting in her Silver City yard. Two early Willow Flycatchers were detected in the middle Gila Valley (Roland Shook, 3 May).
Vireos: A migrating Warbling Vireo was reported from the middle Gila Valley (Roland Shook, 13 May).
Corvids: American Crows appear to be more common in the middle Gila Valley when compared to the last few years. This species was detected by Roland Shook on 4 May and 17 May.
Chickadees: Karen Beckenbach reports a pair of Mountain Chickadees, with young, nesting in her Silver City yard during the month of May.
Thrushes: John Wilson reported a May Hermit Thrush at the Silver City Golf Course.
Mimids: Marcia Andre reported a Crissal Thrasher at her residence just east of Silver City (17 May).
Warblers: Kate Moitoret reported a Yellow-breasted Chat at her residence in Tyrone (8 May). Although often heard, this species is not commonly seen. Jim Rogers reported a Black-throated Gray and a Townsend’s Warbler at his Hanover residence (31 May). Karen Beckenbach reported a Townsend’s Warbler from her Silver City residence (22 May). An Orange-crowned Warbler was reported from the middle Gila Valley (Roland Shook, 10 May). John Wilson reported two May Orange-crowned Warblers seen at the Silver City Golf Course. Kathy Cassell reported a MacGillivray’s Warbler (16 May) and a Wilson’s Warbler (31 May) at her Indian Hills residence.
Emberizids: A Lark Sparrow was reported near Hanover (Jim Rogers, 2 May). A Dickcissel was reported by Bob Wilcox from his Silver City residence (10 May). Jim Rogers reported a Red Crossbill at his residence in Hanover (17 May). A late Green-tailed Towhee was reported from Hatchet Gap by Sandy Williams (26 May). Gene Lewis reported two Clay-collared Sparrows at his Silver City residence (11 May). Abert’s Towhees were detected in the middle Gila Valley near Cliff (Roland Shook, two on 4 May, one on 17 May).
Dickcissel by Robert Wilcox, Silver City, 10 May 2011
Cardinals et al.: A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was reported by Jim Rogers (Hanover, 2 May). Karen Beckenbach reported the same species at her Silver City residence (8 May), as well as a report of this species from Cinda Cole seen at the Pitch Fork Ranch south of Silver City (19 May). Jim Rogers reported an Indigo Bunting (2 May) near Hanover, while Sandy Williams reported a male of the same species singing on the western edge of the village of Animas (27 May). Kate Moitoret and Jeff Barker reported Indigo Buntings in Tyrone with two on 14-15 May and one on 28-30 May. Western Tanagers have been well represented with the following reports: Jim Rogers, one at Hanover (2 May); Mary Alice Murphy, two near Silver City, (27-31 May); Kate Moitoret and Jeff Barker, one at Tyrone, (7-8 May); Cathy and Joe Ramsay, one at their residence in Wind Canyon (1 – 21 May), and two on 14 May; Roland Shook, one in the middle Gila Valley (10 May). Kate Moitoret and Jeff Barker reported a Lazuli Bunting at their Tyrone residence – one on 7-8 May, three on 14-15 May, and one on 28- 30 May. John Wilson reported a May mixed flock of several Lazuli and Indigo Buntings at the Silver City Golf Course. Jim Rogers reported a Hepatic Tanager at his Hanover residence (31 May). A male Northern Cardinal was singing at a tank in the Little Hatchet Mts May 25 (Sandy Williams). Black-headed Grosbeaks were plentiful during the month of May and were reported by several observers.
Indigo Bunting by Jim Rogers, Hanover, 2 May 2011
Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Cinda Cole, Pitch Fork Ranch, 19 May 2011
Male Western Tanager by Cathy Ramsay,Wind Canyon, 16 May 2011
Icterids: Junella Haynes reported a Hooded Oriole (6 May), a Bullock’s Oriole (8 May), and a Scott’s Oriole (25 May) all at her Silver City residence. Kate Moitoret and Jeff Barker reported a Hooded Oriole at their Tyrone residence (2 May). A male Bronzed Cowbird was reported along NM 9 about two miles east of Animas by Sandy Williams (27 May). Gene Lewis reported a Bronzed Cowbird at his Silver City residence (14 May to 31 May).
New Warbler Classification:
If you are interested in the new, upcoming classification of warblers, Kenn Kaufman has the following information on his web site: http://birdingblogs.com/2011/kennkaufman/dendroic
I appreciate all who sent in bird reports and made comments on the Bird Sightings Report. Even thought numbers are important, a list of birds seen in the field also has value. I want to encourage everyone to spend as much time as they can enjoying watching and identifying birds. I will give careful consideration to all reports that I receive, and will try and include as many reports as I can, even if they do not include numbers of a particular species.
I encourage the submission of records and photos. In order to increase the scientific value of your sightings, I encourage you to please include the number, a date and location for each species. Undated sightings, with or without a location or the number observed, are of a lesser value, however, all submissions are welcome. I do not know where many of you live, so a brief description would be much appreciated. Please send your photos and reports to tyrannidae@gmail.com. Thanks to all who submitted this month and in the past.
All photographs displayed in this Bird Sightings Report remain the sole property of the photographer. Expressed written permission from the photographer is necessary to use any of these photographs.
Photo of Common Mergansers at the top of this page was taken by Robert Shantz.
Please send comments to Roland Shook.