Bird Sightings Report

Archive for October, 2009

Bird Sightings Report, October 1 to Octotober 31, 2009

Many of our fall migrants fall into two main camps, those that migrate from north to south and winter in the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America or South America; and those that migrate from cooler, higher elevations to lower, warmer elevations. Several species in our area fit this later category. This year Townsend’s Solitaires, which have descended from higher elevations, have become more numerous than in recent past years. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are another example of an altitudinal migrant.

Species Accounts

Ducks: Gene Lewis reports a female Cinnamon Teal from the Tyrone sewage ponds (10/7); Northern Shovelers (80), Ring-necked Ducks (5), Lesser Scaup (2), and Ruddy Ducks (1) were all seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Gene Lewis (10/17).

Grebes: A Pied-billed Grebe was reported by Julian Lee at the Tyrone sewage ponds on 10/26).

Hawks: An Osprey feeding on a captured fish (10/14) at Lake Roberts provided Mel Moe an opportunity to capture a photo of it. An Osprey was also observed on 10/17 along the Gila River near Bill Evans Lake on the Southwestern New Mexico Audubon Society’s field trip. A Harris’ Hawk was seen near Deming by Larry Malone (10/20); Jerry Bird reports that he and his wife observed a Golden Eagle (10/25) on the McKnight Canyon Road. During the Southwestern New Mexico Audubon Society’s field trip on 10/17 one of the last Common Black-Hawks of the season was seen along the Gila River near Bill Evans Lake.

Osprey by Mel Moe – Lake Roberts, 14 October

Rails: A Virginia Rail at Mangas Springs was seen by Larry Malone (10/2)

Coots: A Common Moorhen was seen in the Deming area by Larry Malone (10/19)

Shorebirds: Spotted Sandpipers were moving along the Gila River in the Gila Bird Area on 10/6, 10/9, and 10/23 (Roland Shook)

Hummingbirds: Karen Beckenbach sent me an email that on further review, the White-eared Hummingbird that she reported for 9/26 at her Silver City residence was most likely a female Broad-billed Hummingbird. These two species can be difficult to distinguish in the field. An Anna’s Hummingbird was seen in Spring Canyon State Park by Larry Malone (10/25). Karen Beckenbach reported 4 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds coming to her feeder even in the snow (10/28).

Woodpeckers: An Acorn Woodpecker was only Gene Lewis third sighting at the Tyrone sewage ponds on 10/11. Alison Trombly reported an injured Red-naped Sapsucker at her residence (10/21); while Mel Moe reported one from Lake Robert (10/14). A total of six were seen in the Gila Bird Area on 10/23 (Roland Shook). Red-naped Sapsuckers are another species more common in the fall. Richard Matthews reported a Williamson’s Sapsucker at his residence on 10/24 and Mel Moe reported the same species seen at Sapillo Creek (10/16). Julian Lee reported 3 Lewis’ Woodpeckers on Emory Pass (10/8).

Red-naped Sapsucker by Allison Tromply – Silver City, 21 October

Acorn Woodpecker by Robert Shantz – Paradise, AZ, 22 February

Flycatchers: A late Cassin’s Kingbird was reported from the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 10/7 and 10/17); and a member of the genus Empidonax was observed in the Gila Bird Area on 10/16 (Roland Shook).

Vireos: A late Bell’s Vireo was at Pancho Villa State Park (Larry Malone, 10/9)

Wrens: A Marsh Wren was detected at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 10/11) and a Cactus Wren near Bill Evans Lake 10/17 on the Southwestern Audubon Society’s field trip.

Thrashers: Sage Thrashers were seen by Larry Malone in the Gila Bird Area and at Bill Evans Lake (10/2) and two at Spring Canyon State Park (10/25)

Kinglets; A flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets near Rocky Canyon campground (Mel Moe, 10/17), Julian Lee reported a pair of this species at his Silver City residence on 10/28.

Pipits: An American Pipit at the Tyrone sewage ponds was seen by Julian Lee (10/14)

Warblers: A late Townsend’s Warbler was observed in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, 10/9) and at Spring Canyon State Park on 10/25 (Larry Malone). Yellow-rumped Warblers seem numerous this year with Gene Lewis reporting 8 from the Tyrone sewage ponds on 10/7, 12 on 10/11, 14 on 10/17 and 6 on 10/25.

Yellow-rumped Warbler by Robert Shantz – near Redrock, 1 November

Tanagers: a Summer Tanager in the Gila Bird Area on 10/2 (Larry Malone)

Sparrows: Chipping (90+), Vesper (3), Savannah (2), Lincoln’s (1), and White-crowned (7) Sparrows were all seen by Gene Lewis at the Tyrone sewage ponds on 10/7. Wintering sparrows are a sign that summer is over.

Finches: Seven Lawrence’s Goldfinches were observed at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, 10/18) and one in the Deming area by Larry Malone (10/23)

Field Trips

The November field trip is scheduled for Saturday the 21^st. The destination is the Lichty Center owned by The Nature Conservancy. Most of the Cliff-Gila Valley is privately owned and this field trip gives participants an excellent opportunity to access some wonderful riparian habitat. The trip will leave from the Fine Arts parking lot on the campus of Western New Mexico University at 8 AM. The walking will be moderate with several trails and roads available. You will need appropriate clothing for this time of year, binoculars, sunscreen, water and a snack. We will return in late morning or early afternoon. The trip leader is Roland Shook and can be reached at 388 3441.

There are three counts coming up in the near future. The first is the annual Raptor Count, always held on the first Saturday of December. Participants are assigned a driving route in the southwestern corner of New Mexico and count all hawks and owls that they see. Shrikes and roadrunners are also counted. If you are interested in a route or going with someone, please call Roland Shook at 388 3441.

The Silver City Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 19. The center of the count circle is the golf course. If interested, please contact Rinda Metz at 534 0160.

The Gila River Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, January 2. This count is centered on the town of Riverside near Cliff, NM. It is important to let the count leader know if you want to participate so arrangements can be made with private land owners. Count leader is Roland Shook at 388 3441.

I encourage the submission of records and photos. Please send these to tyrannidae@gmail.com.

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.