Bird Sightings Report

Archive for November, 2009

Bird Sightings Report, November 1 to November 30, 2009

Upon further review …. In my haste to get the October Bird Sightings Report done and sent, I used a picture by Allison Trombly of a “Red-naped Sapsucker.” There is a problem! Below are the original picture and an additional one submitted by Allison. Look carefully (something I didn’t do) and see if you can identify the bird. This illustrates that for many of us we look but we really don’t “see.” We identify birds on the basis of what we think we see, and at times are sadly mistaken. Additional pictures and a comment by Dale Zimmerman occur at the end of this report.

Sapsuckers by Allison Tromply, Silver City, Oct. 21

Species Accounts

Ducks and Geese: A Wood Duck at the Tyrone sewage ponds was seen by Julian Lee and Gene Lewis (Nov. 1); a Snow Goose at Lake Roberts (Larry Malone, Nov. 18); 10 Canvasback ducks on Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, Nov. 3, one Nov. 6, and two Nov. 27).

Gallinaceous Birds: Three Wild Turkeys were seen at the Richard Matthews’ Silver City residence (Nov. 8); 8 Montezuma Quail at the Jack Carter’s Silver City residence (fide Jerry Bird, Nov. 16).

Grebes: Five Western Grebes at Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, Nov. 3 and Nov. 6);  6 Eared Grebes at Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, Nov. 3) and 8 at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, Nov. 30).

Cormorants: A Double-breasted Cormorant was seen at Bill Evans Lake (Roland Shook, Nov. 3) and at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, Nov. 5).

Hawks and Eagles: A Golden Eagle seen near Cooke’s Peak (Julian Lee, Nov. 5), and two seen near Bear Creek north of Silver City (Richard Riva, Nov. 9); a Northern Harrier was seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Gene Lewis (Nov. 1), and at Faywood (Jim Rogers, Nov. 13); a juvenile Goshawk on Gomez Peak (Walter “Ski” Szymanski and companions, Nov. 15); a Harris’ Hawk 8 miles east of Deming (Larry Malone, Nov. 23); a Merlin was seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Gene Lewis (Nov. 1 and Nov. 8).

Rails: A Virginia Rail and Sora calling at Mangas Springs (Larry Malone, Nov. 21).

Cranes: Eleven Sandhill Cranes seen near Hurley (Jim Rogers, Nov. 10).

Shorebirds: A Greater Yellowlegs seen on Fuller Road, Hidalgo County (Robert Shantz, Nov. 20); an American Avocet at Pancho Villa State Park (Larry Malone, Nov. 23); a Western Sandpiper at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, Nov. 28); a Wilson’s Snipe in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, Nov. 27).

Gulls: a Bonaparte’s Gull at the Deming Water Treatment Plant (Larry Malone, Nov. 2).

Doves: Two to five Inca Doves have been visiting Gene Lewis’ Silver City residence from Nov. 15 to the end of the month.

Owls: Two Burrowing Owls at the stock yard in Deming (Larry Malone, Nov. 23).

Hummingbirds: a female Magnificent Hummingbird at Karen Beckenbach’s Silver City residence (Nov. 15).

Woodpeckers: A Lewis’ Woodpecker at Gila Hot Springs (Andy Anderson, Nov. 13); a Downy Woodpecker at Lake Roberts (Larry Malone, Nov. 23); two Hairy Woodpeckers at the Mount View Cemetery in Deming (Larry Malone, Nov. 23) a first for Deming; one at the Zimmermans’ Silver City residence (Nov. 20) and one at the Gene Lewis’ Silver City residence (Nov. 30).

Flycatchers: an Empidonax Flycatcher in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, Nov. 3), and one (possibly a Hammond’s) at San Vicente Creek (Larry Malone, Nov. 18).

Corvids: A Steller’s Jay at the Dale Zimmermans’ Silver City Residence (Nov. 18) and one in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, Nov. 27).

Chickadees: A Mountain Chickadee was seen near Hanover (Jim Rogers, Nov. 9).

Creepers: A Brown Creeper in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, Nov. 6).

Thrushes: A very rare Varied Thrush appeared at the Dale Zimmermans’ Silver City Residence (Nov. 20). This is perhaps only the third record of this species in Grant County and the Zimmermans’ 206^th “yard bird.”

Varied Thrush by Dale Zimmerman, Silver City, Nov. 20

Varied Thrush by Dale Zimmerman, Silver City, Nov. 20

Thrashers: A Sage Thrasher at the Tyrone sewage ponds (Gene Lewis, Nov. 1).

Pipits: Two American Pipits seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Julian Lee (Nov. 1).

Warblers: an Olive Warbler on Meadow Creek Road (Larry Malone, Nov. 18) and one feeding in the oaks and pines at Steve London’s residence between Hanover and San Lorenzo (Nov. 26).

Olive Warbler by Steve London, near Hanover, Nov. 26

Tanagers: A very late female Summer Tanager was seen near the Bear Mountain Lodge by Elaine Halbedel (Nov. 20).

Sparrows: Two slate-colored Fox Sparrows in the Gila Bird Area (Roland Shook, Nov. 3); and Chipping (22), Brewer’s (1), Savannah (1), Song (3), Lincoln’s (1), White-crowned (22) Sparrows were seen at the Tyrone sewage ponds by Gene Lewis (Nov. 22)

Finches: Four Lawrence’s Goldfinches at Pancho Villa State Park (Larry Malone, Nov. 16)

Identification of Sapsuckers

Red-naped Sapsucker by Dale Zimmerman

Silver City, October 7, 1989

Hybrid Red-breasted X Red-naped Sapsucker

by Dale Zimmerman, Mangas Springs,

December 30, 1989

Red-breasted Sapsucker by Dale Zimmerman

Tucson, February 13, 1988

The “Red-naped” Sapsucker pictured in the previous Bird Sightings appears to be a Red-naped X Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid. Note the amount and distribution of red, as well as the relative amounts of black and white feathering, on the head.

Hybrid sapsuckers are more frequent in southwestern New Mexico than generally known. I suspect that some are present annually during fall and winter. Because many of these resemble typical Red-napes in most respects, observers fail to properly record them. It often takes more than a casual glance, and, of course, one needs to be familiar with details of sapsucker plumage patterns.

Compare these three pictures of a male Red-naped, a clearly intermediate bird, and an apparent Red-breasted Sapsucker. The latter was photographed northwest of Tucson, Arizona, 13 February 1988. Note that although this individual looks very much like Sphyrapicus ruber, it may carry some genes of S. nuchalis, the Red-naped Sapsucker: there is a short but noticeable black extension behind the eye, and a tiny black spot on the hind-crown, not expected in a “pure” Red-breasted. Bear in mind, too, that there are pronounced subspecific differences between northern and southern Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and that intermediates between these can show varying combinations of characters. One should also remember that Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers can hybridize with either of the other two species. This, plus age and sexual variation can produce a confusing array of plumages. Positive identification of sapsuckers requires attention to numerous details.

Dale Zimmerman

Field Trips

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. A 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.