1 December, 1999
3904 Anderson Ave., SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Phone: 505/255-9282
Cellular: 505/350-4543
Borealowl@aol.com

Dr. Sartor O. Williams III
P.O.Box 25112
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Dear Sandy,

Below is my Fall season report; included are sightings from 1 August through November 30, 1999.

Migrants were definitely lacking in the RGV this fall. Since I have been working in Socorro during the week, I spent much time (morning, noon, and evening) looking at the normally more productive spots around the area (NMT Turtle Bay, Socorro Riverine Park, and Bosque del Apache), hitting each spot 1-2 or more times a week through August, September and mid-October with an overall very poor return. The only thing I have to show for my time is the first state nesting record for Carolina Wren at Riverine Park and a Short-billed Dowitcher at the Bosque. Fortunately I was still able to get to the eastern plains each weekend and these were somewhat more productive. Numbers of migrants at the eastern traps seemed normal to above normal though my impression was that there was an overall shortage of vagrants. The highlight of the season in NM was to finally get my state Aplomado at Isaack's lake in August. To get a lifebird I had to go poaching in AZ where I saw the Eared Trogon at Cave Creek over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Interesting "local" vagrants on the eastern plains included White-br. Nuthatch at Ft. Sumner and Santa Rosa, Brown Creeper and Hepatic Tanager at Maljamar, and Western Bluebird just west of Eunice.

I managed to take my total ticky list past 6500 in October (the Hepatic Tanager at Maljamar was species #6500 and also #200 for Lea Co.).

It was a good season for herps and amphibians and I have included much more than the usual in the way of sightings, photos, and video tape for your herp friend. Many of these were life species for me.

Jerry R. Oldenettel

Fall Season Sightings by Species

1 August - 30 November, 1999

Abbreviations used:

CLSP - Conches Lake State Park, 35.2535N 104.1107W
MR - Maxwell NWR, 36.3417N 104.3444W
BAR - Bosque del Apache NWR, 33.4800N 106.5200W
BLR - Bitter Lakes NWR, 33.3608N 104.2441W
RGNC - Rio Grande Nature Center, 35.0704N 106.4012W
RSPA - Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area, 32.0640N 104.2754W
LVR - Las Vegas NWR, 35.5543N 105.1711W
GTR - Grasslands Turf Ranch (Las Lunas), 34.8061N 106.7480W
GCTR - Green Chaparral Turf Ranch (Moriarity), 34.9900N 105.9726W
ULSP - Ute Lake State Park, 35.2021N 103.2907W
BD - Boone's Draw, 34.1037N 103.2507W to 33.5110N 103.4223W
MVT - the vagrant trap about 10 miles west of Melrose, 34.2549N 103.5275W
PDSP - Percha Dam State Park, 32.8618N 107.3034W
EBMP - Elephant Butte Lake, North Monticello Point, 33.2232N 107.1376W
EBL - Elephant Butte Lake, 33.0912N 107.1224W
SRP - Socorro Riverine Park
NMTTB - New Mexico Tech Turtle Bay (Between Macey Center and the Golf Course, Socorro).

Coobservers: Pat Basham (PB), Alan & Narca Moore-Craig (A&NMC), Louis Cuellar (LC), Doug Emkalns (DE), Bernie, Dawn, and Lorissa Foy (BDF), Wally & Sue Hill (W&SH), Tim Lawton (TL), Bruce Neville (BN), John Parmeter (JP), John Rees (JR), Chris Rustay (CR), Laurie Sager (ls), Ralph Schott & wife (RS), Marcy Scott (MS), Ken Stinnett (KS), Jimmy Zabriskie (JZ).

Note: (ABE) following the species name indicates and all birds encountered and identified during the period are included in the account. Otherwise I have included only the first, unusual, and/or late encounters and high counts. Dates are given as MM/DD. Many locations are given as NM-xx/MPyy, where xx gives the state, U.S., or National Forest route number and yy indicates the nearest milepost number.

Common Loon.(ABE). 1 at CLSP on 9/25 was my first migrant. 1 very distant bird at Brantley Lake on 10/23 appeared to be a Common. About 10 at CLSP on 10/31. 3 at ULSP and 3 at CLSP on 11/6 (with JP).

Horned Grebe.(ABE). 1 at Ute Lake on 10/9 was the first migrant seen. 1 at Lake Avalon on 10/23. 1 at CLSP on 10/31. 6 at CLSP on 11/6 (with JP).

White Pelican. About 10 at CLSP on 10/31.

Double-cr. Cormorant. 1 at Maddox Lake on 10/22.

Least Bittern.(ABE). 1 at BAR on 8/4.

Snowy Egret. 3 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13.

Cattle Egret. 1 at a small pond on the north edge of Clayton on 9/26.

Green Heron. 1 at BD on 10/16.

Black-cr. Night Heron. 7 imms. at Clayton Lake on 9/26.

White-faced Ibis. 1 at Isaack's Lake on 8/1 (with JP). About 8 at BAR on 8/3. About 90 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13.

Ross' Goose. The Jal Lake bird was still present on 9/5 and 10/23. The bird can fly quite well. Twice on 10/23 I saw it fly over the footbridge rather than swimming under it with the rest of the geese.

Wood Duck. 3 around the gravel pit south of Ft. Sumner on 10/30.

Osprey. 2 at Clayton Lake on 9/12 and 3 there on 10/10. 1 at Jal Lake on 10/23. 1 at CLSP on 10/31. 1 at ULSP on 11/6 (with JP).

Bald Eagle. 2 adults at upper Stubblefield Lake on 8/7 (with JP).

Mississippi Kite. 2 immatures in the tall cottonwoods at the NW corner of Isleta Blvd and Don Felipe Road on 8/15 (vt enclosed). 1 imm. at Washington Ranch on 8/22. 2 at Hobbs on 9/5.

Northern Harrier. 1 at Isaack's Lake on 8/1.

Zone-tailed Hawk.(ABE). 1 at Clanton Canyon on 8/14.

Broad-winged Hawk.(ABE). 1 at BD on 9/25 (with JP).

Ferruginous Hawk. 1 adult about 3 miles south of Tatum on 9/5. 1 adult 15 miles north of Nara Visa on NM-402 on 9/12. A concentration of 8 in a Prairie Dog town 1 mile north of McDonald (Lea) on 10/22.

Golden Eagle. 1 imm. north of Dunnegan's Crossing on 8/14. 1 ad. at Clayton Lake on 9/12. 1 imm. at Ranger Lake on 10/22.

Merlin.(ABE). 1 exceptionally early bird at BAR on 9/10 (photo enclosed) had evidently been reported n the refuge log as early as 8/29. 1 fe. (richardsoni ) at CLSP on 9/26. 1 fe. (richardsoni ) at GCTR on 9/26 (with DE, BN, CB). 1 male (richardsoni ) at Santa Rosa on 10/20. 1 at BAR on 11/13 (with CR). 1 male (richardsoni ) at BAR on 11/14, 11/21 (with A&NMC), and 11/28 (with DE, BN).

Aplomado Falcon.(ABE). 1 adult at Isaack's Lake on 8/31 (with JZ, MS, W&SH, RS, TL, KS; photo, vt enclosed) had been found and reported earlier in the day by the Hills and Schultes. I arrived at about 5:30 in the evening to find RS, JZ, and MS already on the bird at a great distance toward the south then of the lake. We drove to the south end of the lake and were able to watch the falcon as it flew up the far side to harass some ducks and shorebirds, then to harass a Swainson's Hawk, and finally to do some mesquite hopping on the far side of the open area. After about 15 minutes, the bird flew up the east side of the lake to the north end where it settled. We returned to join W&SH and TL who had come in by the north entrance and worked about half way down the lake. We then worked our way up to the north entrance where we were about 300 yards from the bird and in good scoping range. From this area we were able to watch the bird hunt and itself be harassed by a Kingbird and a Kestrel. At one point, the bird went (hopped and walked) into and through the middle of a large mesquite to challenge and banish a Roadrunner perched on the opposite side of the bush. At another point, the bird showed why it's long tail comes in so handy and exhibited a great deal of agility in chasing down a smaller bird (the tail enabled the bird to turn and wheel on a small radius similar to an accipiter). At another point I saw it go into a power chase (reminiscent of a Gyrfalcon I saw chasing a pheasant at the Yolo Bypass in CA in the mid-80s). This is a straight, power flight with tremendous acceleration and the bird's obvious sole aim to chase down the bird being pursued. In this case the bird was a blackbird or a blue grosbeak, which was able to get into and around a mesquite bush to break the flight pattern before being caught.

The bird was a falcon, about halfway in size between a Kestrel and a Swainson's Hawk, both of which were nearby for direct comparisons. The back, wings, and upper tail were dark gray and there was a white trailing edge to the secondaries and narrow white bands on the tail (upper and lower). The tail was exceptionally long for a Falcon and appeared to extend 3-5" beyond the wing tips. The wings were long, narrow and pointed. The crown was dark (blackish). The prominent, wide eyelines rapped around the nape and as they did so narrowed to points, almost joining at the base of the skull (actually, this reminded me of the eyelines of Piratic Flycatcher!). A wide black bar ran from the ear coverts through the eye and down onto the front of the cheek. The rear of the cheek, chin, throat and breast were white and there was some blackish spotting on the breast. There was a black belly band which did not quite meet at the center. The lower belly, undertail coverts, and leggings were orange and the feet were yellow. The orange leggings stood out at a long distance. In flight, the underwing was dusky. Interestingly, the black belly-band was not so obvious in flight, looking more grayish and restricted on the belly, but extending to grayish axillaries and a grayish patch extending out to about the wrist in the center of the underwing.

Peregrine Falcon. .(ABE) 1 adult at BLR on 8/21 (with JP). 1 adult at BAR on 9/23.

Prairie Falcon. First fall migrant was at Moriarity sitting on the Water Tower on 9/12.

Sora. 1 at Clayton Lake on 10/10. 1 at RSPA on 10/24.

Sandhill Crane. 10 at Clovis and 9 at Pep on 10/2. 3 at Clayton Lake on 10/10. About 5 at Crossroads (Lea) and 2 at Maljamar on 10/16.

Black-bel. Plover.(ABE). 1 breeding plumaged bird at BLR on 8/21 (with JP) and 8/22. 2 juv. at BLR on 10/17 and 5 there on 10/24.

Snowy Plover. 4 at Brantley Lake on 10/16. 2 at BLR on 10/24.

Mountain Plover. About 25 at GCTR on 8/22.

Black-n. Stilt. 6 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13.

American Avocet. About 45 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13. 1 at CLSP on 11/6 (with JP).

Lesser Yellowlegs. 2-3 at Isaack's Lake on 8/1 (with JP). 4 at MR on 8/7 (with JP).

Solitary Sandpiper. 1 at Isaack's Lake on 8/1 (with JP). 2 at BAR on 8/4.

Upland Sandpiper.(ABE) 1 flushed from tall grass at the northeast corner of Isaack's Lake and 1 flyby at EBMP on 8/15. 5 in a newly mown hay field about 1 mile northeast and 3 in a flooded pasture about 1 mile south of San Antonio on 8/19. 2 at BLR (with JP), 5 at Lovington, and 2 at the Seven Rivers WMA on 8/21. 1 at RSPA and 7 near a pond on Chaves#26 (Cottonwood Rd) on 8/22. 2 flybys at South Rock Canyon (EBL) on 8/28. 8 at Malaga, 18 at Loving, and 4 at Milnesand on 9/5. 4 at Milnesand and 1 at Pep on 9/6. 1 at MVT on 9/11.

Willet. .(ABE) 1 at LVNWR on 8/7 (with JP). About 15 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13. 3 at Holloman lakes and 1 at Isaack's Lake on 8/15. 4 at BLR on 8/21 (with JP) and 1 there on 10/24.

Long-bld. Curlew.(ABE) About 20 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13. About 510 at NM-202 and Stateline road (~19 miles east of Portales) with an additional 11 on the TX side and 110 at the Portales sewage ponds on 10/2. About 250 along NM-208 10 miles north of Lovington on 10/16 and 10/22. About 110 at the Portales sewage ponds on 10/22. 1 at CLSP on 10/30.

Marbled Godwit.(ABE) 1 at MR on 8/7 (with JP). About 30 at the Lordsburg Playa on 8/13. 1 at Holloman Lakes on 8/15.

Red Knot.(ABE) 1 basic plumaged bird at EBMP on 11/24 (photos, vt enclosed). The bird was observed over a period of about a half hour as it worked its way southwest and away from the gull flock at the end of the point and about 40 yards distant along the shoreline toward me to as close as about 10 yards. I watched it with binoculars and watched, photographed and taped it through a 15-60 power zoom scope in excellent mid-afternoon light. It was clear and warm with no wind.

The bird generally kept company with a killdeer and foraged by probing it's bill into the debris along the shoreline. It was relatively active in it's feeding. The bird was a little larger and notably plumper looking than the killdeer with slightly longer legs. The bill was medium length, a little longer than the depth of the head, fairly thin, slightly tapered and black. The legs and feet were yellow-green. The crown, face, back, coverts, and wings were medium gray. The primaries were contrastingly darker, almost blackish. There was a panel of feathers (I believe these were the lesser and median coverts) which were contrastingly slightly grayer with pale edges (possibly reminant juvenile feathers?), other wise the upper parts of the head and body showed no edgings to the gray feathers. The bird had a notable white eyeline and narrow gray lores with gray ear coverts. The lower face, chin and throat were white and there was considerable fine streaking on the otherwise white breast and flanks. The belly and undertail were white. I did not see the rump or upper tail pattern (though this may be visible on the video).

Sanderling. .(ABE) 1 at Laguna Grande on 9/5. 1 at Brantley Lake on 10/2 and 2 there on 10/16.

Western Sandpiper. 1 at BLR on 10/24.

Semipalmated Sandpiper. .(ABE) 2 at BLR on 8/21 (with JP). 1 at a pond 2 miles east of San Jon on 9/11.

Baird's Sandpiper. 2 at MR on 8/7. 1 at Brantley Lake on 10/16.

Pectoral Sandpiper. .(ABE) 1 at GCTR on 9/10. 1 at Clayton on 9/12. 1 at BAR on 9/21. 1 at GCTR on 10/8.

Dunlin.(ABE) 1 at BLR on 10/17 and 10 there on 10/24. 1 at EBMP on 11/24.

Stilt Sandpiper. 25 at BAR on 8/3. 1 at Clayton on 9/12.

Short-billed Dowitcher.(ABE). 1 juv. at BAR on 9/9 (vt enclosed). A juvenile dowitcher with a relatively short bill. Rufous breast, belly and undertail, scapulars and coverts buffy (golden) edged and black centered with internal mottling. Tertials barred chestnut and black. This bird flushed with a flock of peeps and gave a too-too-too call several times. It also gave soft too, too-too, and too-too-too calls when foraging (some of these may be audible on the video). First Short-billed I've had call since I've been in NM. The bird was still present on the morning of the 10th, this time with a flock of about 12 Long-billeds. There were 3 juvenile Long-blds. and the underparts of the short-billed were clearly much more rufous than any of the Long-billeds. The bird was also slightly but notably smaller than any of the Long-billeds.

Com. Snipe. 1 at Maljamar on 10/2.

Wilson's Phalarope. 3 at BLR on 10/24.

Red-necked Phalarope.(ABE). 2 at BAR on 9/9.

Franklin's Gull. 1 at EBMP on 9/29 was the first migrant for the all. 20 birds off Big Mesa, Conchas Lake, on 10/31. About 15 additional birds of similar appearance were beyond ID range.

Bonaparte's Gull. 4 at Brantley Lake on 10/23 were the first of the fall. 2 at ULSP on 11/6 (with JP).

Ring-bld. Gull. 2 at Jal Lake on 10/23.

Thayer's Gull. 1 1w bird at Brantley Lake on 10/23 (vt enclosed).

Common Tern.(ABE). 3 at Sumner lake on 9/18 (with JP, LC).

Forster's Tern. 4 at BAR on 8/3.

Black Tern. 1 at Isaack's Lake on 8/15. 1 at Jal sewage ponds on 9/5 and 1 at the Portales sewage ponds on 9/6.

Yellow-bld. Cuckoo. 1 at Clayton Lake on 10/10/.

Eurasian Collared Dove.(ABE). The Portales bird from the spring has moved to the alley 1/2 block east of the Presbyterian Church on 9/6 (photo enclosed).

The Texico bird was within 1 block of the location of last December's sighting (area north of the water tower) on 9/11 (photo enclosed). 1 at Ft. Sumner on 9/18 (with JP, LC). The Texico bird was seen at the pond on the north end of town flying south and into TX on 10/2.

1 flew into MVT for a couple of minutes, then quickly departed to the south on 10/9 (with JP).

A flock of 7 at 1st and Idaho in Jal on 10/23 (photo of 6 enclosed).

White-winged Dove. About 40 at Loco Hills (Eddy) on 8/21. 7 at the village of Ute Lake at 11 at Logan 0n 9/25 (I also had two flocks of about 7 birds each fly by, but these could have been part of the 11 previously seen)..

Inca Dove. 1 calling around the intersection of Morningside and Smith in Albuquerque on 8/11. 1 at Lordsburg on 8/14. 1 in southwest residential Lovington on 8/21. 3 at Jal on 9/5 and 2 there on 10/23. 4 at Ft. Sumner on 9/18 (with JP, LC). 1 at RSPA on 10/3.

Barn Owl. 1 at the Clanton turn off from NM-338 on 8/14. 1 at Bosque Redondo on 9/25.

Great Horned Owl. About 6 at Clayton Lake on 10/10 (all calling pre-dawn.

Whiskered Screech Owl.(ABE). 1 just above the Turkey Seep in Clanton Canyon on 8/14.

Burrowing Owl. 9 in a field (Prairie Dog town) at the northwest corner of CR-E and CR-10 (Curry) on 9/11 and 5 there on 10/2. 6 at a Prairie Dog town at CRB&CR47 (about 20 miles north of Texico) on 10/9. 3 in a Prairie Dog town 1 mile north of McDonald (Lea) on 10/22.

Long-eared Owl.(ABE). 1 at MVT on 10/9 (with JP) and 1 there on 10/22 (photo enclosed).

caprimulgid, sp., 1 at MVT on 10/22 was probably a Whip-poor-will (a quick fly-by at dawn, fairly long, narrow wings, no white wing bars).

Calliope Hummingbird.(ABE) 1 male at Isaack's Lake on 8/1.

Belted Kingfisher. 3 at Jal Lake on 9/5 and 1 there on 10/23. 1 at the Portales sewage ponds on 9/6.

Eared Trogon. 1 at Cave Creek Canyon, AZ, on 11/25 (with A&NMC, mob, photos enclosed). The bird had been reported a little over a week previously, lost, then refound on about Wednesday. Narca said the bird was last seen around the Silver Creek turnout above the ranger's station. We pulled into the turnout and had the bird calling within a minute (when I got the photos). I went into the woods to keep track of it while Narca went back for Alan (down with what-ever's-going-around). In the half hour she was gone, Dave Utterback, Pippa Roulette, and I tracked the bird as it moved down canyon to below the ranger's station. When Narca and Alan got back, we spent another 45 minutes chasing the bird down for the crowd which had gathered. Once the sun came up, it seemed to like the area along the creek between Idlewild and Stewart Campgrounds, where there are several fruiting Madrones (though we never saw it feed other than hawking insects). The bird was quite vociferous and called often, giving either a series of shack calls and/or a long, high pitched, slightly slurred whistle. On 3 or 4 occasions, we heard a second bird call from up stream but never pursued this bird or saw it. I have previously seen a number of species of trogon in Mexico, but Eared Trogon is a lifebird for me.

The bird was a largish looking Trogon with a straight edged tail, slightly rounded at the tip (not racket-tailed as other trogons). The back and upper tail were bright bluish green, the head being somewhat darker blackish green. The eye and bill were dark. The throat and upper breast wre green, giving the bird the typical trogon hooded look. The breast and belly were bright red with maybe a slight orangish cast. The under-tail appeared all white with a narrow dark stripe occasionally visible down the center and dark tip. In flight, the white tail feathers were visible from above giving the edges of the tail a white, highly serrated appearance.

Red-hdd. Woodpecker. 1 imm. at ULSP on 10/9. 1 ad. at Ft. Sumner on 10/30.

Yellow-bel. Sapsucker.(ABE). 1 at the NMSU Agri Center wood lot north of Clovis and 1 at a small trap 4 miles south of Endee on 10/9. 1 imm. at CLSP on 11/6.

Red-naped Sapsucker. 1 at Boone's Draw and 1 at Bosque Redondo on 9/25 (with JP) were the first for the fall. 1 at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 10/16.

Williamson's Sapsucker.(ABE). 1 female at Capilla Peak on 9/19. 1 female at the rest stop 7 miles SW of Nara Visa on 10/9.

Ladder-bkd. Woodpecker. 2 fe/imm at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 8/21.

Downy Woodpecker. 1 female along Riverroad in Santa Rosa on 10/30.

Stirckland's Woodpecker.(ABE). 4 in Clanton Canyon on 8/14.

Hybrid Flicker. 1 yellow feathered bird at Ned Houk park with a red chevron on the nape and red whisker marks.

Yellow-shafted Flicker.(ABE) 1 male at the Eunice Cemetery on 10/23 (photo enclosed). 1 male at RSPA on 10/24. 2 at Bodque Redondo on 10/30.

Least Flycatcher. 1 at Sumner Dam on 9/6.

Hammond's Flycatcher. 1 at MVT on 10/9 (with JP).

Black Phoebe. 2 along the Pecos and below the railroad bridge at Santa Rosa on 9/12. 1 at the Abo Ruins on 9/19. 1 at Clayton Lake State Park on 9/26 (photos enclosed), 1 at GCTR on 9/26. 1 at San Simon Cienega and 1 at Pecan Park in Deming on 11/28.

Eastern Phoebe.(ABE). 1 at RSPA on 10/3. 1 at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 10/16. 1 at the Artesia Cemetery on 10/17. 1 at MVT on 10/22 and 10/30. 1 at RSPA on 10/24. 3 at BAR on 11/13 (2 at audio stop 7 and 1 at audio stop 9, with CR, DE)

Vermilion Flycatcher. 1 male at the golf course holding pond at CLSP on 9/25 and 9/26.

Great-crested Flycatcher.(ABE). 1 at the NMSU Agricultural Station wood lot (north of Clovis) and 1 at a small grove 4 miles south of Endee (photo enclosed) on 9/11. 1 at MVT on 9/18 (with JP, LC, photo enclosed)

Western Kingbird. 4 at San Jon and 2 at Ute Lake on 10/9. 1 at Clayton on 10/10. 1 at St. Vrain on 10/22.

Eastern Kingbird.(ABE). About 15 at MR and 3 at Springer Lake on 8/7 (with JP).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 2 at a grove 4 miles south of Endee, 1 three miles south of Endee, and 1 at a grove 5 miles north of San Jon on 9/11. 3 at Pep on 10/2. 1 at NM-93/mp16 (16 miles south of Endee, at the edge of the caprock) and 16 at San Jon on 10/9. 1 7 miles NE of Tatum and 1 at Lovington on 10/16. 1 at McDonald and 1 west of Hobbs on 10/22.

White-eyed Vireo.(ABE). 1-4 at RSPA on 10/3. With a 1-4 rating, you can tell this was a fun sighting. All birds were in the thick undergrowth just east of the spring. I was standing at the southwest corner of the pasture directly south of the ranger's residence when a small bird appeared about 10 ft. up in a Russian Olive. I could see a vireo bill, olive green wing with wingbars, and a yellow side with a white belly (otherwise hidden by leaves). After about 10 seconds this bird flew across a gap and was immediately followed by two others the same size and shape. I got a quick look at the lower bird (I don't believe it was the same bird I had been looking at) and it was a White-eyed Vireo (seen over it's right shoulder with head turned at me) olive above, wingbars, yellow sides, vireo bill, yellow lores and eyering, and white eye. I did not get any kind of look at the third bird. About 15 minutes later I was in the area where the pond flows into the stream/riparian area. Here I had a single White-eyed Vireo foraging in the brush along the stream (Yellow sides and breast, white chin and belly, olive green above with two wing bars, yellow lores and eyering, white eye). Since there were no other birds in the area, I could not be sure that this was one of the original 3 birds (which had been seen about 50 yards east of this location.

Bell's Vireo.(ABE). About 8 at RSPA on 8/22 and 5 there on 9/4-5.

Blue-headed Vireo.(ABE). 1 at Milnesand on 9/5. This bird was seen with the Red-eyed Vireo (which at the time I thought was a Philly because they were the same size) foraging in two trees near the road at Milnesand. It was seen with 10X binoculars at distances ranging from 12-25 ft, intermittently for a period of about 10 minutes. The bird was a Solitary type vireo with a dark gray head, prominent white eye-ring and lores, bright white throat and breast. There was considerable yellow wash along the sides and flanks (didn't see the undertail). The back, wings, and upper tail were olive green (I again did not note the wingbars, I think the head-throat contrast must distract me from those marks). It was notably chubbier than the Red-eyed Vireo.

1 along Frio Draw where it crosses NM-209 (Curry) on 9/11. This bird was seen with binoculars at distances of 30-70 ft. in sunlit and shadowed conditions. The head was dark gray with a prominent bright white eye-ring and lores. The chin was bright white and contrasted sharply with the dark gray cheek. The bill was black with the typical blunted/hooked tip of a vireo. The back, wings, and upper tail were olive green and the wings had two white wing bars. The bird was white below with a yellow wash on the sides and flanks. There was a little olive cast to the center of the yellow on the flanks.

1 at RSPA on 10/24 (vt enclosed). It is possible that there were more than one birds present in the area. I first got a glimpse of a bird I suspected to be Blue-hdd. Midway across the gap in the riparian which is half way between the restrooms and Ranger's residence. This bird quickly flew into the eastern end of the dense riparian south of the residence. It was singing intermittently, but I never relocated it and move on to the spring. The bird I video taped appeared in the cottonwoods south of the spring about a half hour later. As noted below, it appeared to keep company or be joined by 2 female Black-thtd. Green Warblers.

Cassin's Vireo.(ABE). 1 at BD on 9/4. 3 at MVT on 9/18 (with JP, LC). 1 at BD on 9/25 (with JP). 1 at MVT on 10/16 (with JP, LC).

Plumbeous Vireo. 1 at MVT on 9/11.

Warbling Vireo. The first fall migrants were 5 at NMTTB on 8/12. 1 at Waldrop Park on 8/21.

Hutton's Vireo. 1 in Skeleton Canyon on 11/25 (with NMC).

Red-eyed Vireo.(ABE). 1 adult at Milnesand on 9/5-6. 1 at Boone's Draw on 9/18 (with JP, LC).

Purple Martin. 5 at Vermejo Park Ranch (NM-555/mp11,11 miles west of Raton) on 8/7 (with JP).

Rough-w. Swallow. 1 at Ned Houk Park on 10/9.

Cave Swallow.(ABE) 8-10 at the Gadsen High School location near La Union on 8/1 (with JP, photo enclosed). About 50 at RSPA ion 8/22 and 5 there on 9/5.

Blue Jay. 2 at Clayton Lake and 1 at Amistad on 9/26. 1 at 3rd & Capitan in Santa Rosa on 10/8. A flock of 9 about 30 miles north of Texico on 10/9. 1 in my neighborhood on 10/18. 2 at Melrose on 10/22 (one of these was tree hopping eastward along US-60/84 a few miles east of town). 2 at Santa Rosa on 11/6 (with JP)

White-br. Nuthatch. 1 in my neighborhood on 10/18. 1 at the wood lot northeast of Billy-the-Kid's Authentic gravesite in Ft. Sumner on 10/30. 1 at the railroad bridge across the Pecos in Santa Rosa on 10/31. Note that these are my first two records for the Eastern Plains.

Red-br. Nuthatch. 1 at MR on 8/7 (with JP). 1 at BD on 9/25 (with JP). 1 at GCTR on 10/3. 1 at Clayton Lake and 2 at Clayton on 10/10. 1 at MVT on 10/16 (with JP, LC). 1 at MVT on 10/22.

Carolina Wren.(ABE). 2 at SRP on 8/5 and 8/6. One was singing about every 5 minutes, The other was carrying nesting material. I got video of both birds on 8/6. 1 singing at SRP on 8/13 and 2 there on 8/19 (with 1 attending what I believe to be the nest site, disappeared inside of a log for 20 mins.). 1 singing at SRP on 8/20. 2, with one definitely carrying food items to the nest tree (stump, photos enclosed), on 9/1. 1-2 bringing food items to nest stump on 9/2. 1 there on 9/8, 9/14. Not having seen the birds come to the nest (though still calling in the area) in the last three visits, I checked the stump on 9/14. There was indeed a nest between the bark and the trunk of the tree, but it was empty. At noon on 9/15, I located a group of 3 fledgling Carolina Wrens (pished them in) about 75 yards south of the nest. Looked like parents, except still had stubby bills and at least one bird had a yellow gape. They appeared to be traveling with three Bewick's Wrens. I went back in the evening and got photos of at least 2 of the birds. This time I found them about 150-200 yards southwest of the nest and there were 4, one possibly an adult. Over the next two weeks, work crews clearing salt cedar and dead wood managed to find the nest stump and cut it off at ground level. About a week after finding the fledglings, the birds disappeared and were not encountered in numerous visits to the area throughout the rest of the fall period.

1 at RSPA on 8/22 (photos enclosed) and 9/4-5. The bird was still present, singing, and had moved to the area just south of the spring on 10/3. On 10/24 it had moved back to the area south of the restrooms.

Winter Wren.(ABE) 1 at MVT (with JP, LC) and 1 seven miles NE Tatum (photo enclosed) on 10/16.

Long-bld. Marsh Wren. 1 at Milnesand on 9/6. 1 at Clayton Lake on 9/26 and 10/10.

Golden-cr. Kinglet.(ABE). 1 at GCTR on 10/8 and 2 there on 10/17.

Western Bluebird. 3 (ad male, ad female, imm. male) at Stephens Park east of Eunice on 10/23 (photo enclosed).

Eastern Bluebird.(ABE). 2 at SRP on 8/13 and 8/19. 3 at SRP on 9/15. The birds had moved to about 300 yards northeast of the original location. 1 at SRP on 9/24. 3 at MVT and 1 at Ft. Sumner on 10/30. 6 at Power Dam Park in Santa Rosa on 11/6 (with JP). 1 male at BAR on 11/14. About 15 at SRP on 11/21 (with A&NMC)

Gray Catbird.(ABE). 1 at SRP on 8/19 and 9/3, 2 there on 9/14 (one carrying food items). 1 at MVT (with JP, LC) and 1 at Crossroads on 10/16.

Sage Thrasher.(ABE) 1 at the (east) Santa Rosa Cemetery on 11/6 (with JP).

Brown Thrasher.(ABE). 1 at RSPA on 10/3. 1 in the riparian along the railroad track in Jal and 1 at the Eunice Cemetery on 10/23.

Long-billed Thrasher.(ABE). The Bosque Redondo bird was still present on 9/25 (with JP), not well seen, but it gave it's usual churring call and a couple of check notes and did not appear to have a particularly bright back when it flew.

Bendire's Thrasher. 1 along NM-145 (3 miles nw Cotton city) on 11/28.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher.(ABE). 1 at the NMSU Agricultural Station wood lot (north of Clovis) and 1 at a grove 5 miles north of San Jon on 9/11. 1 at MVT on 10/16 (with JP, LC).

Phainopepla. 1 at SRP on 8/5. 2 at Luis Lopez on 8/12 and 1 there on 8/19.

Cedar Waxwing.(ABE). 1 at GCTR on 9/18 (with JP). 20 at NMTTB on 9/24 and 1 there on 10/11. About 15 at Clayton on 10/10. 6 at CLSP on 11/6 (with JP). 1 at SRP on 11/21 (with A&NMC).

Northern Shrike.(ABE) 1 ad. at CLSP on 11/6 (with JP). 1 imm. at BAR on 11/14 (photo enclosed).

Virginia's Warbler. The first fall migrants were 3 at SRP on 8/18.

Nashville Warbler.(ABE). 1 at RSPA on 10/3.

Northern Parula Warbler.(ABE) 1 male at BAR on 11/13 (at audio stop 7, with CR, DE). The bird was a nice mail seen at 40-60 ft. foraging with a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Kinglets (and occasionally 2 Eastern Phoebes). It was a small warbler with a bright yellow breast and throat with a rufous-black bar across the chest, white belly and undertail coverts, bluish gray head, wings, rump and upper tail, olive green back and 2 white wingbars.

Black-thtd. Blue Warbler.(ABE) 1 female at MVT on 10/16 (with JP, LC, photo enclosed).

Yellow-rumped Warbler. 1 (Myrtle) at Washington Ranch on 9/5 was very early.

Townsend's Warbler.(ABE). 1 female at Clanton Canyon on 8/14. 1-2 at MVT and 2 at BD on 9/4. 1 fe. at Pep on 10/2. 1 female at MVT on 10/9 (with JP). 1 imm. male at MVT on 10/30.

Black-thtd. Green Warbler.(ABE). 1 female at Milnesand on 9/6. This bird was well seen in morning light (at my back) with binoculars at 40-70 ft. It was foraging in the conifers behind the residence and gave a sort of flat chip note several times. It was a warbler with an unmarked olive green crown, nape, and back, two white wingbars, heavy black streaking on the sides and flanks. The face was yellow with a very weak dusky ear patch. The throat was a buffy to yellowish white and the breast and belly where white.

1 female at MVT on 9/18 (with JP, LC). The bird was a medium sized warbler with an unmarked olive green back, two white wingbars, and yellow face with a dusky ear patch. It had heavy black streaking on the sides and flanks and a whitish throat with a white breast and belly.

1 ad. male and 1 imm. male together at MVT on 10/9 (with JP). These two birds were foraging on the east side of the aspen grove, 10 to 25 ft. off the ground. They were seen with binoculars at about 40 ft. distance in morning light. Both birds had unmarked olive green crowns, napes and backs with blackish wings and two white wingbars. They had yellow faces with weak dusky ear patches, white bellies and undertails. The presumed imm male had heavy black streaking on the sides and flanks with a narrow black band across the otherwise white breast. The adult male had the side and flank streaking plus the entire breast and chin were solid black.

1 in the riparian along the railroad tracks in Jal on 10/23 (photo enclosed).

2-5 at RSPA on 10/24 (vt enclosed). These birds were first seen foraging in the large cottonwoods directly south of where the pond overflows into the stream at the spring. There at first appeared to be 3 individuals in widely different parts of the trees. None of these were seen concurrently, so part of the confusion as to how many there were as I would find a new bird then not be able to find the bird I had been previously watching. These three I would have called all imm. males with fairly narrow black breast bands. While watching the warblers, I (re?)found the Blue-hdd. Vireo in the same cottonwoods. This bird eventually moved to the willows above the stream and as I watched it, I realized that there were 2 Black-thtd. Green Warblers with the vireo, both apparent females with fairly wide black breast bands and white chins. I put the number down as 2-5 because the first "three" birds were fairly distant and I could not be certain of the relative size of the breast band.

Pine Warbler.(ABE). 1 at MVT on 10/9 (with JP). We heard this bird chipping when we first got out of the car. It mostly stayed high in the tall cottonwoods and occasionally chipped with a short, sharp, high-pitched note. John relocated the bird several times and finally got me onto it fairly low down on the south end of the trap. The bird flew out over the weedy pasture east of the grove and lit on a power line for a couple of minutes, then dropped into the weeds. As we approached, it flew back up onto the wire where we got very good looks ( I was about 20 yards away with the sun at my back and John appeared to be almost directly underneath the bird). It then flew off north to join a largish flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and was heard chipping, but not seen again. This entire flock moved off well north of the trap to forage in the weeds.

The bird was a medium sized warbler with a medium yellow throat, breast, and sides. The bird had indistinct diffuse dusky streaking on the sides of the breast. The face was plain olive (no eyeline or other mark through the eye) with a white eyering. The belly and undertail were white. The wings were olive brown with 2 whitish wing bars and the crown, nape and back were unmarked olive brown. The bill was blackish, but I did not note the leg color.

Blackburnian Warbler.(ABE). 1 very dull female at BD on 9/18 (with JP, LC). Louis first spotted the bird in a cottonwood about half way down the narrows. We were able to relocate it and follow it for some minutes as it foraged, mostly at the very tops of 2-3 tall cottonwoods, so the distance was generally 30-40 ft. The bird was a smallish warbler with a dusky ear patch and with a pale spot below the eye. The ear patch tapered to a point at the rear and bottom. . The bird had a pale yellow breast, throat, lower face, and eyeline with dusky spotting/streaks on the sides. On two occasions, I saw that the bird had black streaks on an olive brown back. It had brown wings with two white wingbars.

Black-and-white Warbler.(ABE). 3 fe/immfe. at MVT on 9/18 (with JP, LC).

American Redstart.(ABE). 1 male in the lower riparian area of Clanton Canyon on 8/14 (photo enclosed). 1 at BD and 3 at MVT on 9/18 (with JP, LC). 1 female at GCTR on 10/1 and 10/3.

Swainson's Warbler.(ABE). The NMTTB bird was in the rose thicket at the west side of Macey Center at noon on 8/4 (with PB).

Northern Waterthrush.(ABE) 1 at RSPA on 8/22. 1 at NMTTB on 8/24-27, 1 there on 8/31. 1 at a grove 4 miles south of Endee on 9/11. I also remember a bird at GCTR, probably in early Sept., which I failed to record in my notes.

Kentucky Warbler.(ABE). 1 imm. male and 1 nearby unseen calling bird at BD on 9/4. I first had the bird chipping at me as I walked down the southmost road in the north grove, a loud, mellow chip note (which I immediately suspected was Kentucky). I spent some time trying to get the bird to show itself and had it chipping several times as I pursued it into the baccarus. It finally flew away and lit in a taller salt cedar about 40 ft. away, but in clear view. It was a largish warbler, olive green above and yellow below with no wingbars. It had a large black bill and a yellow eyering and lores with a black ear patch which trailed down the side of the neck. The bird was in very fresh, bright plumage, my guess would be a hatch year male. During the initial pursuit, I heard a second bird giving a similar call about 40-50 ft to the southwest of me, but was never able to get it to show itself..

Ovenbird.(ABE). 1 at MVT on 9/11. 1 at MVT on 9/18 (with JP).

Com. Yellowthroat. 1 at Clayton Lake on 9/26.

Wilson's Warbler. 1 at the Mesa Rest Stop and 1 at Caprock on 8/21 were the first migrants seen.

Yellow-br. Chat. 1 at the NMSU Agri. Station woodlot (north of Clovis) on 9/11. 1 still at RSPA on 10/3.

Hepatic Tanager. 1 male at the Abo Ruins on 9/19. 1 at the Maljamar Rest stop on 10/16 (large, olive-gray backed tanager, yellow belly and red-tinged yellow breast, large black bill, dusky band through eye and ear patch, gave chuck call several times).

Summer Tanager. 1 at Clayton Lake on 9/26.

Western Tanager. First migrant was 1 at SRP on 8/13.

Botteri's Sparrow.(ABE). 2 at NM-338/milepost 38 (2 miles north of Dunegans' Crossing) on 8/14.

Rufous-cr. Sparrow. 1 at Clayton Lake on 9/26.

Field Sparrow.(ABE) 3 at MVT on 10/22.

Black-throated Sparrow. 2 at the Jal Cemetery on 10/23.

Sage Sparrow.(ABE) 1 at GCTR on 10/17. 1 at Ranger Lake (Lea) on 10/22.

Pyrrhuloxia. 2 at BD on 10/16. 1 at MVT on 10/22 and 10/30.

Rose-br. Grosbeak.(ABE). 1 imm. male at RSPA on 10/3 (photo enclosed).

Indigo Bunting. 2 males at SRP on 8/5 and a pair there on 8/19. 1 female at RSPA on 10/24 was quite late.

Painted Bunting.(ABE). 2 fe/imm at Caprock and 1 fe/imm at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 8/21. About 10 at RSPA/Washington Ranch on 8/22. 2 at RSPA on 9/4. 4 at Milnesand on 9/6.

Dickcissel.(ABE). 4 at MR on 8/7 (with JP). 2 at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 8/21. 3 at RSPA, 1 at Cross-Roads, and 1 at Milnesand on 9/5. About 15 at Milnesand on 9/6. 1 at MVT on 9/11. 1 at GCTR on 9/12. 1 at RSPA on 10/3. 1 at MVT on 10/9 (with JP).

Canyon Towhee. 1 at the Maljamar Rest Stop on 8/21. 4 at the Jal Cemetery on 10/23.

Clay-col. Sparrow.(ABE). 1 at Milnesand on 9/6. 1 near Texico and 1 at Endee on 9/11. 1 at Ute Lake on 9/12. 1 at Sumner Lake on 9/18 (with JP:, LC). 1 at BD and 5 along Guadalupe road 2F on 9/25. 2 at Clayton Lake on 9/26.

Swamp Sparrow. About 15 at RSPA on 10/24 were the first ones seen.

White-thtd. Sparrow.(ABE). 1 adult (tan stripes) at NM-402 and NM-102 (7 miles north of Amistad) on 10/10. 1 at the Blue Hole ponds at Santa Rosa on 10/30.

White-cr. Sparrow. 1 at BD and 1 at CLSP on 9/25 were the first migrants seen.

Lark Bunting. 2 at BAR on 8/4.

Rusty Blackbird.(ABE) 3, 1 male and 2 females, at BAR on 11/21 (with A&NMC, JR, photos enclosed).

Common Grackle. 2 at Tucumcari Lake on 11/6 (with JP).

Orchard Oriole.(ABE). 2 fe/imm at Caprock on 8/21. 3-4 at RSPA on 8/22. 2 at RSPA and 1 fe. at Bell Lake on 9/5. 1 fe. at Milnesand on 9/6. 1 fe. at MVT on 9/11.

Purple Finch.(ABE) 1 male at CLSP on 10/31 (vt, photos enclosed). The bird was feeding on berries along the north edge of the engineer's compound just to the east of the road. I first spotted the bird in the berry bushes as stated above (many robins were coming to the area as there is a small wet seep. As I approached, it flew to the fence line across the road, then worked it's way up to the equipment yard fence and finally up to the top of a 25 ft. elm. It top-hopped a couple of times and then disappeared back toward the back of the residence area. It gave a fairly sharp pit call at one point, but that was the only noise it made. I looked around for it for a while, then checked back at the original spot and found it had returned to feed on the berries there. I was able to approach it much closer and get photographs over the next few minutes.

The bird was a smallish carpodicus finch with a short conical bill (culmen appeared to be fairly straight). The crown and nape were blackish/dark brown, streaked and suffused with rose (no red cap as in Cassin's Finch). There was a broad rose colored eyeline and a dark brown/blackish ear patch and whisker mark. The back was streaked blackish with paler rosy-brown streaks. The rump was bright rose. The wings were dark brown and suffused with rose. The breast was fairly lightly streaked blackish and suffused with rose down to the flanks. The belly and undertail were unmarked white. The tail was strongly notched.

American Goldfinch. 5 at CLSP on 9/25 were the first migrants seen.

Appendix A

Trip Log

990801. (with JP). La Union, Isaack's Lake, Caballo Dam, Rock Canyon Marina, North Monticello Point.

990803. Noon, NMTTB, evening, BAR.

990804. Morning, noon, NMTTB, evening, BAR.

990805. Morning, noon SRP, evening BAR

990806. Noon, SRP.

990807. (with JP). Maxwell NWR, Stubblefield Lake, NM-555/mp11, Raton, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake, Las Vegas NWR.

990812. Morning - NMTTB.

990813-15. Socorro Riverine North Monticello Point, Rock Canyon Marina, Caballo Dam, Percha Dam S.P., the Lordsburg sewage ponds, Lordsburg Playa, night in Lordsburg, before dawn in Clanton Canyon, Gray Ranch headquarters, Dunnegan's Crossing, milepost 38, Animas, Lordsburg Playa, Hidalgo A-12 and A-21 (Steins north up the west side of the playa), Lordsburg sewage ponds, Lordsburg Playa, Rodeo, night at Road Forks, Holloman Lakes, Isaack's Lake, Caballo Dam, Rock Canyon Marina, North Monticello Point, Isleta Marsh, and Rio Brave.

990817. Noon - NMTTB, Evening - BAR

990818. Morning - BAR, noon - San Antonio, evening - NMTTB, SRP

990819. Morning, noon - SRP, evening - San Antonio and BAR.

990820. Morning. SRP

990821. Bitterlake NWR (with JP), Waldrop Park, Caprock, Tutum, Lovington, Chaparral Park, Maljamar & Rest Stop, Loco Hills, night in Carlsbad, Rattlesnake Springs, Bitterlake NWR, Cottonwood Rd., Mesa Rest Stop, Ramon, Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

990824. Noon, NMTTB, evening, BAR, NMTTB

990825. Evening, NMTTB

990826. Morning, SRP, noon, NMTTB

990828. Trex picnic at south Rock Canyon, (2 ea. 2 hr boat trips to EBMP).

990829. Percha Dam State Park, Caballo Lake, Rock Canyon Marina, North Monticello Point, Bosque del Apache, Grassland Turf Ranch, Rio Rancho.

990831. Evening - Isaack's Lake

990901. Morning - SRP, noon, NMTTB, evening, BAR

990902. Morning - Water Canyon, noon - SRP, evening - Water Canyon.

990903. AM - SRP

990904-6. Melrose Trap, Boone's Draw (north end only, hunters to south), Bitter Lake NWR, and Rattlesnake Srpings. night at Carlsbad, Rattlesnake Springs, Loving, Laguna Grande, Bell Lake, Jal, Stephens Park, Tatum, Cross-Roads, Milnesand, night at Portales, Milnesand, Highway, Pep, Portales sewage ponds, Melrose (huntered out in 15 mins.), Sumner Lake, Power Dam Park, Green Chaparral Turf Ranch

990907. Evening - Water Canyon

990908. Morning - NMTTB

990909. Morning - SRP, evening - BAR

990910. A.m. BAR

990910-12. Green Chaparral Turf Ranch, night in Santa Rosa, Melrose Trap, Wiliam's Playa, Texico, the NMSU Agricultural Station woodlot north of Clovis, along NM-209, NM 108/93 to Endee, Ute Lake, Nara Visa, and along NM-402 to Clayton, night in Clayton, Clayton Lake (rainy and windy), Clayton Golf course, NM-402 to Nara Visa, Ute Lake, Tucumcari Lake, Tres Lagunas in Santa Rosa, Power Dam Park, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

990913. Evening - BAR.

990914. A.m. - SRP, NMTTB, noon - SRP, evening - BAR

990915. Noon - SRP, evening - SRP.

990916. A.m. - BAR.

990917-18. Boone's Draw, Melrose Trap, Bosque Redondo Park, Sumner Lake and Dam, Tres Lagunas, Power Dam Park, Green Chaparral Turf Ranch, night in Albuquerque, Abo Ruins, Quarai Ruins, Capilla Peak hawk watch.

990921. Evening - BAR

990922. Morning - NMTTB, noon - SRP, evening - BAR

990923. Morning - NMTTB, noon - SRP, evening - BAR

990924. Morning - SRP, noon - NMTTB

990925-26. [ (with JP). Boone's Draw, Melrose Trap, Bosque Redondo, Sumner Lake], Guadalupe 2F and 2C to Cueva, Conchas Lake, Tucumcari Lake, Ute Lake, night in Nara Visa, Clayton Lake, Clayton, Amistad, Nara Visa, Ute Lake, Conchas Lake, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

990928. Noon - SRP, evening - BAR

990929. Morning - EBMP, noon - NMTTB, evening - SRP

990930. Morning, noon - NMTTB, evening - BAR/Luis Lopez

991001-3. Green Chaparral Turf Ranch, night in Santa Rosa, [(with JP, LC) Melrose Trap], Clovis, Texico, down Stateline Road to NM-202 and back to Portales, Pep, Milnesand, Crossroads, Tatum, Caprock, Maljamar, Brantley Lake, night in Carlsbad, Rattlesnake Springs, Brantley Lake, Sumner Dam, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

991004. Afternoon - BAR

991005. Morning - BAR, noon - NMTTB

991008. Morning - SRP.

991008-10. Green Chaparral Turf Ranch, Santa Rosa, night in Santa Rosa, [(with JP), Melrose Trap], Ned Houk Park, NM-108, NM-93, San Jon, Ute Lake, night in Nara Visa, Clayton Lake,

991011. Evening - NMTTB.

991012. Noon - SRP.

991013. Morning, noon - SRP, evening - SRP.

991016-17. [(with JP, LC, RC) Melrose Trap], Boone's Draw, Pep, Milnesand, Crossroads, Tatum, Lovington, Maljamar Rest Stop, Brantley Lake, night in Carlsbad, Rattlesnake Springs, Brantley Lake, the Artesia Cemetery, Bitter Lake NWR, Mesa Rest Stop, Ramon, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

991018. Morning, Abq. neighborhood walk (Blue Jay, White-br. Nuthatch)

991022-24. Melrose Trap, back roads to Ned Houk Park, Texico, Portales Sewage Ponds, Pep, Milnesand, Crossroads, Ranger Lake, Tatum, Hobbs, Maddox Lake Lake, night in Hobbs, Prairie View Cemetery (owling), Eunice Cemetery (owling), Jal Country Club (owling), Jal Lake, Jal, Eunice Cemetery, Stephen's Park, Allread Tank, Lake Avalon, Brantley Lake, a 6-mile Dam, night in Carlsbad, Rattlesnake Springs, Brantley Lake, Bitter Lake NWR, Mesa Rest Stop, Ramon, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

991030-31. Melrose Trap, Bosque Redondo, Ft. Sumner, Sumner Lake/Dam, Santa Rosa, Tres Lagunas, Santa Rosa Lake, night in Santa Rosa, Conchas Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, Santa Rosa, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

991106. (with John ) Conchas Lake State Park, Tucumcari, Ute Lake State park, Tres Lagunas, Santa Rosa, and the Green Chaparral Turf Ranch.

991113-14. NMT Turtle Bay, Bosque del Apache, night in Albuquerque, Bosque del Apache, North Monticello Point, Rock Canyon Marina, Blsque del Apache.

991120-21. (with Alan and Narca) Bosque del Apache, night in Water Canyon, Riverine Park, Bosque del Apache.

991124-28. North Monticello Point, Rock Canyon Marina, Caballo Dam, night at Portal, Cave Creek, Skeleton Canyon, Willow Tank, night at Portal, French Joe Canyon, Wilcox Twin Lakes, night at Portal, Onion Saddle, Sunizona, Elfrida, Whitewater Draw, Rucker Canyon road, Wilcox Twin Lakes, Lordsburg Playa, Animas, night in Portal, Rodeo, San Simon cienega, NM-145, Lordsburg Playa, I-10/exit29 ponds, Pecan Park, Caballo Dam, North Monticello Point, Bosque del Apache.

Appendix B

Photo log

As usual, I have included several slides to help document records. The slides are duplicates and need not be returned. All photos were taken with ASA-400 film (Ectachrome Elite 400) with auto speed setting using Nikon N6006 body and Nikor 500 mm mirror lens with a fixed stop of f/8. Video footage was taken with a Canon ES-5000 camera using the sports setting (1/250 sec. exposure with auto stopping). Early December, 1998, I added a digital still camera to my arsenal. It is a Sony Mavica F-91 and sports a 14:1 optical zoom capability for effective focal lengths of moderately wide angle to over 500 mm equivalent(~10X) magnification. Exposure is typically automatic and not recorded. Digital resolution is typically left at the default setting (640X320 pixels/frame for early imagery, since mid. Jan, 1999, it has been 1024 fine resolution) As with the video camera, I can mate it up to my Kowa scope to get an effective focal length of 3-4 meters.

Digital Images:

Cave Swallow (La Union, 8/1, CavSw649X.JPG).
Ground Snake (EBL, 8/12, MVa-698X.JPG)
Red-spotted Toad (Clanton Canyon, 8/14, MVa-702X.JPG)
Western Rattlesnake (BAR, 8/17, MVa-747X.JPG)
Carolina Wren (RSPA, 8/22, MVa-779X.JPG)
Aplomado Falcon (Isaack's Lake, 8/31, Compaplomado.jpg)
Carolina Wren nest stump (SRP, 9/1)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Portales, 9/6)
Merlin (BAR, 9/10)
Great-cr. Flycatcher (Endee, 9/11)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Texico, 9/11)
Carolina Wren fledglings (SRP, 9/15)
Great-cr. Flycatcher (MVT, 9/18).
Desert King Snake (BAR, 9/22)
Black Phoebe (Clayton Lake, 9/26)
Gopher Snake (n. of Clayton, 9/26)
American Redstart (GCTR, 10/1)
Rose-br. Grosbeak (RSPA, 10/3)
Black-thtd. Blue Warbler (MVT, 10/16)
Winter Wren (ne Tatum, 10/16)
Long-eared Owl (MVT, 10/22)
Eurasian Collared Doves (Jal, 10/23).
Black-thtd. Green Warbler (Jal, 10/23)
Yellow-sh. Flicker (Eunice Cem., 10/23)
Western Bluebird (Stephen's Park, 10/23)
Purple Finch (CLSP, 11/2)
Northern Shrike, (BAR11/14)
Rusty Blackbird (BAR, 11/21)
Red Knot (EBMP, 11/24)
Eared Trogon, (Cave Creek, AZ, 11/25)

Video Tape:

Carolina Wren (SRP, 8/6)
Mississippi Kites (Rio Bravo, 8/15)
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (BAR, 8/19)
Aplomado Falcon (Isaack's Lake, 8/31)
Short-bld. Dowitcher (BAR, 9/9-10)
Thayer's Gull (Brantley Lake, 10/23)
Blue-hdd. Vireo (RSPA, 10/24)
Black-thtd. Green Warblers (RSPA, 10/24)
Purple Finch (CLSP, 10/31)
Red Knot (EBMP, 11/24)

Appendix C

Other interesting things

1 Red-and-black banded Ground Snake in the large wash northwest of Monticello Point, Elephant Butte Lake S.P., on 8/12 (photo enclosed). The animal was 12-15 inches in length and 1/4-3/8 inch in diameter.

1 very small (5/8") Red-spotted Toad in Clanton Canyon on 8/14 (photo enclosed).

1 Western Rattlesnake at Bosque del Apache NWR on 8/17 (photo enclosed). 30-36" long and 1.5-2" in diameter. A second one 24-20" long, also at Bosque del Apache NWR on 9/16.

1 Western Terrestrial Garter Snake at Bosque del Apache NWR on 8/19 (vt enclosed). This snake is out of range according to Degenhart, Painter, & Price, who show no middle-lower RGV records south of about Bernalillo Co.. It was about 30" long and .75" in diameter. As can be seen from the video, It was "fishing" in more or less characteristic fashion, wriggling wildly about in a small, shallow pool and capturing small animals (fish?, tadpoles?, ?), evidently by bump and grab. I saw it stop and take down something 2-3 times.

1 Badger dead on the road (US-380) about 15 miles east of Roswell on 8/21.

1 Chirichuahuan Spotted Whiptail at Ramon, Lincoln Co., on 8/22.

1 4-5 ft. Red Coachwhip (Red Racer) along US-84 about 10 miles south of Santa Rosa.

1 20-24" Desert Kingsnake at Bosque del Apache NWR on 9/22 (photo enclosed)

1 Gopher Snake (1 inch diameter, 3-4 ft. long) on the road about 3 miles south of Clayton Lake on 9/26.

Peccary. 1 large male at a pond along NM-80 about 10 miles north of Rodeo on 11/28.