Left the motel at early
o’clock and drove up into the mountains, arriving at dawn after a little
‘discussion’ with the local constabulary. Needless to say it was freezing and
there was some ice on the mountain track as we drove up to over 8,000 feet. At
the first stop we heard a Northern Pygmy
Owl in the distance, which was quite exciting. However, at the next stop a
little higher up (around 8,000 feet) we heard and then managed to spot a calling Northern Pygmy Owl
perched high up in a pine tree, and then followed it as it flew to a huge dead
tree where we scoped it. I was particularly pleased to get this recent split
from the Pygmy Owl of Europe. Numerous juncos came in to mob the owl and it was
amazing to see so many birds suddenly appear out of nowhere as the forest
initially seemed devoid of birds.
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| Northern Pygmy Owl |
So we walked up the track in search of Pygmy Nuthatch and came across another Northern Pygmy Owl
– wow! This one was much closer and drawing the attention of several Mountain Chickadees
and we were treated to terrific views. Our luck was truly in as just after
seeing this I heard a Pygmy Nuthatch in the distance and then there they
were, four of the little beauties flew right up next to us. Always a treat to
see and a decent trip tick indeed!
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| Mountain Chickadee |
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| Pygmy Nuthatch |
Walking back to the car we had a female Williamson’s Sapsucker and then drove
lower down where numerous Western
Bluebirds and Townsend’s Solitaires
were enjoying the morning sunshine.
From here we decided to
forego the delights of the Bosque Grasslands and drove back up to Sandia Crest
in the hope of some more rosy-finch action. Arriving at a decidedly chilly
parking lot, we welcomed the heated restaurant from where we could view the
feeders.
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| Grey-headed Junco |
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| Steller's Jay |
Just a few Grey-headed Juncos and Steller’s Jays were coming in and we
were thinking of leaving after a two hour wait when 3 Black Rosy-Finches appeared. After
another hour of waiting and again thinking of leaving a single Brown-capped
Rosy-Finch flew in! We were so pleased to get our second rosy-finch
species and I think coming here a few weeks later would definitely result in
all 3 species.
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| Black Rosy-Finch |
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| Brown-capped Rosy-Finch |
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| Brown-capped Rosy-Finch |
All that was left was to
drive to the airport motel and a final great evening meal before flying back to the UK the next day.
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