Any birders out there with experience with Albuquerque south to El Paso in the winter months?/QUOTE]
Steve: Hueco Tanks east of El Paso has a nice assortment of desert birds, though I've heard that access is now rationed a bit more than in the old days when I last visited (it's very popular with rock climbers, esp in winter).
If you're in that area, I'd also recommend almost any place in Guadalupe Mountains NP. During winter with limited time consider the trail system originating at Frijole Ranch, and with a bit more time McKittrick Canyon.
Gary H
Steve: Hueco Tanks east of El Paso has a nice assortment of desert birds, though I've heard that access is now rationed a bit more than in the old days when I last visited (it's very popular with rock climbers, esp in winter).
If you're in that area, I'd also recommend almost any place in Guadalupe Mountains NP. During winter with limited time consider the trail system originating at Frijole Ranch, and with a bit more time McKittrick Canyon.
Gary H
Thanks, Niels. Though eBird was my first choice to work on locations for target birds, I did think to search for bird-finding guides. The third edition book by Parmeter, Neville and Emkains was published in 2002, no updated version that I can find though there are a few additions online. It still may have some value but for now I am depending on eBird and Birding Pal contacts for recent information.Steve, you may be aware that there are two location guides available for NM, one for the entire state and the other for greater Albuquerque. Right next to A is a small mountain range with some interesting winter visitors (rosy fincles)
Niels
You will definitely want to check out the Rosy Finches (3 species) that are winter regulars on Sandia Crest, east of downtown Albuquerque. See:
http://www.rosyfinch.com/
If you have time to travel elsewhere in NM, there are good spots in other locations.
You're welcome. When you get back, please let us know how it went.
BTW, don't forget Bosque del Apache NWR. It's on your way from Ab'q to El Paso and considered a great hotspot.
I just re-read your response re. Sandia Crest. Unless something has changed in recent history, your birding experience there will be nothing like the Colorado experience. At the crest you can sit in a warm cozy restaurant and see the Rosy Finches at a feeder out the window.
Just curious, where in Colorado did you see Rosy Finches?
Hey, Niels-
You mentioned those two guides in your August post here but I tend to agree with this post that showed up in the link in your last post:
eBird will supply you with recent sightings, seasonal distribution, and the most recent records of birds you'd really like to see. As stated, the AZ/NM listserve will have some reports, but AZ reports generally outnumber NM reports 10 to 1.
For myself, eBird gives the most up-to-date information of what's to be seen when birding a new area in the ABA region. I'm a huge fan of the printed page, but things are outdated from the moment they're published these days, it seems.
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Steve in Houston
Still, with a publication date of 2011, I am considering the Albuquerque guide. I'll need something to read on the flight there!
Steve