Connie: I just did that trip last week. A few recs:
* For directions to birdy places in NM, check out the bottom of the home page of NM big year champ Jerry Oldenettel: https://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage/ * Sandia Crest above Albuquerque is probably the easiest place in the U.S. to see all three rosy-finches these days. * Bosque del Apache NWR near Socorro, NM. 45,000 snow geese and 9,000 sandhill cranes flying out at dawn and flying in at dusk. Wow -- spectacular! (I liked the fly out better.) * If you like chiles, stop in Hatch, NM. Terrific food (actually, Mexican food is great along this whole route) and lots of ristras and wreaths. * If you like hiking, a short but gorgeous walk with dozens of black-chinned and black-throated sparrows is to Dripping Springs east of Las Cruces, NM. The Organ Mountains there are a desert version of the Flatirons and Red Rocks. Really beautiful. * West along I-10 to Tucson, I'd recommend the ABA Lane Guide by Richard Cachor Taylor -- A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona. Depending on how much time you have, I vote yes on Portal, AZ in the Chiricahua Mountains (Mexican chickadee); the Willcox, AZ sewage lagoon (hundreds of cranes and waterfowl, plus quail nearby); Scheelite Canyon in Fort Huachuca near Sierra Vista for spotted owl; and the whole Patagonia area, especially Patagonia Lake State Park for southwestern specialties (more specifics in Lane Guide). * Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to spend in Tucson, but I found a lot more birds in the the western outpost of Saguaro National Park than the eastern facility. Have fun! Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -----Original Message----- From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Connie Kogler Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 10:40 AM To: COBirds COBirds Subject: [cobirds] AZ NM Birding Tips? My sister and I are planning on a trip to Tucson via New Mexico and are wondering if any of you have tips or ideas as to southern New Mexico and AZ birding? Thanks! Connie Kogler Loveland,CO Birds O' The Morning .com Aslan's Own .com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
