Saturday 6 - Saturday 20 January 2007 (15 days)
Saturday 5 - Saturday 19 January 2008 (15 days)
Join Mike Read for one of the best possible winter birdwatching trips in the USA, combining the riches of the Rio Grande Valley, with the incredible spectacle of Bosque del Apache in New Mexico, along with its superb deserts and pinewoods.
Southern US species dominate the first part of the tour as we visit the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Colourful Altamira Orioles and Green Jays inhabit the riverine woodlands, where Spanish Moss forms curtains on the branches of trees. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is the jewel in the Rio Grande's crown but there are plenty of other sites to visit too, including Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge where 80% of North America's Redheads overwinter on the shallow coastal lagoon and where Ospreys and rare Aplomado Falcons are also possible.
We then move to New Mexico to find birds in higher deserts and pine forests before heading for the reservoirs in the 'upper' Rio Grande Valley. The expanses of water hold good numbers of grebes, ducks and geese while the surrounding scrub contains a wealth of birds including Greater Roadrunner. The final location is for a pure bird spectacle. Bosque del Apache hosts a staggering 12,000 Sandhill Cranes and 35,000 Snow Geese each winter. Add to this all of the other wildfowl, waders and predatory species (including Bald Eagles and good numbers of Coyotes) and you will be enthralled by the sheer number of birds.
Itinerary
Days 1 - 5
We take a scheduled flight from London to Houston and connect with a short flight to McAllen, where we'll be based for five nights to explore the wealth of birds along the Rio Grande.
In this fabulous part of the Rio Grande Valley, many Southern and Central American species just have a 'claw-hold' in the USA. Noisy Plain Chachalacas attract attention, as do the bright colours of Great Kiskadees, Altamira Orioles, Green Jays and possibly three species of kingfisher. Roadside telegraph poles can hold Crested Caracaras, Red-tailed Hawks and Loggerhead Shrikes, while White-tailed Kites and Coyotes can also be seen from the roadsides. The co-operative hunting exploits of Harris Hawks can sometimes be observed at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, where ducks on Willow Lake may be on their menu. At the same location, Least Grebes are more secretive along the reedy margins and Parauques utilise their superb camouflage as they rest amongst the leaf litter. Buff-bellied Hummingbird is a possibility here too, while superb Vermilion Flycatchers can be seen hunting amongst the Spanish Moss-draped trees.
Further inland lie Falcon Dam State Park and Salineno where we stand a chance of finding Greater Roadrunners and Brown Jays respectively. We will also visit the coastal end of this superb river valley to search for more shorebirds as well as possibly two species of pelican, Roseate Spoonbill and American Alligator.
Five nights McAllen
Day 6
There may be an opportunity for one final birding outing in the area before we fly to El Paso in the far, south-western corner of Texas. From here, we drive to Las Cruces in New Mexico for an overnight stop.
Overnight Las Cruces
Days 7 - 8
Dripping Springs, nestled in the Organ Mountains, will be our first port of call. Here the birding can be difficult but rewarding with such species as Black-throated and Black-chinned Sparrows with Gambel's Quail amongst the scrub, and occasional Red-tailed Hawks overhead. We then drive to Silver City for a two-night stay. Throughout the journey occasional stops will be made to search for birds and there is a strong possibility of seeing Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons perched on telegraph poles!
Next day we explore the Silver City area. To the west of town we drive over the Continental Divide and head for the Gila River and to Bill Evans Lake. Here, we may encounter our first Bald Eagles of the tour as well as possible Buffleheads and Lesser Scaup. At Little Walnut picnic ground, coniferous woodland dominates. Acorn Woodpeckers are a distinct possibility along with White-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse and Steller's Jay.
Two nights Silver City
Day 9
Today we travel through other parts of the Gila Forests back towards the Rio Grande Valley. We will make occasional stops to search for birds and other wildlife as we go. Emeroy Pass viewpoint has super views eastwards - and occasionally good birds around the car park too. As we reach lower lying ground, the trees give way to scrub and then we visit Percha Dam State Park. Here the birding can be exciting with Phainopepla feeding on the mistletoe berries in the trees and Pyrrhuloxia down at ground level feeding on seeds. The area will be searched before heading for the strangely-named town of Truth or Consequences for an overnight stay.
Overnight Truth or Consequences
Days 10 - 12
Close to Truth or Consequences lies Elephant Butte State Park. Verdin, Gambel's Quails and Cactus Wrens are likely but the main target species here will be Crissal Thrasher - a difficult bird to find at the best of times but often seen here. Clark's or Western Grebes on the lake may cause some confusion as they are very similar but the Cranes, Geese and Ducks should be much easier and also give us a slight flavour of Bosque del Apache, which we visit for the afternoon 'flight in'. We take a short drive to Socorro for a three-night stay.
Much of our time here will be spent exploring Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. And it seems that no two visits to this superb site are the same. Because of all the geese and cranes, predators abound. Coyotes hunt through the cornfields and frequently ‘spook' the birds. Clouds of ducks, geese and Red-winged Blackbirds rise in alarm while overhead a patrolling Cooper's Hawk or Peregrine may take advantage of the confusion caused. Prairie Falcon is also a possibility. American Kestrels hunt for small mammals and insects, Northern Harriers for slightly larger prey and magnificent Bald Eagles seem to do little except perch in dead trees. Occasionally they hunt and capture an injured or sick goose and this often happens in the early morning before the roosting birds fly out to their feeding grounds. It is then that the sunrise-lit skies literally darken with the quantity of birds. There are lots of other species to be seen at this superb reserve yet for a morning or so, we will drag ourselves away to visit Water Canyon where we should encounter Say's Phoebe, Townsend's Solitaire and along the roads we will search for Pronghorn Antelopes.
We think that Bosque del Apache is, simply, one of the best winter birdwatching sites in the northern hemisphere - join us to see if you agree!
Three nights Socorro
Day 13
We take a leisurely drive northwards to Albuquerque birding as we go. Mountain Bluebirds and American Robins will perch or feed in the trees, while Scaled Quail will scuttle amongst the sparse scrub. More raptors will be on roadside posts, poles and trees, and amongst the numerous Red-tailed Hawks may be the occasional Ferruginous Hawk.
In the afternoon we call in at the Rio Grande Nature Centre, worth a visit just for the quantities of Ring-necked and Wood Ducks. But of course the surrounding trees will also hold many birds including woodpeckers and Northern Cardinals.
Overnight Albuquerque
Day 14
Depending on flight times we may be able to make another visit to the Rio Grande Nature Centre before heading to Albuquerque airport to catch an internal flight , connecting with our overnight flight back to the UK to arrive early on Day 15.
Accommodation
will be mostly in motels with all rooms en suite.
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