SE Canyons Otero County

[Dan Stringer]

Tues/Wed three of us visited Otero County spots Vogel Canyon, Picketwire Canyon, and Higbee Valley Road. Weather was good, we worked it extensively early to late both days.  We went a week or so later than I usually do and there was much more migration activity than I typically experience down there. It seemed drought-ish everywhere, in Vogel Canyon some usually watery places were dry, the one wet spot was attended by close to 60 birds (mostly American Robins). And almost no raptors either day seemed to equate to lack of food source.  All areas had a very low number of Dark-eyed Juncos which is the case everywhere I've been this winter.

Signature birds for the overall area were 44 Canyon Towhees, 27 Sage Thrashers, Chihuahuan and Common Ravens, Juniper Titmouse, Loggerhead Shrikes, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Rock and Canyon Wrens, 119 Mountain Bluebirds, and migrating American Robins everywhere (351).

In Picketwire there were a couple Rufous-crowned and Black-throated Sparrows, least I've heard/seen in several years. 4 White-throated Swifts there, and a loudly singing Northern Mockingbird on Higbee Valley Road were highlights, along with two flocks of (low) flyover Sandhill Cranes on the prairie, we observed that they were possibly going in the direction of John Martin Reservoir  : )

Dan Stringer

Larkspur, CO