JAN 4 - SANDIA CREST MOUNTAIN AND EMBUDITO CANYON
We all met up at 8 am along with our guide Kim. The day was cool but not cold. We all dressed for cold weather as we would go to over 10,000 feet to Sandia Crest.
Our first birding spot was the lovely Embudito Canyon. By the last house to the parking lot there are several feeders and there was a Lesser Goldfinch. Going into the canyon we saw the Woodhouse Scrub Jay, Canyon Towhee and Spotted Towhee. The birds were hard to locate but we were so lucky there was no wind this morning and some of quickly shed some layers of clothes. There were a whole group of Bushtits that came through but they moved so fast it was hard to get a photo of even one. There were other people hiking around the canyon. We discussed the habitat and the Choilla bushes that birds seemed to enjoy. There were also several grasses.
At the Nature Center which is run by the city, the purpose is to plant winter food for the Sandhill Cranes that winter there. The area is an important stop for the birds. Here in the field we saw a pair of Road Runners that came up close and personal.
From there we went to lunch at a nearby restaurant. I had the vegetarian burger and it was very good. It was after ordering our lunch that we learned that Sandia Crest would be closed tomorrow, Sunday. Oh No! Our guide called and the center would stay open until 3 pm for us. We ate quickly and several us took the rest of our lunch to go. It was 1:40 pm and it would take an hour to get there. While the drive on the highway was not a long way, it was the drive up the mountain with it curved roads and switchbacks that would take the time.
As we drove up, there were lots of people in the Snowplay parking lots where one can hike, or sled with the kids. The amount of snow up here also increased. Albuquerque is at 6,500 feet and our drive took us to almost 11,000 feet. Just before one got up to the top there was a ski lodge. I don't remember the name but that place was pretty busy. The views from the top are spectacular. One can see in the distance for miles. We went inside the restaurant and we watched the feeders from here. Mountain Chickadees showed up and then in three waves, the Rosy Finches. All three species of Rosy Finch showed up in a quickly moving group of approximately 80 birds. The birds came for the seed set out for them on the table and the feeder and would disappear for a few minutes then come back again and again. We all took photos and I think I got photos of all three species. It was magianl and sweet and short. The shop was closing up. It would have been nice to stay and have a coffee and watch the birds but not this time. We were all thrilled that we got to see the Rosy Finches.
By the time we came down the mountain it was almost 4 pm. We went to a nearby park with Kim to try for the Juniper Titmouse. When we drove up there were about 6 Western Bluebirds flying around. We tried for the Titmouse and heard it call and saw some movement but it is a very quick small bird and does not seem to like people. We also heard a White breasted Nuthatch call.
By this time we were pretty muddy and the sun had gone down. We returned to the hotel for happy hour and some snacks. All of us were tired and not sure it was all the walking today, the high altitude or something else. So it was a short evening for most of us.
A very nice day with about 40 species and the birds were special here with the unique environment we came to see.
Our first birding spot was the lovely Embudito Canyon. By the last house to the parking lot there are several feeders and there was a Lesser Goldfinch. Going into the canyon we saw the Woodhouse Scrub Jay, Canyon Towhee and Spotted Towhee. The birds were hard to locate but we were so lucky there was no wind this morning and some of quickly shed some layers of clothes. There were a whole group of Bushtits that came through but they moved so fast it was hard to get a photo of even one. There were other people hiking around the canyon. We discussed the habitat and the Choilla bushes that birds seemed to enjoy. There were also several grasses.
At the Nature Center which is run by the city, the purpose is to plant winter food for the Sandhill Cranes that winter there. The area is an important stop for the birds. Here in the field we saw a pair of Road Runners that came up close and personal.
From there we went to lunch at a nearby restaurant. I had the vegetarian burger and it was very good. It was after ordering our lunch that we learned that Sandia Crest would be closed tomorrow, Sunday. Oh No! Our guide called and the center would stay open until 3 pm for us. We ate quickly and several us took the rest of our lunch to go. It was 1:40 pm and it would take an hour to get there. While the drive on the highway was not a long way, it was the drive up the mountain with it curved roads and switchbacks that would take the time.
As we drove up, there were lots of people in the Snowplay parking lots where one can hike, or sled with the kids. The amount of snow up here also increased. Albuquerque is at 6,500 feet and our drive took us to almost 11,000 feet. Just before one got up to the top there was a ski lodge. I don't remember the name but that place was pretty busy. The views from the top are spectacular. One can see in the distance for miles. We went inside the restaurant and we watched the feeders from here. Mountain Chickadees showed up and then in three waves, the Rosy Finches. All three species of Rosy Finch showed up in a quickly moving group of approximately 80 birds. The birds came for the seed set out for them on the table and the feeder and would disappear for a few minutes then come back again and again. We all took photos and I think I got photos of all three species. It was magianl and sweet and short. The shop was closing up. It would have been nice to stay and have a coffee and watch the birds but not this time. We were all thrilled that we got to see the Rosy Finches.
By the time we came down the mountain it was almost 4 pm. We went to a nearby park with Kim to try for the Juniper Titmouse. When we drove up there were about 6 Western Bluebirds flying around. We tried for the Titmouse and heard it call and saw some movement but it is a very quick small bird and does not seem to like people. We also heard a White breasted Nuthatch call.
By this time we were pretty muddy and the sun had gone down. We returned to the hotel for happy hour and some snacks. All of us were tired and not sure it was all the walking today, the high altitude or something else. So it was a short evening for most of us.
A very nice day with about 40 species and the birds were special here with the unique environment we came to see.
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