Wildwestbirds: Birds of Mesilla Valley Bosque

State Park New Mexico USA

Roadrunner

Appropriately the New Mexican state bird can frequently be seen at the State Park

January 2016, the State Park hosts thousands of American Crows

Short-eared Owl pursued by hundreds of Crows

2016 © Richard Anderton

Short-eared Owl at the Mesilla State Park New Mexico USA

In the southwest of the USA the Short-eared Owl is a rare winter guest. For birders, a charismatic and distinguished visitor, the type of creature that we never get tired of watching. Nature lovers and ornithologists alike are fascinated by a diurnal owl. Not to mention the pure ascetic beauty of it and command of the air in flight. An owl that permits us to observe and appreciate it during daylight hours - a fact that only adds to its great appeal providing an unique photographic opportunity.

2016 © Richard Anderton

In determined pursuit

2016 © Richard Anderton

An individual American Crow makes aerial contact with the Short-eared Owl

2016 © Richard Anderton

Red-tailed Hawk also mobbed by Corvids

It was very pleasing to observe a Short-eared Owl in New Mexico in the USA. Recalling happy days in Scotland UK, where during the very long summer days Short-eared Owls could be seen coursing low over the heather, capable of a quick change of direction in pursuit of its prey. A very elegant wavering flight, very pleasant to observe. Does the owl’s scientific name flammeus really mean fiery referring to its plumage as is the generally accepted theory? Or was it due to its appearance of the bird close to grass fires where small rodents are escaping the flames? – just speculation on my part.

At the Mesilla State Park, we have been honoured by the presence of one individual this week. There has also been a large influx of American Crow this winter, numbering in the thousands. Therefore, some mobbing of raptors is inevitable. I have witnessed crows giving aerial pursuit to Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl.

Short-eared Owl and their movements are closely linked to its prey the vole. When vole populations explode the owls will stay. In its northern breeding grounds the bird will nest where the numbers of rodents are high. This correlation is true for many predators, but none more so than in the population dynamic of the Short-eared Owl. Out of the breeding season the owl is highly nomadic.

Crows are of course very successful animals possessing a high degree of intelligence. Raptors are predators, and are a threat to the Crows and, in particular in the breeding season, have a negative affect on the Crows' reproductive success.

This State Park is only a few miles from the historic town of old Mesilla New Mexico

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Mesilla Plaza May 2015

Situated three miles west of the plaza in historic old Mesilla. This is now my local birding spot and I will be posting the birds I personally have seen. When possible including photographs of species recorded there.

Introducing some images captured in April this year. Those where it was not possible to get a respectable image of will be mentioned and listed.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Species seen personally at the MVBSP

April 2016

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Great Egret

Black-crowned Night Heron

White faced Ibis can be seen be in large numbers (v formations of up to 200 individuals)

Mexican Mallard

Blue-winged Teal

Turkey Vulture

Northern Harrier

White-tailed Kite

Coopers Hawk

Gray Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Swainson’s Hawk

American Kestrel

Killdeer with on young

American Avocet

Long billed Curlew in Alfalfa irrigation field north of the access road

Western Sandpiper

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Inca Dove

Greater Roadrunner

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Western Kingbird

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

Eastern Phoebe

Say’s Phoebe

(3) Ring-billed Gull

White-faced Ibis

Western Kingbird

Northern Parula

Northern Parula a rare visitor from eastern North America
4/14/2016

Hooded Oriole

Crissal Thrasher

American Pipit

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Pyrrhuloxia

May

Great Egret

Black-crowned Heron

Great Blue Heron

Solitary Sandpiper 5/4

Spotted Sandpiper 5/4

Long-billed Dowitcher 5/4

American Avocet 5/4

Mallard

Turkey Vulture

Coopers Hawk

Gray Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Swainson’s Hawk

American Kestrel

Gambel’s Quail

Female Black-headed Grosbeak

Killdeer with on young

American Avocet

White-winged Dove

Male Black-headed Grosbeak

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Inca Dove

Inca Dove

Greater Roadrunner

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Say’s Phoebe

Western Kingbird

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Verdin

American Robin

Red-winged Blackbird

Blue Grosbeak

Lucy's Warbler May 22

Northern Mockingbird

Crissal Thrasher

Wilsons Warbler

Lucy's Warbler

Summer Tanager

Orchard Oriole

Black-headed Grosbeak

Western Meadowlark

Red-winged Blackbird

Blue Grosbeak

August

Ferruginous Hawk Juv.

American Coot

Sora

Bank Swallow

Common Yellowthroat

Rufous Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Lark Sparrow

A delightful butterfly the southwest equivalent of the Monarch called the Queen can be seen in great numbers at the park in June.

In addition the unique Desert Spiny Lizard and Garter Snake can be see

Northern Checked Garter Snake
A small wetland along the Rio Grande. Here passage migrant shorebirds refuel.

This year the Rio Grande has been full since April and 2016 has been a superior year for birds, with all kinds of unusual sighting.

The return of the Gray Hawk to the State Park was quite a sensation this year. The first appearance in April seen on many occasions, then assumed to of moved on after 10 days, only to reappear after three weeks on the May 5. All indications are that there was a breeding attempt just outside of the Park, but this is only a possible. Breeding code H