Grebes of America

Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico, USA 



Star of the lake Western Grebe                      © Richard Anderton

Land Sea and Air of the Festival of Cranes program 2015.

The event took place on November 18, 2015 led by Volunteers Steve Green and Cathie Sandell. These excellent guides made the day most rewarding and memorable. Cathie’s enthusiasm and passion for birding was contagious. This matched by her knowledge of ornithology, and a natural talent for teaching the science pleasantly and efficiently, reached all participants on board. She enjoyed pointing out the subtle differences between the two prevalent grebe species present on the lake. These two birds of the same size are the Western and Clark's Grebe. 
 

Western and Clark's Grebes   © Richard Anderton

above: Western Grebe
below: Clark's Grebe 








These birds were very accommodating and on one occasion the two similar species actually swam quite close, I seized the opportunity to capture this picture.

Note: The two similar species together in winter plumage.These individuals illustrate the eye position and bill colouration with quite pronounced differences.

 

White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorant                                                    © Richard Anderton

Total species list for the day

Horned Grebe

Eared Grebe

Clark's Grebe

Western Grebe

Pied-Billed Grebe

merican White Pelican

Double- crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mexican Mallard

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead

Ruddy Duck

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

American Kestre

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Spotted Sandpiper 

Bonaparte’s Gull

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker 

Say’s Phoebe

Verdin

Rock Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

White-crowned Sparrow

Pyrrhuloxia

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

 


Bald Eagle                                                          © Richard Anderton

 Not content to educate participants with all his local knowledge, Steve also discovered a Bald Eagle sitting at the top of a cliff face, giving us perfect views as he manoeuvred the boat into position. A real unexpected bonus

  

Bufflehead                                © Richard Anderton

 

 After a most rewarding boat trip on a 44.foot twin engine houseboat. An informed and witty narrative provided by Steve Green our skipper explaining the history and geology of the Lake with surrounding mountain area. Not content to educate participants with all that local knowledge, he also discovered a Bald Eagle sitting at the top of a cliff face, giving us perfect views as he manoeuvred the boat into position.

 

 

Many birds heading south, high flyers prove to be cranes 

 

 



High flying migrating birds                              © Richard Anderton



 

 

 

Sandhill Cranes                                                                                    © Richard Anderton

Second winter Herring Gull              © Richard Anderton

Bonaparte's Gull                   © Richard Anderton

Rock Wren                                                                            © Richard Anderton           

There was a short walk at Coyote Canyon. A delightful hike on the circular trail around two ponds, part of which was looked down at the Rio Grande. The vantage point looking down at animals from an elevated trail in excellent light through a telescope made birding superb. Ducks in the river and passerines along the hedgerows, in brilliant New Mexican November sunshine, made for a memorable adventure. Another extra bonus was the opportunity to see the Bewick’s Wren in the riparian area and on the other side of the loop a Rock Wren making it possible to reflect and compare on the differences.

Great Birding with 35 species recorded, on a wonderful sunny day in New Mexico

Thanks Cathie and Steve