The Organ Mountain-Desert Peak National Monument 

Another very desirable birding destination is the Organ Mountains in New Mexico USA. A visit to the Dripping Springs Visitor Center is the starting point, it is a national park therefore your national park pass will be needed or you pay a fee ($5 day pass per vehicle) 

Last week I hiked the lower La Cueva (Cave) trail on an unusually for New Mexico, an overcast day. This proved to be the perfect weather for birding, bird 

activity was high with strong evidence of the Autumn/Fall migration. Osprey and Northern Goshawk came through the lower points of the mountain profile. This is a phenomena, I have witnessed in other parts of the world long distance migrants fly really high on warm days when there is good thermal lift.When there is less lift we look for them heading for the lower cuts in the mountain profile.

Zone-tailed Hawk was a unexpected jewel in front of dramatic rock face

Tarantula 

Zone-tailed Hawk

A delightful encounter with a tarantula on the trail completed a memorable day.

Tarantula                                           

On occasion cloudy weather can produce good observation conditions!