114th CBC New Mexico Regional Summary

By John W. Shipman and Christopher Rustay

Counters statewide surveyed 33 circles this year, a net increase of three.  The Zuni circle was not counted, and its future status is in some doubt.  Two older circles reactivated, including Bluewater, which last ran in the 101st count.  We are pleased to welcome compilers and counters in two new circles, Milnesand in the chronically under-surveyed southeast corner of the state, and Valle de Oro in the southern part of greater Albuquerque.

This year's total species count statewide was 224, just one short of last year's total; the all-time record is 244 for the 106th. This total excludes two exotic species: Trumpeter Swans in Farmington and Northern Bobwhite in Las Cruces.  No new species were added to the all-time state CBC checklist, which remains at 332.  Albuquerque had the most species with 120; other notable high totals include Caballo, 116; Bosque del Apache, 108; Las Cruces, 107; Valle de Oro, 106; and Ladder Ranch, 100.

The count of individuals statewide was a new all-time high of around 525,000.  The biggest contributors to these totals were Bosque with 146,000, Roswell with 98,000, and Valle de Oro with 54,000.

Among birds that usually linger in the north, Northern Shrikes were southerly in the Bosque del Apache and Sevilleta circles. Of the species usually gone from the northern half of the state, three northern circles hosted Gray Catbirds.  Chipping Sparrows continued to stay further north than usual as they have in recent years.  Lesser Goldfinches continued their recent trend of staying in the northern part of the state in small numbers.

Considering species usually gone from the state altogether, teal in the Blue-winged/Cinnamon group persisted in the Caballo and Bosque circles.  A group of Western Sandpipers overwintered at Laguna Grande, inside the Loving circle, for the only documented statewide record.  Albuquerque had its second record of a Selasphorus hummingbird.  Caballo recorded both Hammond's and Dusky flycatchers, and Eunice counters found a Gray Flycatcher. Multiple House Wrens appeared in Bosque del Apache and Caballo circles.

Statewide reports included six species of warblers.  In addition to the usual winter resident Yellow-rumped, our counters found Orange-crowned in six circles, Black-throated Gray in Las Cruces, Pine and Wilson's in Albuquerque, and a Black-and-white for Ladder Ranch.

Turning to range and numbers expansions, Common Goldeneye numbers were up in the north.  The Harris's Hawk in the Las Cruces circle documents a recent range expansion.  Recovering from a hard freeze a few years back, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers were in the Caballo, Las Cruces, and Peloncillos circles.  Because the status of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher may be changing, we still want careful documentation of all gnatcatcher records of either species anywhere in the state.  White-throated Sparrow is less and less rare in recent years; this winter it appeared in 16 circles, with
111 individuals tallied statewide.

Looking at species of possible concern, counters missed American Wigeon in Farmington for the second year after 45 straight years with them, and Las Vegas missed this species for the third time in 59 years.  Compilers in the Las Cruces and Roswell circles flagged Burrowing Owl numbers as low, and Las Cruces and Loving compilers also flagged low Loggerhead Shrike numbers.  Horned Lark numbers were down in the Ladder Ranch and Clovis counts, and Loving missed this species for the first time in 47 years.  The general drought in the southeast part of the state showed in low sparrow numbers.  Low Canyon Towhee numbers were noted in three circles.  Pine Siskin numbers were thin statewide.

No major invasion patterns were evident.  The Williamson's Sapsucker in Las Cruces was a surprise at that altitude. Observers in three circles in the southeast corner found Rough-legged Hawks.  Three Steller's Jays in the Carlsbad Caverns circle were at unusually low altitudes, as were Pygmy Nuthatches in Albuquerque and Silver City.  Red-breasted Nuthatches in the south and southeast were notable, including only the eighth record in the 50 years of the Carlsbad Caverns circle.  The appearance of Cedar Waxwing in some lowland locations suggested a minor invasion.

Finally, some intriguing rarities.  Albuquerque hosted a Brant. Clovis counters found a Eurasian Wigeon.  Farmington contributed its third record of a Mew Gull.  A Glaucous Gull in the Valle de Oro circle was the delight of many Albuquerque-area birders this season.  The Avalon-Brantley circle recorded a Black-legged Kittiwake.  Las Cruces had three Vermilion Flycatchers, Gila River two, and singles were in the Peloncillos, Roswell, and Sevilleta counts.  Harris's Sparrows made a good showing in five circles including two in Ladder Ranch.  Caballo had a Rusty Blackbird.