Skip to main content
The 116th CBC in New Mexico
We are pleased to welcome a new circle team in Los Alamos. Still, only 29 circles reported, as against 33 last year. Winter Storm Goliath canceled the Ruidoso count outright, and reduced effort in many circles statewide. Due to access issues, the Espanola, Ladder Ranch, Maxwell, and Zuni circles are all unlikely to run again. All will be greatly missed; the Espanola circle had a 61-year history.
The statewide species total this year was 223, well short of the all-time record of 244 set in the 106th Count. This total may reflect the generally wintry conditions. Counters added two species to the all-time state CBC checklist, bringing the total to 336: Glaucous-winged Gull and Brown Pelican in the Lakes Avalon-Brantley circle; Gila River counters also reported the latter species.
The most speciose circle was Lakes Avalon-Brantley with 110 species, followed by Albuquerque with 109, adjacent Middle Rio Grande circles Bosque del Apache and Caballo tied at 107, Las Cruces with 105, Gila River with 104, and the Valle del Oro circle with 102. Totals of individuals statewide were around 270,000; the most populous circles were Bosque del Apache with about 37,000, with Las Cruces, Valle de Oro, Farmington, Roswell, and Albuquerque all reporting numbers over 20,000.
Among species that lingered in the northern part of the state, the Las Vegas and Valle de Oro circles both featured single American White Pelicans. A Say's Phoebe was in the Los Alamos circle, and four more in Clovis. Clayton and Santa Fe photographers documented single Brown Thrashers. Single Myrtle Warblers appeared in Clayton and the Sandia Mountains, and Clayton and Cimarron both had multiple Audubon's Warblers. A single Orange-crowned Warbler lingered in Clovis.
Considering species generally absent in winter, Bosque del Apache counters documented three Blue-winged Teal. Eighty-five Band-tailed Pigeons in Silver City were noteworthy. A House Wren showed up in the Bosque circle. We appreciate how well Las Cruces described their two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, as we try to clarify the muddy picture of the gnatcatcher species distribution in the state.
Turning next to species that are either expanding or out of their normal range, we find Northern Bobwhite numbers up along the extreme eastern edge of the state. The five Harris's Hawks in Las Cruces continue a recent increase in wintering birds. Sandhill Cranes in Bluewater, Clayton, and Silver City were unusual. The La Luz circle had a westerly Red-headed Woodpecker. Santa Fe's Cactus Wren was northerly, while the Northern Cardinal in Clovis was south of its normal range.
Looking for species in decline, no strong patterns emerged. Reported Red-breasted Merganser numbers were lower this year in the lakes of the lower Pecos River.
The only record of a latitudinal invader was a Rough-legged Hawk photographed at Bosque del Apache. No other patterns of altitudinal or latitudinal invasion seemed evident.
As is customary, we wrap it up with a selection of rarities. Las Vegas counters photographed a male Surf Scoter. Silver City counters found two White-tailed Kites. Rare hummingbirds included Anna's and Broad-billed, both species observed in both Clovis and Las Cruces. Winter Wrens were in four circles. Bosque del Apache's Carolina Wren had been observed since summer, so it was not as surprising as the one in Clayton. La Luz-Otero County counters photographed a Yellow-throated Warbler; this record is especially interesting in light of the record of this species in the Bosque circle in December 2010. The Rusty Blackbird photographed in Clovis this year is always rare in the state.