October25: Welcoming Fall Changes

  

Not so long ago, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (starting the first weekend of October) was reliably accompanied by the height of brilliant fall color. The past few years the cottonwoods haven't even begun to turn by fiesta. Thank goodness, the gold arrived before the month ended.  Along with fall color and the scent of chile roasting, I also associate October with the return of many bird species who spend their winters here. I'll be featuring some of them in this post.

But, before we go there, a diversion: To a much-ignored and non-native bird that shares our city all year long. 

Early in the month, I read a book called The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, written and illustrated by Rosemary Mosco. Inspired by this book, I spent some time observing feral Rock Pigeons, trying to find the varied plumages and features described in her book. I report on this in detail in a 2nd post that immediately follows this one. You can check it out here.

Waterfowl 

In October, many of the ducks and other waterfowl that winter in the Albuquerque area start to arrive. The photos below are from the ponds and Tingley and the Rio Grande Nature Center. Their numbers are still small, and I don't remember whether or not that is typical for October. Here are some of the waterfowl I was able to photograph.

Redhead Male-Nature Center

Gadwall Males-Nature Center

RIng-Necked Ducks, 1) two males, 2) male/female pair-Tingley

American Wigeon, 1) female, 2) male-Tingley

  

 

Cackling Goose: A separate species from the Canada Geese, with smaller rounder heads and a round bill. They have just started the trickle in in small numbers. The Canada Geese (2nd photo) have been here in small numbers all summer, but large flocks come down from the north for the winter, a process that has already begun. 

 

 

Pied-Billed Grebe and American Coot: These two waterbirds, according Sibley's maps, are found throughout New Mexico all year. But they don't seem to breed in the Albuquerque area. So they too, I consider to be fall returnees. 1st photo is of a Pied-Billed Grebe. 2nd photo is an American Coot, which I just had to post because you so seldom get to see their amazing feet. 

 

 

Valles Caldera

Mid-October I joined a friend for a day trip to Valles Caldera. Would you believe that I forgot my camara? So I didn't get to photograph the abundant and beautiful Mountain Bluebirds there. The Aspen were past-peak, but still gorgeous, and I was able to get some landscape photos with my phone. 

Elena Gallegos

I went to Elena Gallegos Open Space on October 20th after I saw my photos from this date two years ago, showing  the nature blind area brimming with birds, and the trees bright gold. I wanted to see how this year compared. The deciduous trees were at their peak of color, as I'd hoped. There wasn't much bird activity at the blind this time, but I was happy to see Western Bluebirds everywhere on the grounds, along with a few Townsend's Solitaires. Both of these birds are in the Thrush family, and you can see the similarity in their shape. 

 1) Western Bluebird pair 2) Townsend's Solitaire 3) Dark-Eyed Junco, Pink-SIded 

The Pink-Sided subspecies of Dark-Eyed Junco is another returning winter bird. The Grey-Headed subspecies of Dark-Eyed Junco is here in the higher elevations during breeding season. 

 

More Winter Returnees: A Big Welcome Back to:

1) Cedar Waxwings  2) White- Crowned Sparrow 3) Hermit Thrush 

 

The Hermit Thrush is being shown to participants on the Rio Grande Nature Center bird walk at the banding station, just before being released. Hermit Thrushes breed in the Sandias and are in the Rio Grande Valley only during winter.

The Stars of the Winter Show

Of course, the biggest welcome has to go to the Sandhill Cranes, The first calls of the Sandhill Cranes flying overhead makes our hearts soar every autumn, without fail.