September 2026

  September Joys: Bird Migration, Rain, and Cooler Weather 

September was a great month for birds, so this month's post will be chock-full of birds. The cooler weather enticed me to get out more, as did the more unusual and rare birds that were being reported. The month ended with a rainy trip to Taos, where I managed to capture a Magpie flying past a newly snowcapped mountain. 

Crick Ave Greenbelt

Early in the month, I visited this migrant trap (an isolated green area that migrants use as a rest stop) two days in a row. A Red-Headed Woodpecker was being reported there. This is a bird that I've yet to see. I had expected I would need to go a few hours east if I ever wanted to see one, and here it was in my town. I missed the Red-Headed on both visits, but each time I had a consolation prize: A Great Horned Owl on day one, and an Acorn Woodpecker on day two. 

 

Carlito Springs-Sandias

Mid-month, I went to my friend's favorite patch: Carlito Springs. I took some photos of the old cabins from when this place held a sanitorium, and later painted this picture of one of the cabins.

We came across a pair of Hepatic Tanagers calling to one another. We heard them first, and finally saw this one when he moved out into the open. Unfortunately not a great photo, but I see Hepatic Tanagers so seldom that I thought it worth posting anyway.

Rio Grande Nature Center Fall Festival

I volunteered at this year's Fall Festival, which was focused on reptiles and amphibians. Esteban Rosario Sanchez presented on his research with the turtles at the Nature Center. At the discovery pond, people were able to observe three of the four resident species up close. In the first picture, a volunteer holds up a year-old Painted Turtle, showing its distinctive red undershell. Below that: Two Snapping Turtles.

 

 

The next day at the Tramway Wetlands (North Diversion Channel), I got to see the other area turtle: The Spiny Softshell. Spiny Softshells have been really suffering this year with the lack of water. This one looking good, supported by the  reliable water in the Channel.

Candelaria Nature Preserve

Fall migration brought some interesting birds to our bird survey on September 22nd. We saw a couple of Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, a Lark Bunting female, and a Lewis's Woodpecker (part of the montaine irruption happening this year, where many species of higher elevations are showing up in the valley.) The Lark Bunting is the brown bird with the white stripe and chunky bill. The Lewis's Woodpecker is the pink-bellied bird in the terrible photo.

 

 

 

 

Montessa Park

 

For two days in a row, I went with bird survey buddies to another migrant trap in the South Valley, where interesting birds tend to turn up during migration. This little green space is part of a work station, where an avid birder who happens to work there reports rarities when they show up. The first day we came for a Barn Owl, and caught it briefly in flight as we accidentally flushed it from a tree. The Green Heron was a little easier to photograph. 

As we ate lunch afterwards, a first year or juvenile Golden Eagle soared overhead. I've been wanting to see one in Bernalillo County for ages, so this was definitely my bird of the day.

 

 

The report of a Tennessee Warbler brought me back to Montessa Park the next day. Several birders were also looking. It look more than an hour to find, but we all had success. 

 

That hour of searching also brought much better looks at the Barn Owl, and my best looks so far at a Clay-Colored Sparrow. (I think you will be able to tell which is which here).

Los Poblanos Open Space

The garden area at Los Poblanos has been great for flycatchers. On this visit towards the end of September, there were Western Kingbirds still hanging around later in season than usual, along with several Cassin's Kingbirds, who are in migration. The Western is the one with a bug in its bill. The one with a darker gray breast is the Cassin's Kingbird.

  

 

This diminutive flycatcher, genus Empidonax, was also hanging about. I will leave you to decide if you think it's a Dusky, Hammond's, or Gray Flycatcher. I've had quite enough of trying to pin down Empidonax IDs this month.

A Very Rainy Taos

I finished the month in Taos, where the rain kept me and my friends inside more than out. During breaks in the rain, we walked up and down the  rural road in El Prado where we were staying. Lots of magpies and flocks of Pine Siskin, and these two beautiful horses.

 Inside the house, this sweet dog that my friend was dog-sitting.

When the clouds cleared after two days of rain, we discovered that it had snowed in the Taos ski valley. 

 

I spent a lovely morning on this day after the rain at Rio Fernando Wetlands in Taos (AKA Fred Baca Park). 

Here are the birds that I saw there that I was able to photograph. In order of presentation: Evening Grosbeak male, Mountain Chickadee, Song Sparrow, and first year or juvenile male Yellow-Headed Blackbird. 

I think it fitting to close this September ramble with a few of the numerous sunflowers that filled the month with both beauty (and with food for birds and bugs). 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2026 Part Two: Denver Trip Report

I was invited to a birthday bash to celebrate the 80th birthdays of two Denver friends, which gave me the reason I needed to finally get up to where I lived from 1982-1993. At a rest stop on Las Vegas, NM on the way, I took photos of some of the old Victorians near the Plaza. I did this sketch from one of the photos when I got to Denver. 

First Stop: Lakewood

I spent the first part of my trip with Susan and Jean in Lakewood. Susan was one of the first friends I made when I moved to Denver for the Mennonite Voluntary Service in 1982. The first day, we went into Downtown Denver for a celebration of Women's Suffrage at the Center for Colorado Women's History. This museum is housed in the historical Byers-Evans house, right by the Denver Art Museum. I did this sketch of the house later.

At the museum, I learned that Colorado was one of the first states to pass the ERA, and the very first to pass Women's Suffrage. Below is the dress of Martha Conine, one Colorado's 1st female state representatives, elected in 1896. 

After the museum, we walked to the 1100 block of Acoma. I lived on this block for a little over a year in 1984-85. The building I lived in has been torn down, and was located where this parking lot now stands. This purple building (with a great bird mural) was in a major state of disrepair at the time.

  

We had lunch at the Schoolyard, right across the street from where I used to live. This grand old schoolhouse was abandoned at the time of my residence. It has now been renovated to a commercial space, housing a few restaurants and retail stores.

The next day we did a light hike along Bear Creek at Lair of the Bear. The stone structure has been there since the early 20th century. It once had a working well to provide water needed for the car radiators of the time.

While Susan and Jean went to an appointment, I went to the Bear Creek Greenbelt by their place and sketched Lakewood's oldest Stone House. They came by after their appointment and Jean took a photo of me at work.

 

Next Stop: Denver

On Friday I headed to Denver for the weekend. I met my friend Annie at the Denver Botanic Gardens, where we  had a very lively and stimulating conversation while walking, much the way we did in the old days.

I regret that I didn't get a selfie of Annie and I: I guess we were too busy talking. We met in the late 80s when we both worked at City-Wide Case Management. Later she moved down the street from me and we were neighbors for a few years. We frequently went for walks at Washington Park, just down the street from us. This photo of the south lake and the sketch of the north lake come from my visit to Washington park on Saturday. 

After a walk in Washington Park, I stopped by the street where I lived near the park for 8 years. The four-plex I lived in next to the Royal Crest Dairy still looked like it did back then, as did the Candlelight Tavern across the street. I took a photo of the tavern as reference for a sketch. I think this may be my favorite sketch of the trip. 

I then headed to Pablo's coffee on 6th Street. Annie and I frequented this placed back in the day, though back then it was called the Newsstand. It still has the relaxed and friendly vibe I remember. It seems to attract urban sketchers, as I was one of three who were sketching that afternoon. The management puts out sketch books, a new one each month, and invites people to use them.   

Saturday evening was the big 80th birthday bash at Andrea and Jan's for Jan A, Jan M, and George. I realized that I had met both Jan M and Jan A when they were 40, half their lives ago! Many of the guests were people I knew from the Denver Women's Chorus and the Rocky Mountain Rainbows (gay square dance group) in the 80s. It was fun to reconnect with so many folks from my young adult days.

The birthday celebrants, Jan A, Jan M, and George F, each holding their favorite type of cake.

Sue S entertained with her accordion, and we sung along with a lively rendition of Happy Birthday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Anne C, Jan A, and I. Jan dyed her hair purple for the occasion.

 

The day after the party, I went birding at Bluff Lake Nature Center with Jan A, Sue, and DD. Among other species, we encountered two Eastern Phoebes, Wild Turkeys, a group of juvenile Red-Winged Blackbirds, and a very healthy looking coyote.

 

 Last Stop: Louisville

I ended my trip with a visit to my friends' Cheryl and Ana in Louisville, near Boulder. We had a very relaxing time hanging out, perfect for the last stop on an eventful trip. I've known Cheryl since the very beginnings of the Denver Women's Chorus, in 1984, and Ana from a few years later.

We went into Boulder for a great lunch, stopped at Guiry's for Ana and I to get art supplies, and visited their lush community garden.

Ana and I shared in our enthusiasm for sketching and painting, and Cheryl and I went for  several lovely walks. We did some birding at Walden Ponds (it's really a mudflat this year, barely any water) and at a nearby Lake. In the open space near their place at dusk, we are pretty sure we saw a Merlin, and we definitely saw these gorgeous sunset clouds.

As you can see if you got all the way through this, it was a very good week; a time to renew treasured long-time friendships, check in on my old stomping grounds, and enjoy a bit of art making along the way. Thanks for reliving the trip with me.