Date: 5/20/26 7:00 pm From: Betsy Checchia (via aznmbirds Mailing List) <aznmbirds...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] Central NM -- Up the Pecos River from Pecos to Cowles -- 15 May
Sorry for the late post. I worked my way up the Pecos River from Pecos to
Cowles. There's plenty of water in the river, but not as much as my photos
from 3 years ago show. Enough to support a large number of trout
fishermen, anyway. Good birding in a variety of spots. I started at the
Benedictine Monastery in Pecos -- long river frontage, lots of trees, a
fishing lake and a reedy swamp made for a good mix of birds. Highlights
there were White-throated Swift, Violet-Green Swallow and Gray Catbird.
Next stop was the Windy Bridge picnic area, where I was hoping for an Am.
Dipper without success, but I did find Grace's and Black-throated Gray
Warblers.
I found my Dipper (definitely my bird of the day) at the bridge at the Holy
Ghost Canyon turnoff -- saw one bird fly up from the river to somewhere
under the bridge, back to the river, and back up under the bridge. It gave
a great burst of song while under the bridge -- the echos were amazing! I
suspect there's a nest there somewhere, but you'd have to wade into the
river to find it. Also had a Black-billed Magpie there, which was a
surprise.
Last stop of the day was Winsor Road, which runs from Cowles to the west
following a creek. Lots of cabins up there, and an interesting mix of
birds, including Green-tailed Towhee, a Turkey Vulture and a light morph
Red-tailed Hawk having a short airborne dispute, Hammond's Flycatcher,
Cassin's Finch, a Hepatic Tanager, and 6 warblers (Orange-crowned,
Virginia's, Yellow-rumped, Northern Yellow, Grace's and Black-throated
Gray). Links to eBird checklists below.
