NM 93, which runs east from Watrous, has become one of my favorite birding
spots. It's a 10-mile dead-end road that follows the Mora River through
ranching country. All the land on both sides of the road is private
property, but birding from the road is easy. I had 63 species in 3 hours
of birding. Bird of the day was definitely Lewis's Woodpecker -- I saw 6
total actively flying out to catch insects. Other birds of note were a
Red-headed Woodpecker, a Ferruginous Hawk, a Gray Catbird, many Cassin's
Kingbirds and a few Western, 4 Wrens (Rock, Canyon, Bewick's and N. House),
and a lifetime supply of N. Yellow Warblers (at least 20). The road ends
at Cherry Valley Lake, where a scope (which I do not have) is really
necessary, but I did see some Avocets and a W. Grebe among the many Canada
Geese and Mallards.
I drove north on NM 161 toward the new Rio Mora NWR north of Watrous, and
at a small marshy pond near MM9 on 161 found 2 Long-billed Curlews. They
reportedly nest in the vast grasslands up there, so I was lucky to see them.
