Winter Birding in New Mexico

Tour Code: USA20

A relaxed 11-day birdwatching tour along the Rio Grande, including a visit to the iconic reserve of Bosque del Apache for the spectacular wintering flocks of Sandhill Cranes and both Snow and Ross’s Geese.

11 days from
£3,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£3,395
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

The Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, as it heads south from Albuquerque through the Sonoran Desert, is a haven for birds and is well known for the superb refuge at Bosque del Apache. Famed for the hundreds of Sandhill Crane and both Ross’s and Snow Geese that spend the winter amongst the thousands of other wildfowl, this large reserve and its surroundings are also home to many special semi-desert birds, such as Greater Roadrunner, Verdin and Pyrrhuloxia. The mountains that edge the valley are equally spectacular; all the North America Rosy-finches spend the winter; Woodhouse’s Scrub and Steller’s Jay, Townsend’s Solitaire and White-throated Swifts are also resident.

  • Relaxed birding in one of North America's birding hotspots
  • Bosque del Apache hosts thousands of wintering wildfowl
  • Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes & Snow and Ross's Geese too
  • A chance of all three North American rosy-finches
  • Pyrrhuloxia, Phainopepla and other Sonoran Desert specialties
  • Superb for bird photography
  • Wintering warblers and the first spring migrants also on passage
The Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico is a truly spectacular place to watch birds in late winter. The ribbon of green that follows the river through the Sonoran Desert, is best known for the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, but there are many hidden gems that dot the valley as it winds south from Albuquerque.
 
Starting in the forested mountains east of the city, where a well-studied flock of three species of Rosy Finches wheel about the restaurant at Sandia Crest, we travel south, visiting several exciting refuges and canyons picking up all of the key specialities of the local biotopes. Most impressive are the wintering flocks of Sandhill Crane and Snow Geese for which Bosque is famous, but there are 1000s of other wildfowl, including Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser and Cinnamon Teal. The surrounding desert may look barren, but in the local canyons are many exciting birds, including Pyrrhuloxia, Curve-billed Trasher, Verdin, Bushtit, plus smart Black-throated and Sagebrush Sparrow. Mistletoe-clad riparian woodlands host Phainopepla, over-wintering warblers and neat Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Taken at an easy pace, with a chance to really enjoy the birds amongst a fine landscape, this is a great tour for photography, too!
 
Our tour begins with a flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico, via Dallas Fort Worth. Arriving late afternoon, we drive less than a mile to our hotel on the southern edge of the city for the first of three nights. The following morning, we start with a bang, taking a drive up to Sandia Crest at c. 3000m, via Route 66, through the Ponderosa Pine and evergreen oaks of the lower slopes, to the mixture of Engelmann Spruce and White Fir near the summit. Feeding about the restaurant at the summit are Mountain Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, but we will be here for the wintering flock of rosy finches. Each is stunning in their own way, but the most numerous are often Black Rosy Finch, followed by Grey-crowned (of two different forms) and the subtle Brown-capped Rosy Finch. After a warming hot chocolate, we slowly drift back down to Tijeres for lunch, stopping en route at various elevations, where different species occur including Pine Siskin, Townsend’s Solitaire and if we are lucky Clark’s Nutcracker, American Three-toed Woodpecker or a day-roosting owl.
 
About the fringes of Albuquerque are several neat refuges that are managed for wintering wildfowl and cranes. The Rio Grande Nature Center has some excellent pools that attract Wood Duck and Green-winged Teal; Roadrunners creep about the site, and Bewick’s Wren, Bushtit and Black-capped Chickadees form small flocks. A pair of Horned Owls can often be found near the reserve centre. A short distance from our hotel, Valle de Oro is managed for Sandhill Cranes and an early morning here, as the sun rises, can be superb as they bugle to greet the day. This a good spot to see our first Say’s Phoebe and bright, yellow-fronted Western Meadowlarks, two common species of the valley.
 
We make our first stop at Bosque del Apache en route to Truth or Consequences, our base for another three nights. Even during the day, 100s of Snow and Ross’s Geese can be seen on the fields and wetlands – the sight of a cackling mass of white geese as they whiffle in to land against snow-dusted mountains and aquamarine blue sky is one not to be missed!
 
Heading out on day excursions from Truth or Consequences, our visit to Percha Dam will be equally enjoyable: in March there will be the first signs of spring with fresh green leaves and Mistletoe clumps on the trees. Shiny black male Phainopepla sweep about chasing each other and females, whilst Audubon’s Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, and Ladder-backed Woodpecker move about the large trees. Crissal Thrasher, ace views of American Robin, smart American Kestrel, and Belted Kingfisher all await in the lively park. At nearby Caballo Reservoir, we look for both Clark’s and Western Grebe on the water, and hope for a dazzling male Vermilion Flycatcher in the park below the dam. The hidden valley of Las Animas is not to be missed for the incredible, aged and contorted Arizona Sycamores, alone. Slowly walking the quiet road, we look out for Great Horned Owl, Cactus Wren, Acorn Woodpecker, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Curve-billed Thrasher, plus Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Canyon Towhee. The list will go on, but we should not forget to mention Roadrunner and perhaps a Coyote or two.
 
We end our tour at Socorro and a couple more visits to Bosque del Apache, plus Box and Water Canyon in the Magdalena Mountains, as well as gentle strolls round the local Turtle Bay park and golf course in town. There is never a dull moment in Bosque, from the bustling blackbird flock and feeders at the centre to the open wetlands, to numerous waterfowl species - Redhead, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, plus Lesser Scaup, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Ring-necked Duck and even Common Goldeneye. However, we will hope that the fields will still hold strutting groups of Sandhill Crane and maybe Turkeys. Adding to the mix are Black-necked (Eared) Grebe, various raptors – including Bald Eagle and Northern Harrier, both Says and Black Phoebe, and a good number of White-crowned Sparrows. Walks in local canyons will find more fine Black-throated Sparrow as we search for Sagebrush Sparrow.
 
West of Socorro, we head to the Magdalena Mountains, dropping into Box Canyon for Rock and Canyon Wren and White-throated Swifts that wheel noisily about the cliffs. At Water Canyon, the Pinyon-Juniper woodland and Ponderosa Pine forest holds Townsend’s Solitaire, Juniper Titmouse and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay. Out on the grasslands, we’ll keep an eye out for Horned Lark and Chestnut-collared Longspur, plus small herds of the rare Pronghorn Antelope. At the oddly named ‘Turtle Bay’ park in Socorro, we will get close views of various wildfowl, notably American Wigeon, plus Black Phoebe, Brown Creeper and often Mourning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty) settle on the ground.
 
We return to Albuquerque for our flight home via Dallas.
DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Albuquerque; overnight
Day 2/3
Sandia Crest; Rio Grande Nature Centre; Valle de Oro; overnight Albuquerque
Day 4
South via Bosque del Apache to Truth or Consequences
Day 5/6
Percha Dam; Caballo & Elephant Butte Dams; Las Animas Creek; overnight Truth or Consequences
Day 7/9
Socorro
Day 10
Depart Albuquerque
Day 11
Arrive London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    All accommodations are in modern, typical hotels, with en-suite facilities and lots of space (usually two queen-sized beds per room)

  • Food:

    All food once landed in Albuquerque is included in the price.

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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 15th Feb – Tue 25th Feb SPACES £3,995
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Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,395
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

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