[S Crisp]

I'm going to be in Albuquerque during June and would be grateful for any information on sites in or near the area.

Many thanks.

S. Crisp

[cassowary]

S Crisp, I have been working in ABQ for the past couple of years now so I am pretty familiar with the birding areas. Generally birds tend to be spread out a bit in ABQ and surrounds, mainly due to the large variety of habitats.

This is the main web site that will help you find specific birds in the area:

http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?src=c...tinue=Continue

There is also a bird finding guide (I forget the author/publisher - it has a blue cover though) which can be helpful.

You will want to visit Bosque Del Apache - (Just over 1 hr south of ABQ) One of the easiest places to see bobcat (although I have struck out on my last two visits) - lots of good bird species as you can see by filtering the e-bird link and also animal species. Water Canyon and 'the box' just west of Socorro can be done the same day (a number of rarer species) - you can find all these places on e-bird.

Jemez Falls is another excellent area; various areas around Santa Fe. Rio Grande Nature Centre in ABQ is OK - (last week I saw a GH Owl on a nest there and a porcupine in a tree). The Sandias in ABQ eg Sandia crest and capulin spring are also good. many other places for specific species (see e-bird)

If you have the time I highly recommend a couple of nights at Cave Creek Ranch in the Chiricahuas, in SE Arizona (it looks far but roads are quick in NM and it is only 5 hrs drive (without speeding) from ABQ. This is one of my favorite birding/wildlife spots in the US

The harder species in NM and AZ are often easier if you use calls