We will plan to arrive in Albuquerque by early afternoon and begin our tour with a visit to the Rio Grande Nature Center and State Park. In the nature center pond and the adjacent large stands of cottonwoods we are likely to find our first Cackling Geese, Gambel's Quail, White-crowned Sparrow, Wood Duck, and possibly a Western Screech-Owl or Great Horned Owl. I saw my very first Greater Roadrunner in this area more than 25 years ago. Unusual birds on recent tours included a very late Green Heron, a somewhat out-of-range Brown Thrasher, and a highly unusual Harris's Sparrow, studied well, in the scope! Overnight in Albuquerque.

The Greater Roadrunner has an incredible amount of character and personality. It is a member of the cuckoo family. --Bob Schutsky

We'll climb into the sub-alpine zone of the Sandia Mountains to look for high elevation species such as Golden Eagle, Clark's Nutcracker, and Red Crossbill. We'll pass through other elevational zones to find the typical Rocky Mountain birds of the Ponderosa Pines. These include Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and Pygmy Nuthatch. There is always the possibility of rarities in these mountains such as Northern Goshawk, Dusky Grouse, Pine Grosbeak (great looks in 2004), and American Three-toed Woodpecker. Our past tours have produced a mixed flock of all three Rosy-Finches at the Crest! Second night in Albuquerque.

We will drive south from Albuquerque to spend most of the day among the thousands and thousands of Sandhill Cranes that call Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge their winter home. There will be Bald Eagles and perhaps a Peregrine Falcon in the snags, Gambel's Quail in the thickets, and Ross's Geese among the thousands of Snow Geese. Highlights at the feeding station should include Spotted Towhee, lots of White-crowned Sparrows, and perhaps a White-throated Sparrow or Yellow-headed Blackbird. We'll scour all the lakes, watercourses, and cottonwood groves (bosques) for wintering waterfowl, lingering shorebirds, and songbirds. We'll retire for the night further south in the town of Truth or Consequences.

Today we'll bird desert habitat more intensively to look for Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Phainopepla. Our next destination is the Black Range for more montane species that should include Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, and Steller's Jay. There is a chance that we could find a (Mexican) Spotted Owl in this area. The birding is nice and the scenery is spectacular. A second night in T or C.

New Mexico State University in Las Cruces has a resident population of Burrowing Owls on the campus. With any luck we will find them and have excellent views. Dripping Springs, located at the base of the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces, is our next stop. The scenery here is spectacular. Towering granite cliffs serve as the backdrop for some great birding. We should see Western Bluebird, Pyrrhuloxia, and hopefully many different sparrows - - we found TWELVE species on a recent tour. The highlight was definitely several Black-chinned Sparrows, but Green-tailed Towhee, Black-throated Sparrow, and a Fox Sparrow were nice additions to our sightings. A stop at nearby Isaac's Lake may add Brewer's, Cassin's, and Grasshopper Sparrows, as it did in 2004. We'll spend the night in Socorro.

We'll visit a few of the reservoirs that are the winter home of masses of aquatic species. Most notable among these is Elephant Butte State Park with its selection of diving ducks, gulls, loons, grebes and more cranes. We could easily see Western, Clark's, and Eared Grebes, American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, and Ross's Goose. Also possible are Barn Owl, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Crissal Thrasher, and Black Phoebe. Percha Dam is located further south and is likely to yield White-winged Dove, Green-tailed Towhee, Pyrrhuloxia, Phainopepla, and Wilson's Snipe. One year we had a close encounter with an adult Golden Eagle and a stunning Prairie Falcon. At Bosque del Apache, which means ‘Woods of the Apache,' we'll explore the system of desert trails for Gambel's Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-throated and Sage Sparrows, and Green-tailed Towhee. In the afternoon it's back to the marshes and pools of the Refuge. We'll spend one more evening watching the masses of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese go to roost, perhaps being stalked by several Coyotes. Then we'll spend our second night in Socorro after a world-famous green chili cheeseburger at The Owl Restaurant.

Today we're back in the mountains. We'll explore some middle elevation pinyon-juniper and ponderosa habitats outside Socorro that include Water Canyon in the Magdalena Mountains. Typical birds in this area include Pinyon Jay, Rock and Bewick's Wrens, Mountain Bluebird, and Juniper Titmouse. At 10,000 feet we are likely to find Clark's Nutcracker and perhaps a flock of crossbills or siskins. After an intriguing visit to the VLA (Very Large Array), some spotlighting may produce a Barn Owl or Badger on our return trip to Albuquerque, where we spend the night.

We'll set out northeast from Albuquerque for Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. This area is great for ducks and other diving birds and the surrounding prairie is excellent for sparrows and raptors including Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon and Loggerhead Shrike. Our final destination is the ski area at Santa Fe. This will give us one more chance for some montane species that may include Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Dusky Grouse, and Williamson's Sapsucker. We'll have our farewell dinner and final night in Albuquerque.

We may return to Sandia Crest for another chance at the Rosy-Finches or, if we did well with them earlier in the tour, go to Petroglyph National Monument to look for Sage Sparrow. We usually find a small flock in the expansive sage habitat. Then we'll drive to the airport for our mid-day flights home.

The New Mexico--Bosque del Apache Tour will be led by John Puschock or Bob Schutsky, both of whom know the area very well and will show you a great time in this wonderful portion of our American Southwest.

$1995 per person based upon double occupancy. Single accommodations are available at an extra charge of $425.

Expert guide service, lodging for eight nights, ALL meals for the entire tour, entrance fees, and ground transportation within New Mexico. ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may wish to give to your tour leader(s).
Does not include the cost of airfare to and from Albuquerque. BIRD TREKS will, upon request, gladly help you obtain the best possible airfare. Also not included are the cost of alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature.

A $500 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance is due 15 September 2008.

We offer the services of our exclusive BIRD TREKS travel agent, Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 22 years of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail lori@baileytravel.com. By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.

With written notice more than 60 days prior to the first day of the tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $75 service fee. With 30-60 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once a tour begins. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the following link to Access America or contact BIRD TREKS for information on obtaining this coverage.