Americas /

Activity level:

easy/moderate walks

USA / New Mexico

Rare arctic and desert species
New Mexico, 10 birding days
 
New Mexico is a large state blessed with a varied landscape of arid deserts, lush forests, soaring mountain ranges and rolling plains. Thus it offers a fantastic sunny winter birding with a wide range of different habitats and species. Imagine looking for tens of thousands of Ross’s and Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes and Verdin, Phainopepla and Pyrrhuloxia at the same time! We visit the best parts of New Mexico from the wild and rich Rio Grande Valley through deserts, scrubs and cottonwoods. Add the extensive mountain pinewoods plus unbelievable spectacle of wetland areas such as the world famous Bosque del Apache and you have a really enjoyable “cocktail of winter birding” in the US.

Fact File
- 10 days in New Mexico, USA
- start and finish in Albuquerque
- using 2 accommodations located close to the sites

Highlights
- 5 days in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding hills
- 5 days in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and at nearby lakes
- wide variety of wintering and resident birds
- tens of thousands of geese and cranes plus other interesting bird species

Accommodation
5 nights in Albuquerque
4 nights in Socorro

Departure Dates
6-16 January, 2010

Price
Ask for the actual price.

Our price includes:
- all travel as noted in the itinerary;
- all accommodation based on shared rooms (most rooms are twin bedded), at most locations there are single rooms as well for extra charge (Please ask for a single room at the time of booking!);
- 3 meals per day, generally breakfast at the accommodation, packed lunch, dinner (consists of at least two courses);
- services of the leader(s);
- trip materials.

Not included:
- flight to and from Albuquerque;
- optional programmes to places of interest and entrance fees involved;
- airport and other departure taxes, tips;
- food beyond generally 3 meals/day mentioned in the itineraries;
- excess baggage charges;
- telephone calls;
- alcoholic beverages;
- compulsory personal insurance.
If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.

Activity level
Generally easy to moderate walks

Itinerary

1-4

We arrive to Albuquerque where we'll be based to explore the Rio Grande Valley and the hilly regions around it. We check out foothill species on the south side of the Sandia Hill and visit Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge and Conchas Lake. The Rio Grande Nature Center, a scrub and cottonwood area and a pond surrounded by reedbeds offers the possibility to see some more scarce birds.

5-8

We travel South to the world famous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. It is a superb locality for waterbirds and is among the best places to see the spectacular concentration of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes. One of the days we visit Elephant Butte, the largest lake in New Mexico. On another day we venture further South to visit Percha Dam and Caballo Lake.

9	Before we drive northwards to Albuquerque we visit parts of the Bosque del Apache and surrounding area again.

10 11

Depending on our flight times we may check some additional birding areas in Albuquerque before heading to the airport to catch our flight back home. Arrival home after an overnight flight.