BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:4b2fd0412cfd0cadc484ef09405a8dcd CATEGORIES:North America CREATED:20170801T154417 SUMMARY:New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe DESCRIPTION:\nEvery winter tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese gather i n the stubble fields flanking the Río Grande in central New Mexico at Bosqu e del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. They are joined by thousands of Cana da Geese and enormous flocks of wild ducks. The spectacle of cranes and wat erfowl darkening the orange evening skies as they return to roost at the Bo sque is renowned as one of the most thrilling experiences available to bird watchers in the U.S. This is only one highlight of our tour through the “La nd of Enchantment,” the fifth largest state in the union and the best livin g symbol of both our pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial heritage. Although less well known, New Mexico also supports the fifth largest avifauna of the United States. Our leisurely, week-long tour will wander up the Río Grande Valley from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, skipping into the southwest corner to search for such specialty birds as Bridled Titmouse, Mexican Jay, and Acorn Woodpecker, and detouring up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a 42 room apartm ent complex constructed in the 13th century by the people of the Mogollon c ulture. Late winter is an excellent time of the year to see New Mexico’s ar ray of raptors, some already commencing courtship and nesting. Among the sp ecies at the cliff dwellings are both Bald and Golden Eagles. Nearby desert valleys host literally hundreds of Red-tails and American Kestrels, and oc casional Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Prairie Falcons. Februar y also marks the onset of nuptial activities for both Crissal and Curve-bil led Thrashers, Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, and many o ther desert dwellers. After two nights at Silver City, a charming little fr ontier town with a mountain top university, and another two nights at Socor ro, savoring bird-filled sunrises and sunsets, we transfer to Santa Fe, the New Mexico state capital and, of course, arts capital of the entire United States. Established in 1610 as the provincial seat for New Spain, the city plaza that fronts Don Pedro de Peralta’s Palace of the Governors is still in use, nowadays a mecca for Native American vendors. Field excursions outs ide the small city, population 70,000, will lead us to the ruins at Pecos N ational Monument, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, and up into the nearb y mountains. Some of the birds we hope to see include Rough-legged Hawk, Le wis’ Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, and Townsend’s So litaire, as well as other boreal specialists from the high Rockies. There i s even a possibility of Northern Shrike and breeding-plumaged McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. If this birding excursion to the birthplace of Southwest culture sounds intriguing, we invite you to join us as we explor e the mosaic of deserts, mountains and watercourses that create the land of contrasts that is New Mexico.\nLeader:  John Yerger (index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=29:john-yerger&catid=18:leaders-and-sta ff&Itemid=155)\n (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 23:rick-taylor&catid=18:leaders-and-staff&Itemid=155)\nCost of New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe includes all meals, accommodations, e ntrance fees, and transportation beginning in El Paso, TX and ending in Alb uquerque, NM—$2795.\n(Note: most major airlines will ticket arrival in El P aso and departure from Albuquerque for the same fare as a roundtrip ticket. )\nTO REGISTER: Print out a PDF Registration Form (images/borderland/border land_tours_reg_v4.pdf), call us at (520) 558-2351 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloak2f501904bd47e16092f7a92c5436fdcd').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'h r' + 'ef' + '='; var addy2f501904bd47e16092f7a92c5436fdcd = 'inf&# 111;' + '@'; addy2f501904bd47e16092f7a92c5436fdcd = addy2f501904bd4 7e16092f7a92c5436fdcd + 'borderland-tours' + '. ' + 'com?subject=Tour%20registrat 05;on'; var addy_text2f501904bd47e16092f7a92c5436fdcd = 'send us an email';document.getElementById('cloak2f501904 bd47e16092f7a92c5436fdcd').innerHTML += ''+addy_text2f501904bd47e16092f 7a92c5436fdcd+''; .\nSee also: Arizona Winter Specialties (December 3-9, 2017 OR December 2-8, 2018)\n Photo: Sandhill Crane scene\nPhoto by: Rick T aylor\n\n(Photo Gallery under construction)   X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Sandhill Crane scene. Photo by Rick Taylor. Copyright <strong>Borderland To urs</strong>. All rights reserved.

Every&nb sp;winter tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese gather in the stubble fields flanking the Río Grande in central New Mexico at Bos que del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. They are joined by thousands of Ca nada Geese and enormous flocks of wild ducks. The spectacle of cranes and w aterfowl darkening the orange evening skies as they return to roost at the Bosque is renowned as one of the most thrilling experiences available to bi rdwatchers in the U.S. This is only one highlight of our tour through the “ Land of Enchantment,” the fifth largest state in the union and the best liv ing symbol of both our pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial heritage. Althoug h less well known, New Mexico also supports the fifth largest avifauna of t he United States. Our leisurely, week-long tour will wander up the Río Gran de Valley from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, skipping into the southwest corner t o search for such specialty birds as Bridled Titmouse, Mexican Jay, and Aco rn Woodpecker, and detouring up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a 42 room apar tment complex constructed in the 13th century by the people of the Mogollon culture. Late winter is an excellent time of the year to see New Mexico’s array of raptors, some already commencing courtship and nesting. Among the species at the cliff dwellings are both Bald and Golden Eagles. Nearby dese rt valleys host literally hundreds of Red-tails and American Kestrels, and occasional Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Prairie Falcons. Febru ary also marks the onset of nuptial activities for both Crissal and Curve-b illed Thrashers, Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, and many other desert dwellers. After two nights at Silver City, a charming little frontier town with a mountain top university, and another two nights at Soc orro, savoring bird-filled sunrises and sunsets, we transfer to Santa Fe, t he New Mexico state capital and, of course, arts capital of the entire Unit ed States. Established in 1610 as the provincial seat for New Spain, the ci ty plaza that fronts Don Pedro de Peralta’s Palace of the Governors is stil l in use, nowadays a mecca for Native American vendors. Field excursions ou tside the small city, population 70,000, will lead us to the ruins at Pecos National Monument, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, and up into the nea rby mountains. Some of the birds we hope to see include Rough-legged Hawk, Lewis’ Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, and Townsend’s Solitaire, as well as other boreal specialists from the high Rockies. There is even a possibility of Northern Shrike and breeding-plumaged McCown’s an d Chestnut-collared Longspurs. If this birding excursion to the birthplace of Southwest culture sounds intriguing, we invite you to join us as we expl ore the mosaic of deserts, mountains and watercourses that create the land of contrasts that is New Mexico.

L eader:  John Yerger

Cost of  New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe inclu des all meals, accommodations, entrance fees, and transportation beginning in El Paso, TX and ending in Albuquerque, NM—$2795.

(Note: most major airlines will ticket arrival in El Paso and departure from Albuquerque for the same fare as a roundtrip ticket.)

TO REGIST ER: Prin t out a PDF Registration Form, c all us at (520) 558-2351 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You nee d JavaScript enabled to view it..

See also: Arizona Winter Spec ialties (December 3-9, 2017 OR December 2-8, 2018)

Photo: Sandhill Crane scene
Photo by: Rick Taylor

photogal icon

(Photo Gall ery under construction)
 
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