NEW MEXICO 
Casual in New Mexico in spring, this alternate-plumaged Red Knot lingered at 
Holloman Lake, Otero County 23 (here 26) April through 13 May 2009. Photo- 
graph by James E. Zabriskie. 
Costa's Hummingbird is irregular in New Mexico, where last reported in 2007, so 
notable were up to three in Guadalupe Canyon, Hidalgo County, in April 2009, in- 
cluding this male photographed 17 April. Photograph by DavidJ. Cleary. 
Buff-breasted Flycatchers returned to nest in the Animas Mountains, Hidalgo 
County, New Mexico for the second consecutive year, including this pair pho- 
tographed at Aspen Spring 8 May 2009. Photograph by Nicholas D. Pederson. 
Plover season produced at least one at 
B.L.N.W.R. 28 Mar-2 May (m.ob., ph. JPB) 
and 2 there 11 & 14 Apr (ph. WH, JMB), plus 
singles at Brantley L. 28-29 Mar (ph. CW, RV, 
CR, ph. JPB) and Bosque 2-3 May (CB, NH, 
CR, MB, NP). One to 2 Snowy Plovers were n. 
to Morgan L. 14-23 May (ph. TR). Two 
Mountain Plovers were among prairie-dogs e. 
of Roswell 29 Mar (RH). 
Black-necked Stilts where sel- 
dom seen were one at Nutria 
L. 21 Apr (WW) and 2 at 
Acomita L., Cibola 29 May 
(WW). The earliest Solitary 
Sandpiper reported was one at 
Luis Lopez 9 Apr OO)- A re- 
markable Whimbrel season 
found a high 10 at Brantley L. 
5 & 10 May (WW, JP) and one 
to 2 at Bosque 30 Apr-17 May 
(m.ob., ph.), plus singles at 
Zuni 26 Apr QT) and L. Aval- 
on 27 Apr (SW). Some 580 
Long-billed Curlews were in a 
field near Dexter 28 Mar (CW, 
RV, CR); late but in suitable 
breeding habitat were 2 near 
Encino and 24 near Hobbs 31 
May (DH). Surprising were 2 
Ruddy Turnstones at Sumner 
L. 6 May (ph. B. Long). Casual 
in spring, a bright Red Knot 
lingered at Holloman L. 23 
Apr-13 May (ph. DG, MS, ph. 
JZ, WW, ph. JO, ph. MB). Rare 
in w. New Mexico, at least 3 
Semipalmated Sandpipers 
were at Morgan L. 14 May (ph. 
TR); others with details w. of 
the plains were singles at 
Bosque 10 May (MH) and Hol- 
loman L. 26 May (BZ, MS, JZ). 
Earliest credible Western 
Sandpipers were 2 at Bosque 5 
Apr (DH); undetailed “flocks” 
at Bosque and B.L.N.W.R. in 
Mar require verification. The 
earliest White-rumped Sand- 
pipers were 2 at B.L.N.W.R. 15 
May (DK); others continued in 
evidence in e. New Mexico 
through 3 1 May, including sin- 
gles at Ruby Ranch, San Miguel 
19 May (W. West) and Portales 
22-23 May QPJO), 9 at Clovis 
21 May (ph. JPB), and a high 
29 at Brantley L. 23 May (CW, 
JPB) where up to 19 were still 
present 28 May (RD, MH). 
Scarce in spring, a Pectoral 
Sandpiper was at Socorro 5 
Apr (ph. JWS). Very late was a bright Dunlin 
at Holloman L. 26 May (ph. BZ, MS, ph. JZ); 
one found at Morgan L. in Feb was last seen 7 
Mar (ph. TR), while one was at Bosque 14 
Mar (DH). Casual in spring, an ad. Short- 
billed Dowitcher was at Las Palomas 29 May 
(ph. DC). Late Red-necked Phalaropes were 
one at B.L.N.W.R. 25 May QP) and 3 at Hol- 
loman L. 26 May (BZ). A subad. Lesser Black- 
backed Gull was at Brantley L. 3 May (ph. 
MH, RV BE), a late date for this recently ar- 
rived species. The imm. Glaucous Gull at 
Brantley L. in Feb was seen again 14 Mar QP 
WW). Least Terns continued to appear away 
from the lower Pecos Valley, with a very early 
one at E.B.L. 3 Apr (LM), one at Morgan L. 
14-31 May (ph. TR) and 2 there 26 May (TR); 
singles were at Espanola 24 May (ph. JPB) 
and Ned Houk Park n. of Clovis 12 May (JP); 
and 2 were at Holloman L. 13 May (ph. MB). 
PIGEONS THROUGH FLYCATCHERS 
Very early or wintering were 15 Band-tailed 
Pigeons in Bear Trap Canyon, San Mateo Mts. 
16 Mar (SOW). Far n. were 2 White-winged 
Doves near Cedar Hill, San Juan 1 May (TR). 
Still rare, and with no recent proof of nesting. 
Common Ground-Doves were in evidence 
across the s., with singles at Redrock 29 May 
(BZ), the Animas Valley 9 May (RW), Percha 
4 May (DG), R.S. 9 May (SW), and Eunice 
until 12 Apr (PM), plus 3 at Rodeo 24 May 
(RW). A male Ruddy Ground-Dove was at 
Percha 28 Mar (RH, ph. MC, ph. NH). Early 
were single Yellow-billed Cuckoos at Waldrop 
Park 9 May (R. Larsen) and N.R.T. 11 May 
(MH); others did not arrive until 24 May or 
later. A Long-eared Owl nest near Hermanas 
contained 3 nestlings 19 Apr (HW). A silent 
Lesser Nighthawk was reported n. to N.R.T. 
26 Apr (CR, MH). A Common Poorwill was 
vocal in the Sandia Mts. 18 Mar (RV). Earliest 
Chimney Swifts were 3 at Clovis 28 Apr 
(JMB); May brought reports of one to 3 at 
Clayton (CR), Melrose (DH), Roswell (JP), 
Carlsbad (SW), and R.S. (SW). The Broad- 
billed Hummingbird that wintered near Radi- 
um Springs was last seen 7 Apr (MS, JZ); also 
in the R.G.V was a male at Elephant Butte 18 
Apr (WW). Magnificent Hummingbirds were 
restricted to the Pinos Altos (LM), Peloncillo 
(CDL), and Animas (AC) ranges. Right on 
schedule, the first Lucifer Hummingbird re- 
turned to Post office Canyon 21 Mar (CDL); 
single Anna’s reached Post Office Canyon 11 
Apr and 20 May (CDL). Two ad. male Costa’s 
Hummingbirds were in Guadalupe Canyon 
17 Apr (ph. DC), where there was a female 16 
Apr (DC), and another ad. male was at Las 
Cruces 26 Mar (DG, MS, ph. JZ). Additional 
credible reports of Calliope and Rufous sug- 
gest these hummingbirds may now be expect- 
ed in spring. A male Calliope was at Radium 
Springs 2 Apr (MS, JZ), and single females 
were at Socorro 2 May (CR) and Albuquerque 
3 May (CR). Rufous reports included a male 
at Carlsbad 29 Mar (SW), a male at Radium 
Springs 5-6 Apr and a female there 9-10 Apr 
(MS, JZ), and 3 males at L. Roberts 12 Apr 
474 NORTHAMERICANBIRDS 
