Date: 8/18/25 12:15 pm From: Betsy Checchia <betsy.checchia...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] Central NM Today -- Mars Court Wild Turkey Trail, Tijeras
My first time on this trail, on the East side of the Manzano/East Mountains
south of Tijeras. A really nice open pine forest at 7400 feet, with some
juniper and gambel oak mixed in, and an easy trail with only about 500 feet
of elevation change in 2.5 miles. Birds of the day were a pair of
Rufous-crowned Sparrows, the first I've seen in NM. Other sparrows were
Lark,Chipping, Brewer's, and plenty of Dark-eyed Juncos (all Red-backed).
It was also a three jay day, with 2 each Pinon, Steller's, and Woodhouse's
Scrub Jays. Saw another Nashville Warbler (I've seen 3 in the last week),
plus Virginia's, MacGillivray's, Grace's, Yellow-rumped and Townsend's. 43
total species, link to eBird checklist is here:
https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/idiHC4WnljT7PJVk0IOf8s4fYuV?<domain...>
