ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ) before 2 pm. Participants will transfer to the hotel where a room will be reserved in their name. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service from the airport. If time allows, we will try to get in a few hours of birding at local sites before our evening orientation and welcome dinner. Overnight: Home2 Suites Albuquerque Airport.
Day 2: Albuquerque area and Sandia Crest. Today we bird lower lying locations around Albuquerque looking for Pinyon Jay, Sagebrush Sparrow, and Juniper Titmouse before we climb up into the Sandia Mountains, ascending all the way to Sandia Crest. For those willing to brave the cold, Sandia Crest offers one of the most unique winter birding experiences in North America: the chance to see all three Rosy-Finch species—Black, Brown-capped, and Gray-crowned—at a single feeder station. These high-altitude specialties descend from alpine zones to feed, offering rare photographic and observational opportunities. The surrounding coniferous forests also host Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Townsend’s Solitaires, while lower elevations may yield Western Bluebirds and Red Crossbills. Overnight: Home2 Suites Albuquerque Airport.
Day 3: Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bosque Del Apache, and Socorro. Today, we leave Albuquerque and head south towards Bosque Del Apache NWR. No winter birding trip to New Mexico is complete without a visit to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Each dawn, the refuge erupts in motion as tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese rise from their roosts in a synchronized ballet of sound and flight. The refuge’s mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, and cottonwood groves also hosts Northern Harriers, Vermilion Flycatchers, and a dazzling array of waterfowl including Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, and Ring-necked Duck. Photographers and birders alike flock to Bosque for its golden light and intimate wildlife encounters. Sunset fly-ins are equally mesmerizing, as birds return in waves to settle for the night, silhouetted against fiery desert skies. We will also bird the open lands on the way to Socorro and we’ll keep our eye out for Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, and Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs. If we get into Socorro early enough, we may continue right down to the refuge, to get our first taste of the Sandhill Cranes coming in to roost. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Socorro.
Day 4: Elephant Butte, Caballo Lake and Percha Dam State Parks. These man-made lakes serve as critical stopover and wintering sites for migratory birds. Their open water, mudflats, and surrounding scrubland create a mosaic of habitat that supports over 300 species annually. We first travel south, birding Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest man-made lake in New Mexico, where we hope to find Clark’s and Western Grebes, as well as other waterbirds and waterfowl at the lake. The desert scrub around the lake also supports a rich mix of passerines and raptors such as Cactus and Rock Wrens, Black-throated Sparrow, Phainopepla, Verdin, and Horned Larks to name a few. We then continue south to Caballo Lake and Percha Dam State Parks. Caballo’s open water and mudflats attract a variety of wintering and migrating species, including Ross’s Goose, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Ring-billed Gull. Percha Dam spans about 80 acres and features a mix of riparian woodland, open bosque, cultivated fields, and desert scrub. Winter birding at Percha Dam is especially rich, with a mix of resident, migratory species and wintering species such as Phainopepla, Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Pyrrhuloxia, and Black Phoebe. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Socorro.
Day 5: Bosque del Apache NWR to Santa Fe. We will begin our day very early, aiming to arrive at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in time to witness the breathtaking spectacle of geese and cranes taking flight at sunrise. This awe-inspiring event offers a rare opportunity to observe the synchronized movements of these birds as they rise from their roosts, filling the sky with sound and motion. After sunrise, we will continue birding throughout the Bosque del Apache area, adjusting our plans according to the weather and the presence of various bird species. The refuge's diverse habitats provide excellent opportunities for spotting winter residents and migratory waterfowl. Once our birding in Bosque del Apache is complete, we will head north through Albuquerque toward the state capitol, Santa Fe. Throughout the journey, we will stop at promising locations to observe birdlife along the route, making the most of the varied landscapes and habitats encountered. Overnight: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe.
Day 6: Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Santa Fe. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southern sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Santa Fe north to the Colorado border. We will start off by driving up towards Los Alamos, northwest of Santa Fe. Between the Jemez Mountains, which overlook Los Alamos, and the canyons in and around the city, we will have the opportunity to observe a wide array of species, including Mountain Bluebird, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Lewis’s and Acorn Woodpeckers, and perhaps Pinyon Jay and American Three-toed Woodpecker. We will spend the late afternoon exploring some of the cultural attractions in the city of Santa Fe. Overnight: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe.
Day 7: Santa Fe to Albuquerque. Today, our journey takes us south as we make our way back to Albuquerque. The specific locations we visit and the pace of our travels will be shaped by the birds we have already observed and any notable species that have recently been reported along our route. This flexible approach ensures we maximize our opportunities to encounter target birds and experience the rich diversity of habitats New Mexico has to offer. We anticipate arriving in Albuquerque in the late afternoon, concluding a day focused on discovery and adapting to the ever-changing rhythms of winter birding. Overnight: Home2 Suites Albuquerque Airport.
Day 8: Tour Conclusion & Departures. The tour concludes today after some morning birding in the Albuquerque area. Airport drop-off by no later than 12 pm. Participants may arrange departing flights from Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) after 2pm.
