Two Rivers Dam, located west of Roswell NM, is a seldom visited birding location in the desert grasslands on the western edge of the Great Plains. An ACOE dam was built for flood control of several drainages coming from the higher elevations of the Sacramento Mountains to the west. The dam holds back seasonal (usually summer) rainfall and various grasses and shrubs are able to take hold. In addition, the main drainage, both above and below the dam, have enough water to support several tree species including hackberry, walnut, and willow.
We typically visit in the fall when the seed production from summer rain activity is at the highest. Not surprisingly, a high diversity of sparrows are present including White-crowned, Lincoln's, Vesper, Grasshopper, Chipping, Clay-colored, Brewer's, Sagebrush, Black-throated, and Song. A few lingering warblers can be found in the stands of sunflower including Orange-crowned and Wilson's. Overhead, in October, southbound Chestnut-collared Longspur and Sprague's Pipit can be heard. Long-eared Owls usually have arrived for their winter stay by mid October and this year we had great looks at two separate individuals. While walking the arroyos, we look for fresh whitewash on the ground as potential evidence of roosing birds. The buoyant flight of these charming, mid sized owls is quite a sight to behold.
This year an added treat occurred as we came upon an early Winter Wren in the dense thickets lining the creek drainage. Both stub-tailed wrens, Winter and Pacific, winter in NM but usually only the Winter makes it to this southeastern part of the state. Often we encounter fly over groups of Sandhill Cranes but this year the sky above remained empty of them. Overall this venue is a productive addition to the diverse New Mexico birding landscape
Comments