No Luck on search for American Three-toed today, but Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee and Spotted Towhee, White-throated Sparrow - Santa Fe, NM 2-23-14

My friend Wyatt Eglehoff and I headed up high into the Sangre de Christo Mountains today above Santa Fe, NM. We hiked the Aspen Vista Trail which, as the name implies, starts in a massive stand of  Aspens, but winds for miles up into the spruce forest and eventually to the radio towers at 12,000 feet. At approximately 3 miles you pass through a mature stand of spruce where American Three-toed Woodpeckers are seen on a regular basis. 

We started the 1 hour and 15 minute hike to the area where the woodpeckers are seen the most. It is a steady climb from around 10,000 feet to just over 11,000 at this point. We stopped briefly on the way up to enjoy a couple Golden-crowned Kinglets, but then trudged on. 

It was pretty windy and there weren't any birds moving at all. This was my 5th attempt, but I'll keep on trying! It's a great hike and there are always interesting birds to observe. Besides the kinglet we saw a few Clark's Nutcrackers, Brown Creepers, and gobs of Mountain Chickadees.

We stopped up at the ski lodge where there are three feeders. The hope is to attract rosy-finches. So far no luck. Today there were only Mountain Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos. 

We headed down the mountain and stopped briefly at the New Mexico Capital Building (known as the "Round House"). It is always worth a stop because the grounds have lots of trees and landscaping. It was nearly 60 degrees by the time we got there and it was pretty quiet. However, we did see a juvenile White-throated Sparrow (rare) and a few Spotted Towhees.

Mountain Chickadee at Santa Fe Ski Area Feeders

Spotted Towhee at "Round House" Grounds in Santa Fe