Birding The Beautiful Trout Stalker Ranch in Chama, NM - February 10,16,17, 2015

Recently I've had the privilege to bird both the stunningly beautiful and bird-rich Trout Stalker Ranch located near Chama, New Mexico. The ranch, situated in the beautiful and historic Chama River Valley, is just 8 miles from the Colorado border.

I was immediately struck by the amazing diversity of habitats found on the ranch's 1,400 acres. Birding was a pure joy as I explored the wild and scenic Chama River (two miles run through the ranch) and a fabulous mix of lakes, streams, hardwood forests, riparian corridors, pastures, and uplands!



Cabin next to one of the many ponds and pastures



Cabin from across pond

Chama River on ranch

Chama River on ranch

Chama River on ranch

Whispy clouds over ranch's uplands

Chama River on ranch

Finding the largest number of species in New Mexico depends on the site having a wide variety of habitats including a good amount of easily accessible wetlands - the Trout Stalker Ranch meets and surpasses that requirement. In fact, as you may have figured out by the name, the ranch is also the place where anglers come for world class trout fishing!

Great habitat, stunning scenery, and A LOT of birds makes this ranch a great place for birding any time of year. I believe that a conservative estimate of species to be found here is over 200. When you consider that the ranch is located near state parks, wildlife management and wilderness areas, high alpine birding, and the Chama River Valley this list becomes much higher; and that makes the ranch a premier birding destination.

With an invitation by owners Dan and Ashlyn Perry to survey the birding possibilities on the ranch, I headed up for my initial visit on February 10th. I left my house in Santa Fe at 5:20 a.m. to begin the 120-mile trip to Chama. The drive was spectacular as I drove north through Espanola (where the Chama River meets the Rio Grande) and then on past the historic village of Abiquiu (and Abiquiu Lake). However the fun was just beginning as I cruised by the incredible red rock formations that surround the Ghost Ranch, made famous by Georgia O'Keeffe, and also the site where New Mexico's state fossil (Coelophysis - See-low-FY-sis, a meat-eating dinosaur), was discovered.

Abiquiu Lake at dawn 

Driving north of Abiquiu on highway 84 

Red rock formations near the Ghost Ranch 

Once it got light I found it difficult to stay focused on the goal of reaching Chama before 8:00 a.m. Birds were everywhere as I rose up into the Carson National Forest and then eventually down into the dreamy Chama River Valley. That said I remained disciplined and kept the foot on the gas and not the brakes...until I saw an exquisite adult Golden Eagle sitting on a pole right next to the road! That was just too cool to ignore! I stopped long enough to get some shots and then continued my drive - I was almost there!

Golden Eagle near Chama - 2/10/15

Same golden eagle on same pole - 2/16/15

The two hour and ten-minute drive to Chama went by super fast as there is amazing scenary along the entire way. I arrived in town at 7:35 a.m. and still had a few minutes before I was to meet Greg Friday, the ranch's Forman and Chief of Operations, so I took a quick spin through town. You cross over the Chama River twice while heading through town. I stopped at the bridge on the north side of Chama and stood there (no traffic) just admiring the river. Deciding I was hungry, I headed over to what turned out to be the world's largest Subway Restaurant (trust me you must check it out!). 

There's much to explore around Chama and I'll be adding much more in future posts, but for now I'll just say that this quaint and scenic little town is most famous for where you "Get on Board" the wildly popular Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Chama River (upstream) from the bridge heading north out of town

I met Greg at the nearby local supermarket and we headed on over to the ranch! After a short distance we turned off the main highway and soon after arrived the very handsome gate and entrance to Trout Stalker Ranch! I very excited to be here and my anticipation of what I might find was growing by leaps and bounds. We drove on in and I could tell that my experience on the ranch was going to be something very special. Everything is first class including the greeting you receive from the vintage police car (NM plates, of course) which actually flashes its lights at you when passing!



Extraordinary entrance gate at Trout Stalker Ranch

Being greeted by vintage police car

Once onto the ranch I abandoned my car and hopped into Greg's truck and for the next several hours he took on the role as tour guide and showed me the entire ranch. It was an exhuberant morning to say the least! Though Greg has worked on this property for many years his pride and enthusiasm were most impressive. It was clear to see why he feels so strongly about this awesome ranch as I myself was becoming more and more enamored with its beauty and diversity. My mind was swimming with visions of birds as Greg showed me more and more.

That's me standing next to a Narrow Leaf Cottonwood which stands on a special place on the ranch. Greg thinks this may either be close to or actually is a state or national record!

This initial visit convinced me that me goal now is to see over 200 species of birds here! The first bird I recorded on the ranch was an American Crow, which called just as I crossed the gate. Darn,  because just a couple seconds later an adult Bald Eagle flew from a tree along one of the numerous ponds! Well I guess having an eagle as the second bird seen isn't too bad.

Bald Eagle checking things out just after dawn

One of the first things Greg told me I'd like about the ranch are its dippers which can easily be found along the Chama River there. The old name for this fascinating bird is Water Ouzel (Ouzel is an Old English word meaning dark or brown thrush). Dippers are song birds that live in the water except to rest and nest, but even then they are never further than a few feet away. Their compact streamlined bodies are designed to swim under water while they search for insect larvae. They have a nictitating membrane which allows them to see underwater and their white eyelids flash brightly when they blink. We stopped on the first of two bridges over the Chama River on the ranch and immediately saw two dippers! Greg also showed me their domed nests underneath the bridge. Cool!

Dipper showing bright white eyelids

Showing off that sleek compact profile

Closer view of unique white eyelids

On the lookout for a meal

Cold is no problem!

The Yankee great Yogi Berra once said "when you come to a fork in the road, take it!" However, I don't think Yogi had this fork on Trout Stalker Ranch in mind!

One of the features I love about the ranch is the superbly placed and designed deck overlooking the river. In fact it was built on the old Chama River Bridge. This is a great place to relax, enjoy life, and yes, observe birds!

Spacious covered deck overlooking the Chama River and the Rio Chamita

The day was beginning to warm up and by mid-morning it was downright balmy - nearing 55 degrees! The birds were starting to slow down, but we still managed to see some solid species including American Tree Sparrows and one of my favorite birds in the world, Lewis's Woodpeckers. The woodpeckers are disappearing from much of their former range so that makes the ranch an important stronghold for this stunningly beautiful bird.

American Tree Sparrows are common along the ranch's wetland thickets

The beautiful Lewis's Woodpecker - found in the tall cottonwoods along the Chama

Around noon Greg suggested I spend the afternoon birding the ranch and getting familiar with the environs. I thanked him for the awesome tour and how much I looked forward to returning ASAP!

I only head a couple more hours before I needed to head back to Santa Fe so I thought I would spend it poking around the hardwoods along the river on the north end of ranch. This is also the area where Greg and his wife live, and where he has a couple bird feeders :-)

It was rather quiet in the very unseasonably mild temperatures, but there were a couple more Lewis's, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Black-capped Chickadees. I was walking along the edge of the woods between the river and Greg's House when I noticed some activity in a patch of dogwoods. I was spishing and imitating a Northern Pygmy Owl when a sparrow popped up close by. I got the bins on it and was stunned to be observing a first winter Harris's Sparrow! I was taking pics when another sparrow popped up and shockingly it was ANOTHER Harris's Sparrow! That's TWO! Luckily I was able to get pics of both of them. A single Harris's Sparrow anywhere in New Mexico is rare, but to see two of them together is practically unheard of

When I returned to bird on the 16th and 17th I was able to relocate the two Harris's sparrows.  I was lucky enough to get more pics of both of them together. Way back in 1899 Florence A. Merriam (one of my heroes), the great ornithologist, said that nobody can argue with a photograph! I was happy to get the documentation.

First winter Harris's Sparow - 2/10/15

The other first winter Harris's Sparrow - 2/10/15

Both sparrows together on 2/17/15

Both sparrows together on 2/17/15

After losing track of the Harris's Sparrows I wandered back down to the river to check out the thickets of dogwood, willows, and alders which grow profusely on the ranch's portion of the river and other wetland areas. I noticed a medium-sized songbird perched high in a cottonwood. I couldn't believe my eyes - a Pine Grosbeak! These birds are normally found high in conifer forests! This female didn't feel like cooperating, but with a little maneuvering I was able to get a couple shots and document this, the second rare species on the ranch in one morning!

Female Pine Grosbeak - 2/17/15

I arrived at approximately 9:30 a.m. on the 16th after stopping at Abiquiu Lake and taking careful mile measurements at notable birding spots on the way to the ranch. I finally decided I needed to hurry before it got too late in the morning and the birding slowed down. I did stop, again, to take a pic of the same Golden Eagle, on the same pole! See pic above.

I caught up with Greg and we had a very nice walk around including his superb birding trail which winds through extensive dogwood, cottonwood, and alders along the river. This is going to be an amazing spot to go birding in spring and I can't wait!

After birding the ranch and adding a few more species I decided to leave the site and go exploring areas that can be birded within a relatively short drive. The most significant site I visited was Heron Lake State Park (http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/heronlakestatepark.html) located along SR 95 south and west of Chama. I had never been here before so had no idea what to expect.

A storm was moving in so my time was limited. I parked at the dam and worked my way down along the frozen lake's shoreline. It was tough walking in the combination of goopy mud and slush. I was just about to give up when I heard a flock of birds overhead. I looked up to see about 100 finches wheeling about. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. These were rosy-finches - some of the sexiest birds on earth!

The light and wind made it difficult to get any pics that were decent, but I stuck to it. It was important to get pictures because rosy-finches are rarely seen away from Sandia Crest above Albuquerque, where they have been attending feeders there for years. I managed to get some identifiable shots that showed that I had witnessed a flock of ALL THREE SPECIES - Gray-crowned, Brown-capped, and Black Rosy-Finches! Cool!

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Black, Gray-crowned, and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches

Black Rosy-Finch

Area where finches were found - see storm approaching!

Heron Lake 

Frozen shore of Heron Lake where rosy-finches were

Storm approaching Heron Lake!

 Snow storm at Heron Lake 

Storm  approaching fast

Full fury of snow storm over Heron Lake

The Perry's were gracious enough to offer an invitation for me to stay overnight in the really special Loft House on the ranch. I humbly took advantage of the offer and had the best night's sleep in quite a while!

The snow storm that I had experienced over at Heron Lake SP the day before passed by with no snow at the ranch. It was pretty cold though with the low close to single digits. What a joy to walk out of the Loft House and onto the ranch where I was greeted by a fabulous dawn. The air was crisp and the sunrise spectacular.

The Bald Eagle was perched near the largest lake on the ranch patiently waiting for the sun to come up and take the edge of the cold.

Also along the edge of the lake were a large flock of Pine Siskins. Normally pretty fidgety, the siskins were content to fluff up and soak up the early morning sun.

Pine Sisking chattering

Pine Siskins soaking up rays

A cold and fluffed up Pine Siskin!

Greg and I hooked up again for a fun cruise around on an ATV. Greg showed me a couple more really great birding areas along the river. After enjoying watching an immature Bald Eagle cruise over the ranch Greg took me back to my car so I could continute my exploration of nearby areas.

I poked around town for a bit including checking out the parking area for the Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area (http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ed-Sargent-WA-WMA-NMDGF.pdf).

I continued north of Chama and into Colorado to see how far it was to Cumbres Pass. It barely took me 30 minutes to get to this spectacular alpine birding area where lots of high elevation species can be found including the rare and elusive Boreal Owl.

The rest of the day was spent checking out new areas, some of which I crossed off my list of potential birding spots, and double-checking mileage between a numerous places.

My three days of birding on the ranch were both thorougly enjoyable as well as rewarding. I've birded all over New Mexico and believe Trout Stalker Ranch has the potential to be a premier birding site.

The following list of 32 species might not seem that high, but in reality it is fairly impressive for winter; and there are some great birds that will definitely help propel the Trout Stalker Ranch checklist towards the goal of 200 species!

Trout Stalker Ranch Composite Bird List for February 10/16/17, 2015

1. Canada Goose - 14
2. Mallard - 7
3. Ring-necked Duck - 1
4. Common Goldeneye - 7
5. Common Merganser - 1
6. Killdeer - 2
7. Bald Eagle - 2
8. Red-tailed Hawk - 3
9. Eurasian Collared-Dove - 1
10. Lewis's Woodpecker - 2
11. Northern Flicker - 3
12. Western Scrub-Jay - 3
13. Black-billed Magpie - 14
14. Clark's Nutcracker - 1
15. American Crow - 5
16. Common Raven - 5
17. Black-capped Chickadee - 5
18. White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
19. American Dipper - 3
20. Western Bluebird - 2
21. Mountain Bluebird - 1
22. American Robin - 6
23. European Starling - 1
24. Song Sparrow - 1
25. American Tree Sparrow - 14
26. Harris's Sparrow - 2
27. Dark-eyed Junco - 16
28. Red-winged Blackbird - 24
29. Pine Grosbeak - 1
30. Cassin's Finch - 1
31. Pine Siskin - 44
32. House Sparrow 1