Daylight's Wasting

Sept 2: To Brian’s apartment with Joyce for ride to BWI. Fly non- stop to Albuquerque. Rent car and on to Sylvan and Jake’s. Out to eat dinner at Tune Up, all good.

Sept 3: Hang around the house, went out to brunch at Pastry Rio (good), grocery shopped, back to house. Went to Canyon Road event where we walked up road, passing various bands, some food, many open studios. Finished in very nice setting at wine bar with shared dessert. Back to house for on-your-own dinner.

Sept 4: To Galisteo Basin and hiked a loop from the Cowboy Shack Trailhead. Started on Wells Wiggle Trail. Very dry, somewhat barren landscape with lots of stunted junipers, some pines and just a few oaks. Did three or less miles. Saw several lizards, juniper titmice, a Wilson warbler and a few towhees. Dinner at house, was good.

Sept 5: Drove to Pecos Wilderness to hike the Cave Creek Trail. Long drive up canyon to trailhead (19 mi), lots of people fishing along stream. Found trail after Pete didn’t download map but Gayle did (whew). Beautiful hike in woods along rushing stream. Saw several groups of birds, lots of wildflowers. Rained intermittently, then rained steadily about 1/2 mile from car. We hung out under large conifer and stayed pretty dry, left as it stopped. Walked 3.5 miles after turning around before end of trail due to clouds/rain. Saw snow plant (red), blue flax, scarlet gilia, hare bell. Dinner at the house during lots of rain.

Sept 6: Saturday, so all went to the Farmers Market, which is huge. Had fun strolling around, eating pastries and buying some veggies. P and G bought a brightly painted picture – hope it works out. Came back to house, sat thru some rain showers, then down to the square for the Fiesta event there. Again strolled around the venders, bought some things to eat and had drinks and chips on a veranda overlooking the square. We all more or less skipped dinner.

Sept 7: Left around 10:30 for a hike off the Ski Basin road, which is very close to town. Hiked the Big Tesuque Creek Trail, which is a 3.7 mi loop starting/ending at about 9800’. Very nice hike, saw a bunch of Clark’s Nutcrackers. Drove up to top, checked out some trailheads and the back to house.

Sept 8: Drove to Bandelier NM, hiked the Upper Frijoles Canyon Trail to the look out over the canyon. Ate lunch at canyon. Nice view but most of trail is thru burned over forest with aspen saplings. Saw 50+ Stellers jays migrating. At car decided to hike up the Cerro Grande trail a ways since we thought we heard an elk. Saw coyote. Nice trail, stopped when it got steep (~0.5mi). Drove in backcountry of Valles Caldera, saw 3 lone coyotes, bluebirds, shrike, prairie dogs. Not as many bluebirds as in 2024. Went short way up Coyote Call trail to listen for elk, none. May have seen Swainsons hawk. Back to house, ordered pizza, calzones.

Sept 9: G and J worked in the morning on the NZ trip plans while P went to the grocery store. Lunch at the house, then to the Bear Wallow/Winsor/Berrego Trails Loop. Spent 4.5 hrs on the 4 mile walk, which was steep downhill for 1.6 mi and then steep uphill the last 1.5+ miles. Nice hike anyway, crossed Tesuque Creek which was VERY cold. Back to house, J stayed in while P and G went to Tune Up for dinner (good).

Sept 10: Birthday day for Gayle! Opened a few presents, did social media and then went into town to see some sights. Visited the State Capital, which has a lot of local art. Walked to the oldest church in the US (~1610) and oldest house in US (early 1600’s). Quick lunch at Upper Crust pizza and on to the Indian Research Center for a tour or Indian art objects. Tour was of 8-10 people and we went in two vaults with a guide. Saw pottery, baskets, clothing, textiles, etc, was really impressive. Went to plaza to walk around, shop. Back to house to rest.

Sept 11: Drove to Nambe Recreation Area run by the Nambe Indians. Hiked the Upper Nambe Falls Trail which was steep but not too hard. Nice falls. Left to find phone service so Gayle could check in for our flights, which worked (she leaned on car and held a walking stick up in air). Decided to skip the very wet lower falls trail and went to the Nambe Badlands Trail. Mostly flat but very dry and similar habitat. Walked in a mile and back. Returned to house, rested, worked on CRYC stuff, prepped for leaving by packing, cleaning, etc. Nice dinner with Gayle’s champagne from Sylvan. 

Sept 12: Packed up and drove to Albuquerque airport. Returned rental, ate lunch in airport, flew to BWI. Brian picked us up, drove home.  All good. Gayle and Joyce slept till past 11:00 the next morning.

2025 Bird List: (partial)

• Pygmy nuthatch*
• Pinyon Jay 
• Juniper titmouse*
• Spotted towhee
• Mountain chickadee
• Rufus hummingbird
• White winged dove
• Lesser goldfinch
• Raven
• Magpie
• Black headed grosbeak
• Wilson’s warbler
• Townsend’s warbler
• Flicker
• Clarks Nutcracker
• Stellers Jay
• Blue gray gnatcatcher
• Red breasted nuthatch
• Loggerhead(?) shrike
• Mountain bluebird
• Western bluebird
• Lark sparrow (?)
• Yellow- rumped warbler
• Western kingbird
• Harrier
• Townsends solitaire*
• Plumbeous vireo*

*new species