Birders
Related: About this forumRosy Finches – Sandia Crest, New Mexico
On the drive I just made to San Diego I stopped by Sandia Crest, New Mexico to see the Rosy Finches that winter there. This is the best place to see all three species of North American Rosy Finches.
BLACK ROSY-FINCH
Sandia Crest is a short drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico; so it's convenient if you're driving by on I-40 or I-25. East of Albuquerque, take exit 175 off of I-40 and then go north on Hwy 14 for about 6 miles to Sandia Crest Rd (Hwy 536). Go west on Sandia Crest Rd for about 13 miles, and at the end of the road turn left into the middle of three parking lots. The bird feeder will be up the hill on the right by the building. (at least in the winter of 2012/2013).
Get there really early in the morning or you may miss them. The light was bad for pictures, but I walked up a path above the feeders to get close and OK results. The birds are rather tame.
SANDIA CREST IS PAST THE SKI AREA AND IS AT OVER 10,000 FT IN ELEVATION
TURN LEFT BEFORE BROWN SIGNS AT MIDDLE PARKING LOT AND FEEDER WILL BE ON RIGHT TOWARD END OF LOT.
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH
BROWN-CAPPED ROSY-FINCH
BLACK ROSY-FINCH
ABERT'S SQUIRREL
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)It was super cool.
Warpy
(111,237 posts)and take the tram up to the peak. It's a great ride and you can spot all sorts of wildlife as you pass over it, especially in the winter.
CrispyQ
(36,451 posts)Thanks for sharing!
mopinko
(70,076 posts)i love finches. have a pair of house finches in a tree outside my office window that tickle me every spring.
I miss hearing House Finches at home. Central Florida has none. I do get to hear them when I visit my family. Their singing is one of the first signs of spring.