Recent Birds at Rio Bosque

Water deliveries to the park from the adjacent Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant resumed 4 May.  The park's wetland cells are again receiving water, albeit less than they do in winter. 

Summer residents are returning.  The first Ash-throated Flycatcher, 15 Apr; the first Yellow-breasted Chat, 17 Apr; the first Blue Grosbeak, 14 May, the first Painted Bunting, 19 May.  For the chat, it was the earliest arrival date ever for the park, besting 2017 by one day. 

Also returning are passage migrants.  the first House Wren, 22 Apr; the first Virginia's and MacGillivray's warblers, 3 May; the first Cassin's Kingbird, 4 May; the first Black-headed Grosbeak, 10 May; the first Olive-sided Flycatchers and Western Tanager, 16 May. 

There have been no White-tailed Kite sightings since 27 Mar.  The park's resident Harris's Hawks continue to be seen intermittently.  Look for them in the vicinity of the Tornillo Trailhead or on the powerline poles and powerlines across the Riverside Canal from the park. 

Burrowing Owls are being seen more frequently.  Check the artificial burrow structures located on earthen mounds scattered throughout the park. 

A Swainson's Thrush along the Tornillo Trail on 29 Apr represented a new species for the park. 

A male Northern Cardinal was across the Riverside Canal from the park on 9 Mar, the first reported in the area since last September.  It continues to be seen and heard in and near the park. 

You can download the current field checklist for the park here.

You can view recent Rio Bosque bird observations posted to eBird here.

Noteworthy birds seen at the park during the past month: