When Daniela Yellan asked me to lead this trip, she found the right combination to lure me from my new Colorado abode. It was one of my favorite places, and I had the chance to mingle with old friends.

E-mail postings told of several interesting sightings that needed to be checked out. They included the 3 rosy finch species on the Sandia Crest east . of Albuquerque, a first winter Thayer's Gull , with Herring Gulls, apparently alternating between " the Bosque" and the Socorro dump and reports of Tundra Swan,  Am. Bittern, Merlin, and E. Phoebe at "the Bosque". At Water Canyon East of Socorro Blue Jay and Lewis' Woodpecker had been reported. Scouting before the trip produced the rosy finches. The others would have to wait to be discovered by the group.

Seven of us met Friday PM. for dinner and to plan the weekend. There were Chuck and Phyllis Kangas, Darnell Kirksey, Bob and Linda Russman, and visiting from New York, Beverly Wasserman. The 2+ hour trip to the Sandia Crest was nixed because of distance. The refuge was planned for Saturday with Socorro environs and Water Canyon for Sun.

The sudden clamor of Snow (and Ross') Geese at the Flight Deck on "the Bosque" before sunup started things off. Was that a Peregrine that had flown into that snag in the middle of the pond? We could not be sure because of the darkness. Sandhill Cranes were beginning to assemble. Waterfowl included both Hooded as well as Common Mergansers. Neotropical Cormorants seemed to outnumber the Double-crested. Up to six Bald Eagles could be seen at one time. An immature Golden Eagle was spotted and then an Eastern Phoebe. A walk along the Marsh Trail produced Virginia Rail, and unexpectedly, a Sage Sparrow which isn’t usually expected in the reeds.

No gulls were found at the Socorro Dump on Sunday, and only Ring-bills were seen the day before at the refuge. The New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro was quite productive. Three wintering White-winged Doves were huddled close together, and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings was spotted. After lunch in Magdalena the trip was completed in Water Canyon where several species were added to the list. Notable were several Acorn Woodpeckers, Juniper Titmouse, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Chickadees and several Brown Creepers. The final tally was 75 species, and I’m ready to go again!