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The Rosy Finches are back at Sandia Peak, NM [1]

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Date: 2023-01-11  

Every winter, flocks of Rosy Finches migrate south from the northern Rockies into high peaks in New Mexico. There are about six (opinions vary) of subspecies, and many ranges overlap and some flocks may be mixed. As far as I can tell, this flock is all Black Rosy Finches.

The behavior of these birds make spotting and photoing the birds a bit of challenge. They stay in tight, moderate (20 to 50) flocks, moving, feeding and flying in rapid bursts, commonly only staying to feed for a few minutes before suddenly flying away.

The word was out that the Rosy Finches were back at the Sandia Crest (10,640’) so Ms Canyon and I drove up Tuesday to see if we could find some. There’s a feeder below the SE end of the Sandia House (gift shop and snack bar) so birders stake out spots in the parking lot and wait for the birds to show.

We arrived at about 2:00 PM, to a bright “severe clear” afternoon, at about 30F and moderate north wind. Within a few minutes a flock of about 40 birds flew by, circled around, and flew away north. Old folks that we are, we sat in our vehicle for some windshield birding.

About 30 minutes later the finch flock returned and landed in the small aspens around the feeder.

The mob then descended to the feeder and the snow below, in a rapid feeding frenzy.

After only 2 or 3 minutes they rose up en mass and departed. The birds do this show several times a day, so be patient, stay warm, and be ready to pounce when they show up.

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[1] Url: https://dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/11/2146607/-The-Rosy-Finches-are-back-at-Sandia-Peak-NM

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