General Information

The Thursday Birders is a dedicated, inquisitive, jovial, and friendly group of birdwatchers. They embark on field trips nearly every Thursday throughout the year. Any exception to this regular schedule is posted on the BACNM Calendar. Thursday Birders is open to anyone interested in birds regardless of their experience. Trips last between 2.5 and 3 hours. For most trips, you don’t need to let the leader know you will be attending – just show up at the meeting spot no later than the specified time. You are encouraged to check this page before heading out in case of schedule changes or weather cancellations. For trips with limited numbers of vehicles or people, or for any other questions you have, contact thursdaybirders@gmail.com.

Please consider a voluntary $1 donation collected at the start of each trip that helps fund nature-related organizations. 

Click here – Checklist Archive – for eBird Checklists from past Thursday Birder trips
Click here – Thursday Birder Checklist – for a printable Thursday Birder Checklist or click here for how to print eBird checklists
Click here – History of Thursday Birders – for a history and more information on Thursday Birders

FEBRUARY 2026

Rinconada Canyon
Date: February 5, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Rinconada Canyon-Petroglyph NP, 3701 Unser NW, Click here for parking.
Description: Walk the Rinconada Canyon trail loop, 2 mile grassland walk with possibility of Sagebrush sparrow, Crissal thrasher, horned larks.
Facilities: Vault toilet at parking lot.
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: up to two miles, on some uneven, sandy trails, Partially ♿ accessible.
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Bob Wilcox
Ebird Hotspot:Petroglyphs NP–Rinconada Canyon

Torrance County Raptors – Clements Road & Moriarty
Date:  February 12, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Meet at the Tijeras Senior Center at 8:20 am, departing for Moriarty at 8:30, carpooling if possible. Map here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VvY7u3q266G5AGRq6. At Moriarty, take the second exit where we will stop at the Pilot truck stop for a few minutes for snacks/bathrooms, then head south on Route 41, about 9 miles, to Clements Road. The turnoff is marked by a tall radio tower and several greenhouses (turn to left). Then, we will slowly head east, looking for raptors to the dead end, about ten miles distance. Please bring a spotting scope if you have one. We will also likely see meadowlarks, Horned Larks and Loggerhead Shrikes. This is one of the best places to view Ferruginous Hawks and Chihuahuan Ravens. Returning to NM 41, we will go back to Moriarty, where there are two options. If you don’t need to get back immediately to Albuquerque, we will take NM 41 north from the Pilot truck stop about 1/4 of a mile and take a left onto Homestead Drive. Then go north on Valley Irrigation Road. We will be looking for Chihuahuan Meadowlarks especially on the fence lines and farm fields. Turn left on Dinkle Rd., five miles north. This road takes you to Edgewood and I-40 west. Afterward, there is a small restaurant in Edgewood called the All Roads Café where we could have an optional lunch. We will make reservations.
Description: 100-mile round trip driving tour; focus on raptors on Clements Road. Dirt farm road that is quite dusty.
Facilities: Only at Pilot truck stop
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: Slow driving along dirt/gravel road with frequent stops. ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: None, but please carpool as much as possible.
Leader(s): Susan and Jim Hunter
Ebird Hotspot: Clements Rd., McIntosh, Torrance, US-NM

Alameda Bridge Bosque Trails
Date:  February 19, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: south side of Alameda just east of river, click here for parking.
Description: Walk along north valley ditches and through bosque.
Facilities: Restrooms at south side of parking lot.
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: one to two miles; some on flat sandy, some uneven sandy trails. Partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Phil Dickinson
Ebird Hotspot:Rio Grande SP – Alameda Bridge Bosque Trails (including Alameda Open Space)

Willow Creek Bosque Open Space
Date:  February 26, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Willow Creek Rd NE, Rio Rancho, click here for map to Willow Creek parking.
Description: Explore bosque trails and river.
Facilities: none
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: 1-½ miles mostly flat, sand and gravel trails, uneven in places; partially ♿accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Peter Neils
Ebird Hotspot: Willow Creek Bosque Open Space

MARCH 2026

Bosque Trails at Sagebrush Church
Date: March 5, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location:Sagebrush Church, 6440 Coors NW, park here, east parking lot
Description: Walk along north valley ditches and through bosque.
Facilities: Port-a-cans at community gardens
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: one to two miles, some on flat, sandy trails; some uneven, sandy trails, Partially ♿ accessible.
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Lee Hopwood and Asher Gorbet
Ebird Hotspot:Rio Grande Valley State Park–Open Space Visitors Center bosque trails

Los Poblanos Fields Open Space
Date:  March 12, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location:6000-6018 Los Poblanos Field Trails off Montano, click here for map to Los Poblanos Fields parking.
Description: Loop around fields looking for waterfowl, grassland birds, visit community gardens.
Facilities: Port-a-cans at community gardens
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: 1-2 miles on mostly flat, wide trails and roads. ♿accessible
Attendance Limit: None.
Leader(s): Pete Chandler
Ebird Hotspot: Los Poblanos Open Space

Shining River Bosque Trails
Date:  March 19, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Shining River Parking Area off Rio Grande Blvd., just south of the overpass over Paseo del Norte. GPS Coordinates – (35.182104, -106.644486) Open Space Shining River Parking Area.
Description: Walk to Bosque Trailhead and south on trails along ditch and near River.
Facilities: none
Fees: none
Difficulty/Accessibility: -½ miles on mostly flat, sandy trails. Partially ♿accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Susan Hunter
Ebird Hotspot:Rio Grande Valley SP – Shining River Bosque Trails

Elena Gallegos Trail and Open Space
Date:  March 26, 2026
Departure/Finish Time: 8:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: After entering, drive counter-clockwise around the entry station rondo, turning right at 2nd exit. Continue north past the Kiwanis Group Area to Cottonwood Springs Trail. Parking lot at Cottonwood Springs Trailhead. Click here for parking location.
Description: Loop through grasslands, pinyon/juniper with a stop at the spring’s bird blind.
Facilities: Vault toilets
Fees: $1.00 fee per vehicle
Difficulty/Accessibility: Easy 1.5 mile walk on packed dirt, gravel, and paved trails. Bikes use some of the trails we will walk. Mostly ♿accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader(s): Russell Dawson
Ebird Hotspot: Elena Gallegos Open Space