Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Nine miles northeast of Roswell, the refuge lies within a significant ecological meeting place where the Chihuahuan Desert, short grass prairie, Pecos River and the Roswell artesian basin come together. Attracted to the area by its abundant water supply at least 357 species of birds have been observed on the refuge. The refuge is one of the best places in south east New Mexico to see large numbers of waterfowl and waders. In winter look for sparrows and thrashers.
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Located a little over an hour south of Albuquerque, this is one of the best birdwatching sites in the southwest in winter. It is renowned for its wintering populations of ducks, snow geese and sandhill crane. A visit to the refuge at about dusk on a winter day, when tens of thousands of cranes and geese are in the air provides a most impressive sight. There is good year round birding here, with songbird numbers peaking during migration. There are two loops to drive round with a number of lookout points. Call in at the visitors center where they keep a daily list of sightings.
Guadalupe Canyon.
In the most south westerly part of the state, to reach Guadalupe Canyon you have to get to it from Douglas, Arizona. In Douglas, at the juncture of AZ Rte 80 amd Fifteenth Street, Go east on Fifteenth Street, which eventually becomes a dirt road. The Canyon is a place to see some of the birds rarely found north of the Mexican border such as buff-collared nightjar, thick-billed kingbird, fan-tailed warbler and elegant trogon. Spring and fall are the busiest times in the canyon for migrating birds. High heat in summer, and the cold in winter keeps bird activity low, but over 160 species have been recorded here. If you are birdwatching here in summer, be sure to have plenty of water with you.