I?m driving down to visit family in New Mexico and Arizona this month and am looking for recommendations on good birding along the way down and back. I know I could have picked my seasons better but I?ll take what I can get. I?m traveling alone so I can stop whenever I want. :)



I?m flexible on route but am probably going to take a semi-direct route on the way down which would include:



- Seattle to Tri-Cities

- Tri-Cities to Boise

- Boise to Salt Lake City

- Salt Lake City to Santa Fe

- Santa Fe to Phoenix



If there are good spots that are more out of the way I might consider them. I like being in the boonies. For example, it might be fun to leave US 84 before La Grande and drive south to Malheur?



On the way back I?ll probably drive west from Phoenix to California and either drive up the coast or possibly an inland route. I might consider driving to southern New Mexico from Santa Fe, then west through SE Arizona before heading north to Phoenix.



I realize this is a very wide-open agenda but would appreciate any ideas you may have.



Happy (birding) holidays,



Mason Flint

Bellevue, WA