Birding Hot Spot:
Holloman Lake
Holloman Lake and the adjoining
wetlands are located at the southwestern corner of Holloman Air Force Base in
Otero County. The water for this system is mainly waste water from the airbase
with sporadic contributions from rain. For many years the airbase used a lagoon
system to partially treat its waste water. Raw sewage flowed successively
through a series of seven ponds where biological activity partially decomposed
the organic matter. The first 6 small ponds were filled in when the air force
put in a modern waste water treatment plant a few years ago. The water in the
seventh, Lagoon G, was (and is) retained by a constructed dike. Outflow from
Lagoon G went into an open ditch which drained over a mile in a westerly
direction into Holloman Lake which is also retained by an earth and rubble
dike. In wet years water from Holloman Lake seeps through this dike into a
playa that is crossed by HW 70. This playa is affectionately known as Lake
Stinky. During the wet years in the 1980s, Lake Stinky had water an inch or two
deep over much of its area but lately the water is mostly limited to a small
amount at the base of the Holloman Lake dike.
The outlet of the new waste
water treatment plant is too far west and too low for the water to drain into
Lagoon G. Instead it drains directly into the north end of Lake Holloman. Much
to the delight of MVAS and other wildlife conservation groups, Holloman AFB
decided to pre-serve Lagoon G and to put in 3 or 4 dikes between Lagoon G and
Lake Holloman for a constructed wetland. To do this, part of the effluent from
the WWTP is pumped back up into Lagoon G. The treated waste water flows from
Lagoon G to Holloman Lake through the constructed wetlands. These wetlands
have not been as large as expected because of a prolonged dry spell.
The wetlands
are, however, an impressive addition to the wildlife habitat.
Directions. Holloman Lake
is about 55 miles Northeast of Las Cruces on Highway 70. To get there, turn
left from HWY 70 3.8 miles NE of the White Sands National Monument Headquarters
on a dirt road that goes north on the east edge of the Stinky Playa. Driving
0.2 mile brings you to the dike at the lower end of Lake Holloman. Stop here
and scan the lake and Stinky Playa for birds. The playa is usually the best
place in the area to see Snowy Plovers. Killdeer, Northern Shovelers and
Eared Grebes are almost always in this area. I once saw 67 Marbled Godwits
on the
playa and another time a Peregrine Falcon hit a Least Sandpiper flying a
few feet over the playa.
Next drive north 0.4 mile
and walk westward on the road (now closed to cars) to the place where the
ditch from Lagoon G drains into Holloman Lake. Scan this area for waterfowl
and
shorebirds. Now drive east along the drainage ditch. Within 50 yds is a
gated road that follows the east shore of Lake Holloman. While motorized
traffic
is
prohibited, it is possible to walk all the way around Lake Holloman on
this road. The distance is probably 3 to 4 miles. A shorter walk is
to just go
to the north end of the lake where most of the treated waste water now
enters the lake and then return to your car. The round-trip is about
2 miles.
Back on the road along
the drain, drive generally eastward (watch for sparrows, warblers, flycatchers,
ducks, coots, herons and hawks as you drive) after 0.6 miles is another
gated
road to the left. You can walk out on a low dike and see the birds in
the constructed wetlands. After another 0.3 of a mile on the drain road
you
reach the east gate. Park here and walk about a quarter of a mile east
to Lagoon
G. Along the drain one usually seen Green Herons and maybe a Sora. Many ducks, gulls and shorebirds are found
on Lagoon G. Twice I have seen Fulvous Whistling Ducks here. Also in
the spring and fall several hundred Wilson’s Phalaropes may be feeding here. Marsh Wrens
and various blackbirds can be seen below the dam that retains Lagoon G.
A Checklist of Birds
is usually available at the Holloman Lake dike.
It lists 228 birds. I have seen at least 182 bird
species in this area.