Located north of Hatch along the Rio Grande, this is one of the best places in the state for birdwatching. The central open grassy area is dotted with a variety of trees attracting Phainopepla, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and vireos. Willow and cottonwood habitat, both along the river and within the small woodland northwest of the dam, boasts exciting warbler watching during spring and fall migrations. Accipiters and falcons may seek the smaller birds in that woodland. The half-mile river trail is excellent for birds in all seasons. Watch the river for ducks, shorebirds, and kingfishers, and the bosque for passerines, hawks, owls, and woodpeckers. 

Prepare for the challenges of differentiating Mallard from Mexican Duck, Chihuahuan from Common Raven, Chihuahuan from Western Meadowlark, and half a dozen swallow species.

Lewis’s Woodpecker (December-March); Western Grebe (December-May, occasional); Long-billed Curlew (March-April, occasional); Broad-tailed Hummingbird (April and August-September); Plumbeous Vireo and Virginia’s Warbler (April-May and August-September); Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bell’s Vireo (May-August);  Common Nighthawk (May-August, with Lesser also some years reported during the beginning and end of this period); Olive-sided Flycatcher (May-September); Yellow-headed Blackbird (July-September); Rufous Hummingbird (August-September); Lesser Yellowlegs (occasionally August-September, with Greater much more common September-May); Pyrrhuloxia (August-May); Calliope Hummingbird (September, occasional); Cactus Wren (September-January, occasional); Ferruginous Hawk (October-January); Cassin’s Finch (October-January, occasional); Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay (November-April); Phainopepla (all year).

This popular 80-acre state park is bordered on its east side by the Rio Grande and on the west by the typically dry Arrey Canal. East of the river and west of the canal lies farmland (often planted in chile). Most of the campsites have electricity and are by reservation only, so non-camping birders tend to park at the playground near the south end or one of the non-electric sites near the river. The area between the electric and non-electric sites is largely turfed.

Less than a mile of trail runs north-south along the Rio Grande. Most of the trail lies south of the dam (south of the footbridge across the generally dry Arrey Canal). But wandering about the rest of the park may turn up additional species.