Yesterday was a great day birding wise. Taking 118 South, about 15 miles south of Alpine I saw a large group --40-50--Western/Mountain Bluebirds mixed. Less than a mile later I saw two Phainopepla's, both males. http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11626055896/ About three miles down the road after that I had three Desert Cardinals (Phyroluxia) Birds tend to get sparse on the road until one reaches the park. But in Study Butte, about a mile before the park entrance on someone's house a beautiful Curved Billed Thrasher was singing his heart out and posing for photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11626056416/ Once up in the Chisos Basin I hiked about two miles towards the Window (My mother was with me so it wasn't a vigorous hike). On the trial down I got a Texas Towhee Trifecta: first, a Spotted Towhee posed for me in the glorious light for photos. Then about ten minutes later I had what I assume were three Green-tailed Towhees: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11625516593/ After that I photographed a mystery bird: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11626059486/ and this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11625652694/ And then another mystery bird: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11625515623/ Finally, on the way back up I saw a Canyon Towhee. Before the end of the trail a beautiful Cactus Wren couple was singing and cackling as they do. And then out of nowhere a Mexican Jay appeared! For good measure, we saw three tarantulas on the road out of the park and I took a photo of one here, next to my smart phone, as he was trying to find his web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanpaulkelley/11625654214/ Those were the highlights. Sean Paul Kelley Central San Antonio Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
