Once again sorry for the delay...Life keeps getting in the way of
finding the time to sit down and type. I don't type very well but at least I do
it slow!
   For day two we had figured out that the best place to eat was at the
basin lodge. We got up fairly early for us, 8 ish and drove to the Basin
stopping for multiple looks at Black Throated Sparrows and Scaled Quail. The
Lodge restaurant became our hub-- food is nothing special but the view made up
for it along with several Say's Pheobe milling about, a bird we only see once
or twice a year in Williamson Co.   After breakfast we set our sights on
Rio Grande Campground. After a few miles I notice that we were steadily going
downhill, like lowering into Mordor. I put the car in neutral and cruised along
at 50 mph for twelve miles or so... next time I vow to coast the entire 20
miles! The tunnel toward the end is cool too, been years since I been through a
tunnel! Beth scowled when I blew the horn as we went through. I know it's hard
to have a large child for a husband!    Our first target was the nature
trail that crosses the Beaver pond for Beth to look for frogs and such. Had a
chattering Common Yellow Throat and spooked a Great Blue Heron... two birds I
didn't expect this trip. We followed the trail to the edge of the Rio Grande
and I threw a rock into Mexico (not a political statement-- just me being a kid
again. On the treeless edge of the River it was about 138 degrees or so! I
guess all the people who said do the river areas early in the morning were
right and we were dumb. Beth remarked how she wanted to come back at night to
look for herps.   A couple of places along the trail there was a little
assortment of glass knicknacks (Scorpions, Hummers, etc) and walking sticks
with price tags attached. I had read in the park guide to be on the lookout for
Mexican Nationals crossing the river to sell goods. I expected someone to step
out from the trees at any moment, but there was just a jar weighted with a rock
for you to leave payment. Had some neat hand painted walking sticks but I had
also read that any of this merchandise would be confiscated if found by park
rangers. I vow I will buy a walking stick next time after what I heard next...
singing! From a couple hundred yards away there was a guy walking up the other
side of the river singing his heart out. We exchanged an international wave and
we giggled as we walked to the car. Once we got home I ran into a youtube video
that showed a guy named Victor who is famous for selling trinkets and singing
at the Rio Grande crossing. We had met the Famous Victor!   We birded the
trees for a bit and marveled at the Vermillion Flycatchers and Golden Fronted
woodys that were everywhere.. again not common in Wilco. If I ever not look at
a Vermillion I will know it is time to hang up the Binocs, that color still
gets me everytime. We did have a couple Black Tailed Gnatcatchers mixed in,
another lifer! Up the river road a bit we saw an area closed off for nesting
Common Black Hawks, one of our main targets. we were going to drive up and turn
around to scope the trees when a hawk flew out low across the clearing. We all
hopped out and tried to spot our C Black Hawk in a tree 100 yds away when it
flew out... Not a C black Hawk but a GRAY HAWK that perched on a nearer tree
for great looks and pics. Another lifer and high fives all around! In scoping
the nesting area there was one active with a Common Black Hawk. Good looks at
the head and that massive yellow bill but would liked to see more than half of
the bird. I count it as a whole lifer even if I only saw half of it!   Out
of Rio Grande we stopped at Dug Out Wells. The place was alive with birds and
showed us what a draw these desert oasis are. A couple Scott's Orioles and more
Blacktailed Gnats were highlights along with a Verdin feeding a youngster.
There are three clusters of trees that the birds would move to as they seemed
very wary of our visit. I sat at the bench for a bit and before I knew it the
trees around me were teaming with activity!   Back to the Basin we headed
for cooler temps. I decided that I could not keep myself from at least a small
hike on my visit. The girls wished me good luck and they headed to the
restaurant for lunch and I headed for the Basin 1 mile loop. There is something
primal in knowing that it was possible to run into a Black Bear or Mountain
Lion on this secluded mountain trail! I turned a corner about a quarter mile in
and what did I see...??? Some shirtless dude on the porch of one of the cabins
the trail meandered by... not secluded after all I guess. The Basin trail loops
back from the Pinnacle Trail and I eyed that beast as I vowed to return in the
Spring and defeat it on my way up to the mythical Colima Warbler! The Basin
Trail was nearly birdless... and where were the damn Mexican Jays everyone told
me where everywhere in the Basin???   We headed back to the "resort" for
a mid day siesta... a brilliant and much needed concept. We laid down for a bit
when I remembered we had concerns with one of our tires wearing from being out
of alignment. Unable to sleep with this nagging my head I went out to check the
tire and ugh, I could feel the belt sticking through. So as the girls slept I
dove the car to a secluded spot and rotated the spare into play... luckily the
spare was full sized! Here behind the resort I found what I first thought was a
mirage... Golf Greens in the middle of the desert! Green and so lush I had to
walk out and make sure they were real and not astroturf. Then I saw the sign
for BIG Bend Golf club.... But there were no fairways... just cleared of areas
of desert. The greens were watered by the town sewage treatment pond located
just up the hill. (from the smell I suspect that spaying this "water" onto the
greens is the only "treatment" the plant gives!) There was nobody playing on
this 105 degree day but I did find an old article where someone had played it
and it took like four hours and a dozen golf balls to play nine holes because
you had to search for your ball every shot!   Back in the room I showered
and got a 30 minute nap before we made dinner plans. I found some place called
La Kiva Bar and Grill and thought it looked interesting.... I had no idea how
interesting until we got back home..... Â to be continued
Randy DuncanLeander TX
          Â
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
