Randy,
Thanks for this terrific post! You lifted my spirits and gave me some great
ideas. South Llano State Park was a favorite destination of ours for years
until we discovered Big Bend.
Pat Wight
Rockport
On Sat, May 9, 2020 at 4:01 PM Marty Kelly <tmartin.kelly@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This is not in Texas, so delete if not interested. But we traveled to New
Mexico last weekend since options were limited in Texas. We stayed in
Roswell and visited Bitter Lake NWR and had many good migrate shorebirds
and water birds. List in on E bird for there. There is also a nesting pair
of Mississippi Kites in Roswell at the birding center there. We spent one
day in the Lincoln National Forest around Ruidoso and had several warblers
and flycatchers, including Cordillera. Our preference is still Big Bend,
but NM was a nice alternative for a short trip. (8 hour drive from San
Antonio vs 6 1/2 to Big Bend.
Good Birding
Marty Kelly
San Antonio, Texas
On Sat, May 9, 2020 at 3:38 PM Rhandy Helton <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Although not full-on West Texas (we can see it from here!) South Llano
River State Park at Junction has been exceptionally good the past few days.
My complete list for today on ebird. The blinds are still closed but you
can stand beside them or bring a stool/lawn chair and look through the
portholes. At Acorn Blind a picnic table was pulled right up next to the
fence that you can sit on. The policy may change around the 18th. Also the
park is limiting on weekends 100 Day-Use entry passes. Park patrons are
reserving Day-Use passes in advance. During the week very few visitors out
there. I birded out there this morning and tallied 54 species and did not
bird along the river. Agarita Blind has been really good in the mornings.
Today I had Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, MacGillivray Warbler (2,
another further up the trail in shin-oak thicket that I pished out),
Swainson's Thrush, and a Least Flycatcher that was mesmerized by the water
feature. Black-capped Vireo are easy at this blind in the mornings and
throughout the day. Lynn Schaeffer had a Lazuli Bunting at the blind. Also
gobs of Painted Buntings at every blind and Acorn also real reliable for
Indigo and sometimes Lazuli, Blue Grosbeak. Golden-cheeked Warblers are up
the Warbler Trail and not difficult to get although less singing now. I had
5 today with great views of 3. Zone-tailed Hawk also.
For Lora, yes BBNP was always my go-to place for Black-chinned
Sparrow---either Pinnacles or Laguna Meadow Trails. I don't think I have
ever recorded that species anywhere else in west Texas, maybe years ago on
western side of Guads, or area below and west of El Capitan but that area
in GNP so closed. I would agree with Christian and head west to Portal---it
is not all that far. I can make it in one day from Junction. There is a
great bird(s) in the Chiricahua's now----3 Crescent-chested Warblers on the
west side of the mountains at the end of West Turkey Creek Road (Morse
Campground). A pair is nest-building, the other one must be lonely. Easy to
get. Plus everything else.
Rhandy J. Helton
Junction, Texas
