[texbirds] West Texas Trip 5/9-5/18/14
- From: Joe and Renee Fischer <fischer13@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 May 2014 19:33:50 -0700 (PDT)
Texbirders, I spent last week out in West Texas spending time in Guadalupe NP,
Davis Mtns., and Big Bend NP. Although I have made several trips to West Texas
before, all have been in the late October thru February timeframe and hence
have never been during the migration period nor seen the summer breeders. So
my goal was to acquire birds that I had not yet seen. It was a great trip and
with the exception of three very windy days the weather was quite nice. I
ended up adding 21 species to my Texas List with 9 of those being lifers. I do
have to thank Ron Weeks and Brad Lirette as they provided some insight in
advance of the trip on several of the species locations and it was quite
amazing the accuracy of their insight. I ended up spending two nights in
Guadalupe NP, two nights in the Davis Mtns, and five nights in BBNP.
Guadalupe NP - I was hoping to find the Evening Grosbeak that had been seen
only a couple of days earlier by the Park Ranger in the Dog Canyon Campground.
No luck upon looking for two hours on my evening arrival nor during the
following morning. Others had looked as well and not refound the bird. The
Broad-tailed Hummingbird display here is quite impressive with probably two
dozen in the direct vacinity. That afternoon I hiked through most of
McKittrick canyon picking up a pair of Gray Vireos singing away at the third
dry creek crossing. Upon hiking into McKittrick I passed two birders that I
had meet at Dog Canyon the night before. They said that they had an Evening
Grosbeak roughly half way between the Cabin and Grotto. I did not find the
bird, but keep your eyes open if you do this hike soon. Plenty of Hepatic
Tanagers, a Grace's Warbler, and Black-chinned were added to the list. The
next day I hiked up into the Bowl looking for some
high country finds like Stellar's and Pygmy Nuthatch and succeeded on getting
both. However, both days were very windy with the bowl hike having constant
20-30mph winds with gusts that had to go 30+mph making for challenging birding
conditions. I think the only bird I saw all day that flew from the treetops
was an Olive sided flycatcher and most everything else was smarter enough to
stay low and the wind noise was quite high.
Davis Mtns - Time in the Davis Mtns was split predominantly between the SP and
the Lawrence Wood Picnic Area. True to form for me is that it takes three
attempts and 4-6 hours for that silly quail to make its appearance at the SP
feeding station. They have completely redone the feeding station and it is
quite impressive. As usual, they could have had a bit of photographer input as
those that are not able to hand hold there equipment are essentially not
considered. Cassin's Kingbird is a trash bird here as Ron said it would be.
The Elf Owl located in the telephone pole between Campsites 3 and 4 made its
dusk appearance. Time at the LWPA was fabulous with much to see and so
peaceful. I think I spent 5 hours there and had maybe 10 cars pass by with
none stoping in the picnic area. As soon as I got out of the car, I could hear
the Gray Flycatcher calling. Grace's Warblers here were quite cooperative as
well. Day 2 in the Davis Mtns was
the third wind event day of the week and the birding showed the results. The
picnic area was essentially devoid of bird life.
BBNP - As I headed south from the David Mtns, I debated whether or not I should
swing by Carolyn Ohl's Christmas Mtn Oasis or wait until later in the week as
that wind was really kicking up by mid-afternoon. Well, it was well worth the
trip as the birds were just going nuts as the wind was not going to stop them.
This may be the Varied Bunting capital of Texas and of course her Lucifer's
Hummingbirds are a guaranteed bird this time of year. However, the were so
many Blue Grosbeaks you did not even try to count. A female Lazuli Bunting and
Townsends Warbler were quite nice and cooperative as well. Carolyn was there
that day and told me she had her lifer Kentucky Warbler that day. I did not
see it while was there, but that bird was a bit lost being in the desert. I
went back to Carolyn's place on Saturday afternoon and had a great time just
photographing her birds. We really do owe her allot for maintaining this Oasis
and allowing all to
enjoy. If you had not heard, she had someone turn on the water pumps about a
month ago when she was not present and as a result lost almost all of the water
tank inventory. She is in desperate need of a good thunderstorm or faced with
hauling water like she had to do during the drought year.
Time in BBNP was spent in the Cottonwood Campground, Chisos Mtns, Rio Grande
Village, and a hike into Pine Canyon. The Lucy's warbler was turning out to be
my nemesis with three trips before I was able to get a few in the Cottonwood
Campground. They have stopped singing and thus you have to find one that is
openly foraging. The first day I looked one of the local bird guides that was
present mentioned that the week before they were still singing, but he had not
seen one that morning either and suspected they had gone quite due to nesting.
On the third attempt to find one, I see one and point the camera and press the
shutter with no picture being taken. A bit puzzled at that point and looking
at the camera settings and then the shutter goes off. I had returned all my
camera settings from Landscape to Bird with the exception of the shutter timer
from the Santa Elena sunrise shots...it happens to all of us. Amazingly, that
warbler was still
sitting on the branch and walked away with my shots after all that time. Gray
Hawks are nesting in the area and a pair of young Great Horned Owls are in the
area. If you are lucky, you may witness a feeding of the Owls like I did. I
ran into Michael Lindsey while birding in Cottonwood Campground as he was in
BBNP on a family trip.
The Common Black Hawks put on a show in Rio Grande Village and there appears to
be Gray Hawks that nested in this area as well. A quick hike to Cattail Falls
provided those Pigeons as well as the first Blue-throat Hummer that was at the
wrong elevation. Sam Nail Ranch had some nice birds, but the 5 foot Pink
Coachwhip was the real attraction.
The night before I was planning on hiking up the Pinnacles trail and do Boot
Springs I am awaked at 12:30AM by some college kids arriving very late and
don't know how to put up a tent. My luck that they pick the site right next to
me. That 4AM alarm was not fun at that point. On the trailhead by 4:30AM and
heard my first Whip-poor-will in the distant shortly past campsite BM5 at
5:25AM. I heard a few more as I headed up the switchbacks but really tired
thanks to thank rude awakening, so I found a nice section of the hillside
padded with leaves and took a 45 minute nap. Awoke at 6:20AM to hear the last
Whip-poor-will call and then on up to Boot Springs. Had a blast watching the
pair of Painted Redstarts constantly feeding their young and a Colima is
singing only 20 feet from the Ranger Cabin. I sat down at the picnic table
only to have a Blue-throat fly in close for a look. Believe that he liked the
Orange Hoodie I was wearing as several
additional Blue-throats came in close that day. A male Lazuli made a brief
visit further up the trail where there is some water in the creek. Also, while
at the ranger cabin, I noticed this bright orange bird up the hillside. It was
the Flame-colored x Western hybrid reported only a few days earlier by Arman
Moreno. A few very distant shots were taken. Later that morning, while
wandering around the creek, I relocated that hybrid right near the creek and
Juniper Canyon trail head intersection and was able to observe it for a good 20
minutes. It was hanging out with its Western Tanager friend.
A great trip and got stuck in the usually I-10 mess coming back into Houston
yesterday evening.
New Birds for Texas were as follows:
Band-tailed Pigeon
Black-chinned Sparrow
Blue-throated Hummingbird - lifer
Cassin's Kingbird
Coliima Warbler - lifer
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Common Black Hawk
Elf Owl - lifer
Grace's Warbler - lifer
Gray Flycatcher
Gray Vireo - lifer
Hammond's Flycatcher
Hepatic Tanager
Lazuli Bunting
Lucifer Hummingbird - lifer
Lucy's Warbler - lifer
Mexican Whip-poor-will - lifer
Plumbeous Vireo - lifer
Pygmy Nuthatch
Stellar's Jay
Townsend's Warbler
Below is a cumulative list of sightings during the week:
Joe Fischer
BirdLog Checklist Summary for: May 9, 2014 to May 18, 2014
Number of Checklists: 36
Number of Species: 153
Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Guadalupe Mts. NP--Dog Canyon (FWTX 18)
Date: May 9, 2014, 5:34 PM
(2): Guadalupe Mts. NP--Dog Canyon (FWTX 18)
Date: May 9, 2014, 10:08 PM
(3): Guadalupe
Mts. NP--Dog Canyon (FWTX 18)
Date: May 10, 2014, 7:44 AM
(4): Guadalupe Mt. NP--Smith Springs Trail
Date: May 10, 2014, 3:28 PM
(5): Guadalupe Mts. NP--The Bowl
Date: May 11, 2014, 6:29 AM
(6): Guadalupe Mts. NP--McKittrick Canyon (FWTX 17)
Date: May 10, 2014, 3:16 PM
(7): Guadalupe Mts. NP--Pine Springs (incl. Visitor Ctr)
Date: May 10, 2014, 9:10 PM
(8): Lake Balmorhea (FWTX 20)
Date: May 11, 2014, 5:03 PM
(9): Jeff Davis Co.- Boy Scout Rd./Aguja Canyon RR 1832
Date: May 11, 2014, 6:16 PM
(10): Davis Mountains SP (FWTX 23)
Date: May 12, 2014, 6:56 AM
(11): Davis Mtns- Lawrence Wood picnic area (including TNC Madera Canyon loop
trail)
Date: May 12, 2014, 9:57 AM
(12): 30.6276x-104.0119 - May 12, 2014, 9:13 AM
Date: May 12, 2014, 9:13 AM
(13): 30.6241x-104.2740 - May 12, 2014, 1:41 PM
Date: May 12, 2014, 1:41 PM
(14): Davis Mountains SP (FWTX 23)
Date: May 12, 2014, 6:02 PM
(15):
Davis Mountains SP (FWTX 23)
Date: May 13, 2014, 6:52 AM
(16): Davis Mtns- Lawrence Wood picnic area (including TNC Madera Canyon loop
trail)
Date: May 13, 2014, 9:52 AM
(17): Christmas Mountain Oasis
Date: May 13, 2014, 3:00 PM
(18): Big Bend NP--Cottonwood Campground (FWTX 40)
Date: May 13, 2014, 8:02 PM
(19): Big Bend NP--Santa Elena Canyon (FWTX 39)
Date: May 14, 2014, 8:00 AM
(20): Big Bend NP--Cottonwood Campground (FWTX 40)
Date: May 14, 2014, 9:34 AM
(21): Big Bend NP--Sam Nail Ranch
Date: May 14, 2014, 12:35 PM
(22): Big Bend NP--Cattail Falls
Date: May 14, 2014, 1:36 PM
(23): Big Bend NP--Chisos Basin (FWTX 42)
Date: May 14, 2014, 6:45 PM
(24): Big Bend NP--Dugout Wells
Date: May 14, 2014, 8:30 PM
(25): Big Bend NP--Chisos Basin (FWTX 42)
Date: May 15, 2014, 3:12 AM
(26): Big Bend NP--Pinnacles Trail
Date: May 15, 2014, 4:30 AM
(27): Big Bend NP--Boot Spring
Date: May
15, 2014, 7:40 AM
(28): Big Bend NP--Chisos Basin Sewage Treatment Settling Ponds
Date: May 15, 2014, 4:16 PM
(29): Big Bend NP--Dugout Wells
Date: May 15, 2014, 7:30 PM
(30): Big Bend NP--Rio Grande Village (FWTX 44)
Date: May 16, 2014, 8:52 AM
(31): Big Bend NP--Sam Nail Ranch
Date: May 16, 2014, 4:09 PM
(32): Big Bend NP--Cottonwood Campground (FWTX 40)
Date: May 16, 2014, 5:27 PM
(33): Big Bend NP--Chisos Basin (FWTX 42)
Date: May 17, 2014, 7:29 AM
(34): Big Bend NP--Pine Canyon (FWTX 43)
Date: May 17, 2014, 10:00 AM
(35): Christmas Mountain Oasis
Date: May 17, 2014, 3:30 PM
(36): Big Bend NP--Cottonwood Campground (FWTX 40)
Date: May 18, 2014, 7:35 AM
25 Blue-winged Teal -- (8)
212 Northern Shoveler -- (8),(30)
2 Canvasback -- (8)
36 Scaled Quail -- (8),(13),(17),(29),(35)
2 Gambel's Quail -- (18)
2 Montezuma Quail -- (15)
4 Wild Turkey -- (9)
4 Western Grebe --
(8)
50 Clark's Grebe -- (8)
3 Great Blue Heron -- (30),(36)
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron -- (30)
12 White-faced Ibis -- (8)
120 Turkey Vulture --
(1),(3),(5),(6),(11),(16),(19),(20),(21),(23),(27),(29),(30),(32),(35),(36)
2 Cooper's Hawk -- (11),(12)
2 Common Black-Hawk -- (30)
5 Gray Hawk -- (20),(30),(32),(36)
1 Zone-tailed Hawk -- (27)
6 Red-tailed Hawk -- (5),(6),(11),(12),(34),(35)
50 American Coot -- (8)
3 Black-necked Stilt -- (8)
4 Killdeer -- (8)
4 Spotted Sandpiper -- (8)
1 Bonaparte's Gull -- (8)
1 Franklin's Gull -- (8)
4 Least Tern -- (8)
1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) -- (5)
5 Band-tailed Pigeon -- (22)
3 Eurasian Collared-Dove -- (30)
191 White-winged Dove --
(1),(5),(6),(10),(11),(14),(15),(16),(17),(19),(20),(21),(24),(28),(29),(30),(31),(32),(33),(34),(35),(36)
43 Mourning Dove -- (1),(10),(11),(13),(14),(15),(17),(28),(30),(33),(35),(36)
9 Inca Dove -- (20),(30)
10
Greater Roadrunner -- (9),(18),(21),(28),(30),(36)
4 Western Screech-Owl -- (24),(29),(36)
6 Great Horned Owl -- (18),(20),(36)
2 Elf Owl -- (14),(25)
13 Lesser Nighthawk -- (10),(18),(24),(29),(30)
50 nighthawk sp. -- (18)
8 Common Poorwill -- (2),(7),(26)
3 Mexican Whip-poor-will -- (26)
12 White-throated Swift -- (5),(34)
5 Blue-throated Hummingbird -- (22),(27)
7 Lucifer Hummingbird -- (17),(35)
38 Black-chinned Hummingbird --
(1),(3),(6),(10),(14),(15),(17),(19),(23),(35),(36)
15 Broad-tailed Hummingbird -- (1),(3),(6),(27)
1 hummingbird sp. -- (27)
21 Acorn Woodpecker -- (1),(3),(4),(10),(11),(14),(15),(16),(27),(28)
20 Golden-fronted Woodpecker -- (18),(20),(29),(30),(32),(36)
20 Ladder-backed Woodpecker --
(6),(10),(14),(15),(17),(19),(20),(27),(30),(31),(32),(33),(35),(36)
1 Downy Woodpecker -- (5)
3 American Kestrel -- (10),(17)
2 Olive-sided Flycatcher -- (5),(6)
40 Western
Wood-Pewee --
(1),(3),(5),(6),(11),(13),(14),(16),(17),(19),(20),(21),(22),(27),(28),(29),(30),(31),(32)
1 Hammond's Flycatcher -- (3)
1 Gray Flycatcher -- (11)
15 Cordilleran Flycatcher -- (26),(27),(34)
1 Empidonax sp. -- (28)
1 Black Phoebe -- (19)
25 Say's Phoebe -- (1),(3),(4),(6),(11),(17),(18),(19),(23),(28),(30),(32)
61 Vermilion Flycatcher -- (18),(19),(20),(30),(32),(36)
28 Ash-throated Flycatcher --
(1),(6),(10),(11),(16),(19),(20),(21),(28),(29),(30),(31),(34),(36)
2 Brown-crested Flycatcher -- (30)
17 Cassin's Kingbird -- (1),(8),(10),(11),(14),(15),(16),(29)
22 Western Kingbird -- (1),(3),(6),(18),(19),(20),(24),(28),(32),(36)
1 Loggerhead Shrike -- (34)
39 Bell's Vireo -- (19),(20),(21),(30),(31),(32),(35)
2 Gray Vireo -- (6)
9 Plumbeous Vireo -- (3),(5),(6),(11)
1 Cassin's Vireo -- (20)
5 Hutton's Vireo -- (27)
5 Warbling Vireo -- (3),(17),(19),(21),(27)
2 Steller's Jay --
(5)
11 Western Scrub-Jay -- (3),(10),(11),(14),(15)
46 Mexican Jay -- (26),(27),(28),(33),(34)
7 Chihuahuan Raven -- (6),(17),(18),(19),(30)
5 Common Raven -- (5),(12),(14),(16)
32 Northern Rough-winged Swallow -- (1),(19),(20),(32),(36)
29 Violet-green Swallow -- (1),(3),(5),(6),(8)
3 Bank Swallow -- (19)
5 Barn Swallow -- (8),(14)
5 Cliff Swallow -- (30),(32)
26 swallow sp. -- (18),(26)
30 Black-crested Titmouse -- (9),(10),(11),(14),(16),(22),(27),(28),(34)
1 Verdin -- (29)
17 Bushtit -- (1),(3),(5),(6)
17 Bushtit (Interior) -- (11),(14),(16),(27)
7 White-breasted Nuthatch -- (3),(5),(11),(16)
2 Pygmy Nuthatch -- (5)
11 Rock Wren -- (5),(27),(28)
14 Canyon Wren -- (6),(11),(22),(26),(27),(28),(34)
6 Bewick's Wren -- (6),(26),(27),(33)
23 Cactus Wren -- (14),(17),(21),(23),(28),(30),(33),(34)
4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- (6),(26),(35)
8 Black-tailed Gnatcatcher --
(22),(23),(27),(30),(34)
10 Western Bluebird -- (5),(6),(11),(16),(20)
1 Townsend's Solitaire -- (5)
14 Hermit Thrush -- (3),(5),(27),(34),(35)
2 Curve-billed Thrasher -- (17),(35)
33 Northern Mockingbird --
(1),(3),(4),(5),(6),(9),(14),(19),(20),(22),(23),(24),(29),(30),(31),(32),(33),(34),(35),(36)
3 Phainopepla -- (12)
1 Ovenbird -- (21)
1 Orange-crowned Warbler -- (3)
4 Colima Warbler -- (27)
3 Lucy's Warbler -- (36)
1 Nashville Warbler -- (35)
10 MacGillivray's Warbler -- (3),(17),(23),(34),(35)
1 Common Yellowthroat -- (19)
1 Northern Parula -- (19)
7 Yellow Warbler -- (3),(19),(21),(24),(27),(30)
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) -- (5)
86 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) --
(4),(5),(6),(9),(10),(11),(14),(16),(17),(18),(19),(20),(23),(27),(30),(31),(32),(35),(36)
6 Grace's Warbler -- (5),(6),(11)
1 Townsend's Warbler -- (17)
9 Wilson's Warbler -- (3),(17),(27),(28),(30),(34),(35)
2
Painted Redstart -- (27)
26 Yellow-breasted Chat -- (1),(19),(20),(21),(31),(32),(35),(36)
3 Spotted Towhee -- (27),(34)
11 Rufous-crowned Sparrow -- (4),(5),(23),(27),(34)
20 Canyon Towhee -- (1),(3),(4),(6),(10),(11),(14),(15),(16),(17),(34)
98 Chipping Sparrow -- (1),(3),(4),(10),(11),(14),(15),(16),(17),(19),(20)
4 Black-chinned Sparrow -- (6),(23),(33)
21 Lark Sparrow -- (1),(4),(11),(14),(17),(18)
7 Black-throated Sparrow -- (22),(34),(35)
1 Lincoln's Sparrow -- (27)
8 White-crowned Sparrow -- (3),(10),(14),(15)
7 Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) -- (5)
2 Dark-eyed Junco (Red-backed) -- (5)
2 sparrow sp. -- (21)
16 Hepatic Tanager -- (6),(10),(11),(28),(30),(31)
18 Summer Tanager --
(3),(6),(10),(15),(19),(20),(22),(23),(27),(30),(32),(33),(36)
31 Western Tanager -- (3),(5),(6),(10),(14),(19),(20),(21),(26),(27),(33)
1 Western x Flame-colored Tanager (hybrid) -- (27)
17 Northern Cardinal --
(14),(18),(20),(28),(30),(31),(32),(36)
9 Pyrrhuloxia -- (17),(29),(31),(32),(35)
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak -- (19)
23 Black-headed Grosbeak -- (1),(3),(4),(10),(14),(15),(20),(27),(33)
79 Blue Grosbeak --
(1),(6),(10),(11),(14),(15),(17),(19),(20),(21),(22),(27),(28),(30),(31),(32),(33),(34),(35),(36)
3 Lazuli Bunting -- (17),(27),(35)
3 Indigo Bunting -- (17)
10 Varied Bunting -- (17),(21),(31),(35)
10 Painted Bunting -- (4),(17),(19),(30),(31),(35),(36)
1 Dickcissel -- (17)
3 Red-winged Blackbird -- (8)
3 Western Meadowlark -- (1),(6),(9)
25 Great-tailed Grackle -- (8)
2 Bronzed Cowbird -- (9)
14 Brown-headed Cowbird -- (3),(10),(11),(14),(15),(30),(35)
1 Orchard Oriole -- (36)
18 Scott's Oriole -- (1),(4),(5),(6),(10),(28),(33),(34),(35)
97 House Finch -- (1),(3),(6),(10),(14),(15),(17),(19),(30),(35)
2 Pine Siskin -- (5)
47 Lesser Goldfinch -- (5),(6),(10),(11),(14),(15),(17),(35)
6
American Goldfinch -- (10),(17)
4 House Sparrow -- (10),(15)
This trip summary was created using the BirdLog app for iPhone and iPad.
See BirdLog for more information.
Joe Fischer
Friendswood, TX
www.joefischerphotography.com
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- » [texbirds] West Texas Trip 5/9-5/18/14 - Joe and Renee Fischer
