Blogging from Marathon, TX about birding, butterflies, moths and more. Exploring the gems of Brewster County, Post Park, Big Bend National Park and the surrounding region. Bird watching: Big Bend and beyond!
Showing posts with label Davis Mountains State Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Davis Mountains State Park. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Christmas Bird Count Season in West Texas
Beautiful scenery and interesting species diversity should make a CBC detour through West Texas worthwhile, more dates will be added as we hear about them:
19 December - Davis Mountains CBC
20 December - Balmorhea CBC
For more information, contact Mark Lockwood mark.lockwood@tpwd.texas.gov
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Guest Sightings: Davis Mts
Slightly adapted from an email sent by Bill Sain of Alpine, TX:
(From Sunday, July 6, 2014)
No Montezuma Quail at Davis Mountains State Park this morning but I did see a pair on the road three miles from the picnic area [LE Woods picnic area, past the McDonald Observatory - h]. I did see a Hepatic Tanager at DMSP. There appears to be nesting Cooper's Hawks at the picnic area. There were five teachers from Weslaco camping there and they were asking me about a hawk they kept seeing. Sounded like a Coopers to me (poor photos also showed a Coop) but one was adamant it was a Peregrine. The other folks looked at their bird book and agreed that they had seen a Coopers. I walked along the road and flushed an unknown hawk from a tree. It did not go far so I searched the area and found a young Coopers in the tree the first hawk flushed from. I don't know if the flushed bird was an adult or another juvenile. The hawks were in the area where I saw Plumbeous Vireo last year...didn't see or hear any vireos there this year. No Gray Flycatchers either. Both the park and the picnic area were extremely busy today...it was not easy to bird there dodging people, cars, and noise. Three year birds for the day, the quail, tanager and the Western Wood-Pewee.
***
While we are in limbo, emailed reports of all kinds are appreciated!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Guest Post - John Mariani (Davis Mts, Big Bend)
Post shared with permission:
This weekend I made a trip to the Davis Mountains. Originally I had planned on going from there to the Guadalupe Mountains, but I got some of my target birds for the Guadalupes in the Davis Mountains, so I opted for Big Bend instead.
On Thursday, on my way to the Davis Mountains, I took a detour off I-10 onto 290, which makes a loop back to I-10 (I think this is all in Crockett Co.). Had Gray Vireo in the canyon below the picnic area about 9 miles from I-10. At Fort Lancaster Historic Site I had Curve-billed Thrasher, Black-throated and Lark Sparrows, and Orchard Oriole.
While driving along Limpia Creek between Balmorhea and Fort Davis I spotted a Common Black Hawk perched in a tall cottonwood. I stopped to check it out, and watched it fly to a nest in another cottonwood. There was at least one downy chick in the nest.
The bird blinds at Davis Mountains State Park were attracting a lot of birds. Montezuma Quail have been coming to the bird blind on the right, just before the campgrounds. According to the log there, they have been seen almost daily, usually in the morning or late in the evening. On Thursday evening they were a no-show. I stopped there again at 8:30 the next morning, and a pair of Montezuma Quail were already there. Some people approaching the blind scared them off, but they returned briefly at 9:14. Other birds coming to the feeders/running water at the blinds included Acorn and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Kingbirds, a pair of Hepatic Tanagers, Blue and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Canyon Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned, Chipping, and Black-throated Sparrows, and Scott’s Oriole. Only hummingbird species I saw at the feeders was Black-chinned.
Walking from the park entrance back through the campgrounds I saw Greater Roadrunner, LOTS more Cassin’s Kingbirds, Western Wood-Pewees, Say’s Phoebe, Western Scrub Jay, Cactus and Bewick’s Wrens, Summer Tanager, and more Blue Grosbeaks. At night it was really quiet in the park – didn’t hear Common Poorwill or any owls.
On the afternoon of 6/5 and early morning of 6/6 I birded the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area. Birds seen there and at the beginning of the Madera Canyon Trail included Cooper’s Hawk on a nest, Gray Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin’s Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Grace’s Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Chipping Sparrow.
Driving 118 from Davis Mountains State Park toward Mt. Locke, where the road starts a winding ascend through patches of brush with flowering agaves, I had Scott’s Oriole and Rufous-crowned and Black-chinned Sparrows. Farther upslope, in a more wooded area, I saw a Hepatic Tanager singing alongside the road.
On the afternoon of 6/6 I hiked the Pinnacles Trail up to Boot Canyon in the Chisos. The ascent to the trail summit was a three-hour ordeal (not fun, felt like I was gonna have heat stroke). Did see Bushtit on the way up, and had a brief look at a Zone-tailed Hawk from the trail’s summit. Spent the night in Boot Canyon. Right at dusk the Mexican Whip-poor-wills started calling...everywhere...at times there were 3 or 4 going simultaneously. Joined a group of birders from Kingsville for owling, and in about an hour and a half we managed to see Whip-poor-will, Western Screech-Owl, and Flammulated Owl. Later I heard a pair of Western Screech-Owls dueting near my campsite, and the Whips were still calling – sometimes sounding like they were only a stone’s throw from my tent - when I finally fell asleep.
On the morning of 6/7, after the Whips finally shut up, I hiked the Juniper Canyon Trail from Boot Springs to the South Rim. The very orange probable Hepatic x Western Tanager was singing right above Boot Springs, with a pair of Hepatic Tanagers nearby. Along the Juniper Canyon Trail I had 4 Band-tailed Pigeons, Blue-throated and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Cordilleran Flycatcher, about a half dozen Colima Warblers, and an adult Painted Redstart with 3-4 recently fledged young (saw another redstart at Boot Springs, and one was heard singing down by the campgrounds). Had a Crissal Thrasher where the Juniper Canyon Trail meets the South Rim Trail.
Returned to Chisos Basin via Laguna Meadows – another grueling ordeal, but at least this time it was mostly downhill. Had another Hepatic Tanager down the trail, which made a total of 8 or 8.5 Hepatics for the trip, depending on how you count that weird hybrid at Boot Springs.
The group from Kingsville told me that they had Lucifer and Blue-throated Hummingbirds the day before near the water treatment plant below the Chisos Basin Campground. After recovering from the the long hike down to the Chisos Basin I went to check it out. There is a little drainage lined with reeds below the water treatment plant, and I saw a male Black-chinned and female Lucifer coming to the yellow flowers of the tree tobacco growing along this drainage. Other birds I saw there included a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and male Indigo Bunting.
In the desert scrub around the ranger station at Panther Junction I had Verdins, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, and Pyrrhuloxias.
On Highway 385, about 6.8 miles north of Marathon, I found Susan Foster and her birding posse scoping a prairie dog town for Burrowing Owl. Lucky for me they were there when I drove by, because the approximate mileage I had to this site was incorrect - if I hadn’t seen them on the side of the road I would have driven right past the spot. Got to see the owl through their scope, and a little farther north, in the same prairie dog town, I had a pair of Scaled Quail. Farther north there were Cassin’s Sparrows singing in the grassland, and at about 22 miles from Marathon I saw a male Bronzed Cowbird on the roadside.
Special thanks to Sheridan Coffey for directions to some of my target birds, and to the birders from Kingsville (wish I could remember the names!) -
John Mariani
Lumberton, TX
This weekend I made a trip to the Davis Mountains. Originally I had planned on going from there to the Guadalupe Mountains, but I got some of my target birds for the Guadalupes in the Davis Mountains, so I opted for Big Bend instead.
On Thursday, on my way to the Davis Mountains, I took a detour off I-10 onto 290, which makes a loop back to I-10 (I think this is all in Crockett Co.). Had Gray Vireo in the canyon below the picnic area about 9 miles from I-10. At Fort Lancaster Historic Site I had Curve-billed Thrasher, Black-throated and Lark Sparrows, and Orchard Oriole.
While driving along Limpia Creek between Balmorhea and Fort Davis I spotted a Common Black Hawk perched in a tall cottonwood. I stopped to check it out, and watched it fly to a nest in another cottonwood. There was at least one downy chick in the nest.
The bird blinds at Davis Mountains State Park were attracting a lot of birds. Montezuma Quail have been coming to the bird blind on the right, just before the campgrounds. According to the log there, they have been seen almost daily, usually in the morning or late in the evening. On Thursday evening they were a no-show. I stopped there again at 8:30 the next morning, and a pair of Montezuma Quail were already there. Some people approaching the blind scared them off, but they returned briefly at 9:14. Other birds coming to the feeders/running water at the blinds included Acorn and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Kingbirds, a pair of Hepatic Tanagers, Blue and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Canyon Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned, Chipping, and Black-throated Sparrows, and Scott’s Oriole. Only hummingbird species I saw at the feeders was Black-chinned.
Walking from the park entrance back through the campgrounds I saw Greater Roadrunner, LOTS more Cassin’s Kingbirds, Western Wood-Pewees, Say’s Phoebe, Western Scrub Jay, Cactus and Bewick’s Wrens, Summer Tanager, and more Blue Grosbeaks. At night it was really quiet in the park – didn’t hear Common Poorwill or any owls.
On the afternoon of 6/5 and early morning of 6/6 I birded the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area. Birds seen there and at the beginning of the Madera Canyon Trail included Cooper’s Hawk on a nest, Gray Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin’s Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Grace’s Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Chipping Sparrow.
Driving 118 from Davis Mountains State Park toward Mt. Locke, where the road starts a winding ascend through patches of brush with flowering agaves, I had Scott’s Oriole and Rufous-crowned and Black-chinned Sparrows. Farther upslope, in a more wooded area, I saw a Hepatic Tanager singing alongside the road.
On the afternoon of 6/6 I hiked the Pinnacles Trail up to Boot Canyon in the Chisos. The ascent to the trail summit was a three-hour ordeal (not fun, felt like I was gonna have heat stroke). Did see Bushtit on the way up, and had a brief look at a Zone-tailed Hawk from the trail’s summit. Spent the night in Boot Canyon. Right at dusk the Mexican Whip-poor-wills started calling...everywhere...at times there were 3 or 4 going simultaneously. Joined a group of birders from Kingsville for owling, and in about an hour and a half we managed to see Whip-poor-will, Western Screech-Owl, and Flammulated Owl. Later I heard a pair of Western Screech-Owls dueting near my campsite, and the Whips were still calling – sometimes sounding like they were only a stone’s throw from my tent - when I finally fell asleep.
On the morning of 6/7, after the Whips finally shut up, I hiked the Juniper Canyon Trail from Boot Springs to the South Rim. The very orange probable Hepatic x Western Tanager was singing right above Boot Springs, with a pair of Hepatic Tanagers nearby. Along the Juniper Canyon Trail I had 4 Band-tailed Pigeons, Blue-throated and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Cordilleran Flycatcher, about a half dozen Colima Warblers, and an adult Painted Redstart with 3-4 recently fledged young (saw another redstart at Boot Springs, and one was heard singing down by the campgrounds). Had a Crissal Thrasher where the Juniper Canyon Trail meets the South Rim Trail.
Returned to Chisos Basin via Laguna Meadows – another grueling ordeal, but at least this time it was mostly downhill. Had another Hepatic Tanager down the trail, which made a total of 8 or 8.5 Hepatics for the trip, depending on how you count that weird hybrid at Boot Springs.
The group from Kingsville told me that they had Lucifer and Blue-throated Hummingbirds the day before near the water treatment plant below the Chisos Basin Campground. After recovering from the the long hike down to the Chisos Basin I went to check it out. There is a little drainage lined with reeds below the water treatment plant, and I saw a male Black-chinned and female Lucifer coming to the yellow flowers of the tree tobacco growing along this drainage. Other birds I saw there included a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and male Indigo Bunting.
In the desert scrub around the ranger station at Panther Junction I had Verdins, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, and Pyrrhuloxias.
On Highway 385, about 6.8 miles north of Marathon, I found Susan Foster and her birding posse scoping a prairie dog town for Burrowing Owl. Lucky for me they were there when I drove by, because the approximate mileage I had to this site was incorrect - if I hadn’t seen them on the side of the road I would have driven right past the spot. Got to see the owl through their scope, and a little farther north, in the same prairie dog town, I had a pair of Scaled Quail. Farther north there were Cassin’s Sparrows singing in the grassland, and at about 22 miles from Marathon I saw a male Bronzed Cowbird on the roadside.
Special thanks to Sheridan Coffey for directions to some of my target birds, and to the birders from Kingsville (wish I could remember the names!) -
John Mariani
Lumberton, TX
Sunday, December 8, 2013
West Texas Christmas Bird Counts
Better late than never!
Get out there and count: there's no such thing as a 'normal' year!
Please refer to the Houston Audubon 2013-2014 CBC website for additional details.
Alphabetically arranged:
Balmorhea (TXBA) 12/15
Big Bend NP (East) (TXBG) 12/29
Chisos Mountains (TXCM) 12/28
Comstock (TXCO) 12/28
Davis Mountains (TXDM) 12/14
Del Rio (TXDR) 12/29
El Paso (TXEP) 12/29 probable
Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM) 1/4
Chronologically arranged:
Davis Mountains (TXDM) 12/14
Balmorhea (TXBA) 12/15
Chisos Mountains (TXCM) 12/28
Comstock (TXCO) 12/28
Big Bend NP (East) (TXBG) 12/29
Del Rio (TXDR) 12/29
El Paso (TXEP) 12/29 probable
Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM) 1/4
Get out there and count: there's no such thing as a 'normal' year!
Please refer to the Houston Audubon 2013-2014 CBC website for additional details.
Alphabetically arranged:
Balmorhea (TXBA) 12/15
Big Bend NP (East) (TXBG) 12/29
Chisos Mountains (TXCM) 12/28
Comstock (TXCO) 12/28
Davis Mountains (TXDM) 12/14
Del Rio (TXDR) 12/29
El Paso (TXEP) 12/29 probable
Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM) 1/4
Chronologically arranged:
Davis Mountains (TXDM) 12/14
Balmorhea (TXBA) 12/15
Chisos Mountains (TXCM) 12/28
Comstock (TXCO) 12/28
Big Bend NP (East) (TXBG) 12/29
Del Rio (TXDR) 12/29
El Paso (TXEP) 12/29 probable
Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM) 1/4
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Birding the Furlough
I was really hoping that I wouldn't need to post this, but...
National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges are AMAZING. They are essentially frozen in time right now due to the government shutdown. Except instead of time freezing with them, money has stopped flowing and it's a slow starvation.
Aside from the obvious travesty of political stupidity, it's also slowly squeezing the communities that depend on the National Parks and NWRs; all of the above has been squeezed since 2009 due to budget cuts and this shutdown is not helping.
A few folks who were planning on visiting Big Bend National Park have already been diverted - their options are surprising, all things considered.
*** all of these links exist in the side bar with additional information!
Balmorhea Lake - bring a scope, pay the $5/person fee and bird the edge of desert on the edge of water
Balmorhea State Park - small park, but promising large cottonwoods for fall migrants
* San Solomon Springs wetlands - not sure how they're doing this time of year, might be worth checking into
Big Bend Ranch State Park - west of the park, north of the border, an excellent option for river corridor access with plenty of scenery
CMO / Christmas Mountains Oasis - south county at its finest, but without the hikes!
CDRI / Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute - this is a must see; between the cactus gardens, hummingbird feeders, canyon trails and mixed elevation species, a small daily fee is entirely worthwhile
Davis Mountains State Park - closed for renovations until March 2014! Indian Lodge remains open, however, so living vicariously is still an option
Mountain Trails Lodge - hummingbird feeders and excellent desert grassland habitat are literally right outside the door!
L.E. Woods picnic area / Madera Canyon trail (TNC property) - near the observatory, always an excellent stop for Davis Mts birds and bugs
Post Park - 5 miles south of Marathon, Post Road can be quite productive as well
Prairie Dog Town - 10 miles north of Hwy 90 on Hwy 385, excellent spot for raptor viewing
* Marathon treatment ponds can be birded with prior arrangements; please email us before your trip!
National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges are AMAZING. They are essentially frozen in time right now due to the government shutdown. Except instead of time freezing with them, money has stopped flowing and it's a slow starvation.
Aside from the obvious travesty of political stupidity, it's also slowly squeezing the communities that depend on the National Parks and NWRs; all of the above has been squeezed since 2009 due to budget cuts and this shutdown is not helping.
A few folks who were planning on visiting Big Bend National Park have already been diverted - their options are surprising, all things considered.
*** all of these links exist in the side bar with additional information!
Balmorhea Lake - bring a scope, pay the $5/person fee and bird the edge of desert on the edge of water
Balmorhea State Park - small park, but promising large cottonwoods for fall migrants
* San Solomon Springs wetlands - not sure how they're doing this time of year, might be worth checking into
Big Bend Ranch State Park - west of the park, north of the border, an excellent option for river corridor access with plenty of scenery
CMO / Christmas Mountains Oasis - south county at its finest, but without the hikes!
CDRI / Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute - this is a must see; between the cactus gardens, hummingbird feeders, canyon trails and mixed elevation species, a small daily fee is entirely worthwhile
Mountain Trails Lodge - hummingbird feeders and excellent desert grassland habitat are literally right outside the door!
L.E. Woods picnic area / Madera Canyon trail (TNC property) - near the observatory, always an excellent stop for Davis Mts birds and bugs
Post Park - 5 miles south of Marathon, Post Road can be quite productive as well
Prairie Dog Town - 10 miles north of Hwy 90 on Hwy 385, excellent spot for raptor viewing
* Marathon treatment ponds can be birded with prior arrangements; please email us before your trip!
 |
| Gray Fox, sitting in the shade, also waiting for the furlough to end. |
Monday, August 19, 2013
CLOSURE: Davis Mts State Park Sept. 3 - March 1
Tip of the hat to Texas Mountain Trail Region for this announcement!
Important Announcement regarding Davis Mountains State Park:
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS – Beginning on September 3, 2013, Davis Mountains State Park will begin a temporary closure, which will last through March 1, 2014. Texas Parks & Wildlife staff will be performing major upgrades on the park’s utilities and systems during this time. Many of the park’s amenities, including the campgrounds, trails, and Interpretive Center, will be unavailable to visitors.
In addition to completing much needed utility projects, an extensive new trail system will be put into place in the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area. The current system, which consists of 6.5 miles of trail, will be improved and an additional 6 miles will be added to the existing route. The park’s new bird viewing area, which began construction in May of this year, will be completed, as well.
These improvements will add dimension to our park & provide additional opportunities for outdoor recreation for our park visitors. We are eager to unveil them when we reopen in the spring.
Please note that the Indian Lodge and Black Bear Restaurant are unaffected by this closure and will remain open during standard business hours. The Indian Lodge office is open 24 hours a day and can be reached at (432) 426-3254. The Black Bear Restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00AM to 8:00PM, extending hours until 9:00PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Advanced reservations for the Indian Lodge can be made by calling (512) 389-8900.
Davis Mountains State Park and the Indian Lodge are located four miles north of Fort Davis on Hwy118N.
Important Announcement regarding Davis Mountains State Park:
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS – Beginning on September 3, 2013, Davis Mountains State Park will begin a temporary closure, which will last through March 1, 2014. Texas Parks & Wildlife staff will be performing major upgrades on the park’s utilities and systems during this time. Many of the park’s amenities, including the campgrounds, trails, and Interpretive Center, will be unavailable to visitors.
In addition to completing much needed utility projects, an extensive new trail system will be put into place in the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area. The current system, which consists of 6.5 miles of trail, will be improved and an additional 6 miles will be added to the existing route. The park’s new bird viewing area, which began construction in May of this year, will be completed, as well.
These improvements will add dimension to our park & provide additional opportunities for outdoor recreation for our park visitors. We are eager to unveil them when we reopen in the spring.
Please note that the Indian Lodge and Black Bear Restaurant are unaffected by this closure and will remain open during standard business hours. The Indian Lodge office is open 24 hours a day and can be reached at (432) 426-3254. The Black Bear Restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00AM to 8:00PM, extending hours until 9:00PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Advanced reservations for the Indian Lodge can be made by calling (512) 389-8900.
Davis Mountains State Park and the Indian Lodge are located four miles north of Fort Davis on Hwy118N.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Sightings around the region
Since we're heading to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival as of 4:30 am, we thought the site could use some distractions in our absence. A few reports have been trickling in from around the region, so here's a batch from Jeff Davis Co.
L.E. Woods Picnic area:
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Davis Mts State Park:
Fox Sparrow
Posted with permission from Kelly Bryan -
And from the Christmas Mountains Oasis in south Brewster Co, where the Varied Thrush continues, also via Kelly Bryan -
(The Costa's was at the feeders all afternoon at CMO after it was banded.)
L.E. Woods Picnic area:
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Davis Mts State Park:
Fox Sparrow
Posted with permission from Kelly Bryan -
Texbirders,
FYI, Marc and Maryann photographed four Evening Grosbeaks at their feeders in the Davis Mountains on October 28. They only stayed a couple of days. Also, a female visited a feeder here in Fort Davis for at least two days this past weekend. For those planning to visit west Texas in the next couple of months keep you eyes pealed. Hopefully, there are more coming down the pike. There appears to be a large influx of Red Crossbills and Western Scrub-Jays are pushing out of the mountains and foothills into the lower desert. May be a good winter overall out here. KBB
And from the Christmas Mountains Oasis in south Brewster Co, where the Varied Thrush continues, also via Kelly Bryan -
Once again the Christmas Mountains Oasis in south central Brewster County has produced an outstanding bird for Texas. If you have never been there then you do not know and cannot appreciate the amount of work it took over the past 20 years or so for Carolyn Ohl to produce the "habitat" there.
I made my weekly stop there this morning to sample her hummingbirds as part of my overall banding study here in west Texas. The first bird in the trap this morning was a male Costa's Hummingbird. He had completed his flight feather molt and was in the process of completing his body molt including his head, gorget and crown. Carolyn will provide an update on this bird on her website and/or on Texbirds later today including the status of the Varied Thrush there. She will have some pics posted to cmoasis.blogspot.com later today.
Save for one juvenile male that we likely banded last week because it was trap shy, there was a complete turnover of hummingbirds there today from last week. We caught four Anna's Hummingbirds including two new birds and two returns. One adult female was previously banded on 12/12/11 (our last Anna's banded last year) and the other, also a female, was banded as an adult on 11/13/09 at CMO. KBB
(The Costa's was at the feeders all afternoon at CMO after it was banded.)
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Townsend's Solitaire in the Davis Mountains
More specifically, at Davis Mountains State Park.
This is one of the species generally charted as Irruptive in the trans-Pecos Region of Texas.
Irruptive : may be abundant some years, but absent or rare in all other yrs. Can also denote regularly occuring species in one specific part of the greater-region but exhibit irruptive movements to areas not normally occupied.
Hopefully, it will be an Irruptive species' - type season this winter. Though none of these species have yet been abundant, they are beginning to be reported.
Here's one I came across during today's visit to Davis Mountains State Park a few miles north of Ft. Davis in Jeff Davis County. There were recent reportings of many way up in the Guadalupe Mountains of Guadalupe Mountains National Park; fairly well north of the tri-county Big Bend Region.
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
I happened upon this mountain-western species behind the bird blind/water-feature that is adjacent to the Interpretive Center at the state park.
Townsend's Solitaire bathing and drinking at the water-feature.
We know trees and mid-story shrubs are important for birds. Also, water is an extremely strong attractant to birds. Most (not all) need water to drink and just the sound of a trickle can bring them in.
Townsend's Solitaire are pretty much food specialists. That means they don't have any variety to their diet. They've evolved, at this point in time, to forage on a singular item. For this bird, that's juniper (Juniperus spp) berries.
I enjoyed observing this bird's behavior off-and-on for maybe 20 minutes. It would drink and bathe and preen then repeat. It would also occasionally fly over my head to the large Redberry Juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) just behind me. That makes sense, right?
The Townsend's Solitaire.
Very muchly, a mountainous western-portion of this continent dwelling bird.
A great far-West Texas species.
However, a species we don't see all the time, everywhere, every year.
We do see it with an Uncommon-type frequency .... sometimes, in some years; and only out in this far portion of the state.
What will this winter show us?
This is one of the species generally charted as Irruptive in the trans-Pecos Region of Texas.
Irruptive : may be abundant some years, but absent or rare in all other yrs. Can also denote regularly occuring species in one specific part of the greater-region but exhibit irruptive movements to areas not normally occupied.
Hopefully, it will be an Irruptive species' - type season this winter. Though none of these species have yet been abundant, they are beginning to be reported.
Here's one I came across during today's visit to Davis Mountains State Park a few miles north of Ft. Davis in Jeff Davis County. There were recent reportings of many way up in the Guadalupe Mountains of Guadalupe Mountains National Park; fairly well north of the tri-county Big Bend Region.
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
I happened upon this mountain-western species behind the bird blind/water-feature that is adjacent to the Interpretive Center at the state park.
Townsend's Solitaire bathing and drinking at the water-feature.
We know trees and mid-story shrubs are important for birds. Also, water is an extremely strong attractant to birds. Most (not all) need water to drink and just the sound of a trickle can bring them in.
Townsend's Solitaire are pretty much food specialists. That means they don't have any variety to their diet. They've evolved, at this point in time, to forage on a singular item. For this bird, that's juniper (Juniperus spp) berries.
I enjoyed observing this bird's behavior off-and-on for maybe 20 minutes. It would drink and bathe and preen then repeat. It would also occasionally fly over my head to the large Redberry Juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) just behind me. That makes sense, right?
The Townsend's Solitaire.
Very muchly, a mountainous western-portion of this continent dwelling bird.
A great far-West Texas species.
However, a species we don't see all the time, everywhere, every year.
We do see it with an Uncommon-type frequency .... sometimes, in some years; and only out in this far portion of the state.
What will this winter show us?
Monday, November 28, 2011
A whole lot of West Texas!
While we ventured north for family commitments during the Thanksgiving week, our dear friend covered the region. Check out this fantastic (and quite photogenic) trip summary from Steve Gross. His 6-day trek rummaged up 124 species, though he did cover just about every 'hot spot' west of the Pecos. If only he'd made it into Big Bend National Park, the trip would have had seven species of grebe! (Least Grebe is still rumored to be loitering near Daniel's Ranch)
Many thanks to Steve for sending us his trip list and keeping us posted about other regional sightings! We are grateful to hear (and share!) these lists and keep folks current on local bird life - please do e-mail us when you've been in the region, we can credit you for reports, allow you to remain anonymous, or not re-share the sightings at all (in case your boss is checking up on sick days that you were out birding...)
Back to Steve's trip!
Primary locations included:
Balmorhea
Lawrence E. Wood (Davis Mts)
Davis Mts. State Park
Franklin Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Species:
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
PELICANS
American White Pelican
CORMORANTS
Double-crested Cormorant
Neotropic Cormorant
HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Harris's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
FALCONS AND CARACARAS
American Kestrel
NEW WORLD QUAIL
Scaled Quail
Gambel's Quail
RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS
American Coot
PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS
Killdeer
SANDPIPERS
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
GULLS
Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove
Inca Dove
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher
WOODPECKERS
Acorn Woodpecker
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Phoebe
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
WAGTAILS AND PIPITS
American Pipit
KINGLETS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
SILKY-FLYCATCHERS
Phainopepla
WRENS
Cactus Wren
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Bewick's Wren
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS
Northern Mockingbird
Sage Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
THRUSHES
Western Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
LONG-TAILED TITS
Bushtit
CHICKADEES AND TITS
Mountain Chickadee
Juniper Titmouse
Black-crested Titmouse
NUTHATCHES
White-breasted Nuthatch
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper
PENDULINE TITS
Verdin
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike
CROWS AND JAYS
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
STARLINGS
European Starling
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow
FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
Cassin's Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
WOOD WARBLERS
Yellow-rumped Warbler
SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
Many thanks to Steve for sending us his trip list and keeping us posted about other regional sightings! We are grateful to hear (and share!) these lists and keep folks current on local bird life - please do e-mail us when you've been in the region, we can credit you for reports, allow you to remain anonymous, or not re-share the sightings at all (in case your boss is checking up on sick days that you were out birding...)
Back to Steve's trip!
Primary locations included:
Balmorhea
Lawrence E. Wood (Davis Mts)
Davis Mts. State Park
Franklin Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Species:
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
PELICANS
American White Pelican
CORMORANTS
Double-crested Cormorant
Neotropic Cormorant
HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Harris's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
FALCONS AND CARACARAS
American Kestrel
NEW WORLD QUAIL
Scaled Quail
Gambel's Quail
RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS
American Coot
PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS
Killdeer
SANDPIPERS
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
GULLS
Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove
Inca Dove
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher
WOODPECKERS
Acorn Woodpecker
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Phoebe
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
WAGTAILS AND PIPITS
American Pipit
KINGLETS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
SILKY-FLYCATCHERS
Phainopepla
WRENS
Cactus Wren
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Bewick's Wren
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS
Northern Mockingbird
Sage Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
THRUSHES
Western Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
LONG-TAILED TITS
Bushtit
CHICKADEES AND TITS
Mountain Chickadee
Juniper Titmouse
Black-crested Titmouse
NUTHATCHES
White-breasted Nuthatch
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper
PENDULINE TITS
Verdin
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike
CROWS AND JAYS
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
STARLINGS
European Starling
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow
FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
Cassin's Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
WOOD WARBLERS
Yellow-rumped Warbler
SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Other updates
The Iron Mountain Fire seems to be an old memory; Marathon and Fort Davis and Alpine (and Marfa and Sanderson, for that matter) are all back in business with no road closures, no smoke and a burn ban that will cost you $500 if you don't have a permit for your welding, grilling, campfire, etc. Don't Even Think About It.
As for the Yellow-breasted Chat a few posts down:
"I am sorry to report that he did not make it. Very few cat caught birds ever do. I think it has to do with all the stress they go through, and they keep on fighting and their adrenalin stays up. Finally, at night they just give up. If they make it 48 hours, they usually survive. It is the first night that gets them. You cannot imagine how sick and tired I get of cat kills. ... I have seen hundreds, if not thousands over the past 23+ years." (from the wildlife rehabber)
As for the Yellow-breasted Chat a few posts down:
"I am sorry to report that he did not make it. Very few cat caught birds ever do. I think it has to do with all the stress they go through, and they keep on fighting and their adrenalin stays up. Finally, at night they just give up. If they make it 48 hours, they usually survive. It is the first night that gets them. You cannot imagine how sick and tired I get of cat kills. ... I have seen hundreds, if not thousands over the past 23+ years." (from the wildlife rehabber)
Friday, April 22, 2011
Davis Mts SP after the fire
Click here to go to the Texas Mountain Trail blog post about Davis Mountains State Park after the fire; photos are very telling. I hadn't realized how close the fire got to the lodge!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
West TX fires - how to help
From Marfa Public Radio:
Right now, the best way to help those devastated by the wildfires is sending donations via the Permian Basin Area Foundation Emergency Relief Fund and to the bank account set up by the Jeff Davis County Relief Fund. We are told that both funds feed the same source.
Jeff Davis County Relief Fund
c/o Permian Basin Area Foundation
200 N. Loraine, Suite 500
Midland, TX 79701
AND
Jeff Davis County Relief Fund
via Fort Davis State Bank
P.O. Box 1808
Fort Davis TX 79734
Account #321028 (needs to be included). If you’d like to donate specifically towards fencing labor and materials, indicate FENCING FUND on your donation.
You can also donate to local fire departments at the following addresses.
Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 811, Fort Davis, TX, 79734
Marfa Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 846, Marfa, TX, 79843
Alpine Fire and Rescue, 100 N. 13th St, Alpine, TX 79830
Right now, the best way to help those devastated by the wildfires is sending donations via the Permian Basin Area Foundation Emergency Relief Fund and to the bank account set up by the Jeff Davis County Relief Fund. We are told that both funds feed the same source.
Jeff Davis County Relief Fund
c/o Permian Basin Area Foundation
200 N. Loraine, Suite 500
Midland, TX 79701
AND
Jeff Davis County Relief Fund
via Fort Davis State Bank
P.O. Box 1808
Fort Davis TX 79734
Account #321028 (needs to be included). If you’d like to donate specifically towards fencing labor and materials, indicate FENCING FUND on your donation.
You can also donate to local fire departments at the following addresses.
Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 811, Fort Davis, TX, 79734
Marfa Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 846, Marfa, TX, 79843
Alpine Fire and Rescue, 100 N. 13th St, Alpine, TX 79830
West Texas is still kickin'
Most of the impacted areas were not publicly accessible; Fort Davis update from our Texas Mountain Trail contact is this -
Very little of the scenic loop west of town was affected, I drove from FD to Valentine on that route this morning. While the fire was widespread, there are still many, many wonderful areas remaining intact.
Most dire needs are for fencing and feed; call Johnson's Feed in Alpine at (432) 837-5792 to arrange a donation.
The Fort Davis shelter (Grand Companions, where our little one, Nauga is from) also lost $1,000 in vaccines due to the loss of powerand their washing machine went out thankfully their washing machine has already been replaced - so monetary donations are greatly appreciated!
Landmarks survived Fort Davis fire!
Fire summary from Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
Here's a link for the benefit concert for the Fort Davis area. Latest on that: ...the event will most likely be a two-day event with a Friday night show at Padre's and a headliner show at the Jeff Davis County Park the next day. Stay tuned!
Best up-to-date fire and road updates are on Marfa NPR:
www.marfapublicradio.org
(This also happens to be the week of their fund raiser! *cough*)
As of April 11, this is the extent of the damage from Carolyn Ohl's blog.
***
It should be stressed that none of the fires have impacted Big Bend National Park, Post Park, Marathon, Sanderson, or the majority of Alpine.
And from the Tx Mountain Trail group:
Here's another way you can help Fort Davis: Plan a little roadtrip there this year. We were in Fort Davis this morning and the things you love about the town are STILL there...Fort, Observatory, charming downtown, lovely places to stay. One rain and it will start to green up. The fire deposits a little gift to the land--extra nitrogen that will make the mountains so green, you'll feel like you're in Ireland...
texasmountaintrail.com
texasmountaintrail.blogspot.com
twitter.com/trailgirl
youtube.com/user/TMTrail
They've got great updates on facebook, along with the occasional birding tidbit:
We saw a lovely thing at Fort Davis' Davis Mountains Lodge & Expeditions today, a place narrowly escaping fire. They recently put up a birding area near the Lodge's office with feeders and benches...and today the feeders were a busy place with birds singing and swooping in for food. The hummingbirds were particularly happy there!
...basically, the upside of fire is that birds will concentrate in areas that were not impacted (thankfully that includes almost all of our regional birding spots) and this will hopefully clear out some of choked vegetation from last year's incredibly overzealous spring.
Edit: TNC's Madera Canyon reportedly is unharmed as well!
Very little of the scenic loop west of town was affected, I drove from FD to Valentine on that route this morning. While the fire was widespread, there are still many, many wonderful areas remaining intact.
Most dire needs are for fencing and feed; call Johnson's Feed in Alpine at (432) 837-5792 to arrange a donation.
The Fort Davis shelter (Grand Companions, where our little one, Nauga is from) also lost $1,000 in vaccines due to the loss of power
Landmarks survived Fort Davis fire!
Fire summary from Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
Here's a link for the benefit concert for the Fort Davis area. Latest on that: ...the event will most likely be a two-day event with a Friday night show at Padre's and a headliner show at the Jeff Davis County Park the next day. Stay tuned!
Best up-to-date fire and road updates are on Marfa NPR:
www.marfapublicradio.org
(This also happens to be the week of their fund raiser! *cough*)
As of April 11, this is the extent of the damage from Carolyn Ohl's blog.
***
It should be stressed that none of the fires have impacted Big Bend National Park, Post Park, Marathon, Sanderson, or the majority of Alpine.
And from the Tx Mountain Trail group:
Here's another way you can help Fort Davis: Plan a little roadtrip there this year. We were in Fort Davis this morning and the things you love about the town are STILL there...Fort, Observatory, charming downtown, lovely places to stay. One rain and it will start to green up. The fire deposits a little gift to the land--extra nitrogen that will make the mountains so green, you'll feel like you're in Ireland...
texasmountaintrail.com
texasmountaintrail.blogspot.com
twitter.com/trailgirl
youtube.com/user/TMTrail
They've got great updates on facebook, along with the occasional birding tidbit:
We saw a lovely thing at Fort Davis' Davis Mountains Lodge & Expeditions today, a place narrowly escaping fire. They recently put up a birding area near the Lodge's office with feeders and benches...and today the feeders were a busy place with birds singing and swooping in for food. The hummingbirds were particularly happy there!
...basically, the upside of fire is that birds will concentrate in areas that were not impacted (thankfully that includes almost all of our regional birding spots) and this will hopefully clear out some of choked vegetation from last year's incredibly overzealous spring.
Edit: TNC's Madera Canyon reportedly is unharmed as well!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Davis Mountains CBC
This entry is backdated to reflect the date of the count; these numbers are via the Christmas Bird Count web site and the 'current year' results (date of reference 2/18/2011). I've removed number/party hour for the sake of the blog format which already crunches the columns awkwardly.
Davis Mountains [TXDM]
Texas Region
30.6333°, -104.0167°
Christmas Bird Count
Count Year: 111
Davis Mountains State Park, overlooking Fort Davis.
CW = count week
DD = details described
HC = high count
GD = good details
ND = no details
PH = photo
US = unusual species
Species / Number
Gadwall (Anas strepera) 11
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5
Mexican Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
duck sp. (Anatinae) 2
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 65
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) 50
Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) 19
Great Blue Heron (Blue form) (Ardea herodias) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 DD
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 3
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 8
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 7
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 4
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 2
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 357
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 12
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) 1
Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) 7
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 1
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) 1 US GD
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps) 1 US PH
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) 1 US PH
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 8
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 5
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) 2
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 50
Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) 6
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) 23
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 13
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 3
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) 14
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 1
Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) 1
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 3
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 104
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 36
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 2
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) 13
Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) 1 DD
Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) 112
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) 1
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 30
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 13
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 29
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 3
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 16
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) 12
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) 10
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 21
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 3
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1 GD
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 104
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 64 HC
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 4
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) 44
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) 1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 19
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 28
Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) 8
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale) 0 CW DD
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 5
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 2
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 1
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) 8
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 41 HC
Canyon Towhee (Melozone fuscus) 46
Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) 4
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) 36
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 922
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 3
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 2
Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) 8
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) 20
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) 1
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) 13
Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) 30
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 5
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) 3 US ND
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 17
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 34
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 4
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 207
sparrow sp. (Emberizinae) 40
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 27
Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 170
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 30
Dark-eyed (Pink-sided) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 52
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 60
Dark-eyed (Red-backed) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 116 HC ND
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 26
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) 69
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 4
meadowlark sp. (Sturnella) 37
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 29
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 9
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) 38
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 170
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 13
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 7
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 41
Weather & Effort
Count Date:
Dec 18, 2010
Number of Participants: 26
Number of Party Hours: 114.75
Species Reported: 95
Low Temperature: 21
High Temperature: 62
AM Weather: Partly cloudy
Rain: None
Snow: None
PM Weather: Partly clear
Rain: None
Snow: None
Davis Mountains [TXDM]
Texas Region
30.6333°, -104.0167°
Christmas Bird Count
Count Year: 111
Davis Mountains State Park, overlooking Fort Davis.
CW = count week
DD = details described
HC = high count
GD = good details
ND = no details
PH = photo
US = unusual species
Species / Number
Gadwall (Anas strepera) 11
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5
Mexican Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
duck sp. (Anatinae) 2
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 65
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) 50
Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) 19
Great Blue Heron (Blue form) (Ardea herodias) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 DD
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 3
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 8
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 7
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 4
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 2
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 357
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 12
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) 1
Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) 7
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 1
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) 1 US GD
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps) 1 US PH
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) 1 US PH
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 8
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 5
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) 2
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 50
Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) 6
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) 23
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 13
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 3
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) 14
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 1
Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) 1
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 3
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 104
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 36
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 2
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) 13
Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) 1 DD
Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) 112
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) 1
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 30
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 13
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 29
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 3
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 16
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) 12
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) 10
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 21
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 3
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1 GD
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 104
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 64 HC
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 4
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) 44
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) 1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 19
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 28
Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) 8
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale) 0 CW DD
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 5
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 2
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 1
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) 8
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 41 HC
Canyon Towhee (Melozone fuscus) 46
Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) 4
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) 36
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 922
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 3
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 2
Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) 8
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) 20
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) 1
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) 13
Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) 30
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 5
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) 3 US ND
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 17
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 34
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 4
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 207
sparrow sp. (Emberizinae) 40
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 27
Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 170
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 30
Dark-eyed (Pink-sided) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 52
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 60
Dark-eyed (Red-backed) Junco (Junco hyemalis) 116 HC ND
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 26
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) 69
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 4
meadowlark sp. (Sturnella) 37
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 29
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 9
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) 38
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 170
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 13
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 7
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 41
Weather & Effort
Count Date:
Dec 18, 2010
Number of Participants: 26
Number of Party Hours: 114.75
Species Reported: 95
Low Temperature: 21
High Temperature: 62
AM Weather: Partly cloudy
Rain: None
Snow: None
PM Weather: Partly clear
Rain: None
Snow: None
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
November summary, Big Bend Region
Locations for this list include:
Big Bend National Park (Boquillas Canyon, banks of the Rio Grande at Daniel's Ranch, Rio Grande Village)
Brewster County
Christmas Mountains Oasis
Davis Mountains (private property)
Davis Mountains State Park
Jeff Davis County
Marathon Motel
Post Park
Month list generated by eBird, notes based on specific locations, if needed.
Mallard (Mexican) - Rio Grande
Scaled Quail
Wild Turkey
Horned Grebe - Rio Grande
Great Blue Heron - Post Park
Black Vulture - Rio Grande
Turkey Vulture - 1 roadkill, Nov. 18 a few miles west of Marathon
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Christmas Mountains Oasis
Cooper's Hawk - Rio Grande Village
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
American Coot - Post Park
Killdeer - Post Park
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Inca Dove
Greater Roadrunner - Big Bend National Park
Great Horned Owl - Marathon
Common Poorwill - Marathon
Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Black-chinned Hummingbird - Marathon, continues
Anna's Hummingbird - Rio Grande, Christmas Mountains Oasis
Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Rufous Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Allen's Hummingbird - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Marathon, Davis Mountains
Acorn Woodpecker - Davis Mountains State Park
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker - Davis Mountains (Madera Canyon)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Marathon Motel
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
Tufted Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Gray Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Black Phoebe - Post Park, Rio Grande
Eastern Phoebe - Post Park, Rio Grande Village
Say's Phoebe -
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Western Scrub-Jay - Davis Mountains State Park
Loggerhead Shrike
Common Raven
Black-crested Titmouse - Davis Mountains State Park
Verdin
White-breasted Nuthatch - Davis Mountains
Brown Creeper - Rio Grande Village
Cactus Wren
Rock Wren - Boquillas Canyon
Bewick's Wren - Rio Grande Village
House Wren - Rio Grande Village
Marsh Wren - Rio Grande Village
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Rio Grande Village
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush - Christmas Mountains Oasis
Hermit Thrush - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Rio Grande Village
Northern Mockingbird
Curve-billed Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Pipit - Boquillas Canyon
Phainopepla - Big Bend National Park
Orange-crowned Warbler - Rio Grande Village
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler - Rio Grande Village
Spotted Towhee - Davis Mountains
Canyon Towhee
Chipping Sparrow - Davis Mountains State Park
Clay-colored Sparrow - Davis Mountains State Park
Brewer's Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow - Big Bend National Park
Lark Bunting
Lincoln's Sparrow - Post Park
Swamp Sparrow - Post Park
White-crowned Sparrow - Post Park
Dark-eyed Junco - Davis Mountains
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
meadowlark sp.
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains State Park
Lesser Goldfinch - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains
American Goldfinch - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains
House Sparrow
Total: 92 species
** We weren't able to bird as much with some out-of-state travel for Thanksgiving, not to mention the prep time for it and other birdless adventures. The Allen's and Black-chinned Hummingbird continue as of Dec. 1 at our Marathon feeder.
Big Bend National Park (Boquillas Canyon, banks of the Rio Grande at Daniel's Ranch, Rio Grande Village)
Brewster County
Christmas Mountains Oasis
Davis Mountains (private property)
Davis Mountains State Park
Jeff Davis County
Marathon Motel
Post Park
Month list generated by eBird, notes based on specific locations, if needed.
Mallard (Mexican) - Rio Grande
Scaled Quail
Wild Turkey
Horned Grebe - Rio Grande
Great Blue Heron - Post Park
Black Vulture - Rio Grande
Turkey Vulture - 1 roadkill, Nov. 18 a few miles west of Marathon
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Christmas Mountains Oasis
Cooper's Hawk - Rio Grande Village
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
American Coot - Post Park
Killdeer - Post Park
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Inca Dove
Greater Roadrunner - Big Bend National Park
Great Horned Owl - Marathon
Common Poorwill - Marathon
Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Black-chinned Hummingbird - Marathon, continues
Anna's Hummingbird - Rio Grande, Christmas Mountains Oasis
Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Rufous Hummingbird - Davis Mountains
Allen's Hummingbird - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Marathon, Davis Mountains
Acorn Woodpecker - Davis Mountains State Park
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker - Davis Mountains (Madera Canyon)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Marathon Motel
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
Tufted Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Gray Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Black Phoebe - Post Park, Rio Grande
Eastern Phoebe - Post Park, Rio Grande Village
Say's Phoebe -
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher - Rio Grande Village
Western Scrub-Jay - Davis Mountains State Park
Loggerhead Shrike
Common Raven
Black-crested Titmouse - Davis Mountains State Park
Verdin
White-breasted Nuthatch - Davis Mountains
Brown Creeper - Rio Grande Village
Cactus Wren
Rock Wren - Boquillas Canyon
Bewick's Wren - Rio Grande Village
House Wren - Rio Grande Village
Marsh Wren - Rio Grande Village
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Rio Grande Village
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush - Christmas Mountains Oasis
Hermit Thrush - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Rio Grande Village
Northern Mockingbird
Curve-billed Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Pipit - Boquillas Canyon
Phainopepla - Big Bend National Park
Orange-crowned Warbler - Rio Grande Village
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler - Rio Grande Village
Spotted Towhee - Davis Mountains
Canyon Towhee
Chipping Sparrow - Davis Mountains State Park
Clay-colored Sparrow - Davis Mountains State Park
Brewer's Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow - Big Bend National Park
Lark Bunting
Lincoln's Sparrow - Post Park
Swamp Sparrow - Post Park
White-crowned Sparrow - Post Park
Dark-eyed Junco - Davis Mountains
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
meadowlark sp.
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains State Park
Lesser Goldfinch - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains
American Goldfinch - Christmas Mountains Oasis, Davis Mountains
House Sparrow
Total: 92 species
** We weren't able to bird as much with some out-of-state travel for Thanksgiving, not to mention the prep time for it and other birdless adventures. The Allen's and Black-chinned Hummingbird continue as of Dec. 1 at our Marathon feeder.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Useful Links & Regional Resources
Planning a trip to Big Bend National Park, the Davis Mountains,
Lake Balmorhea and the surrounding region?
The sites below are helpful for the wildlife side of things,
skip to the second batch for general travel information for the towns out here.
Alpine, Fort Davis, Marathon, Marfa, Texas Mountain Trails and Big Bend info:
Last updated 11/30/12.
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