Field Guides Tour Report TEXAS'S BIG BEND & HILL COUNTRY Apr 23, 2011 to May 2, 2011 Chris Benesh & Megan Crewe The Chisos Mountains make a welcoming sight for arriving birders. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh) Big Bend is always an amazing place to visit, filled with wonderful birds and stunning scenery, enough to make any geologist's mouth water. One thing lacking from this year's trip was evidence of winter rains. Because of it, things were really parched in Big Bend and elsewhere in west Texas. We noticed a lack of wildflowers. But sadly, more evident were the wildfires burning to the north of us in the Davis Mountains. Because of this, we needed to reshuffle things a bit, and bypass those off-limit areas near Ft. Davis. Despite that, we had a great time and saw a bunch of wonderful birds. Among the many highlights were the following that earned votes as trip favorites. Tied for first were two species of warbler closely tied to Texas. The Colima Warbler was a very well-earned lifer for those who trekked up to Boot Spring. While not the most colorful species, it has its charms and has its US breeding range restricted to the Chisos Mountains. The Golden- cheeked Warbler in the Hill Country was equally popular. Its breeding range is entirely in central Texas. Next in line in popularity was a three-way tie. The stunning Varied Bunting seen at Sam Nail Ranch was real eye candy. Seldom to they glow quite that much. The Gray Hawks seen so well along the river campgrounds earned high marks too. They are one sharp-looking Buteo. And the Green Jays seen on our diversion at Fort Clark Springs were well received. Hard to get too much more colorful than that. Next up were singing Canyon Wrens that showed nicely for us, a nice study of Harris's Hawk, sightings of Townsend's Warblers in the Chisos, and of course, the lovely Lucifer Hummingbird. Single vote-getters, each fabulous in its own way, included Black-capped Vireo, Eastern Screech-Owl, Carolina Chickadee, Greater Roadrunner, Lazuli Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, and Common Black-Hawk. And, of course, the spectacle of the free-tailed bats emerging from their cave was indeed spectacular, if cut short by the weather. More than anything else, it is the chemistry of a trip that contributes to its success. Thanks to all of you for making this such a wonderful tour. Megan and I hope to see you all again on future trips! --Chris We have more information about this itinerary and future departures on our web page for Texas's Big Bend & Hill Country . Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1
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Field Guides Tour Report
TEXAS'S BIG BEND & HILL COUNTRY
Apr 23, 2011 to May 2, 2011
Chris Benesh & Megan Crewe
The Chisos Mountains make a welcoming sight for arriving birders. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Big Bend is always an amazing place to visit, filled with wonderful birds and stunning scenery, enough to make anygeologist's mouth water. One thing lacking from this year's trip was evidence of winter rains. Because of it, things werereally parched in Big Bend and elsewhere in west Texas. We noticed a lack of wildflowers. But sadly, more evident were thewildfires burning to the north of us in the Davis Mountains. Because of this, we needed to reshuffle things a bit, and bypassthose off-limit areas near Ft. Davis. Despite that, we had a great time and saw a bunch of wonderful birds.
Among the many highlights were the following that earned votes as trip favorites. Tied for first were two species of warblerclosely tied to Texas. The Colima Warbler was a very well-earned lifer for those who trekked up to Boot Spring. While notthe most colorful species, it has its charms and has its US breeding range restricted to the Chisos Mountains. The Golden-cheeked Warbler in the Hill Country was equally popular. Its breeding range is entirely in central Texas. Next in line inpopularity was a three-way tie. The stunning Varied Bunting seen at Sam Nail Ranch was real eye candy. Seldom to theyglow quite that much. The Gray Hawks seen so well along the river campgrounds earned high marks too. They are onesharp-looking Buteo. And the Green Jays seen on our diversion at Fort Clark Springs were well received. Hard to get toomuch more colorful than that. Next up were singing Canyon Wrens that showed nicely for us, a nice study of Harris's Hawk,sightings of Townsend's Warblers in the Chisos, and of course, the lovely Lucifer Hummingbird. Single vote-getters, eachfabulous in its own way, included Black-capped Vireo, Eastern Screech-Owl, Carolina Chickadee, Greater Roadrunner,Lazuli Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, and Common Black-Hawk. And, of course, the spectacle of the free-tailedbats emerging from their cave was indeed spectacular, if cut short by the weather.
More than anything else, it is the chemistry of a trip that contributes to its success. Thanks to all of you for making this sucha wonderful tour. Megan and I hope to see you all again on future trips!
--Chris
We have more information about this itinerary and future departures on our web page for Texas's Big Bend & Hill Country.
Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1
This cheeky roadrunner spent a couple of dayshanging out by our group's rooms at the Chisos
Lodge. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
KEYS FOR THIS LISTOne of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E= endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
BIRDSAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
(Dendrocygna autumnalis) – Some good views of this species close to the RioGrande in Del Rio.
(Aix sponsa) – Two were seen in Del Rio. (Anas americana)
Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 4
(Vireo philadelphicus) – One seen at Utopia on the River was quite a surprise, seemingly earlyfor this species as well as west of it normal route of passage in the state.
(Vireo olivaceus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies) (Cyanocorax yncas) – Our diversion to Fort Clark Springs yielded this handsome species.
Parulidae (New World Warblers) (Oreothlypis peregrina)
(Oreothlypis celata) (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
(Oreothlypis crissalis) – Seeing this species is always tricky in drought years, so it was great thatthe main hiking group was able to track down a couple around Boot Spring.