Big Bend

Got all packed up in plenty of time the next morning, so dropped off the key and headed down to the amphitheater parking area to see in the dawn, planning on walking up the paved road and then coming back down that connector trail I did last time. I hemmed and hawed about that after coasting down the incline, however, and remembered that I was looking into the sun going up that trail last time, so decided to start at the top and come down after all. The predawn watch was glorious, with more stupendous stars (and I think I saw a satellite – one was moving pretty fast!), plus another Poorwill and a couple more Elf Owls! (That was my last chance at picking up Western Screech Owl, hence the vigil, but no banana…) Some songsters later came close enough for recordings, including a Canyon Towhee and Scott’s Oriole! I headed up a bit before actual sunrise to use the restroom, then got distracted by a pair of Canyon Towhees bouncing around near the picnic tables, only to be photobombed by a White-winged Dove! Then headed down what I thought was the trail I had taken up ten years ago, but discovered later that the trail I really wanted was the one that went to the group campground! But my mistake turned out to be a blessing (even though it was another dicey, rocky trail – I’ve definitely made up my mind to avoid those from now on!) as while I was filming an Acorn Woodpecker, I heard a Mexican Jay behind me, and turned to see him hopping on the trail coming my way!! Thankfully he stayed put (or I should say, didn’t flee) for video, calling the whole time! And on top of that, a Gray Fox zipped across the trail behind me! A Rufous-crowned Sparrow came in close to pishing, but he stayed inside the bush enough so that a video just wasn’t possible. From on high I spotted the singing tanager that sounded more like a Summer to me, and it indeed was, which surprised me up this high (although BirdsEye showed it as expected)! A Pine Siskin “cheered” overhead, and I was surprised to see it flagged later when the trio a few days ago were fine – must be on the cusp!

The next day was much more relaxing: headed out to Santa Elena Canyon in the pitch (stopped at the bottom of the grade to listen for owls – nada, but the stars were stupendous!), and again found myself playing “Dodge the Bunny” (actually spooked a Jackrabbit into the brush)! I have to say the early-morning desert smelled so good! It had been decades since I was last there, and they built a handicap-access trail since then, but you still had to hike the sand to the river. As per usual, Bell’s Vireos were out the yin yang, and a Lesser Goldfinch was at the top of a willow, but I had a hard time getting at an angle where I could film him. Both Blue Grosbeaks and Painted Buntings were at the river, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to make that climb up the canyon wall as in previous years (and probably wouldn’t have crossed anyway, as the trail across the creek was very muddy). But the scenery was just fabulous, and it was fun getting video with the early morning bird ambience! The only new bird was a Rock Wren singing waaay up there; no way could I spot ‘im! On the way out, a very cooperative Bell’s Vireo actually sat still for a video, only I noticed that his beak wasn’t moving to the song – I apparently was filming the guy’s mate!

Was ready to go well before dawn the next morning, as I planned to sit at the trailhead and see if any night birds would call. The Poorwill came through, but even better, the Elf Owl called from the cabin area, just like last time! I kept a “nocturnal” eBird list, and it was fun listening to everyone bringing in the dawn; Say’s Phoebe and Black-chinned Sparrow were new, but I think everything else was an old friend (like Canyon Towhee and Hepatic Tanager). At 6:25 we started up (and started a new eBird list), and following the routine of hiking for 20 and resting for five worked well, although I was somewhat discouraged at my speed (not sure why – I’ve always gone that slow uphill), wondering if we were ever gonna get there! A young gal who kinda looked like fellow guide Tiffany Kersten came trucking up behind me carrying a pack (and no walking stick) and breezed by – ah, youth! At one spot I had a lovely Blue Grosbeak against the sunlit mountain, and at the same spot was a close Ash-throated Flycatcher! Not everyone was that cooperative, however; at one point a Spotted Towhee did stay put for a video, but everyone else (like the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Acorn Woodpecker, and Mexican Jay) just didn’t stick around (although, had the stupid camera focused, I might have gotten a nice one of the jay).

The next strategy for bagging the night birds was to stop at Lost Pine Trail again, as it’s the highest point on the road. On the way out I mistakenly started going the wrong way in the parking lot, but by doing that I got a Striped Skunk in the headlights! So we turned around and headed up to the trailhead parking area, and that plan hit pay dirt the minute I stepped out of the car – two Mexican Whippoorwills were going at it up on the hillside! I couldn’t help but jump up and down! I really don’t recall anything else that opened the dawn (although I know stuff did), but my “get going alarm” went off just about when a family pulled up and got ready to hike the trail (and it was still pretty much pitch)! The sunrise was absolutely gorgeous, and stopped a couple of times to try and get pictures and video! Made it to Sam Nail Ranch in plenty of time, and there was still some beautiful sunrise patterns to photograph! Once sunrise officially happened, I again mounted the Powershot on the tripod and headed in, with lots of distant chats (those yellow breasts really stand out) and Turkey Vultures on the dilapidated windmill! I actually took several loops around the trail as the temperature was tolerable and the sunlight stupendous, so what I filmed when kind of all blended together, but highlights included a Cardinal and a Pyrrhuloxia who both wanted the windmill as a singing perch, a distant Varied Bunting for the trip, and an absolutely knock-out dead gorgeous Blue Grosbeak who posed close! Down in the oasis itself I sat for 15 with nothing to show for it (except our rival Bell’s Vireos from yesterday and the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher buzzing away). On the way out noticed another trail into the vegetation, so I took that, and gloriously both a chat and a Bell’s sat up on a dead tree for video (not for long, but useable)! On one of the later rounds what I thought was another Cardinal turned out to be a brilliant Summer Tanager, and a real Black-tailed Gnatcatcher hissed on the main trail, but he was right in the sun and didn’t want to come out once I had gotten into position. A Black-throated Sparrow was a little more cooperative, however, and on the last round a Scaled Quail called in the distance! Several tourists came by while I was there, including a guy from Tucson who was collecting insects (he said he had a permit).

Got through with the morning routine a little early, so headed down to the campground parking area to see if any night birds were calling. The stars were just incredible (I stepped outside to listen, and you could actually see the Milky Way), but the first bird to call was actually a Scott’s Oriole! Eventually I did hear a distant Poorwill (one down, three to go) before it was time to head to Rio Grande Village, but on the way down I couldn’t believe it: a visible Poorwill was by the side of the road! At least I’m assuming that’s what it was at this point: both that and the Mexican Whippoorwill have white tail corners, but since I heard a Poorwill coming from that general direction, that would be more likely… Rolled into Rio Grande Village right on time and missed the parking area for the Nature Trail, but that was okay as a Roadrunner was right outside the car (and yes, even though he was right there I couldn’t help messin’ with – i.e. cooing at - ‘im)! Once in the lot I got the camera set up on the tripod and headed for the trail!

Headed on to Big Bend the next morning, stopping at Persimmon Gap to use the restroom (I think Black-throated Sparrow and Verdin were the only birds there), and on the way to Panther Junction a family of Phainopeplas flew across the road! (At least that’s what I thought they were at the time; later I realized they could have been Pyrrhuloxias…) Stopped at Panther Junction to get my pass, and found out that, because I’m a senior, I could get an annual National Parks Pass for less than a single Big Bend Pass for the week! Got Cactus Wren and House Finch in the parking lot before heading to Dugout Wells.