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!

Connector trail from the upper parking lot to the amphitheater area

Friendly Mexican Jay

      That trail dumped out on the paved (more my speed) trail to the amphitheater, which then led to the campground. The tanager had flown over to a pine (or juniper – some kind of evergreen) and was in beautiful light, just singing away! The plan was to walk for five and stand (or sit, if it was convenient) for five, and that worked well: not only did it force me to drink enough water, but good things inevitably came by, and it was nice just to enjoy the scenery (and even the campers; this one young couple had two young kids, and while the kids were having a ball, the parents admitted they were exhausted 😊)! A Cactus Wren sang from one of the “Site” signs, and at that couple’s site a nice male Ladder-backed Woodpecker came in to a dead tree, soon to be usurped by another dove! I think I came near a Mockingbird’s nest, as the pair was quite agitated (but made for good video in good light)! On one clip some country music started wafting in the background, and it turned out that the camper next door was actually playing and singing live music – he was pretty good!

Where the trail dumps out by the amphitheater

Summer Tanager (left) and Cactus Wren (right)

Scruffy Ladder-backed Woodpecker (showing pretty wing pattern on right)

Mockingbird pair:  One mate relieves the other and then sounds the alarm over the intruder!

      Continuing around the loop, another rest hit pay dirt – although there was no way I could see the thing much less film it: the Gray Vireo! Both he and the Black-chinned Sparrows were waaay up on the mountainside, as was a Varied Bunting later. At another rest the Say’s Phoebe got away, as did a pair of titmice, one doing his “Morse Code” song! When I finished with the campground I was resting when this carload of birders from California pulled up and asked me what I had seen; I went through the eBird list which got them all excited, so I hope they found most of their targets! [Update: Which they did – incredibly once back home we ran into them again at Sabal Palm Sanctuary!]

Mountain from whence Gray Vireos and Black-chinned Sparrows were singing!

      As feared, it was slow going back up that hill, but not as bad as a rugged trail would have been (I’ll take a paved road any day, even if it’s uphill)! Had another Cactus Wren, but that was the extent of the photo ops (for birds, anyway; I took a lot of scenic shots on the way up). Made it up actually faster than anticipated (and it wasn’t as bad as anticipated, either), so got some ice at the store, used the restroom, and headed for Panther Junction, where we filled up and headed north to Marathon (and I just had to pull over, take a picture, and send it to the gang: I happened to look over at my car’s screen that said he was getting 56 MPG!!).

Chisos Campground (and The Window) from the road

      God was merciful and got us to Del Rio without overheating (I meant to check the radiator level but forgot ☹) and kept me from getting clobbered by a truck I was trying to pass on a narrow bridge (why do they always speed up when you’re trying to pass???)! Made a brief stop at Seminole Canyon SP to use the restroom, where a Hooded Oriole was calling right outside the car, with a Raven making a funny noise while I was filming! Outside the restroom was a poor grasshopper that had lost a leg, and when I showed the ranger the picture, she said it was a katydid, but didn’t know the species (I did some digging later and the best match seems to be Stevenson’s Shieldback). She also pointed me to their Barn Swallow nest, and while I was filming, Momma happened to come in to feed them! What a great video! 

Seminole Canyon

Barn Swallow family

      Made it in to Del Rio fine, and remembered to check the fluid levels the next morning – everything was fine! 😊 It was a lovely, uneventful drive back to Alamo (although I almost got clobbered by a white pickup passing a truck who was turning; figured God still had a plan for me) with a new trip bird: a White-tailed Hawk over Falfurrias!