South and West Texas Trip ~ May 3, 1991

At the first hint of light, Babe and I headed up the Laguna Meadow Trail. We had only gone about a quarter-mile when I heard another song that I had studied at home. It was my 'life' Black-chinned Sparrow. The "spotted" form of Rufous-sided Towhee was also seen there.

Black-chinned Sparrow along the Laguna Meadow Trail in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

The well-groomed trail got a little steeper and began switchbacking as we got closer to Laguna Meadow. About two miles from the lodge, we heard the song we most wanted to hear in the Chisos Mountains. It was a Chipping Sparrow-like call that ended in a different note. The bird was very close, but it took over 15 minutes before we could locate it in the thick oaks. Finally, after a lot of stalking, I got down on one knee, peered through the oaks, and found the Colima Warbler sitting perfectly still, persistently singing. Its distinctive bold eye ring and bright orange-yellow upper and undertail coverts were now easily seen. It seemed very inactive by our eastern warbler standards.

On the rest of the way up to Laguna Meadow, we heard about a half-dozen more Colimas and saw two others. Also along the way, we saw Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Cordilleran Flycatcher, "Black-crested" Titmouse, Canyon Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, Solitary Vireo, Nashville, Townsend's, "Audubon's", and Hermit Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and a possible Hepatic Tanager. At Laguna Meadow, we ate lunch after finding Ash-throated Flycatcher, Gray-breasted Jay, "Black-eared" Bushtit, and Babe's first look at Hutton's Vireo.

The view from the Laguna Meadow Trail in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas. The tan roof of the lodge is barely visible just left of the center of the photo.

We hiked back down to the lodge and found a few Black-chinned Hummingbirds and a male Blue-throated Hummingbird visiting the flowers in front of one of the buildings. We couldn't find a Lucifer's Hummingbird despite constant searching. Apparently, we were about a week too early since one of their favorite food sources, the century plant, wasn't in bloom yet.

By late afternoon, we reluctantly headed out of Big Bend and pointed the car towards the Davis Mountains. Along the roads to Alpine, we spotted Greater Roadrunner, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, and Lark Bunting. After a quick car and birder refueling stop in Alpine, we motored up Route 118 towards Fort Davis. Birds seen along the way included Wild Turkey, Black and Say's Phoebe, Cedar Waxwing, Phainopepla, and a pair of Montezuma Quail. The quail were standing on the shoulder of the highway about two miles south of Fort Davis. We realized how fortunate we were to see them when we entered Davis Mountains State Park and the park attendant told us that they hadn't been reported in the park for about a year.

Montezuma Quail along Route 118, south of Fort Davis, Texas.

In Davis Mountains State Park, we saw Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Scrub Jay, Cactus and Rock Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, and Black-headed Grosbeak. We checked into the park's Indian Lodge where a Rock Wren was present.

Rock Wren at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park, Texas.

I went out after dark and searched the hills for Common Poorwill, a bird that I had heard several times and had seen poorly in headlights. I had no luck and move that the bird be called UNcommon Poorwill.

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