Big Bend - May 2004
Bird/Species Trip List
Leader: Narca Moore-Craig

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias): 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Green Heron (Butorides virescens): 1 at Rio Grande Village marsh for Phyllis only, 5/11.
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus): several at Rio Grande Village, 05/11.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura): throughout.
Mallard (Mexican Duck) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi): 2 at Daniels Ranch, 5/11.
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors): 3 at stockpond north of Fort Davis, 5/8.
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii): 1 along Pinnacles Trail, for Gwenyth and Duvall only, 5/13.
Gray Hawk (Asturina nitida): a stellar female, peering over the rim of her nest in Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus): 1 adult on snag south of Fort Davis, 5/10.
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus): heard only, 1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis): seen most days.
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius): 2 between Fort Davis and Kent, 5/15.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): 1 hen with a newly-hatched brood of about a dozen chicks at the Post, 5/10.
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata): numerous pairs in the Big Bend lowlands, with up to 12 seen in one day.
Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae): a stunning pair greeted us just north of the McDonald Observatory Road, 5/8. What a wonderful beginning to our trip!
American Coot (Fulica americana): 2 at the Post on 5/10 and 2 at Rio Grande Village marsh, 5/11.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus): 1 or 2 at several stock ponds, 5/8, 5/10 & 5/14.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia): 3 in breeding plumage at the Post, 5/10.
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia): in Alpine, 5/14.
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto): at least 2 in Fort Davis, 5/10 and 5/14.
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica): throughout, frequently the most abundant dove.
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura): present throughout, abundant in the Davis Mtns.
Inca Dove (Columbina inca): we encountered this lovely dove at Rio Grande Village on 5/11; Cottonwood Campground on 5/12; and heard it on 5/14.
Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina): 7 in the Rio Grande Village area, 5/11.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus): heard only, 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus): seen most days; many carrying food.
Western Screech-Owl (Otus kennicottii): a gray-morph beauty spotted by Duvall at Dugout Wells on 5/11.
Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi): a charming pair at Dugout Wells, 5/11.
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis): 1 at Rio Grande Village flying by day, and about 4 at Dugout Wells, the air thrumming with their song, 5/11.
White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis): several high overhead at Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12, and flocks along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae): at least 3 at Boot Springs, seen in best light by Jean, 5/13.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri): several, including at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9; Fort Davis National Historical Site and the Post, 5/10, Burro Mesa Pouroff and Cottonwood Campground, 5/12, and Blue Creek, 5/14.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus): 1 at a feeder, TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus): Davis Mountains, 5/9; Chisos Basin, 5/10; and Boot Springs, 5/13.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons): 3 at the Post on 5/10, and several at Cottonwood Camp on 5/12.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris): seen and heard every day.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus): 1 en route to Fort Davis, 5/9, and at least 1 at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus): seen most days, and scoped at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii): 1 at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9; 1 at Sam Nail Ranch, 5/12; 1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13; and 1 scoped at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis): 1 at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9; and 1 at Boot Springs, 5/13.
Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Empidonax fulvifrons): one scoped and a second heard at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9—what a treat and a privilege to see this rarity!
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans): 4 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and 1 at Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12.
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya): throughout, including 2 fledglings at Fort Davis National Historical Site, 5/10.
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus): 8 beauties at the Post, 5/10; about 20 including adults and young at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and more at Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens): every day except the hike to Boot Springs.
Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus): a scarce species in the Big Bend region! 1 at Rio Grande Village, camp site 2, on 5/11; and a mating pair (with the female carrying nesting material) at Cottonwood Campground on 5/12.
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus): another very rare species here, a pair was in Cottonwood Campground on 5/12. Although the birds were silent, the noticeably long bill, clearly visible through the scope, eliminated look-alike Couch’s Kingbird.
Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans): most abundant in the Davis Mountains.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis): more numerous than Cassin’s at Big Bend.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus): 6 of these exquisite gems near Marathon on 5/10 and 3 on 5/14.
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus): only a few along roads on 5/10, 5/11 and 5/12. Perhaps best seen on the Old Maverick Road.
Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii): quite common, though rarely seen well, in lowland thickets on 5/10, 5/11, 5/12 and 5/14, with the highest number (about 30) occurring at Rio Grande Village. We eventually enjoyed scope studies of singing males.
Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior): 1 distant, uncooperative songster, heard only at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii): 1 seen briefly at Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni): at least 10 seen or heard on Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus): 1 at Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica): 2 at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina couchii): about 15 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13. Several beggars hopped nonchalantly about our feet, their ultramarine plumage glowing.
Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus): several at lower elevations, and a pair as high as Chisos Basin lodge on 5/13, confirmed by their call notes.
Common Raven (Corvus corax): mostly in the high country, but also along highways.
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina): in the Davis Mountains on 5/8 and 5/9; also high on Pinnacles Trail on 5/13.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis): 2 at the Rio Grande, along the Spur Trail from Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota): en route to and from the Davis Mountains on 5/8 and 5/10, as well as Rio Grande Village on 5/11.
Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva pelodoma): a fine colony of about 60 at Kent, 5/8.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster): recorded every day except on the hike to Boot Springs.
Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus): several in the Davis Mountains on 5/9 and 5/10; and at least a dozen along the Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps): 4 adults and 1 fledgling at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus): groups in the Davis Mountains on 5/8 and 5/9; and about 10 along the Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis): 3 at Davis Mountains State Park, 5/9; and 2 or 3, with 1 entering a nest cavity at Boot Springs, 5/13.
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus): 2 near the Post on 5/10; common in the lowlands on 5/12 and at Blue Creek on 5/14.
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus): 2 seen well at Lawrence Wood Picnic Area, 5/8; about 5 at Fort Davis National Historical Site, 5/10; 1 at Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12; and 2 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus): 5 at Fort Davis National Historical Site, 5/10; 1 on slope above Daniel’s Ranch, 5/11; 5 at Burro Mesa Pouroff and Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12; 3 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13; and a couple at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii): common in the Davis and Chisos Mountains.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea): 1 for Phyllis at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; about 12 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13; and 1 at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura): two families of 4 each at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; 1 on 5/12; and 2 at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana): several in the Davis Mountains, 5/8 and 5/9.
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus): 1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13 (Narca only).
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos): throughout
Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre oberholseri): 5 in the Davis Mountains, 5/9 and 5/10; and 1 at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale): heard only, 1 at Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris): 10 at Fort Davis on 5/10.
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum): about 20 at the Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis, 5/10 and 5/14.
Colima Warbler (Vermivora crissalis): in all, we encountered 11 of this five-star Texas specialty, on Pinnacles Trail and at Boot Spring, 5/13, with excellent views for all.
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler (Dendroica coronata): 8 at Fort Davis National Historical Site, 5/10; 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and 3 along Ross Maxwell Drive, 5/12.
Grace’s Warbler (Dendroica graciae): a specialty here, 12 at TNC Davis Mountain Preserve, 5/9.
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas): 12 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and 1 at Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12.
Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla): 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; 1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13; and 1 at Blue Creek, 5/14. Migrants were scarce this year!
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens): 8 at Rio Grande Village, including splendid scope studies, 5/11; 6 at Sam Nail Ranch and Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12.
Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava hepatica): 8 at TNC Davis Mountain Preserve, 5/9; and 4 along the Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra): superb looks at these incandescent beauties, including 2 at Davis Mountains State Park, 5/9; 2 at the Post, 5/10; and more at Rio Grande Village, 5/11, and on 5/12 at Cottonwood Campground and Sam Nail Ranch.
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana): 1 male at TNC Davis Mountain Preserve, 5/9; 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; more on 5/12, 5/13 and 5/14.
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus): 6 along Pinnacles Trail on 5/13.
Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus): in small numbers throughout.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps): 2 at Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12; 8 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13; and 1 at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina): several in the Davis Mountains, 5/8, 5/9 and 5/10; also at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida): 1 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11 (Narca only).
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus): 3 of these handsome sparrows at TNC Davis Mountain Preserve, 5/9; 6 on 5/10; and several at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata): another dapper sparrow, 6 on dry hillsides along Boquillas Overlook Road and the drive to Panther Junction, 5/11; more roadside birds 5/12 and at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis): 2 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys): 2 of the oriantha race at Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis): numerous at Rio Grande Village, 5/11, and 5/12 at Sam Nail Ranch and Cottonwood Campground.
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus): 6 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; more at Sam Nail Ranch, 5/12; and at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus): mostly males, seen throughout.
Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea): 5 at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; 8 at various stops on 5/12; and 2 more at Blue Creek, 5/14—lovely!
Varied Bunting (Passerina versicolor): a favorite, with about 10 at Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12; and 2 at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris): 25 (!) at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; 2 at Santa Elena Canyon, 5/12. The stunning males gave us excellent scope views as they sang.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus): 2 at the Post, 5/10; and another at Daniel’s Ranch, 5/11.
Eastern (Lilian's) Meadowlark (Sturnella magna lilianae): several as we drove to and from the Davis Mountains, 5/8, 5/10 and 5/14.
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus): 8 adult females migrating through Chihuahuan Desert, 5/11.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula): a vagrant male at Dugout Wells, 5/11.
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus): conspicuous in towns and settlements throughout.
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus): 2 at Davis Mountains State Park, 5/9; 3, including a displaying male with expanded ruff, at the Post, 5/10.
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater): throughout.
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius): 4 at the Post, 5/10; 1 male at Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and several at Cottonwood Camp, 5/12.
Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus): 1 splendid adult male at Cottonwood Camp, 5/12.
Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum): 1 female at Davis Mountains State Park, 5/9; up to 4 males in the Chisos Basin and surrounding hillsides, 5/10-13.
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus): several pairs in the Davis Mountains, 5/9 and 5/10; in Rio Grande Village, 5/11; and in Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria): a few scattered birds, including in the Davis Mountains, 5/9 and 5/10; and at Cottonwood Campground, 5/12.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus): common in all towns and at settlements such as Castolon and Panther Junction Visitor Center.

Mammals
Coyote—1 patrolling Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog—an active town north of Marathon, 5/10.
Rock Squirrel—Fort Davis National Historical Site and the Post, 5/10; also on 5/12 and 5/14.
Mexican Ground Squirrel—1 near Alpine on 5/10.
Texas Antelope Squirrel—3 on 5/12 along Ross Maxwell Drive, Big Bend.
Kangaroo Rat, almost certainly Merriam’s—1 en route to Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Blacktail Jackrabbit—also in Big Bend’s low country, with many half-grown young.
Eastern Cottontail—1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Desert Cottontail—numerous in the lower elevations of Big Bend
Javelina (=Collared Peccary)—about 6 on the drive to Sam Nail Ranch, 5/12; another on 5/15.
Desert Mule Deer—desert area of Big Bend.
Sierra del Carmen race of Whitetail Deer—4 along the lower Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Pronghorn—up to 6 between Fort Davis and Alpine, 5/10 and 5/14; also on 5/12.

Reptiles
Big Bend Slider—the turtles at Rio Grande Village marsh, 5/11.
Collared Lizard—one sped across the road near Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12.
Round-tailed Horned Lizard—a nice find by Gwyneth at Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12.
Crevice Spiny Lizard—several on rocks near Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12.
Tree Lizard—1 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Texas Spotted Whiptail—1 found by Duvall at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
Rusty-rumped (=Plateau Spotted) Whiptail—several at Blue Creek, 5/14.
Checkered Whiptail—several handsome lizards on the Rio Grande Village walk to Boquillas overlook, 5/11.
Marbled Whiptail—several at the trailhead to Burro Mesa Pouroff, 5/12.
Coachwhip (=Red Racer)—1 large individual crossing the road south of Persimmon Gap, 5/10.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake—a youngster coaxed from Ross Maxwell Road by Phyllis, 5/12.

Butterflies (a partial list)
Black Swallowtail—Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Two-tailed Swallowtail—first at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9; later in the Chisos.
Dainty Sulphur—the tiny yellow butterflies, common along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
“Siva” Juniper Hairstreak—the tiny, glorious green butterfly at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
American Snout—1 along Spur Trail from Rio Grande Village, 5/11.
Mourning Cloak—1 at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.
California Sister—common in oaks on the hike to Boot Springs, Chisos Mountains, 5/13.
Empress Leila—1 on 5/12 at Sam Nail Ranch.
Golden-banded Skipper—1 along Pinnacles Trail, 5/13.
Funereal Duskywing—2 in a streambed at TNC Davis Mountains Preserve, 5/9.

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