Big Bend & Davis Mountains
April 26-May 4, 2008 - Bird/Species Trip List
Guide: Narca Moore-Craig, with 7 participants and local guide Carol Edwards, Davis Mtns.

Birds
Wood Duck Aix sponsa––a lone female on the river at Rio Grande Village
Gadwall Anas strepera––a few at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Lake Balmorhea and Rio Grande Village
American Wigeon A. americana––2 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
“Mexican Duck” (Mallard) A. platyrhynchos––seen well at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Lake Balmorhea and Rio Grande Village
Blue-winged Teal A. discors––about 6 at Lake Balmorhea; also on the river at Rio Grande Village
Cinnamon Teal A. cyanoptera––1 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds; also at Rio Grande Village
Northern Shoveler A. clypeata––8 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds; about 40 at Lake Balmorhea
Green-winged Teal A. crecca––3 at Lake Balmorhea
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis––30+ at Lake Balmorhea
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo––first seen wandering the streets of Balmorhea; a group of 12 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve; and more on the drive to Marfa
Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata––groups around Balmorhea and en route to and from Big Bend
Montezuma Quail Cyrtonyx montezumae––a splendid pair at Davis Mountains State Park
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps––small numbers at Lake Balmorhea and Rio Grande Village
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis––about 4 at Lake Balmorhea
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias––1 at Balmorhea State Park
Snowy Egret Egretta thula––2 at Lake Balmorhea
Green Heron Butorides virescens––1 at Balmorhea State Park
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi––groups of 15 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds and 27 at Lake Balmorhea
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura––throughout
Osprey Pandion haliaetus––a single bird flying over the old Daniels Ranch
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus––2 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds and 1 near Balmorhea
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus––1 at Rio Grande Village
Cooper’s Hawk A. cooperii––1 in the Davis Mountains
Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus––1 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve, plus a very cooperative hawk scoped at Rio Grande Village, where they nest
Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus––2 nesting at Rio Grande Village; also at Cottonwood Campground
Swainson’s Hawk B. swainsoni––2 near Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, and others en route to and from Big Bend
Zone-tailed Hawk B. albonotatus––a pair courting high in the Chisos Mountains; another soaring over Santa Elena Canyon; and a closer hawk found by Jane at the Chinati Foundation
Red-tailed Hawk B. jamaicensis––seen throughout
American Kestrel Falco sparverius––1 in the Davis Mountains and 1 at Rio Grande Village
American Coot Fulica americana––several at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds and 200+ at Lake Balmorhea
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus––1 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
Killdeer C. vociferus––6 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds and more at Lake Balmorhea
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus––8 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds; perhaps 20 at Lake Balmorhea
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana––1 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius––common at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Lake Balmorhea and the Post
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes––2 at Lake Balmorhea and 1 at the Post
Sanderling Calidris alba––a single bird at Lake Balmorhea (rare here)
Western Sandpiper C. mauri––the most commonly encountered peep, at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Lake Balmorhea and the Post
Least Sandpiper C. minutilla––a flock of 8 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds in El Paso
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor––numerous at Lake Balmorhea, where spinning vigorously in the water to stir up invertebrates
Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan––8 at Lake Balmorhea, with several in splendid breeding plumage
Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis––about 6 at Lake Balmorhea, sleeping
Rock Pigeon Columba livia–present in towns, including El Paso and Alpine
Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata––heard in the Chisos Mountains on the Pinnacles Trail
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto––several in Fort Davis
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica––common everywhere, except high in the Chisos Mountains
Mourning Dove Z. macroura––seen nearly every day
Inca Dove Columbina inca––one on the lawn near the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine
Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus––several at lower elevations, including a courting male enticing a female to breed, with a captured lizard as inducement, at the large prairie dog town near Marathon
Elf Owl Micrathene whitneyi––an utterly charming species, beautifully seen, as the tiny male brought a moth to the female at the entrance to her nesting cavity at Dugout Wells
Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis––several at Dugout Wells and along the road from Study Butte at dusk
White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis––a few in the Chisos Mountains and at Santa Elena Canyon
Lucifer Hummingbird Calothorax lucifer––a lovely subadult male visited Desert Willow flowers in Blue Creek Canyon
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri––the commonly seen hummer throughout
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus––a couple of males heard flying over the trails to Boot Springs
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus––many in the Davis Mountains and a few in the Chisos Mountains
Golden-fronted Woodpecker M. aurifrons––the common, conspicuous woodpecker at Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood Campground
Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris––several in Chihuahuan Desert habitats
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker Colaptes auratus––3 in the TNC Davis Mountains Preserve; also heard in the Chisos Mountains
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi––a migrant, out of its normal habitat, at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
Greater Pewee C. pertinax––vagrant in Texas, one of these large, crested flycatchers was along the Colima Trail in the Chisos Mountains
Western Wood-Pewee C. sordidulus––a common flycatcher, encountered at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Rio Grande Village, trails in the Chisos Mountains, Blue Creek, and Sam Nail Ranch
Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii––a single bird along Pinnacles Trail
Gray Flycatcher E. wrightii––quite common in the Davis Mountains, especially at the TNC preserve; also seen in Big Bend on the trail to Boot Springs, in Blue Creek, and at Chinati in Marfa
Dusky Flycatcher E. oberholseri––2 migrants along the trails to Boot Springs
Cordilleran Flycatcher E. occidentalis––a single bird at Boot Springs, where they breed annually
Buff-breasted Flycatcher E. fulvifrons––our patience was rewarded with great views of this rare and lovely flycatcher at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve
Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans––a pair at the Post, plus a single at Rio Grande Village’s wetland
Say’s Phoebe S. saya––several in the Davis Mountains at the TNC preserve and a nest above the bathroom light at Davis Mountains State Park; also in the Chisos Basin and Marfa
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus––a favorite, these exquisite flycatchers were common, including at Balmorhea State Park, the Post, Rio Grande Village, and Cottonwood Campground
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens––several at Davis Mountains State Park and in the lowlands and foothills of Big Bend
Brown-crested Flycatcher M. tyrannulus––the large, vocal flycatcher at our picnic site in Cottonwood Campground
Couch’s Kingbird Tyrannus couchii––very rare in the US, one individual was scoped from our picnic table at Cottonwood Campground, and eventually was driven from the tree by a pair of Western Kingbirds
Cassin’s Kingbird T. vociferans––the most common kingbird at Fort Davis National Historic Site; also seen elsewhere including the Post
Western Kingbird T. verticalis––common and widespread, seen almost daily
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher T. forficatus––two beauties seen well in Marathon; also glimpsed along I-10 as we drove to Balmorhea
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus––a few along the highways, but seen best by all on the back road to Terlingua
Bell’s Vireo Vireo bellii––although less abundant than usual during this very dry spring, we heard many at Rio Grande Village and a few in Blue Creek Canyon and Cottonwood Campground; the most persistent among us were eventually rewarded with good views
Gray Vireo V. vicinior––a single singing male in Blue Creek Canyon, seen in the scope by all who hiked to its territory
Plumbeous Vireo V. plumbeus––several in the Davis Mountains, perhaps seen best at the TNC preserve
Hutton’s Vireo V. huttoni––2 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve and 1 on the windy hike to Boot Springs
Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica––numerous in the Davis Mountains
Mexican Jay A. ultramarina––these bright blue birds belong to the race woodhousi, different from the race in Arizona; they were seen well in the Chisos Basin and Chisos Mountains
Chihuahuan Raven Corvus cryptoleucus––frequent along I-10 as we drove from and to El Paso
Northern Raven C. corax––regular in the Davis and Chisos Mountains
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina––mostly in the high country of Big Bend, though also seen in Blue Creek
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis––regularly encountered at lower elevations
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia––a single fly-by at Lake Balmorhea
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota––nesting along I-10; also at Lake Balmorhea, near Fort Davis, en route to Big Bend, and at Rio Grande Village
Cave Swallow P. fulva––a small colony at the Kent underpass on I-10, where swallows were repairing their nests on this cold and windy day
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica––throughout at lower elevations
Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli––2 in TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve
Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus atricristatus––in the Davis Mountains at the TNC preserve and the state park; also in the Chisos Mountains
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis––several in the Davis Mountains at the TNC preserve and the state park
Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus––seen well indeed at the feeder in Davis Mountains State Park; also frequently heard and seen in Big Bend, including at our lodge
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus––first encountered at Lawrence Wood Picnic Area in the Davis Mountains, then several at Fort Davis National Historic Site
Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus––heard at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Burro Mesa Pouroff, and Santa Elena Canyon; seen quite well on the Pinnacles Trail
Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii––common in the Davis and Chisos Mountains
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris––heard only, at Rio Grande Village’s small wetland
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula––1 in the Davis Mountains and several along the trails to Boot Spring
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea––abundant in the Chisos Mountains, especially along the trails to Boot Spring
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher P. melanura––1 cooperative male at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, then more in Blue Creek
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana––lovely birds, seen well at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus––a few in the high Chisos Mountains, along the trails to Boot Spring; a single in Marfa at the Chinati Foundation
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos––a conspicuous species, seen daily
Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre––first seen well at Balmorhea State Park; also in the Davis Mountains and at Rio Grande Village
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris––small groups in El Paso, Fort Davis, and Marfa
American Pipit Anthus rubescens––migrants seen at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, around Balmorhea, at the Post, at Rio Grande Village, and around the Chisos Mountains Lodge
Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens––3 of this elegant silky-flycatcher at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata––2 at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
Colima Warbler V. crissalis––heard only, along Pinnacle Trail; the strong wind and drought worked against us, as very few have been singing, and any present today were sheltering from the wind!
Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler Dendroica coronata––fairly common in the Davis Mountains, Rio Grande Village, and at Boot Spring
Townsend’s Warbler D. townsendi––about 6 at Boot Spring; also a single in Blue Creek
Grace’s Warbler D. graciae––at least 15 seen and heard in the TNC Davis Mountains Preserve
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis––a single migrant, rather rare here, teetering about the irrigated cottonwoods at Rio Grande Village
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas––heard only, at Rio Grande Village’s small wetland
Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla––the most frequently encountered migrant warbler, seen throughout
Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava––2 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve; also several on the Boot Spring trails
Summer Tanager P. rubra––several at Davis Mountains State Park, Balmorhea State Park, Rio Grande Village, and Cottonwood Campground
Western Tanager P. ludoviciana––this beautiful tanager was frequently encountered throughout
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus––2 at Davis Mountains State Park and 2 at Rio Grande Village
Spotted Towhee P. maculatus––2 at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve, plus several in the Chisos Mountains
Canyon Towhee P. fuscus––small groups seen almost daily
Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps––seen best along the trails to Boot Spring; also at Blue Creek
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina––very common throughout
Clay-colored Sparrow S. pallida––at least 4 in Rio Grande Village
Brewer’s Sparrow S. breweri––1 at Rio Grande Village and a few others at Cottonwood Campground and Marfa
Black-chinned Sparrow S. atrogularis––a single elegant male near the lodge’s cottages, as the hikers emerged from the trail to Boot Spring
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus––a few of this wintering species still present, mostly around Rio Grande Village
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus––a striking species, seen very well on most days
Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata––a desert specialist, this dapper sparrow was seen best along the road to Blue Creek and at Cottonwood Campground
Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys––small groups at Balmorhea State Park and on the drive to Big Bend
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis––singles at the Post and Rio Grande Village
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys––small groups still lingered at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Balmorhea, the Davis Mountains, and Cottonwood Campground
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis––a few at the Post and in riparian areas throughout Big Bend’s lower elevations
Pyrrhuloxia C. sinuatus––beautiful relative of the cardinal, seen well en route to Big Bend, at Rio Grande Village, and en route to Cottonwood Campground
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus––regularly encountered throughout
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea––seen best at the Post; also a few in Big Bend
Lazuli Bunting P. amoena––a gorgeous male scoped at the Post
Indigo Bunting P. cyanea––another beauty, enjoyed at the Post and in Rio Grande Village
Varied Bunting P. versicolor––a gem, seen by Marcia and Millie at Burro Mesa Pouroff; also heard
Dickcissel Spiza americana––1 male in beautiful plumage, beneath the irrigated cottonwoods at Rio Grande Village; rare this far west
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus––a few at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, Lake Balmorhea and Rio Grande Village
Eastern Meadowlark Sternella magna––individuals of the Lilian’s race were heard en route to Fort Davis and seen along the road from Big Bend to Alpine
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus––a single gorgeous male, scoped among the other blackbirds at Lake Balmorhea
Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus––a few around Balmorhea and at Rio Grande Village
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus––mostly in towns, at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds, and at Rio Grande Village
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater––raising cain at Balmorhea, in the Davis Mountains, and at Big Bend
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius––lovely males seen well at Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood Campground
Bullock’s Oriole I. bullockii––males at Balmorhea State Park, Rio Grande Village, and Cottonwood Campground
Scott’s Oriole I. parisorum––a beautiful songster, seen very well and heard at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Davis Mountains State Park, Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Mountains, and en route to Marfa
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus––around Balmorhea, in the Davis Mountains, and at Rio Grande Village
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus––numerous in the Davis Mountains, especially at feeders
Lesser Goldfinch C. psaltria––several at the host feeder in Davis Mountains State Park
American Goldfinch C. tristis––1 male scoped at Rio Grande Village
House Sparrow Passer domesticus––common at feeders in the Davis Mountains and in towns

Mammals
Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus auduboni––common in lower elevations
Eastern Cottontail S. floridanus––one along the trail from Boot Springs
Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus––regular in lower elevations of the desert
Mexican Ground Squirrel Spermophilus mexicanus––en route to Fort Davis
Rock Squirrel S. variegatus––Chisos Mountains and Blue Creek
Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus––a large dog town near Marathon
Collared Peccary (Javelina) Tayassu tajacu––around our rooms in the Chisos Basin; also along roads and crossing a creek in Big Bend
Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus––in the desert of Big Bend
White-tailed Deer O. virginianus––common in the Davis Mountains and at higher elevations in Big Bend; this race is the Carmen Mountains White-tail
Pronghorn Antilocapra americana––between Fort Davis and Alpine (including a mother nursing her fawn); also near Marathon and on the drive to Marfa

Reptiles
Southwestern Earless Lizard Cophosaurus texanus––several seen in Blue Creek
Tree Lizard Urosaurus ornatus––one at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve
Rusty-rumped Whiptail Cnemidophorus septemvittatus––one on our day of exploring Blue Creek
Marbled Whiptail C. marmoratus––several, at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds and in the vicinity of Rio Grande Village
Western Diamondback Crotalus atrox––one small, unfortunate individual, injured along the road to Lake Balmorhea

Butterflies––although Big Bend had a very dry spring, we did encounter a few butterflies
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata––one at TNC’s Davis Mountains Preserve; impressive!
Checkered White Pontia protodice––several at Fred Hervey reclamation ponds
Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola––one or two attracted to irrigation water at Rio Grande Village
Arizona Sister Adelpha eulalia––one at Rio Grande Village and several more in the Chisos Mountains; this beautiful western specialty (whose host plant is oak) is a recent split from California Sister
Tropical Leafwing Anaea troglodyta––a tattered but still glowing individual spotted by Carla in the Chisos Mountains
Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia––one in Rio Grande Village at the site of our first Painted Bunting, a hackberry specialist
Queen Danaus gilippus––this milkweed butterfly was at Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood Campground

Celestial phenomena
Mercury––observed by Mary from our lodge in the Chisos Mountains, in addition to our nightly incredible skies!

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