David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 20, 2009

Bulletin #79 – West Texas – Big Bend Nat’l Park #2

Hello friends,

I had my first trip to west Texas. I went with Ed Arenson from Denver and we used Darrell Vollert as our guide. His web site is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/

We spent the 2 days in Big Bend National Park.

There were several species of warblers in the park. The most important is the Colima Warbler (Vermivora crissalis). This was a lifer for me. It can only be found in the Chisos Mountains in the park and requires a vigorous hike into the mountains to find them (8 hours and elevation from 5400 to 7200 feet). I hauled the camera and tripod all the way around and was rewarded with a few good photos from the 10 different birds we found. Here is the first one we found. This warbler is gray with brownish back and flanks and yellow undertail.

Finally with the last one, he stayed close for a decent photo. I didn’t want to have to do that hike over again.

We also saw several Lucy’s Warblers (Vermivora luciae) and had one feeding a fledgling, but I was unable to get any photos as they stayed hidden in the mesquite trees. This was another lifer however.





I was surprised that we found a female Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi). They usually winter on the west coast of Mexico. She stayed about 15 feet away and worked in the pine branches.










Just outside the park, we also found a Virginia’s Warbler (Vermivora virginiae). This female is somewhat similar to the Colima, but is all gray and doesn’t have the brownish wash on the back and flanks. They have yellow above the tail and below the tail. The male would have a yellow area on the breast. The female here doesn’t. This was another life bird for me. Here is a second photo showing the yellow under tail.











I also got photos of 2 new vireo species. The first was the Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii). This bird was seen at both campgrounds along the Rio Grande in the park. He is IDed by the wing bars, yellowish flanks and dark line through the eye.

The other was Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni). This bird is drab gray, with 2 wing bars and pale lores. Perhaps it is best IDed by its voice.













The most beautiful bird found in the park was the Varied Bunting (Passerina versicolor). The male is multicolored with a blue head, red nape of neck and purple breast. This was another lifer for me and the last of the 5 bunting species for me to photograph.










In the Christmas Mountains just outside Big Bend Park, I picked up 2 hummingbirds. The first was a male Lucifer Hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer). This was another life bird and it can only be found along the Mexican border, with this area the most reliable place to find it. The male has a purple throat and curved bill.








The other was the male Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). It also has a purple throat, but there is a black chin between the straight bill and the purple.














Here is a nest of the Black-chinned Hummingbird with 2 babies. I waited for ½ hour to try to get a photo of an adult feeding the babies, but they wouldn’t come to the nest when I was near it.







Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

email: davidkmcd@comcast.net

photos copyright 2009 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #78 – West Texas – Davis Mountains #2

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 8, 2009

Bulletin #78 – West Texas – Davis Mountains #2

Hello friends,

I had my first trip to west Texas. I went with Ed Arenson from Denver and we used Darrell Vollert as our guide. His web site is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/

We spent the first day and a half in the Davis Mountains near Alpine Texas. There were 2 areas we visited – Davis Mountains State Park and TNC Davis Mountain Preserve.

There were several species of warblers in the area. The most important is Grace’s Warbler (Dendroica graciae). This was a lifer for me. It is very similar to the Yellow-throated Warbler of the east, but has a yellow stripe over the eye rather than white. The Grace’s does not have the vertical white stripe behind the cheek that is seen on the Yellow-throated. Here is a second photo of the bird.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) exists in two forms that used to be considered separate species. The eastern (Myrtle) form has a white throat. The western (Audubon’s) has a yellow throat. Both these birds were at the feeding station in Davis Mountains State Park and allowed nice comparisons of the plumage distinction. Here are the 2 birds with Myrtle the first photo and Audubon’s the second.

A new bird photo for me was the Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). This is a bird of the western mountains. It is a split from the old Solitary Vireo and thus has the grayish head and white ‘spectacles’. They are generally mostly gray and may have a slight yellow wash on the flanks as does this bird. It was IDed by voice by our guide. The hooked upper mandible typical of vireos is plainly seen.

Here is a Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelecoma californica). This species may be split once again, according to Sibley, as the Pacific coast birds are quite different from the interior birds – voice and some plumage.

Here is the female Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava). She is mostly yellow with grayish cheeks.

Next is a female Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). This nifty looking bird is all gray with 2 wing bars, a bushy crest and a bright red eye. The male is all glossy black without any wing bars.









Here is a female Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena). She is grayish with pale rusty breast, 2 white wing bars and a faint blue wash on the wings and tail. Here is a second photo.









Lastly is an up close and personal look at a male Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus). He was so close that I couldn’t get him all in the photo. He is all black with a bright red eye.







Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

email: davidkmcd@comcast.net


photos copyright 2009 David McDonald


To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #77 – West Texas – Davis Mountains #1

David McDonald Photography
Friendswood Texas
May 6, 2009

Hello friends,

I had my first trip to west Texas. I went with Ed Arenson from Denver and we used Darrell Vollert as our guide. His web site is http://www.darrellvollertnaturetours.com/

We spent the first day and a half in the Davis Mountains near Alpine Texas. There were 2 areas we visited – Davis Mountains State Park and TNC Davis Mountain Preserve.

The state park is the premier location in the USA to see Montezuma Quail as they feed them. Unfortunately, despite about 8 hours there, we didn’t see it. However, with the food and water, many other species were close at hand.

The Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) was there in all plumages. The male (left) has an all black head and rufous breast. The female has a streaked breast and striped face. The first year male with rufous breast but striped face.

The next bird was a lifer for me, the Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum). This is a yellow and black oriole. Again, there were several plumages seen with male (solid black head – 2nd photo), female (a little black on throat) and first year male with a partial black head.

This Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) was seen on the ground at the drip. It is unusual to find flycatchers on the ground. The yellow belly is quite pale on this bird compared to other USA myiarchus species.

The next bird is another flycatcher – Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans). It has a dark gray breast and yellow belly. Of the similar species Tropical, Cassin’s, Western and Couch’s Kingbirds, the Cassin’s has the darkest gray on throat and breast.

The Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) is a western USA sparrow found on rocky hillsides. As the name implies, it has a bright rufous top of head. It is IDed by the white eye-ring and black whiskers at the border of the white throat. The breast is not streaked.

The last bird was another lifer for me, the Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus). This is a bird of the southwestern USA-Mexico border region. It is black with 2 white tail stripes, one wider than the other. A pair of these birds flew over and I was able to get this photo.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
email: davidkmcd@comcast.net

photos copyright 2009 David McDonald
To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.