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<blockquote data-quote="Jos Stratford" data-source="post: 3354427" data-attributes="member: 12449"><p><strong><u>22 December. Amistad Reservoir & Big Bend National Park.</u></strong></p><p></p><p>The big drive continues, 420 km still to go. Started the morning however with an amble around the arid shores of the large Amistad Reservoir. Having long left the lower portions of the Rio Grande behind, it was a far more desert mix of species here, smart <strong>Black-throated Sparrows</strong> becoming common, super stunning <strong>Cactus Wrens</strong> poking about in the succulents, the first <strong>Chihuahuan Ravens</strong> flying over. Adjacent to a small campsite, one particular patch of thick scrub proved most productive – amongst small flocks of <strong>Savannah and Black-throated Sparrows</strong>, a little group of <strong>Black-tailed Gnatcatchers</strong> were buzzing about, a couple of <strong>Ladder-backed Woodpeckers </strong>also and two <strong>Pyrrhuloxias</strong>. Also several<strong> Cactus Wrens </strong>popping up and down, bunches of <strong>Western Meadowlarks</strong>, a few<strong> Eastern Phoebes</strong> and one<strong> Loggerhead Shrike</strong>. With relatively limited time, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the actual lake – other than to note that several bays off Highway 277 were crammed with <strong>American Coots</strong> and assorted ducks and, rather more impressive, a bay near the main dam on Highway 90 held a<strong> Pacific Loon</strong>, a vagrant species in Texas. <strong>Belted Kingfisher, Eared Grebe </strong>and <strong>Pied-billed Grebe</strong> at the same spot.</p><p></p><p>With that, it was back to the road, desert landscapes rolling by as the kilometres and hours passed, relatively few birds in the arid lands, no significant stops. Encountered a herd of <strong>Pronghorns</strong> as I approached the junction settlement of Marathon, then made an abrupt turn to the south. An hour later, I was in Big Bend National Park.</p><p></p><p>Land of the big skies, of canyons and arid mountains, of <strong>Mountain Lions </strong>and <strong>Black Bears</strong>, this was a destination I have wanted to visit for many a year. Was late in the day by the time I arrived, the sun casting wonderful shades over the meandering road that dropped towards the Rio Grande, a couple of <strong>Greater Roadrunners</strong> awaiting in the riverside campsite to greet our arrival. Chucked up the tent, had a quick look round the majestic cottonwoods that provided shade, both <strong>Black and Say's Phoebes</strong> noted, plus a bevy of woodpeckers including at least five <strong>Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers</strong> and and four<strong> Golden-fronted Woodpeckers</strong>. As the sun set, it was time for my first night-time explorations, re-tracking my route up towards the centre of the national park. High hopes of seeing critters all over the place were quickly dampened by the realisation that the high chaparral in many areas actually made it rather difficult to see anything more than a few metres from the road! Still, plenty of<strong> Desert Cottontails</strong>, one <strong>Black-tailed Jack Rabbit</strong>, an engaging pair of <strong>Coyotes</strong> and, flying straight over the heads of the <strong>Coyotes</strong>, one<strong> Great Horned Owl</strong>. Back at the campsite, a <strong>Grey Fox</strong> sniffed around, clearly keen on a bit of scavenging, but keeping mostly to thickets.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jos Stratford, post: 3354427, member: 12449"] [B][U]22 December. Amistad Reservoir & Big Bend National Park.[/U][/B] The big drive continues, 420 km still to go. Started the morning however with an amble around the arid shores of the large Amistad Reservoir. Having long left the lower portions of the Rio Grande behind, it was a far more desert mix of species here, smart [B]Black-throated Sparrows[/B] becoming common, super stunning [B]Cactus Wrens[/B] poking about in the succulents, the first [B]Chihuahuan Ravens[/B] flying over. Adjacent to a small campsite, one particular patch of thick scrub proved most productive – amongst small flocks of [B]Savannah and Black-throated Sparrows[/B], a little group of [B]Black-tailed Gnatcatchers[/B] were buzzing about, a couple of [B]Ladder-backed Woodpeckers [/B]also and two [B]Pyrrhuloxias[/B]. Also several[B] Cactus Wrens [/B]popping up and down, bunches of [B]Western Meadowlarks[/B], a few[B] Eastern Phoebes[/B] and one[B] Loggerhead Shrike[/B]. With relatively limited time, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the actual lake – other than to note that several bays off Highway 277 were crammed with [B]American Coots[/B] and assorted ducks and, rather more impressive, a bay near the main dam on Highway 90 held a[B] Pacific Loon[/B], a vagrant species in Texas. [B]Belted Kingfisher, Eared Grebe [/B]and [B]Pied-billed Grebe[/B] at the same spot. With that, it was back to the road, desert landscapes rolling by as the kilometres and hours passed, relatively few birds in the arid lands, no significant stops. Encountered a herd of [B]Pronghorns[/B] as I approached the junction settlement of Marathon, then made an abrupt turn to the south. An hour later, I was in Big Bend National Park. Land of the big skies, of canyons and arid mountains, of [B]Mountain Lions [/B]and [B]Black Bears[/B], this was a destination I have wanted to visit for many a year. Was late in the day by the time I arrived, the sun casting wonderful shades over the meandering road that dropped towards the Rio Grande, a couple of [B]Greater Roadrunners[/B] awaiting in the riverside campsite to greet our arrival. Chucked up the tent, had a quick look round the majestic cottonwoods that provided shade, both [B]Black and Say's Phoebes[/B] noted, plus a bevy of woodpeckers including at least five [B]Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers[/B] and and four[B] Golden-fronted Woodpeckers[/B]. As the sun set, it was time for my first night-time explorations, re-tracking my route up towards the centre of the national park. High hopes of seeing critters all over the place were quickly dampened by the realisation that the high chaparral in many areas actually made it rather difficult to see anything more than a few metres from the road! Still, plenty of[B] Desert Cottontails[/B], one [B]Black-tailed Jack Rabbit[/B], an engaging pair of [B]Coyotes[/B] and, flying straight over the heads of the [B]Coyotes[/B], one[B] Great Horned Owl[/B]. Back at the campsite, a [B]Grey Fox[/B] sniffed around, clearly keen on a bit of scavenging, but keeping mostly to thickets. [/QUOTE]
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