TOP 10 SPECIES
Top 10 lists are voted upon by the participants at the completion of
each tour.
BIG BEND, DAVIS MOUNTAINS
and the TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
May 1999
Big Bend is the home of the Colima Warbler, its only nesting locale north of the Rio Grande. They were a bit tough to find this year due to the on-going drought, but we managed excellent looks at a singing male. The Elf Owls responded to my mouse squeak and came in for incredible scope views. For two or three days Lucifer Hummingbird eluded us, then we hit the jackpot: half a dozen males and females coming to a single feeder. A few of the showier raptors included two late Mississippi Kites, several Common Black-Hawks, a pair of Gray Hawks, and nice looks at Zone-tailed Hawk. The Montezuma Quail performed beautifully at Davis Mountains State Park, as did the Common Poorwill that landed at our feet, quite vociferously. Lake Balmorhea was once again full of birds, including multiple Snowy Plovers, an American White Pelican, and an elegant Long-billed Curlew. Our extension to the Edwards Plateau added many new birds including Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo, numerous Green Kingfishers, singing Dickcissels, several Black-bellied Whistling- Ducks, a Crested Caracara, and a flock of 200 Cave Swallows circling endlessly around our heads. As the Cave Swallows went to roost for the night they were replaced by 30,000,000 Mexican Free- tailed Bats emerging from their nursery cave at dusk. This is a spectacle that everyone who is interested in the outdoors should witness: it is incredible. Big Bend is scheduled for May 6-14, 2000, with an extension to the Texas Hill Country May 14-17.