February 11 - Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute

I woke up at 9:30, after 8 ½ hours of sleep, to a rainy 48° day.  It was pouring rain, so I worked on my Peregrination blog for much of the morning.  The rain had pretty well abated by noon, so I drove into the town of Alpine, 24 miles from Fort Davis, to take care of some errands and car maintenance issues.

View from the Chihuahuan Desert Institute entrance road

On the way back to Fort Davis, I stopped at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute visitors’ center and spent an hour at their bird watching blind.  Some of the birds are familiar to me from the Pacific Northwest.

Female House Finch

Oregon Junco male

And many of them are novel and exciting . . .

Black-crested Titmouse

The "Pink-sided" Dark-eyed Junco

Curve-billed Thrasher at the feeder

Cactus Wren with a piercing stare

Black-throated Sparrow

I also stopped at the Fort Davis National Historical Site, where the Natl. Park Service staff are bracing for another of Trump’s Government Shutdowns.  I only saw a few birds here this afternoon, but was really interested in the History and construction.  They have a nice museum, and are restoring many of the 1880s-era adobe structures.  The buildings that have been most restored are furnished with contemporary furniture, books and artifacts.

Stock Photo

Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute eBird Checklist is Here

Fort Davis National Historical Site eBird Checklist is Here

February 10 - West Texas

I slept in until nearly 8 a.m., got up and breakfasted on the last of the homemade apple pie that my daughter had gifted me.  Then I packed, checked out of the La Posada, and left Laredo.  I gassed up and drove northwest, taking the Mines Road.  This road petered out into a track that is mostly used by oil trucks and traffic working the fracking areas.

West Texas Freeway?

Miles and Miles of Texas . . .

I did stop to scan a couple of ponds and creek crossings.

Travel on this route was about 25 mph, due to rocks and ruts.  Going, slowly, I did see a Bobcat crossing the road.  No photo of the cat, sorry.  A few birds along the way

Black-throated Sparrows are pretty common

Mockingbirds are curious about birders . . .

Harris' Hawk

I got to Eagle Pass and ate ‘lunch’ at Rondee’s Country Fried Chicken, then continued toward Fort Davis.

As I was coming into the town of Marathon, I missed completely the 55 and 45 mph signs, and met a nice Deputy Sheriff.  While waiting for the officer to do his duty, I saw a herd of Javelina crossing the road in front of me.

I checked into the Fort Davis Inn & RV Park, where a single room costs $101 per night with tax.  It was a little dicey washing up, as there was hot water piped to both lines at the sink.  Otherwise, this is a bare-bones motel, but clean and comfortable.

Mines Road eBird Checklists are Here and Here