Rare new flower species at oasis

We were excited when a birder discovered Dark Star Milkvine (Chthamalia atrostellata) growing at the oasis. It's quite rare and localized. A lifer for us! 

My sister is convalescing from hip replacement surgery, but she managed to get herself into the location to see it. We collected a specimen for Dr. Powell, the expert on Big Bend plants.

Dr. Powell wrote this to my sister, "As far as I know, this would be the fourth documented locality in the world." (He's the author of this huge tome on plants.)

Photo of one of our blooms taken by Troy Hibbitts

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UPDATE: The name I first posted it by was Matelea atrostellata, but I have since learned the name has been changed to Chthamalia atrostellata. The four documented locations for it are two in the Christmas Mountains (including ours), one in Big Bend National Park (Cattail Falls), and one in Coahuila, Mexico. I have observed at least eight seedpods in our patch of them.

Couple of firsts for me today

I got up before daylight and headed to a private residence near Ft. Davis where a lifer Golden-crowned Sparrow awaited me. I saw it immediately upon arriving, but spent another hour trying to get a decent photo of it. It was well worth the effort!

Then it was home to eat lunch and take a nap before participating in my first real book signing, held at the local bookstore, Front Street Books. It was fun!   (The book has a chapter in it about me and my oasis.)

2026 BIG SIT!

We had our annual Big Sit yesterday, and it was miserably cold and windy. Worst Big Sit weather ever, plus we had it earlier than usual so more people would be able to participate, which meant fewer migrants. Not surprisingly, we tallied the fewest birds ever during such an occasion. I ran a long extension cord with an electric blanket to the viewing area which helped some participants survive better. Some warmed up in their cars occasionally. I retreated to my cabin periodically.

Best two species of the day were a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird* and a pair of  Northern Parulas.

A male Townsend's Warbler and an Indigo Bunting were enjoyed also.

The oasis is lush after a rain a week or so ago. Migration has begun! Gonna be exciting! 

UPDATE: Got these photos of the Big Sit, taken by participant Maryann Eastman.

The electric blanket is beside me on the last photo, taken on a rare moment when no one was using it.

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*Some experts think that hummingbird may be a hybrid Black-chinned X Ruby-throated.