More good fortune

A Hooded Warbler visited and luckily I got a few photos before it disappeared. To clarify, the Hooded Warbler that I thought I saw the other day (see post of May 2 and 3) was actually the Yellow-throated Vireo. This bird I saw today for the first time, actually is a Hooded Warbler. The warbler and vireo look nothing alike, and I initially thought the vireo was a vireo, but didn't get a good enough look to really imprint the diagnostic features in my mind, so I convinced myself it was the warbler.

My new cholla patch is coming along fine and even sprouted a few blooms already.

A bit of luck

A group of Houston birders visited today, led by Adam Woods. I made it known to one and all that I was anxious ("desperate" was the actual word I used) to photograph the Yellow-throated Vireo if they should happen upon it. Adam located it once or twice but it was gone by the time I got to where he was with my camera. He also discovered a new yard bird for me, a Scarlet Tanager. I did get to see it, barely, but no one got photos. It seems to have left almost as soon as it arrived.

Anyway, after the group left, I hurried to start hauling water. After my first trip I went to the house (a block away) for some lunch. Rushing from the courtyard I flushed a bird. My binoculars and camera were in my vehicle. With just my naked eyes, I figured it might be a female Townsend's Warbler, or something, but just in case, I went for my camera and binoculars. Lo and behold, it was the vireo and I got over a dozen photos of it. What luck! Here it is from two different angles.

Here's a glimpse at how pitiful the vegetation is along the arroyo where I can't water.

NEVER a dull moment

I went to Ft Stockton yesterday and bought 2 heavier duty springs, which we put on. So today I was back to hauling water, however, I'm not filling the tank; I'm putting in 75 gallons less in the hope it'll help save the springs.

Back at the oasis, as I was watering, keeping my camera near me, the Yellow-throated Vireo popped into view between me and the camera. (It's impossible to drag hoses, attach sprinklers, etc with the big heavy camera in hand. I can't hang it from a strap because the strap snags on things and yanks the camera off me. I learned that the expensive way.) I managed to follow its movements as I retrieved the camera, but couldn't get a clear shot before it disappeared. Maybe tomorrow, if it's still around. Here is all I got of it. I would say, better than nothing, but I'm not so sure.

I had a note from some birders that visited after I went to Alpine Thursday saying they had seen a rattlesnake catch a White-winged Dove. The location they described is the same place the Diamond-backed has been being seen in that shallow depression by the east feeder (called the bucket feeder). So I thought it would be fun to observe it to see what it caught tonight. I invited my sister to join me. We sat watching it for 2 hours, but it never caught anything, even though some sparrows practically stepped on it. Guess it was holding out for doves or quail.

See how well camouflaged it is.

And here's a closeup.

A very eventful day

I don't even know where to begin. Yesterday I posted that I had a Hooded Warbler but couldn't relocate it to get a photo. I also told the ebird reviewer who contacted me that I initially was sure it was a [yellow-colored] vireo, but upon using bird guides decided it was a Hooded Warbler. I never felt right about that ID but couldn't find a vireo with the yellow around the eyes and the black cap I saw in my two-second look. That was yesterday.

Today an ace birder, Jon McIntyre, visited and saw and called out a Yellow-throated Vireo. I was walking  beside him and got my binoculars right on it and saw it was the same bird I'd mis-ID'd yesterday. I didn't have a camera on me. Jon did, but either it didn't occur to him to photograph it since they're a common bird in East Texas where he comes from, or it disappeared too quickly. It didn't have black on top of the head so I now have to think the black cap I was sure I saw was actually a stick or shadow. It's a new species for the oasis.

So I decided to spend the rest of the day trying for a photo of it. I even turned on my bird spa recycling pump, for the first time this year, hoping to attract it. Never saw it again, but at least I know what it is, and even have a witness. Not as good as a photo, but good enough for documentation.



The recycling water enticed a Canyon Towhee to bathe over and over. I'm going to have to run that pump more often.

And a Rufous-crowned Sparrow went crazy repeatedly gathering its beak full of insects from the water. It must be feeding a big brood because it kept returning for more.

A female Lazuli Bunting showed up but saw me and left without bathing or drinking. Probably went to the other water feature to bathe in privacy.

I felt guilty sitting there having so much fun when I should be hauling water.  So I got nearly to the lodge and something didn't sound right. I checked under my new trailer and a spring was broken. I turned around without getting water and brought it to Alpine. Maybe I'll have to take it to Ft Stockton tomorrow to get it fixed. So very difficult to keep the oasis alive. I crawl along that road to the lodge but it's so rough, and water so heavy, that it just wears out springs. All together I made 31 trips with the new trailer, which is 424 miles. Half of those miles were with a full load of water. 

I wanted to be at the oasis tonight to photograph that rattlesnake, but my ability to haul water took priority.

A resident rattler!

I hadn't seen a rattlesnake in over a year so I figured with the drought they weren't around. Cautious I was not! Around 8:30 a friend, Carlton Collier, dropped by to photograph Elf Owls and as he got out of the car he told me he supposed I already knew I had a rattler hanging out below the east feeder. Yikes! I hang out there too, and fill the feeder and other stuff. He went over to the feeder and showed me, and there it was, nearly invisible. Here's Carlton's photo of it. It's a Diamond-backed Rattlesnake.  Carlton had been here the previous two evenings and had seen it both times, but I had been in Alpine. Apparently, it's been gorging on birds at the feeder. I hope I will be much more careful henceforth.....

We sat and photographed a pair of Elf Owls. Here are my results. I realized I didn't have photos of one inside an agave stalk so that was my goal.

The male atop the agave was an unexpected bonus.

I saw a Hooded Warbler today but by the time I got my camera I couldn't relocate it. I'll try again tomorrow. Here is an empidonax flycatcher. I'm thinking maybe a Hammond's???

Mid-migration

Still very few warblers. Don't know if they're running late or just bypassed the area due to the drought. Had a group of sixteen VENT (Victor Emanuel Nature Tours) birders this morning, including  Barry and Kevin Zimmer, the group's leaders. They all got to witness the male Lucifer doing its courtship display.

Looking at this last photo I'm thinking I either need to beautify the seating area or stop taking pictures of it. But, at least it's shade with a great view of the feeding arena.

A few birds from today

I was fascinated by a Savannah Sparrow today. I've seen tons of them before, but none with as much yellow on the face as this one. It's fun to finally see one that looks like the guide. Usually, the Savannah's I see don't have a detectable trace of yellow on them, and I wondered why the guides show them that way. Now I know.

Also saw this Mourning Dove that had me check my guide. I guess it's a juvenile.

A few days ago I hung another thistle feeder. It's taking the birds a while to get used to it. This American Goldfinch hesitated a long time before it made the leap.

New feeder is on the left.

Migration in full swing

I haven't had any big fallouts but numbers are up today. Here's a very uncooperative Nashville Warbler. But that's OK. He's hungry and needs to replenish his stores for the rest of his journey. That has priority over photos.

Here is a Western Kingbird that stopped by for a visit.

In all, I saw over 43 species today, but in a normal year, with mulberries and water in the tanks, that number should be around 60 during this time of year.

Did you ever wonder what a displaying Lucifer Hummingbird looks like from the rear? I didn't think so, but I'll show you anyway.

Since I water the mulberry tree a lot, wise flowers choose to bloom beneath it. Here are a few Mistflower (eupatorium greggii) blooms.

And some Harvard Penstemmons nearby.

Later, this afternoon, more birds arrived bringing the day's total up to 49 per my ebird report. Here is a Western Wood-Pewee having a bad hair day in the wind.

The cholla looked even lovelier today.

A bloom here and there

More happy birders

First, I want to thank all the birders who visit and leave generous donations. Without your support, both financially and in morale, I don't think I could have carried on this long. It's people like you that keep me truckin,'... water, that is.

Another great group arrived late this afternoon in the heat of the day (98°), but had a fun time anyway.

They were led by Woody Wheeler (back row, center), who is headquartered in Portal, AZ. The participants are from all over the country. This is the second year Woody has brought a group and I hope there will be many more.