Believe it or not, Big Bend has one of the largest concentrations of bird species in all of the National Parks. We endured temperatures over 105 in scorching sun, and bodies dripping in sweat to make our way through deep snake-paradise grasses, muddy river banks, and bug-infested tree canopies to catch glimpses of birds we'd never seen before. And when I say bugs, I don't mean little ants or the occasional bee. I mean the professionals. Like these
tarantula hawk wasps, for example.
Armed with
Sybley, water bottles, binoculars, and wildlife lens in hand, (I forgot the bug spray!), we trudged and chased and stalked. But it was worth it. We saw close to 50 bird species when it was all said and done.
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| Turkey Vultures are everywhere! |
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| Greater Roadrunner. State bird of New Mexico. Also everywhere! |
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| Summer Tanager (F) |
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| Yellow Billed Cuckoo |
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| Vermillion Flycatcher (M) |
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| Common Black Hawk |
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| Northern Mockingbird. State Bird of Texas. |
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| Painted Bunting (F) |
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| Varied Bunting (M) |
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| Cactus Wren |
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| Black-Headed Grosbeak |
