Pine Canyon Trail, Big Bend National Park, 10/11/14

I finally got an opportunity to get out to Big Bend this past weekend.  My goal was to check out the butterflies on the Pine Canyon Trail on the east side of the Chisos Mountains.  Of course some mighty fine birds have been seen through the years in this canyon in the moist area below the pour off;  including Fan-tailed Warbler, Flame-colored Tanager and Northern Pygmy Owl.  Well I didn't find anything of that caliber but it was still a nice day.  Red-breasted Nuthatches are showing up in the state this winter so it wasn't a big surprise to find one in Pine canyon.

Migrants are still passing through.  Here's a Cassin's Vireo.

My only warblers were a Black-throated Gray Warbler and four Townsend's Warblers.

When visiting west Texas during the cool season, I always hope to find a Red-naped Sapsucker.  This one may spend the winter.

Canyon Wrens like the acoustics in the narrow canyon.  It's a great place for singing.

Another treat out west is getting to study western Empidonax flycatchers.  This little cutie is a Hammond's Flycatcher.  Notice the small dark bill and eye ring that is wider posteriorly.  The long primary projections are hard to make out in this photo.

I'm pretty sure this is a Dusky Flycatcher.  The bill is too long and narrow for a "Western" type Flycatcher and it doesn't match any eastern empids.

Texas Madrone is fruiting and that's just fine with wintering Hermit Thrushes.  Now let's hope an Aztec Thrush or an Elegant Trogon wanders up from Mexico to enjoy the berries

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Here's the days list.

Big Bend NP--Pine Canyon (FWTX 43), Brewster, US-TX
Oct 11, 2014 8:40 AM - 3:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Two miles on trail and one mile below trail on road.
28 species

Red-tailed Hawk  1
Broad-tailed Hummingbird  3
Acorn Woodpecker  2
Red-naped Sapsucker  2
Northern Flicker  3
Hammond's Flycatcher  2
Dusky Flycatcher  2
Plumbeous Vireo  1
Cassin's Vireo  3
Hutton's Vireo  1
Mexican Jay  6
Black-crested Titmouse  12
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Rock Wren  5
Canyon Wren  4
House Wren  1
Bewick's Wren  5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  10
Hermit Thrush  5
Black-throated Gray Warbler  1
Townsend's Warbler  4
Green-tailed Towhee  1
Spotted Towhee  1
Rufous-crowned Sparrow  1
Canyon Towhee  1
Cassin's Sparrow  1
Clay-colored Sparrow  1