Roger:



I found that during my two Big Bend visits (one late April, one in June) Colima Warblers were easy, and like a few other Tweeters reporters, I found the first well before the Boot Spring cabin. I had 10-12 both trips as memory serves. They are very responsive to pishing; listen for the little call note.



But you want to make it to the Boot Spring cabin if you can anyway, because the stream valley-lush gallery forest that begins just above the cabin is excellent for birding. Painted Redstarts aren't easy in TX, but this is the spot; and I missed it by one hour, but several birders spotted a Slate-throated Redstart here, I guess just #2 or #3 for TX at the time. The stream valley just above the cabin is also good for hummingbirds, on my second trip I had a Magnificent there (also not common in TX). A Dusky-capped Flycatcher (rare TX) was right at the cabin several times in recent years, I had a Myiarchus, sp. here. Just above the stream valley you'll have views of the Boot, an impressive piece of local geography, and watch for Zone-tailed Hawk here, too.



Cactus Wrens and Say's Phoebes were pretty much tame at the Chisos lodge, and on the open slopes just above the lodge, Black-chinned Sparrows (local in the area) can be found. Below the lodge, there is a stake-out Gray Vireo on territory in spring. On the way up to the lodge on the entrance road (just after you peel off the main road), Varied Buntings and Phainopepla can be found. Laguna Meadow and environs should have a Colima Warbler or two, it is also a stake-out for Lucifer H. although I missed it there. Crissal Thrasher was on territory here.



The Big Bend area has amazing birding and other natural history, plus great scenery. I was impressed by the abundance of tarantula on my second trip (crossing the roads in mind-numbing numbers) and huge jackrabbits. There was also an encounter with a bizarre creature called a wind scorpion; it seemed well-named, having shown up under the campground's bathroom lights in late evening darkness. It whizzed through at amazing speed, aided apparently by strong winds.



Good luck



Scott Atkinson

Lake Stevens

mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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