
My stay in Las Cruces was extended several days because of issues I had to sort out with my RV generator. All is well now as I send this post off from Alpine Texas. I’m poised to explore Big Bend tomorrow (Saturday), but I don’t plan to exploit the whole park on this tour. I’ve been told that I should try to visit in a month or so. I will try to time my trip out of Texas, following my expedition into the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the gulf coast, so I can visit this place again.
Wednesday midday I drove out to Dripping Springs while the generator drama was developing. There was a late winter rain Tuesday night in town that left a blanket of snow on the Organ Mountains, and I wanted to photograph the scenery.
On my drive I stopped short of the springs to capture a variety of perspectives. While I was shooting the snow-capped peaks I heard birds calling. There were mockingbirds, Black-Throated Sparrows, Cactus Wrens, Curve-Billed Thrashers, White-Winged Doves, Scrub-Jays, House Finches, Spotted Towhees and Verdin. The most curious bird I heard, sounded very much like a Western Screech Owl. I could not get eyes on the owl, but it seemed to be in a small ravine several hundred yards from the road. This was in the desert well below the mountains. When I hiked out to investigate, the bird went silent as I reached about a hundred yards from its suspected location. I scanned the area with my binoculars, but did not get eyes on the bird. There were no large trees, only a cutbank with burrows and 8-10 foot leafless mesquite and other desert brush in the wash. It resumed its calls after I retreated.
I plied my photo gathering efforts at a few stops, but wasn’t overly successful. I considered a second effort on Thursday, but the generator repair prevented me from having sufficient time. I’m certain this area has many avian treasures I did not uncover this day. Perhaps another time I can do a better job.

Black-Throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) |
Description: I found this bird on the desert floor below Dripping Springs on a day trip after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 13:07 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: BlackThroatedSparrow_D5X2889-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) |
Description: I found this bird on the desert floor below Dripping Springs on a day trip after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 13:08 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackThroatedSparrow_D5X2916-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) |
Description: I found this bird on the desert floor below Dripping Springs on a day trip after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 13:10 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: BlackThroatedSparrow_D5X2968-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Common Raven(Corvus corax) |
Description: I was looking for birds at the La Cueva Picnic Area when this bird flew over. A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 14:42 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: CommonRaven_D5X2986-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Curve-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre) |
Description: Most of the birds I met at the La Cueva Picnic Area were very shy and resisted posing for the camera. A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 15:12 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: CurveBilledThrasher_D5X2995-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 12:17 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 40 mm, f/18.0, 1/640 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1062-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 12:38 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 70 mm, f/18.0, 1/640 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1078-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 13:47 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 32 mm, f/18.0, 1/640 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1081-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: A day trip to Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 13:56 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 70 mm, f/18.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1088-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: Moon rising at Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 14:12 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 70 mm, f/11.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1099-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: Moon rising at Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 14:28 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 70 mm, f/11.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1101-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Organ Mountains From The West(Scenery) |
Description: Moon rising at Drippings Springs after a late winter storm. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 14:29 |
Location:
Dripping Springs |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 27 mm, f/11.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: OrganMountains-Scenery_Z7X1104-DrippingSprings |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Winged Dove(Zenaida asiatica) |
Description: After my day trip to Dripping Springs following a late winter storm, I met this bird in town gathering nesting material. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 16:17 |
Location:
Mesilla Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WhiteWingDove_D5X3074-LasCruces |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Winged Dove(Zenaida asiatica) |
Description: After my day trip to Dripping Springs following a late winter storm, I met this bird in town gathering nesting material. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 16:17 |
Location:
Mesilla Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WhiteWingDove_D5X3086-LasCruces |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Winged Dove(Zenaida asiatica) |
Description: After my day trip to Dripping Springs following a late winter storm, I met this bird in town gathering nesting material. Near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:04 16:17 |
Location:
Mesilla Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteWingDove_D5X3119-LasCruces |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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