2021-01-06, Winding Up My Stay in Big Bend

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26 Photos

Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher - Polioptila melanura — **Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher**
*(Polioptila melanura)*

**Description:**
These desert loving birds found their way to this oasis. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 9:45

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2868.68 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000

**File Name:** BlackTailedGnatcatcher_D5X8392-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher**
*(Polioptila melanura)*

**Description:**
These desert loving birds found their way to this oasis. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 9:45

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2868.68 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000

**File Name:** BlackTailedGnatcatcher_D5X8392-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Cactus Wren - Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus — **Cactus Wren**
*(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)*

**Description:**
I ended my drive out of Big Bend a little east of Dryden Texas and found birds roaming the roadside picnic rest area where I spent the night.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 17:28

**Location:**

Roadside Stop
Dryden, Texas
United States
2050.62 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** CactusWren_D5X8956-RoadSideStop-Dryden-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Sunrise on the Chisos Mountains - Scenery — **Sunrise on the Chisos Mountains**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
My pre-dawn launch exit from Rio Grande Village in Big Bend provided an opportunity to witness the first light on the almost 8,000' Chisos Mountains.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 7:55

**Location:**

Rio Grande Village Drive
Rio Grande Village, Texas
United States
1958.68 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 70 mm, f/8.0, 1/100

**File Name:** ChisosSunrise_Z7X3303-RioGrandeVillage-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Curve-Billed Thrasher - Toxostoma curvirostre — **Curve-Billed Thrasher**
*(Toxostoma curvirostre)*

**Description:**
This thrasher had no tail. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 9:08

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2863.52 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000

**File Name:** CurveBilledThrasher_D5X8661-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) — **Honey Bees**
*(Apis mellifera)*

**Description:**
Spring at the Gage Gardens in Marathon Texas can be a worthwhile birding affair, but winter here seems slow, except for the bees dominating the well-stocked feeders seeking the sweetness in the cracked corn.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 14:33

**Location:**

Gage Gardens
Marathon, Texas
United States
3972.20 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/22.0, 1/800

**File Name:** FeederBees_D5X8935-GageGardens-Marathon-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Graham Club Cholla - Opuntia grahamii — **Graham Club Cholla**
*(Opuntia grahamii)*

**Description:**
Having stopped to photograph the first light on the Chisos Mountains, I took a moment to capture some images of the interesting cacti at my feet.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 7:59

**Location:**

Rio Grande Village Drive
Rio Grande Village, Texas
United States
1958.68 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 38 mm, f/8.0, 1/40

**File Name:** GrahamClubCholla_Z7X3362-RioGrandeVillage-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Gray Vireo - Vireo vicinior — **Gray Vireo**
*(Vireo vicinior)*

**Description:**
This shy Gray Vireo should not be spending the winter in Big Bend (according to range maps). Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 8:41

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2989.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000

**File Name:** GrayVireo_D5X8464-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus — **Hermit Thrush**
*(Catharus guttatus)*

**Description:**
These birds dwelled in the understory of the thick thorny brush in this oasis. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 10:02

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2864.65 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800

**File Name:** HermitThrush_D5X8455-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Boquillas Canyon Exhibit - Scenery — **Boquillas Canyon Exhibit**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
This sign explains how the Rio Grande journeys 33 miles through hard limestone after passing through a break in the Dead Horse Mountains called Boquillas Canyon.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 11:40

**Location:**

Boquillas Canyon
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
1837.36 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 24 mm, f/11.0, 1/800

**File Name:** InformationExhibit_Z7X3204-BoquillasCanyon-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis — **Northern Cardinal**
*(Cardinalis cardinalis)*

**Description:**
I'm not sure where the boys were. The only cardinals I met here were girls. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 9:13

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2863.39 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000

**File Name:** NorthernCardinal_D5X8706-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos — **Northern Mockingbird**
*(Mimus polyglottos)*

**Description:**
I don't thik I've ever found a place in Texas where there weren't any mockingbirds. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 9:00

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2989.00 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000

**File Name:** NorthernMockingbird_D5X8587-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pronghorn - Antilocapra americana — **Pronghorn**
*(Antilocapra americana)*

**Description:**
Five miles south of Marathon Texas ia a small park with trees and a pond called Post Park. While driving to investigate this place I passed a small herd of Pronghorn and stopped to capture images.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 14:09

**Location:**

Pena Park Road
Marathon, Texas
United States
3902.40 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** Pronghorn_D5X8826-PenaParkRoad-Marathon-TX

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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The Rio Grande At Boquillas Canyon. - Scenery — **The Rio Grande At Boquillas Canyon.**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
The Rio Grande journeys 33 miles through hard limestone after passing through a break in the Dead Horse Mountains called Boquillas Canyon.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 11:38

**Location:**

Boquillas Canyon
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
1837.36 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 24 mm, f/11.0, 1/320

**File Name:** Scenery_Z7X3202-BoquillasCanyon-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Verdin - Auriparus flaviceps — **Verdin**
*(Auriparus flaviceps)*

**Description:**
Verdin range widely in the desert southwest, even in the harshest of habitats. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 9:36

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2878.26 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000

**File Name:** Verdin_D5X8376-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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White-Crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys — **White-Crowned Sparrow**
*(Zonotrichia leucophrys)*

**Description:**
These were the only sparrows I met here. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 9:52

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2861.77 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000

**File Name:** WhiteCrownedSparrow_D5X8436-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila melanura

These desert loving birds found their way to this oasis. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.

Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila melanura

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

I ended my drive out of Big Bend a little east of Dryden Texas and found birds roaming the roadside picnic rest area where I spent the night.

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

I ended my drive out of Big Bend a little east of Dryden Texas and found birds roaming the roadside picnic rest area where I spent the night.

Sunrise on the Chisos Mountains

Scenery

My pre-dawn launch exit from Rio Grande Village in Big Bend provided an opportunity to witness the first light on the almost 8,000' Chisos Mountains.

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

This thrasher had no tail. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

I ended my drive out of Big Bend a little east of Dryden Texas and found birds roaming the roadside picnic rest area where I spent the night.

Honey Bees

Apis mellifera

Spring at the Gage Gardens in Marathon Texas can be a worthwhile birding affair, but winter here seems slow, except for the bees dominating the well-stocked feeders seeking the sweetness in the cracked corn.

Graham Club Cholla

Opuntia grahamii

Having stopped to photograph the first light on the Chisos Mountains, I took a moment to capture some images of the interesting cacti at my feet.

Gray Vireo

Vireo vicinior

This shy Gray Vireo should not be spending the winter in Big Bend (according to range maps). Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.

Gray Vireo

Vireo vicinior

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

These birds dwelled in the understory of the thick thorny brush in this oasis. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.

Boquillas Canyon Exhibit

Scenery

This sign explains how the Rio Grande journeys 33 miles through hard limestone after passing through a break in the Dead Horse Mountains called Boquillas Canyon.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

I'm not sure where the boys were. The only cardinals I met here were girls. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Zonotrichia leucophrys

These were the only sparrows I met here. Dug Out Wells is located between Panther Junction in the north and Rio Grande Village to the south. Originally established as a rest area for weary desert travelers in the early 1900s, the water now serves birds and wildlife.