Big Bend Trip Day 4: Chisos Basin

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I was up very early to watch dawn over the Window before our main planned activity for the day: the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

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The only birds I saw were Canyon Towhees and Amercan Robins.

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Canyon Towhee

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However, I did stumble on a family of Javelinas. While the parents were up and having breakfast, the juveniles were just on the point of waking up.

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I also startled a young Carmen Mountains White-tailed Deer.

Later in the day, after returning from our drive, I walked the trail again and saw a wider range of birds. Western Bluebirds were everywhere, as were Canyon Towhees, Chipping Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Pyrrhuloxias and Dark-eyed Juncos. I had my first-ever views of Clay-colored Sparrow and a Red-naped Sapsucker but unfortunately neither bird was willing to pose for a photo.

Western Bluebird

We spent the evening on our deck watching another spectacular sunset, followed by a night sky lit by the moon and innumerable stars.