2024-05-03 Kickapoo Caverns

In 2024, I travelled to Texas to experience the Total Solar Eclipse on April 4. Cloud-cover limited the drama for the eclipse. But all was not lost, because after the eclipse, I drove down to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and enjoyed some time with my friends and the birds that haunt the valley. A month later, I headed home and visited some of my favorite West Texas locations that were on my way. I particularly wanted to spend time at Kickapoo Caverns State Park, so I booked a few nights stay at their campgrounds.

This park is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. When I paid my first visit here in May 2021, I assumed it was open seven days a week, and my Wednesday arrival was met with locked gates. I later learned of RV accommodations in nearby Brackettville. Had I known then about this option, I’d have camped for a couple of days and returned to enjoy the opportunities at Kickapoo Caverns. But instead, I continued my journey homeward to San Diego.

I returned to the region in October 2022, after a long expedition through western Canada to the Yukon Territory. In July 2023, I revisited Texas after touring Ontario Canada and the Appalachian Ranges. But this story is about my May 2024 visit.

Kickapoo is known to host a couple of rare Texas specialties. One of them is the Black-Capped Vireo, which I’ve enjoyed meeting on past visits. The other bird is the Golden-Cheeked Warbler. On this visit I hoped to break the ice and enjoy its company. But despite my efforts, I came up short. So I look forward to making their acquaintance on a future visit.

I may have missed out on my goal of meeting the Golden-Cheeked Warblers, but there was no shortage of other species to entertain me. The birds that cooperated with me were Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Bewick’s Wren, Black-and-White Warbler, Black-Crested Titmouse, Black-Throated Sparrow, Common Ground-Dove, Field Sparrow, Hooded Oriole, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Rufous-Crowned Sparrow, and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay.