Memories of Big Bend National Park

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43 Photos

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.
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**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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Pin It — **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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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.
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**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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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.
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**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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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.
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**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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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.
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**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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Gray Vireo - Vireo vicinior — **Gray Vireo**
*(Vireo vicinior)*

**Description:**
This shy Gray Vireo was 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.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:07 8:42

**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_D5X8467-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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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.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:06 9:46

**Location:**

Dug Out Wells
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2867.57 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** BlackTailedGnatcatcher_D5X8411-DugOutWells-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea — **Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher**
*(Polioptila caerulea)*

**Description:**
I stopped briefly on my drive from Big Bend to Marathon and found a few roadside birds to entertain me. The harsh mid-day sun was not a friend to me getting quality images, though it didn't stop me from trying.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 13:47

**Location:**

Corner Windmill
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2733.24 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200

**File Name:** BlueGrayGnatCatcher_D5X3642-BigBendPark

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Black-Throated Sparrow - Amphispiza bilineata — **Black-Throated Sparrow**
*(Amphispiza bilineata)*

**Description:**
I stopped briefly on my drive from Big Bend to Marathon and found a few roadside birds to entertain me.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 13:38

**Location:**

Corner Windmill
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2733.24 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600

**File Name:** BlackThroatedSparrow_D5X3603-BigBendPark

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pyrrhuloxia - Cardinalis sinuatus — **Pyrrhuloxia**
*(Cardinalis sinuatus)*

**Description:**
Up-close and personal view. Because of the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, it is a great place to meet a variety of birds.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 10:19

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3570.11 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** Pyrrhuloxia_D5X3254-SamNailRanch

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Rock Wren - Salpinctes obsoletus — **Rock Wren**
*(Salpinctes obsoletus)*

**Description:**
This wren was the second bird I encountered on the trail to the well and water source at Sam Nail Ranch.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 9:38

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3544.53 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200

**File Name:** RockWren_D5X3185-SamNailRanch

© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii — **Lincoln's Sparrow**
*(Melospiza lincolnii)*

**Description:**
The old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, with its old wind-driven well, provides water to a thirsty desert community of plants and animals.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 10:35

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3606.97 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** LincolnsSparrow_D5X3466-SamNailRanch

© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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American Robin - Turdus migratorius — **American Robin**
*(Turdus migratorius)*

**Description:**
Robins were some of the least shy birds I met this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 9:45

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3531.14 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** AmericanRobin_D5X6545-SamNailRanch

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Ladder-Backed Woodpecker - Dryobates scalaris — **Ladder-Backed Woodpecker**
*(Dryobates scalaris)*

**Description:**
Ladder-Backed Woodpeckers were busy this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 11:04

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3625.51 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** LadderBackedWoodpecker_D5X6656-SamNailRanch

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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

**Description:**
This was the first bird to meet me this morning while on the trail to the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend.
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**Date Taken:** 2020:03:07 9:30

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3544.53 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000

**File Name:** CurveBilledThrasher_D5X3142-SamNailRanch

(C)2019 Jack Daynes

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Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus — **Vermilion Flycatcher**
*(Pyrocephalus rubinus)*

**Description:**
Vermilion Flycatchers roamed over the entire camp at Cottonwood. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 12:55

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2135.93 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** VermilionFlycatcher_D5X6692-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius — **Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker**
*(Sphyrapicus varius)*

**Description:**
Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers were many in Cottonwood Camp, and their work on the mesquite trees was enjoyed by several other species. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 13:25

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2135.93 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** YellowBelliedSapsucker_D5X6779-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Yellow-Rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata coronata — **Yellow-Rumped Warbler**
*(Setophaga coronata coronata)*

**Description:**
All the Yellow-Rumped Warblers I saw seemed to be the Myrtle types. They enjoyed the sap that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers provided. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 11:37

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2069.06 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** YellowRumpedWarbler_D5X8033-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta — **Western Meadowlark**
*(Sturnella neglecta)*

**Description:**
Western Meadowlarks patrolled all the open grassy areas in camp, but kept away from the campers at Cottonwood. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 14:08

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2142.49 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** WesternMeadowLark_D5X7194-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana — **Western Bluebird**
*(Sialia mexicana)*

**Description:**
There was a mix of both Eastern and Western Bluebirds in camp. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 10:32

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2055.33 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** WesternBluebird_D5X7492-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Ruby-Crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula — **Ruby-Crowned Kinglet**
*(Regulus calendula)*

**Description:**
Kinglets were among the most common passerines I met while scouting the Cottonwood Camp. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 13:19

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2135.93 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** RubyCrownedKinglet_D5X6743-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Great Horned Owl - Bubo virginianus — **Great Horned Owl**
*(Bubo virginianus)*

**Description:**
This owl spent the day roosting nearby my camp site. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 11:15

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2050.24 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** GreatHornedOwl_D5X7813-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Chihuahuan Raven - Corvus cryptoleucus — **Chihuahuan Raven**
*(Corvus cryptoleucus)*

**Description:**
I met this raven during his mid-afternoon patrol through camp. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 14:28

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2048.74 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000

**File Name:** ChihuahuanRaven_D5X8287-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis — **Eastern Bluebird**
*(Sialia sialis)*

**Description:**
There was a mix of both Eastern and Western Bluebirds in camp. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 10:32

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2055.32 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** EasternBluebird_D5X7493-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe — **Eastern Phoebe**
*(Sayornis phoebe)*

**Description:**
This was my first time meeting the Eastern Phoebe. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 11:05

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2052.20 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000

**File Name:** EasternPhoebe_D5X7636-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Golden-Fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons — **Golden-Fronted Woodpecker**
*(Melanerpes aurifrons)*

**Description:**
There plenty of woodpeckers in camp, including these birds near the western edge of their range. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 10:33

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2055.09 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** GoldenFrontedWoodpecker_D5X7510-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Greater Roadrunner - Geococcyx californianus — **Greater Roadrunner**
*(Geococcyx californianus)*

**Description:**
I don't often see roadrunners in trees, but there were two of them thirty feet up in the same tree as a Great Horned Owl. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 11:20

**Location:**

Cottonwood Camp
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2052.73 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000

**File Name:** GreaterRoadrunner_D5X7891-CottonwoodCamp

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Chisos Mountains From TX-118 Near Terlingua - Scenery — **Chisos Mountains From TX-118 Near Terlingua**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
After the winter storm passed and the roads were cleared, I was able to complete my drive from Alpine to Big Bend National Park in Texas.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:01 12:40

**Location:**

Study Butte
Terlingua, Texas
United States
2645.36 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 42 mm, f/8.0, 1/640

**File Name:** SnowScenes_Z7X3013Drive-to-BigBend

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Roadside Stop Along TX-118 - Scenery — **Roadside Stop Along TX-118**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
After the winter storm passed and the roads were cleared, I was able to complete my drive from Alpine to Big Bend National Park in Texas.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:01 11:25

**Location:**

Altuda
Alpine, Texas
United States
4287.25 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/640

**File Name:** SnowScenes_Z7X3001Drive-to-BigBend

© 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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Trail to Sam Nail Ranch - Scenery — **Trail to Sam Nail Ranch**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
The trail to the Sam Nail Ranch site was covered in icy snow, making navigation with my photo gear a risky proposition. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 9:14

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3586.05 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 26 mm, f/8.0, 1/800

**File Name:** SamNailRanch_Z7X3020-Ross-Maxwell-Dr

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Santa Elena Canyon Sunrise - Scenery — **Santa Elena Canyon Sunrise**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
I rose before dawn and drove from Terlingua to Big Bend's Santa Elena Canyon to photograph the first light on the canyon walls.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:03 8:00

**Location:**

Santa Elena Canyon
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
2109.59 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/40

**File Name:** Sunrise_Z7X3034-SantaElenaCanyon

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Winter Moon Over the Chisos Mountains - Scenery — **Winter Moon Over the Chisos Mountains**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
On my drive from Cottonwood Camp to the Rio Grande Villiage in Big Bend National Park, I took a detour to the Chisos Basin. It was time well spent.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:04 9:52

**Location:**

Chisos Basin
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
4800.85 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 24 mm, f/16.0, 1/200

**File Name:** Scenery_Z7X3196-ChisosBasin-BigBendNP

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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First Winter Light in the Chisos Mountains - Scenery — **First Winter Light in the Chisos Mountains**
*(Scenery)*

**Description:**
On my drive from Cottonwood Camp to the Rio Grande Villiage in Big Bend National Park, I took a detour to the Chisos Basin. It was time well spent.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:04 9:48

**Location:**

Chisos Basin
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
4808.14 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON Z 7, 26 mm, f/16.0, 1/80

**File Name:** Scenery_Z7X3184-ChisosBasin-BigBendNP

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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White-Winged Dove - Zenaida asiatica — **White-Winged Dove**
*(Zenaida asiatica)*

**Description:**
A few White-Winged Doves roamed the area on this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.
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**Date Taken:** 2021:01:02 11:09

**Location:**

Sam Nail Ranch
Big Bend National Park, Texas
United States
3625.51 ft above sea level

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

**File Name:** WhiteWingedDove_D5X6677-SamNailRanch

© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

White-Crowned Sparrow

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.

Verdin

Auriparus flaviceps

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.

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

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.

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.

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.

Gray Vireo

Vireo vicinior

This shy Gray Vireo was 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.

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.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

I stopped briefly on my drive from Big Bend to Marathon and found a few roadside birds to entertain me. The harsh mid-day sun was not a friend to me getting quality images, though it didn't stop me from trying.

Black-Throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

I stopped briefly on my drive from Big Bend to Marathon and found a few roadside birds to entertain me.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

White-Crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Up-close and personal view. Because of the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, it is a great place to meet a variety of birds.

Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

Up-close and personal view. Because of the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, it is a great place to meet a variety of birds.

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

This wren was the second bird I encountered on the trail to the well and water source at Sam Nail Ranch.

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

The old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, with its old wind-driven well, provides water to a thirsty desert community of plants and animals.

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Robins were some of the least shy birds I met this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

Ladder-Backed Woodpeckers were busy this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

Because of the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, it is a great place to meet a variety of birds.

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Emboldened by their numbers, all it took to intimidate most of their neighbors was a stern look. The old water source at the Sam Nail Ranch brought the birds in to drink and bathe.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

This young lady had lots of friends sharing a drink at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend.

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

This was the first bird to meet me this morning while on the trail to the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Because of the working well and wind pump at the site of the old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, it is a great place to meet a variety of birds.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Vermilion Flycatchers roamed over the entire camp at Cottonwood. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers were many in Cottonwood Camp, and their work on the mesquite trees was enjoyed by several other species. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga coronata coronata

All the Yellow-Rumped Warblers I saw seemed to be the Myrtle types. They enjoyed the sap that the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers provided. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

Western Meadowlarks patrolled all the open grassy areas in camp, but kept away from the campers at Cottonwood. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

There was a mix of both Eastern and Western Bluebirds in camp. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Vermilion Flycatchers roamed over the entire camp at Cottonwood. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Regulus calendula

Kinglets were among the most common passerines I met while scouting the Cottonwood Camp. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

This owl spent the day roosting nearby my camp site. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Chihuahuan Raven

Corvus cryptoleucus

I met this raven during his mid-afternoon patrol through camp. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

This was my first time meeting the Eastern Phoebe. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Golden-Fronted Woodpecker

Melanerpes aurifrons

There plenty of woodpeckers in camp, including these birds near the western edge of their range. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

I don't often see roadrunners in trees, but there were two of them thirty feet up in the same tree as a Great Horned Owl. Cottonwood Camp is a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park.

Chisos Mountains From TX-118 Near Terlingua

Scenery

After the winter storm passed and the roads were cleared, I was able to complete my drive from Alpine to Big Bend National Park in Texas.

Roadside Stop Along TX-118

Scenery

After the winter storm passed and the roads were cleared, I was able to complete my drive from Alpine to Big Bend National Park in Texas.

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.

Trail to Sam Nail Ranch

Scenery

The trail to the Sam Nail Ranch site was covered in icy snow, making navigation with my photo gear a risky proposition. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Santa Elena Canyon Sunrise

Scenery

I rose before dawn and drove from Terlingua to Big Bend's Santa Elena Canyon to photograph the first light on the canyon walls.

Santa Elena Canyon Sunrise

Scenery

I rose before dawn and drove from Terlingua to Big Bend's Santa Elena Canyon to photograph the first light on the canyon walls.

Winter Moon Over the Chisos Mountains

Scenery

On my drive from Cottonwood Camp to the Rio Grande Villiage in Big Bend National Park, I took a detour to the Chisos Basin. It was time well spent.

First Winter Light in the Chisos Mountains

Scenery

On my drive from Cottonwood Camp to the Rio Grande Villiage in Big Bend National Park, I took a detour to the Chisos Basin. It was time well spent.

White-Winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

A few White-Winged Doves roamed the area on this snow-covered wintry morning at the Sam Nail Ranch. I drove from Terlingua Texas to Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and stopped to enjoy several places on the way.

Galleries

Birds I Have Known Butterfly and Moth Meetings Damsels & Dragons Eggs and Their Shapes Favorite Collections Mammals I have Known The Rocky Islands