Copper Canyon Adventure
21-31 March 2003
Day 8: Creel to Chihuahua City
All photographs
©2003 by Mary Beth Stowe
After a light buffet the next morning we were off to Chihuahua City in hopes of picking up Striped Sparrow on the way. This was a bird Barry said they found accidentally on one of their trips, so the deal was to keep an eye on the open areas with fence posts, and sure enough, we eventually spotted one! So we all piled out and got great looks, in addition to Western Meadowlark, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbirds, all new for the trip! Unfortunately the bird flew before I could sneak up on him (he stuck around quite awhile, but I wanted to make sure everyone had a good look before I started stalking), but the Lord compensated with a more cooperative Curve-billed Thrasher and a stunning Western Bluebird on a post (although not as stunning as the one at my feet at Roberts Ranch)! And just for grins a Zone-tailed Hawk zoomed in and buzzed the blackbirds just before we drove off!
Curve-billed Striped Zone-tailed Hawk Western
Thrasher Sparrow Bluebird
(trust me...)
Habitat favored by the endemic Striped Scenic drive to Chihuahua City...
Sparrow
Common Ravens ride the Coming down the east side of the Sierra
winds above the cliffs Madre Occidental
We eventually make it into Scrub Physalis sp.
Jay territory
Oak savannah-like habitat Interesting granary
From there we headed to a lovely apple orchard for lunch (after first stopping for Scrub Jay). There was a little stream outside that had a couple of Gadwall, and upon closer scrutiny we scared up a couple of Mexican Ducks and a Greater Yellowlegs! There was also a distant Snowy Egret and Bufflehead. Then we went to kick up sparrows, and got one that Barry thought was Savannah but I thought was a Vesper (it did have a short tail, and that bothered me), so Brian broke the tie when he saw the chestnut shoulders and white outer tail feathers. One of the participants said he learned a lot just listening to our dialogue!
Stream at the apple orchard where we Mark chats with the owner
had lunch outside their fabulous building
After a marvelous lunch at this fabulous place (and the artwork they had on display was exquisite) we continued east, stopping for a Chihuahuan Raven whose white ruff was really blowing in the breeze, right next to the bus and in great light (and the cameras were clicking away)! Had some great scenery all the way in (parts of it looked like good Monty Quail habitat), and checked into our magnificent hotel with a magnificent room with a magnificent view on the 14th floor (they always outdo themselves on the last night)! Couldn’t ask for a finer ending to the trip!
Descending into the desert What looks like good Monty Quail habitat!
Two views of Chihuahuan Raven: what
they normally look like (left) and with
their white ruff showing (right) hence
the old name "White-necked Raven"