Big Bend National Park: The Noisy, Nosy Bird

Cactus wren nest, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

The cactus wren is my kind of bird:

No bird exemplifies Southwestern deserts better than the noisy Cactus Wren. At all hours of the day they utter a raw scratchy noise that sounds like they are trying to start a car. Cactus Wrens are always up to something, whether hopping around on the ground, fanning their tails, scolding their neighbors, or singing from the tops of cacti.

I didn't know about the cactus wren until I walked by one of its nests in the Chisos Basin Campground.

The above description is about the cactus wren's charming side. It also has less Disney-esque characteristics, also described here.

I was damned impressed by its nest:

Cactus wren nest, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Cactus wren nest, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Cactus wren nest, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Cactus wren nest, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Below is a video of cactus wren calls, including a lagniappe of slow-action fly catching by a cactus wren (videographer Don DesJardin):

Although cactus wrens turn my head, I am still loyal to mockingbirds for their long, complicated melodies such as my English-speaking neighbor in Opelousas here and my Georgian-speaking neighbor in Rustavi here.

Big Bend National Park: The Christmas-Colored Walking Stick

Walking stick, Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

There's something compelling about walking sticks and katydids. The one that looks like a, yes, walking stick, and the other that looks like a walking, apple-green leaf.

I didn't see any katydids, but I saw a couple of walking sticks. One, in particular, sticked out (heheheh) because it wore Christmas green and red.

Walking stick, Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Also, it tried its damnedest to scale a stone wall of the Chisos Mountain Lodge, but just couldn't get its little feet to stick, so kept tumbling off.

In Walking Stick Trails, Part 1, it's interesting to see how the walking stick uses one of its rear legs to feel out a good gripping spot. To no avail, alas.

In Walking Stick Travails, Part 2, said insect, perhaps in a fit of pique at its unwanted audience, launches an assault upon my chair leg, perhaps to register a complaint.

An episode of Focus on Species: Stick Insects, starts off a little slowly, but gets pretty darned interesting as it goes on.

Big Bend National Park: Chisos Trailheads

Chisos Trailheads, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

The Chisos Trailheads area is adjacent to the Chisos Basin campstore in the complex that holds the Chisos Basin Visitor Center and the Chisos Mountains Lodge.


Entirely paved, the loop bestows visitors with views both extravagant and humble, yet equally arresting.

For the grandeur, there's The Window, of course.

Chisos Trailheads, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

The graceful movement of the slender grasses is humble, restful, peace-giving.

Chisos Trailheads, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Chisos Trailheads, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

So restorative to watch the grasses sway, listen to insects and birds, as in the video below:

And below:

Come spend a few moments with me at the Chisos Trailheads below:

Chisos Trailheads, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Big Bend National Park: Butte Beautiful

Butte overseeing Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

If Monet can do 1,549 paintings of haystacks, perhaps I can be forgiven for four butte-iful pics of a butte that shined grace upon my Chisos Basin campsite?

Butte overseeing Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Butte overseeing Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Butte overseeing Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Peace.

Big Bend National Park: Bee Brush and Beetles

Beetle and bee brush, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park. Texas. September 2017.

In my campsite, a perfume slipped in and out of my sensory peripherals. A tease. Honeysuckle? Not in the fall. But something like.

Bee brush, Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park. Texas. September 2017.

On a guided walk during my time at Big Bend, a naturalist pointed out bee brush, the source of the delicate sweet fragrance.

Later, on a walk around the campground, I saw a gathering of black beetles in a bliss of sweet heaven.

Mmmm, they groaned.

Big Bend National Park: Window Trail

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

You won't be seeing The Window on this post, even though I was on the Window Trail, as approached from the Chisos Basin Campground trailhead.

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

I happened by the trail head during a swing around the campground. The afternoon was moving toward dusk, and I hadn't contemplated going on this walk so late in the afternoon. Plus an irrational concern about a bear encounter still clung to me like a whiny toddler. But a young couple bounced over to the trail head and appeared to have a plan to do the hike. So I asked if I could hitch myself to their coattails, and they said yes!

They were pleasant company - living in Texas for awhile while she did an internship - but probably to return to their home grounds in a lusher climate when that finished.

A pretty trail. Somehow I'd gotten the impression it was so very close to The Window and that it was an easy peasy walk.

The section of the trail I completed (note the foreshadowing) was easy peasy.

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

What I didn't know was that the trail crossed over a stream. So pretty!

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

And those steps built into the smooth, rock shoulders! The stuff of fairy tales.

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Unfortunately, there was a water crossing that I didn't feel secure about making. Didn't have the right shoes, didn't have a way to protect my camera if I got wet, blah, blah. So I stopped there and enjoyed the beauty of what I did travel over.

Here's a slide show. Walk with me.

Window Trail from Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

And I almost forgot, a video: