We spent our first day down in Big Bend National Park. Weather is outstanding, highs in the 80’s, and I’m wearing shorts tomorrow. Hope my winter-white legs don’t scare away the birds!

When in doubt where to go for birds in the desert, head to some place with a known spring. We went to Sam Nail’s old ranch site, and sat the afternoon away in the shade. Listened to the gentle breeze make the windmill groan, squeak and pump for the birds.

We saw a “Vatican” of Cardinals, a “tangle” of Towhees, a “crew” of White crowned sparrows, a “bevy” of Doves and a “ridicule” of Mockingbirds.

But, good things come to those who wait. We were rewarded with a “battery” of Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) late in the afternoon. One look and you know why they are know as “scaled”. They were a skittish lot and I only got three exposures of this male before they all scampered off into the brush

The male is also know as a “cottontop” quail for his white-tipped crest. There are plenty of them in the populous, around 100,000 – 250,000 of them, but it was a first siting for us.

Wait for the bird in the bush on your journey†††nada te turbe†††jim