The Trans-Pecos Region of Texas

Fall 2002 Season

1 August - 30 November 2002

by Mark T. Adams

submitted to Mark Lockwood on 4 January 2003

FALL 2002 OVERVIEW

In the Big Bend National Park, fall season precipitation was characterized by Mark Flippo as "on again, off again". August was very warm and wet, with the Chisos Basin receiving 5.5 inches of rain. September, however, was very dry: just 0.11 inches of rain fell in Basin. October brought more good rains (3.5" in the Basin). Then November was parched: less than 0.1 inches of rain fell in the Basin. Temperatures were typically hot in August and September, cooling in the beginning of October. The first cold front did not arrive until 21 November. The precipitation and temperature pattern in the Davis Mountains was similar.

Lingering summer season, high elevation species provided the BBNP highlights through August: Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Red-faced Warblers and Painted Redstarts. Passage of a weak cool system in late September brought a Least Bittern and Virginia Rail to Rio Grande Village and produced an intriguing report of a Black Rail. Overcast and rainy conditions in early November likely led to an influx of thrushes (Western and Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Hermit Thrush) and mimids (Gray Catbird and Sage Thrashers) at mid-month.

In far west Texas, especially in and around El Paso, it was another dry fall season. Precipitation was well below normal overall, though El Paso did see above average rainfall in October.

A montane invasion began in far west Texas this fall, though most invaders were reported in relatively small numbers. Some species that have been present in previous invasions -- such as Cassin's Finch and Red Crossbill -- were notably absent from this fall's invasion. Western Scrub-Jays and Steller's Jays, however, were being seen in large numbers by late October. Western Scrub-Jays are nearly annual invaders in El Paso. But Steller's Jays invade the city and surrounding lowlands far less often, typically only once every five years. This year, beginning in late September, Steller's Jays could be found in the El Paso in groups of as many as 5 - 8 birds. White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches joined the El Paso invasion in good numbers, too, though this montane invasion lacked the breadth of species and number of individuals seen in fall 2000.

In the Davis Mountains, a montane invasion also got underway in September with the arrival of substantial numbers of Pinyon Jays at Limpia Crossing, near Fort Davis, and at Double Diamond, south of Alpine. Red-breasted Nuthatches were soon being seen in above average numbers, and moderate numbers of Cassin's Finches were being routinely found in the mountains by November, along with good numbers of Townsend's Solitaires and a higher than average density of Willliamson's Sapsuckers on the Davis Mountains Preserve. Lewis' Woodpeckers were recorded in Fort Davis, Marfa and near Balmorhea. Red Crossbills have been notably scarce in the Davis Mountains, too, virtually unreported; and there have been no reports of other species that have joined previous montane invasions, such as Evening Grosbeak.

At least through the end of November, BBNP had seen very little of the montane invasion being recorded in other parts of the Trans-Pecos.

Outside the bounds of the montane invasion, the fall season saw Western and Clark's Grebes continuing to breed prolificly at McNary Reservoir. Astonishing numbers of both Aechmophorus grebe species were present throughout the season. The fluctuations of their numbers and the status of their breeding was carefully monitored by Jim Paton and Barry Zimmer. Interestingly, Aechmorphorus grebe numbers have remained small and stable at Trans-Pecos reservoirs further east, such as Lake Balmorhea and Imperial Reservoir, and there has been little or no breeding activity.

American White Pelicans have also increased dramatically in the El Paso area over the last few years, with several reports of exceptionally large numbers this fall.

Shorebird habitat was generally poor this fall at the west Texas reservoirs this fall.

Eleven (11) Texas Review Species were reported during the Fall 2002 season in the Trans-Pecos: Northern Goshawk, Allen's Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Greater Pewee, Varied Thrush, Aztec Thrush, Red-faced Warbler and Baird's Sparrow.

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LOCATIONS

BAL=Balmorhea State Park (Reeves County)

BBNP=Big Bend National Park

BBRSP=Big Bend Ranch State Park

CC=Cottonwood Campground (Brewster County, BBNP)

DMP=Davis Mountains Preserve (Jeff Davis County)

DMSP=Davis Mountains State Park

DRSNA=Devil's River State Natural Area

FBSP=Fort Bliss sewage ponds (El Paso)

FMSP=Franklin Mountains State Park

FtH=Fort Hancock Reservoir

GMNP=Guadualupe Mountains National Park

HTSHP=Hueco Tanks State Historical Park

IMP=Imperial Reservoir (Pecos County)

LBAL=Lake Balmorhea (Reeves County)

McN=McNary Reservoir (Hudspeth County)

PJ= Panther Junction (Brewster County, BBNP)

RBSP=Roberto Bustamante Sewage Plant (El Paso)

RBWP=Rio Bosque Wetland Park (El Paso)

RGV=Rio Grande Village (Brewster County, BBNP)

TOR=Tornillo Reservoir (Hudspeth County)

§ = video, † = photos

CONTRIBUTORS

MAd-Mark Adams, EA-Erik Anderson, SB-Sarah Bourbon, KB-Kelly Bryan, BC-Bill Carlson, EC-Eric Carpenter, KC-Kay Charter, M&AC-Mel and Arlie Cooksey, F&JD-Fred and Judy Donaldson, M&ME-Marc and Maryann Eastman, CE-Carol Edwards, D&LE-Dodge and Lorna Engleman, TF-Tim Fennell, DF-Don Fisher, MF-Mark Flippo, BF-Brush Freeman, JG-John Gee, BG-Brian Gibbons, AH-Audrey Harvey, DH-David Hedges, LH-Linda Hedges, DHi-Derek Hill, J&BH-Jim and Barbara Hines, JH-Jim Hines, TH-Tom Hobby, PH-Petra Hockey, TJ-Tom Johnson, DJ-Daniel Jones, JK-John Karges, DL-Dennis Larsen, GLe-Greg Levandoski, LL-Laura Long, IN-Ian Nelson, DO-Dale Ohl, COK-Carolyn Ohl-Kolb, BO-Bob Ohmart, MO-Mike Overton, RP-Richard Palmer, JPac-Jay Packer, JPap-Julia Pappas, JP-Jim Paton, DP-David Poteet, MP-Melissa Powell, JeR-Jennifer Reidy, JR-John Rosford, PR-Phil Rostron, JS-John Sproul, AS-Anita Swanson, TV-Tom Vandenberg, DW-Don White, JZ-Jimmy Zabriskie, BZ-Barry Zimmer.

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FALL 2002 SPECIES REPORTS

Pacific Loon

Few loons were reported this fall, though a juvenile Pacific Loon was at TOR on 30 Nov (JP).

Western Grebe

El Paso observers recorded this species breeding in numbers at McN throughout the fall season. A high fall count of 72 inidividuals at McN in mid-September was impressive (BZ). Even in late November, JP and BZ found a pair with young at McN. Much smaller (though typical for this location) numbers of this species were present at LBAL: 2, 5 and 1 individuals on 9, 15 and 26 November, respectively (MAd, MAd; JG & CE)

Clark's Grebes

Like Western Grebe, this species was also breeding in numbers at McN through the fall. A high fall count of 150 inidividuals at McN in mid-September was impressive (BZ). Even in late November, JP and BZ found two pair with young at McN. Again, smaller numbers of this species were present at LBAL: 3, 4,and 2 individuals on 9, 15 and 26 November, respectively (MAd; JG & CE).

American White Pelican

Barry Zimmer reports that this species has increased dramatically in the El

Paso area over the last five years. Zimmer recorded this species on four occasions during the period at McN, with a high count of 9 birds on 15 October. From his El Paso yard he observed several fly-overs, including 7 birds on 9 October and an amazing flock containing 106 birds on 6 November. On the latter date, a worker at Ascarate Lake in central El Paso reported a flock of 500+ American White Pelicans, an unprecedented count for the area.

Least Bittern

Rare in the BBNP, a single bird was reported from the RGV Nature Trail on 27 September (RP).

Tri-colored Heron

An adult at RBWP on 18 August and again on 6 October was unusual (JS). Another inidividual was in west El Paso on 11 September (JP). This species is very rare in the El Paso area from spring to early fall, but has been appearing with increasing regularity in recent years.

Reddish Egret

A single bird continued its residence at LBAL and was seen by many observers throughout the period. Two individuals were at IMP on 20 September (MAd). A single bird was at a most unusual location, in the Christmas Mountains, on Terlingua Ranch (Brewster County) on 24 August (COK).

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

An adult was at McN on 8 September (JP).

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Two individuals at LBAL on 15 August (D&LE) and again on 17 August (DH, BG) were rare finds.

Snow Goose

Always rare in BBNP, but especially at a desert location such as Persimmon Gap, a single Snow Goose was a most unusual sight on 11 November (TV).

Wood Duck

Three birds were at McN on 1 October (BZ); a single drake was at LBAL on 15 November (MAd).

Greater Scaup

Two males and a female were at LBAL on 15 November (MAd).

Surf Scoter

Two birds were found during the first weekend of November at LBAL (KC) and remained throughout the period (m.ob.).

White-winged Scoter

A very rare find anywhere in the Trans-Pecos, with just two previous records for the area, a single bird of this species was discovered at LBAL on 15 November (MAd). Remarkably, three individuals were present on 19 November (KB). At least two remained through the end of the period (m. ob.)

Osprey

This species lingered unusually late into the fall. Five individuals were at LBAL on 15 November (MAd), and a single Osprey remained on the lake as late as 25 November (JG, CE).

Mississippi Kite

A uncommon fall migrant, an immature was seen in Alpine on 6 September (JK).

Bald Eagle

By late November, the adult Bald Eagle had returned to his usual haunts at LBAL (JG, CE).

NORTHERN GOSHAWK

On 22 October, John Gee observed a juvenile of this Review Species on the ground, just 25 feet from his home's back door (south of Alpine in Brewster County), feeding on a White-winged Dove.

Gray Hawk

One to two adults were reported through 8 October at BBNP - CC (m.ob.)

Common Black-Hawk

A single bird was reported soaring over the BBNP - Santa Elena Canyon on 3 August (SB). Two reports were unexpectedly received from GMNP this season. Single birds were sighted seen on 13 August at Guadalupe Peak, and on 21 August at Bush Mountain (IN).

Red-shouldered Hawk

Accidental in the Trans-Pecos, a single juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk seen along Limpia Creek in the Davis Mountains on 17 August a good find (DH, BG); another individual of this species was sighted along the BBNP - RGV Nature Trail on 20 November (GLe).

Broad-winged Hawk

An adult light-phase Broad-winged Hawk seen soaring over the Fort Davis fire station was an excellent find on 10 October (KB).

Ferruginous Hawk

An adult seen in El Paso on 22 September bested Barry Zimmer's previous early fall arrival date for this species by 22 days.

Merlin

An early arrival was sighted flying into Mexico from BBNP RGV on 30 August (BF, PH).

Black Rail

With only a single previous report of this species in BBNP (Verma Starts, 5 March 1978 at RGV), a Black Rail reported from the Daniel's Ranch area on 28 September (DP) generated much interest. Unfortunately, follow-up visits by Mark Flippo and others found just Soras. Amazingly, two Black Rails were reported at the same location (Daniels Ranch) on 20 November (DL). Once again, however, follow-up visits turned up nothing.

Virginia Rail

Two individuals of this rare BBNP species were observed at RGV - Daniels Ranch on 27 September (RP).

Sandhill Crane

A flock of 70 birds that flew over Jim Paton's west El Paso yard on 10 Sep were at least three weeks ahead of their expected arrival date. Dale Ohl saw three birds flying south of Alpine (Brewster County) on 8 September.

Mountain Plover

On 12 November, Kelly Bryan discovered wintering flocks of Mountain Plover in bare pastures near Dell City (on FM 1576 between Williams Road and FM2249). These flocks contained at least 112 individual birds.

Upland Sandpiper

A rare migrant in the BBNP, two individuals were reported from RGV on 20 August (BG, DH); three more were heard flying over the road at Santa Elena Canyon on 31 August (BF, PH).

Sanderling

Two juveniles of this normally coastal species were at FtH on 8 Sep (JP); two more were at IMP on 20 September (MAd).

Western Sandpiper

A group of 700 on mudflats at FtH on 8 Sep was remarkable, a probable local record (JP).

Pectoral Sandpiper

Two migrants at IMP on 20 September were late (MAd).

Wilson's Phalarope

A lone bird at Monster Buck Tank in BBNP on 10 September was notable (MP). A single bird present at RBWP on 9 and 13 November was late (JS). Southbound phalaropes are typically gone from El Paso by the end of October.

Laughing Gull

Two juveniles were at McN on 8 Aug (JP, BZ). This species has become annual at McN in summer and/or early fall.

Ring-billed Gull

Though common later in the season, this species is rare in the Trans-Pecos in August. A single bird was at LBAL on 15 August (D&LE); two were present on 24 August (CE).

California Gull

A single winter adult was observed at McN on 1 October, providing Barry Zimmer his earliest winter record for this species.

Black-legged Kittiwake

A single injured adult was reported at LBAL on 21 November (EA, BO). Attempts to re-locate it on succeeding days failed.

Sabine's Gull

An adult was discovered at LBAL on 5 August (DJ). Likely the same individual was re-located on 12 August (EC, TF). A juvenile was at McN on 12 September (BZ). Zimmer notes that this species is nearly annual in the El Paso area in the months of September or October.

Common Tern

Single birds at LBAL on 12 August (EC, TF) and McN on 12 September (BZ) were interesting. Nine individuals at McN on 8 October (JP, BZ) was an unusually high count for this species in the Trans-Pecos; two of these birds remained on 15 October (BZ).

Least Tern

A single bird was at McN on 15 August (BZ †). Zimmer notes that this species has increased in far west Texas over the last decade such that he now typically sees a couple every summer.

Band-tailed Pigeon

A total of 30 individuals was seen in the Chisos Mountains, 28 August - 3 September (BF, PH).

Common Ground-Dove

A female in Hudspeth County, east of McN, from 27 October through the end of the period was a find rarity, just the fifth county record for this species (JP).

Spotted Owl

A resident species in the Guadalupe Mountains, this species is normally found in the remote and hard to access Devil's Hall region of the GMNP. A single bird was reported on 7 October, however, from the GMNP - Pine Spring Campground (DF).

Northern Pygmy-Owl

A single bird was reported from GMNP - Lower Guadalupe Springs on 26 August (AS).

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

An immature male was in central El Paso, 17 - 30 October, the sixth or seventh record of this Review Species for the county (BZ).

WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD

An excellent find, an individual was observed at private feeders in the Davis Mountains on 3, 20 and 25 August (M&ME), the first in the Davis Mountains since August 1997.

Lucifer Hummingbird

Two immatures observed at BBNP - Panther Junction on 18 October were late (MF); as were single birds south of Alpine in Brewster County on 17 and 21 October (JG, DW); and an immature male seen at a private feeder in Fort Davis on 9 November (KB).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Rare this far west, a male was at BBNP - PJ, 5 - 19 August (MF) and again on 30 August (TV). Another male was discovered in Boot Canyon on 29 August (BF, PH).

Anna's Hummingbird

Rare in the BBNP, an immature was reported from PJ on 14 October (MF); two immatures were reported from the same location, 19 - 30 November (MF).

COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD

A female or immature was seen and photographed at a private feeder in the Christmas Mountains of Terlingua Ranch (Brewster County) on 12 September (COK †).

ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD

A likely adult male was observed frequently from 15 August through 31 October at private feeders in the Davis Mountains (M&ME). Barry Zimmer had an adult male in his El Paso yard, 22 - 25 July. (Though these dates are obviously just prior to the start of this fall reporting period, this Review Speices is reported here because Barry was unable to send out a summer report. This bird has not been previously reported). This hummingbird was also seen by Jim Paton and was recorded on video by Zimmer. There is only one other accepted record for this species in the El Paso area.

Green Kingfisher

Absent last year, a male/female pair returned to the BBNP RGV - Nature Trail this fall and were seen throughout the period (m.ob.)

Lewis'' Woodpecker

A striking adult Lewis' Woodpecker was well-observed on the north side of Marfa (Presidio County) on 24 November (MAd, LL). Two Lewis' Woodpeckers were seen in Fort Davis on 8 November (DW). Three Lewis' Woodpeckers were found in tall trees at a private ranch near Balmorhea in early November (TJ).

Acorn Woodpecker

A single bird in west El Paso on 29 November was an unusual find since this species is rare to casual in the county (JP †, BZ).

Williamson's Sapsucker

Though an annual winter visitor to at least the Davis Mountains, a female south of Alpine (Brewster County) on 18 September was early and notable (DW). An adult male visited Barry Zimmer's El Paso backyard on 29 September, and a an adult female dropped in on 5 October providing a remarkable pair of records for a single week in El Paso, where this species is a casual invader.

GREATER PEWEE

A single bird was well-observed flycatching from the a perch near the top of a large pine on 4 August along the GMNP - Tejas Trail, 200 yards south of Mescalero Camp in mixed conifer and oak forest (MO). This bird was mostly silent, though Overton first noticed the bird when it emitted a couple of soft "pip" calls.

Vermilion Flycatcher

A male in extreme northwest El Paso on 10 November provided one of the surprisingly few appearances of this species in far west Texas (JP).

DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER

Sightings were reported from BBNP - Boot Canyon throughout August. Several observers reported two adults and two juveniles 22 August - 1 September (fide MF). Derek Hill and Brian Gibbons observed the adults feeding begging juveniles several times on 22 August.

Tropical Kingbird

Continuing the sequence of observations begun in the spring, one to two individuals were seen by several observers at BBNP - CC through 10 August.

Cassin's Kingbird

A large migrating flock roosted at BBNP - CC on 31 August. Freeman and Hockey observed 35 - 40 birds depart CC and fly across the Rio Grande into Mexico. By 08:30 am, there were none at CC.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Accidental in the park, two adult birds were at BBNP - CC on 31 August (BF, PH).

Black-capped Vireo

A defensive female in BBNP - Pine Canyon on 10 August was an interesting find (TF, EC). A single male was still singing along the BBNP - Window Trail on 31 August (BF, PH).

Red-eyed Vireo

A very rare vagrant in El Paso County, this bird was a nice find in El Paso on 16 September (BZ).

Steller's Jay

Starting in late September, Steller's Jays could be found in El Paso in groups of 5 to 8 birds (JP). Numbers increased throughout the fall, and Zimmer noted that this was the largest invasion of this species that he had witnessed in 30 years of birding in El Paso.

Western Scrub-Jay

A single bird at Balmorhea State Park on 6 October provided the first record for this species in the park (TJ). In El Paso, large numbers of this species invaded the city and the surrounding lowlands (BZ).

Pinyon Jay

Two reports from 21 September (M&ME; JG) signalled the beginning of another substantial irruption of Pinyon Jays at various locations across Jeff Davis and Brewster Counties. Flocks of as many as 150 individuals have been regularly seen near Limpia Crossing in Jeff Davis County (LH, M&ME,TH). An extraordinary flock of 500 Pinyon Jays was witnessed by David Hedges in the Davis Mountains Preserve - Madera Canyon on 27 October.

Purple Martin

Accidental in the park, two birds at BBNP - PJ on 4 August was a nice find (MF); another individual was at LBAL on 17 August (DH, BG).

Cave Swallow

At least 10 individuals were seen at RBWP on 16 November; a single bird remained on 24 November (JS). Sproul has continued to see them into December. They have previously been unrecorded in the El Paso area after early November, but have been present through late fall and into winter each of the past two years.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

This species has been moderately common this fall in and around the Davis Mountains. Several were observed in the higher elevations of the Davis Mountains Preserve on 21 September (JG) and 22 September (MA, LL). Single birds were recorded south of Alpine on 9 October (JG) and in Fort Davis on 8 November (KB).

Brown Creeper

Appearing only sporadically in the BBNP, a Brown Creeper was a good find at the RGV campground on 13 November (RP).

Carolina Wren

Increasingly common across the Big Bend, two birds were singing on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande at BBNP - Santa Elena Canyon on 31 August (BF, PH). Another Carolina Wren was observed at rthe RGV - Nature Trail between 7 September and 20 November (MF, TV, GLe). A singing Carolina

Wren at Canutillo, in far west Texas, on 20 November, was an excellent find (JZ).

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Not seen every fall and winter in the park, the four individuals of this species that were discovered at the BBNP - RGV Daniels Ranch on 15 November (RC) were a pleasant surprise.

Mountain Bluebird

A flock of 20 - 25 birds wasa reported along TX 118, south of the McDonald Observatory (Jeff Davis County) on 25 November (MAd).

Townsend's Solitaire

A single bird in El Paso on 21 September was notable (BZ), the earliest fall record ever for the county. On 9 October, John Gee had four individuals in his yard, south of Alpine, with three of them singing!

Gray Catbird

Kelly Bryan had a single bird at the GMNP - Frijole Ranch on 30 October. A single bird was sighted along the BBNP RGV - Nature Trail by several observers, 11 - 20 November. Another individual was in extreme northwest El Paso on 10 November (JP).

Wood Thrush

Only the fourth record for El Paso County, a single bird was sighted by Barry Zimmer on 7 October. Two of the previous El Paso County records were also in the first week of October.

VARIED THRUSH

Jim Paton found and photographed a male in west El Paso on 24 November for a third county record, the first since 1990. Several observers failed to re-locate the bird.

AZTEC THRUSH

An immature was seen by Don White in the Double Diamond North subdivision, south of Alpine (Brewster County) on 20 and 21 September.

Sage Thrasher

Overcast and rainy conditions in early November were followed by a good showing of this species throughout appropriate habitat in BBNP at mid-month (fide MF).

Brown Thrasher

A rare winter visitor to far west Texas that is not seen in some years, Barry Zimmer observed a single bird in El Paso on 30 November.

Lucy's Warbler

A HY bird was seen on the BBNP - Window Trail on 30 August (BF, PH), an unusual location for this species, normally found at lower elevations along the Rio Grande.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Rare anywhere in the Trans-Pecos, three reports were received this fall season from BBNP. A lone female was observed at the South Rim on 23 August (JPac). Two males and a female were then discovered on the Pinnacles Trail (MF). And two males were in BBNP - Boot Canyon on 29 August (BF, PH).

Blackburnian Warbler

An outstanding find anywhere in the Trans-Pecos, an individual of this species was found at the Tornillo Rest Stop, along TX 20 in Hudspeth County, on 20 October (JP †), the first record of this species for the county.

Yellow-throated Warbler

A first record for Hudspeth County, this bird was spotted at the Tornillo Rest Stop on TX 20 on 15 August (BZ).

Grace's Warbler

A female of this species was nice find in BBNP - Boot Canyon on 24 August (JPac).

Pine Warbler

Accidental in BBNP, a single bird was reported from BBNP - RGV on 13 November (JH).

Black-and-white Warbler

A single bird of this species in Pine Canyon was a notable find on 11 August (EC, TF). A female was in El Paso on 26 - 27 August (BZ †).

American Redstart

A rare migrant in El Paso County, a female was discovered by Barry Zimmer on 30 September.

Northern Waterthrush

Two Northern Waterthrush at BBNP - RGV on 7 September were notable (MF).

Louisiana Waterthrush

A lone individual of this species, accidental in the park, was an excellent discovery at BBNP - Boot Canyon on 21 August (BG).

RED-FACED WARBLER

This species was reported from Boot Canyon on 10 August (EC, TF), just past the intersection with the Juniper Trail. Red-faced Warbler is an almost annual migrant through the Trans-Pecos during early and mid August. A single bird was also reported from Boot Springs on 16 August (J&BH, AH, JR). A surprising three individuals -- an apparent family group -- foraging together were reported from the Boot Rock overlook in Boot Canyon on 21 August (BG, DH). These observers notedanother individual at Boot Spring the same day. The season's last observations of this species were reported from Boot Canyon on 25 August (MF, PR). Two RFWA reports in June and July, together with the lengthy series of sightings in August, including a juvenile bird, hint at the possibility of nesting. There are no documented nesting records for this species in Texas.

Painted Redstart

At ~ 6600 ft elevation on the BBNP - Pinnacles Trail, just below Pinnacles Pass, two foraging adult males were seen on 9 August (EC, TF). A single bird as seen in Boot Canyon on 24 August (PR); a single male was seen in Boot Canyon on 29 August (BF, PH); and at least two vocal males were chasing each other near BBNP - Boot Canyon campsite BC2 on 1 September (BF, PH). For the first summer in several years, this species was regularly encountered in the Chisos Mountains by birders throughout the breeding season. A migrating individual was seen on 4 October in El Paso's Memorial Park (JZ, BZ†), the latest fall record for the county.

Hepatic Tanager

A rare migrating female was a notable find on 8 October in El Paso (BZ).

Western Tanager

A lone female in the BBNP RGV - campground on 9 November was very late (JH).

Sage Sparrow

Though they were rare across most of the Trans-Pecos this fall, good numbers of this wintering species were found in mid-November on the west side of the GMNP, near near the Gypsum Dunes (KB).

BAIRD'S SPARROW

A single individual of this Review Species was reported from a brushy draw along TX 166 (Jeff Davis County) on 23 October (F&JD).

Fox Sparrow

A red iliaca / zaboria individual was discovered in Jim Paton's west El Paso yard on 16 November (JP). A nicely marked individual in Limpia Crossing (Jeff Davis County) was a good find on 3 December (TH).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Casual in fall migration, a single bird in the GMNP - Pine Springs housing area was an unusual find (JPap).

Lazuli Bunting

A single male was reported from BBNP - Blue Creek Canyon on 10 August (M&AC); 2 - 3 individuals, including a nice male, were at BBNP - RGV on 30 August (BF, PH).

Indigo Bunting

Accidental in the park at this time of year, 2 - 3 birds were at BBNP - RGV on 30 August (BF, PH).

Painted Bunting

A very late adult male Painted Bunting stopped at a Marfa backyard pond for a drink of water on 24 September (MAd, LL).

Dicksissel

A group of eight seen on the Moon Ranch (Jeff Davis County) was a good find (JRe) on 28 August.

Orchard Oriole

Though it nests as far west as Hudspeth County, this species is rarely seen in El Paso County. A single female was in Barry Zimmer's yard on 31 August, the exact same date that an Orchard Oriole visited his yard the previous year.

Cassin's Finch

Another irruption of this species began with a report of a single bird by Kelly Bryan on 30 October in Guadalupe Canyon. A single female at a private feeder on 8 November (M&ME) marked the first Davis Mountains observation. By the end of November, this species had become more common in the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains.

Red Crossbill

A lone, early HY female was at BBNP - Sam Nail Ranch on 17 August (MF). A single male was observed in Jim Paton's El Paso yard on 12 October.

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