Stevens Family Calendar: June

This is part of a series about the Stevens Family Calendar (if you know, you know).

The page features birds, bugs and flowers

I am a birder. Caty likes photographing raptors and colorful birds. Scott likes raptors. Becca hates birds (but that is not relevent here). 

What is relevant is that it is inevitable that birds appear in the calendar. 

They can be pretty. They can be dramatic. And, they can be very different from all the other photos – or the other birds I have posted over the years. 

Yes, there are birds throughout the calendar (just look at the cover!), but this page is the catch-all for birds we photographed during our travels and at home. Plus, it has a smattering of bugs, butterflies and flowers, leading to lots and lots of color.

There were two main reasons I needed a bird page ...

#1: The hundreds of incredible photos I got of Horned Puffins on a small island (location to be kept secret) in Cook Inlet in Alaska. 

Not only did I have close-up-and-personal access, but they were
on a rocky cliff studded with colorful wildflowers; this is on the calendar page

#2: The other was some incredible Hummingbird photos that Caty got in southern Arizona. 

She worked very hard to get them and it paid off. You already saw the hovering Broad-billed Hummingbird that appeared on the cover and the dispute that shows up in the opening ...

 

It takes good reflexes and camera knowledge to capture these speedy birds; Photos: Caty Stevens

But, there were a few more great ones ...

Caty captured Costa's, Black-chinned and Rivoli's Hummingbirds while in Arizona

... and, this one was, by far, the winner ...

A darn-near perfect photo of a Broad-billed Hummingbird by Caty Stevens

I like this one, too, but not as much

I even managed to get a few in the runner-up bucket, but (for obvious reasons), they didn't make the cut.

A nesting Black-chinned and a female Calliope Hummingbird

Just like last month, the photos on the main page are closely aligned with the little squares on the calendar page, so here it is before I discuss any other photos. 

A Trumpeter Swan Caty shot is on the back cover

I also want to point out that I have discussed (and will discuss in future posts) a number of raptors and a smattering of other birds. I am not going to include all them in this page just to prevent any more redundancy that I already have. But, some do appear again. 

I wish there was some logic to it, but there really isn't.

Before I took that little break, I was discussing Arizona, which is a great birding destination. Hummingbirds weren't the only birds we saw there.

These four show up in the calendar: Summer Tanager (cover),
Acorn Woodpecker (calendar page), Indigo Bunting and
Hepatic Tanager (main page); Acorn Woodpecker photo: Caty Stevens

These were not selected: Brown Creeper, Elegant Trogon and Scott's Oriole;
Middle Photo: Caty Stevens

These two Woodpeckers (Arizona and Acorn) also both missed out

Of course, when we were in Ecuador, I photographed a lot of beautiful and colorful birds and butterflies. When putting the initial candidate together, I exercised a lot of restraint because I had so, so many colorful birds in the 2023 calendar. 

I went to Costa Rica in 2022 and did this page in the 2023 calendar; see what I mean?

Still, I ended up with lots of birds ...

... a Many-banded Aracari on the cover and a Blue-footed Booby on the April main page ...

... an American Flamingo and Hoatzin on the April pages ...

An Opal-crowned Tanager, left, on the April page; the Red Cracker Butterfly
and Masked Tanager on the June main page ...

... a Gray-capped Flycatcher and Malachite Butterfly in small squares on the calendar page
and a Green-and-gold Tanager on the June main page 

 I covered all the rejected ones except this Blue Morpho and Red Cracker Butterfly from Ecuador plus this Gulf Fritillary from Hawai'i that is in the opening section

When we spent Thanksgiving 2022 in Hawai'i, I photographed a lot of pretty birds  ...

An Orange-cheeked Waxbill is on the calendar page and a Ring-necked Pheasant is on the cover ...

... plus lots of red: an 'Apapane, left, is on the calendar page and an 'I'iwi and 'Apapane, right,
didn't get selected; Right photos: Caty Stevens

Three photos of the adorable little Warbling White-eyes were in the running;
we selected the left one for the main page

Of course, we photograph birds all year long in multiple places, when we're traveling and, sometimes, at home. 

Two favorites that just missed out: an American Robin in Cheyenne Canyon near our house
and a White-breasted Nuthatch in our backyard

The Bohemian Waxwing on the left was also in Cheyenne Canyon and
the Hunt's Bumblebee was in Nevada; both are on the main page

This Ruby-crowned Kinglet almost showed up on the October page; I shot it
in the fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Two perspectives on a Vermilion Flycatcher in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge;
the one on the right won out and is on the back cover

I always intend to include lots of colorful flowers, but they almost always get beaten out by birds. Here are some from Alaska and Hawai'i that I considered ...

Pretty colors

Next month's page is all about Alaska, but I did include some shots from the 50th state.

Three from the calendar page: Flowers flanking a Golden-crowned Sparrow

Not used: Two singing Pacific Wrens flanking a much-sought-after Gray-crowned Rosy Finch

And, that brings me back to the Puffins. The area where they were nesting was absolutely magical and I took countless photos. 

This one ended up with prominent position on the main page ...

... and these weren't used ...

... nor were these

I don't think we'll ever not have a bird page. The character changes each year, but the variety keeps them coming back (and 2025 should have a huge Penguin contingent).

That's it for June. As I said, we'll visit Alaska next.

This photo of the Holgate Glacier wasn't chosen for the July page

Going Home

An Ash-throated Flycatcher at San Angelo (Texas) State Park

All good (ish – I mean it wasn't a really successful birding trip) things must come to an end, so I had to go home. But, I still had a little play, so I altered my plan somewhat.

Garner State Park

Day's drive

I threaded my way north, planning to stop near Uvalde at Garner State Park, another place that has Golden-cheeked Warblers (I said I was letting it go, but, darn it, I really wanted to see that bird). It took a long time driving to get there, so it was fairly late in the day when I arrived. I wanted to stop before I headed on to San Angelo.

I was surprised. 

I have long seen posts of birds in Uvalde that included a lot of the birds you see throughout the Rio Grande Valley – Green Jays, Altamira Orioles and so forth – so I thought Uvalde was down that way. 

Nope. It's full-on Hill Country, on the edge of the Balcones Canyonlands area. Gorgeous hills and valleys!

Garner State Park; Photo: Home to Go

The Park was built in the early 1930s to preserve a portion of the Hill Country for the public and to provide work for unemployed men during the Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the Park's original structures, which included a large pavilion and a concessions building. The Park was named for John Nance Garner, former Vice-President of the United States who lived and practiced law in the area. The Park's size more than doubled when 790 acres were added in 1976.

Map: Friends of Garner State Park

Garner is located on the Edwards Plateau, which was formed when a section of land was lifted 2,000 feet along a curving fault. It features high mesas, limestone cliffs, deep canyons and clear streams. Mount Old Baldy, which overlooks the Frio River, is 1,849 feet above sea level. So, nothing compared to Colorado, but pretty good for Texas.

The Park has lovely cabins, some with fireplaces and all with kitchens and bathrooms. Because I arrived fairly late and San Angelo was still two and a half hours away, I wished I had a cabin for the night. I didn't have linens or cooking supplies, so it wouldn't have worked, but it did look like some were not occupied.

These look nice; Photo: TripAdvisor

Garner is one of those full-service State parks, with paddle boats, kayaks and inner tubes for rent, picnic tables, barbecue pits, a putt-putt golf course, camping spots, the aforementioned cabins, trails, a souvenir shop, Ranger-led programs, a restaurant, a bird blind and a native plant butterfly garden.

Black-chinned Hummingbirds at a feeder in the bird blind

A cool thing is the "Summer Dance," a jukebox dance that has been held on summer evenings since the 1940s at CCC-built concession building.

Dancers in the 50s; Photo: Tour My Texas

Because the Park has mixed Ashe juniper and oak woodlands, Golden-cheeked Warblers nest there. I went first to the bird blind where I didn't see much except ... 

Black-chinned Hummingbirds

House Finches

House Sparrows

Lesser Goldfinches (and lots of Bees)

Rock Squirrels

A volunteer told me about a trail where I might find Golden-cheeked Warblers, but after I drove up a steep hill to the trailhead, I discovered that the only parking was about a half mile away. That wouldn't really give me enough time to park, reach the trailhead, hike and go back. 

So, this time, I truly gave up on the bird and headed out. But, hey, I am going to Mexico in July. Maybe I'll see them there.

San Angelo State Park

I arrived in San Angelo rather late, so I didn't call friends Jana and Curtis. Had I had more time, I would have because #1 they are great people and #2 Jana is an expert on local critters.

Instead, I crashed and made plans for the next day. I wanted to go to San Angelo State Park first thing in the morning because Jana, who volunteers there, posts such great things from the bird blind. 

Another Texas State Park

Here's where I made an error. The website said that the Park "opens" for day use at 8:30 a.m., which was a bit later than I wanted to go. So, I didn't plan to get there until "opening" time. 

Well, I think that meant the kiosks or Visitors Center or whatever. You can actually get into the Park whenever you want (they have campgrounds). So, I could have gone much earlier.

Still, I had a lovely time alone at the bird blind, where I actually didn't see anything except Great-tailed Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and ...

 

Northern Mockingbirds and White-crowned Sparrows

And White-winged Doves

I had better luck walking around near the blind where I captured ...

A Ladder-backed Woodpecker

A Bell's Vireo

Then, I took a short walk along a very West Texas trail ...

The essence of the West

... where I got great photos of ...

Several Cassin's Sparrows

And some Ash-throated Flycatchers

And, then some more Cassin's Sparrows (lots and lots of them)

A drive around only brought  ...

Painted Lady Butterflies

More Mockingbirds

And a couple of Turkey Vultures on an appropriate perch

Oh, and I did finally see a couple of Bobwhites, but they flew away before I could grab the camera (I was driving). I really need a Bobwhite photo, so I will go back and stay longer (and visit Jana and Curtis).

But, I had to move on.

Onward

I decided to take a different route home instead of going through Texas to Raton Pass. 

Texas energy; Photo: Texas Tribune

I swung northwest and drove through the oil fields of west Texas. It was VERY oil. Oil wells. Oil well supply businesses. Trucks hauling oil. Trucks hauling oil equipment. Oil workers in trucks. Oh, and lots and lots of wind turbines. 

It's nice to see new energy alongside old.

It was hot, windy and dusty. I had to hold tight to the steering wheel to avoid being blown into those big trucks hauling equipment. 

Lots of red dirt; Photo: Texas Observer

It wasn't as exciting a detour as I had hoped.

And, I honestly do not know what oilfield workers eat.

There are NO restaurants except an occasional (very occasional) Dairy Queen. This drive proved my theory that you cannot incorporate as a town in Texas without a DQ. Yeah, I know that Whataburger (or, as said by a Texan, "Waterburger") is moving in on the "gotta have one in town" territory. But, DQ still rules West Texas.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Anyway, I headed west to New Mexico, driving through Roswell and over the mountains, ending up at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for a quick drive-through before heading north. I've been there a couple of times and there are always some good birds (it's famous for Sandhill Cranes in late winter).

This time, there were lots of distant ducks that were too far to even photograph I did see a few up close, including  ...

These Mexican/Mallard Hybrids

Some Egrets, both Snowy ...

... and Great 

Plus Wild Turkeys 

But, the biggest treat was a group of beautiful White-faced Ibises, preening and feeding in the late afternoon sun.

A nice surprise

A wading bird that breeds colonially in marshes, White-faced Ibises can be found from the western United States south through Mexico and Central America. A second subspecies lives in South America. The total population size is estimated to be 1.2 million and increasing.

They look very similar to Glossy Ibises, just slightly smaller with warmer plumage color. 

There were about a dozen

Breeding adults have a pink, bare face bordered with white feathers (rather than the bluish bare face with no bordering feathers of the Glossy), a grey bill, and brighter-colored, redder legs. Adults have red eyes year-round, whereas Glossy Ibises have dark eyes.

The White-faced Ibis is especially beautiful in sunlight, where you can see the iridescence of its feathers. 

So, late afternoon at Bosque del Apache was great

And That's It

I spent that night (uneventfully) in Albuquerque, arriving after dark and leaving early in the morning. I took a detour up to the top of Sandia Peak, but saw absolutely nothing of interest. Then, it was a straight shot home. So, the eclipse was great, the bluebonnets beautiful, the birding OK and the chance to just travel alone great.

A fun trip

Trip date: April 7-17, 2024