A New Chapter

Our new home on the road

This has been a busy first week on the road fighting unusually cold and snowy weather and now a new chapter to our travels.  Last night we arrived in the small town of Rice Texas where a small, self contained camper trailer is manufactured.  Known as the Casita, which means small house in Spanish, we ordered one about five months ago.  They make about one a day and the price of delivery to Oregon is the cost of a trip to Texas so the central purpose of this trip was to pick up the trailer.  Texas and the Southwest is one of the birdiest parts of the country so of course I couldn't resist the chance to enjoy all the great birds and share them with you, while I learn the ropes of the new trailer.  This new mode of lodging  should ultimately put us in closer touch with the birds.

Vermillion Flycatcher

Orange-crowned Warbler

The bird list is piling up so I thought I better post something tonight because I am not sure where we will be tomorrow or the weekend and might not be able to get on line.  I already am working on the Bird of the week for next week, one that is sure to please.

Early morning flight of Double-crested Cormorants

More birds for the map :)

265 Greater Scaup, The Dalles, Oregon
266 Greater White-fronted Goose, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
267 Snow Goose, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
268 Falcated Duck, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
269 Nuttall's Woodpecker, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
270 Black Phebe, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
271 California Towhee, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, California
272 Yellow-billed Magpie, Central California, Exit 428, off I5
273 Virgina Rail, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
274 Sora, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
275 Anna's Hummingbird,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
276 Gila Woodpecker,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
277 Red-napped Sapsucker,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
278 Vermilion Flycatcher,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
279 Verdin,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
280 Black-tailed Gnatcatcher,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
281 Black-throated Gray Warbler,  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
282 Orange-crowned Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
283 Abert's Towhee, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
284 Sagebrush Sparrow, Rest stop on I 40 west of Kingman, AZ
285 Chihuahuan Raven, along the I 10 Freeway, New Mexico
286 Short-eared Owl, out skirts of Roswell, NM
287 Scalled Quail, Chaves County, NM
288 Prairie Falcon, Chaves County, NM
289 Bewick's Wren, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
290 Sage Thrasher, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
291 Yellow-headed Blackbird, Stock yard, Chaves County, NM
292 Curve-billed Thrasher, Hwy 114 eastern New Mexico