Happy Monday!

 Hello Everyone, Happy Monday

I wish every one a great day and a happy new week!

"Clouds come and go, the mountain remains."

New Mexico/ Texas trip November 2013. The roadside rest area south of El Capitan provides the classic view of the south end of the Guadalupe Mountains. 

Guadalupe Peak

I am linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday 

I am linking up with Lydia of Where the Wild Things Were and the Favorite Fotos linky. Thanks Lydia for hosting the party.

On the 4th day of  our vacation we left Carlsbad, New Mexico, stopping at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We went on some short hikes and then headed back onto the road passing some of the pretty Guadalupe Mountain scenery.

My hubby teases me about my luck with weather on our vacations. I have rarely had bad weather or rainy weather during any of our PAST vacations. Seems my luck held true, nothing but blue skies were to be seen during our week away.

Guadalupe Peak and more pretty blue sky. It was weird for me to drive for so many miles and see the same mountain peak from almost as far back as Carlsbad. We did get different views of the peak.

While traveling around New Mexico and Texas, the Townsend's Solitaire was one of the birds popping out to be seen.

We saw lots of Chipping Sparrows, another one of the more common birds we saw all week.

I loved the view looking back at the Guadalupe Peak!

Salt Basin and Linda Lake...a few gulls flying away..the blue water and sky almost meet.

On the edge of Linda Lake, I want to guess and say this is a Least Sandpiper.. I will not mind if someone else disagree's with me.

Another look back at the Guadalupe Mountains from Linda Lake.


 Thanks for visiting my post and  blog and I always appreciate your comments.

  Happy Skywatching everyone!

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and to see more of the winged critters check out NF Winged

Thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday! Thanks to Monica the host of NF Winged.   I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

Sage Thrasher

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

Today's post is featuring the Sage Thrasher.  Even though I shared this thrasher on my post below I wanted to share more information on this bird. We found this Sage Thrasher along the Manzanita trail at the Guadalupe Mtns National Park.

The Sage Thrasher is a medium sized bird similar to the Mockingbird and Catbird. They are grey-brown on the upperparts and white with dark streaks on the underparts. They have a slim straight bill, yellow eyes and a long tail.

They mainly eat insects in the summer and berries, especially berries in the winter.

They breed in western North America from southern Canada to Arizona and New Mexico.

The Sage Thrasher was one of  my vacation lifers. Thanks for visiting and for the nice comments.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.  Thanks to our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

Guadalupe Mtns National Park

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

 During our New Mexico trip we continued on the National Park highway to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas.  We visited the Pine Springs Visitor center also stopped at the Frijole Ranch. As we hiked the Manzanita Spring trail of course I just had to look for birds along the way.

Various scenes from the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

 Above on The Pinery trail exhibits describe the Chihuahuan desert vegetation.

At the Pine Spring visitor center we walked along the trail checking out the vegetation and the views of El Capitan (elev 8749).

The Sage Thrasher was a lifer for me..it was seen along the Manzanita trail near the Frijole Ranch. The trail is located behind the ranch house, the spring is a great desert watering hole for wildlife and a great birding location.

 Above the Red-shafted Flicker, Townsend's Solitaire and a couple of Chipping Sparrows.

The Frijole Ranch was owned by various people since 1876.  It has it's own school house, a springhouse, a cattle ranch, orchard. In 1966 the Hunter family sold the ranch to the National Park Service. Today the ranch museum is on the national register of historic sites.

The Red-shafted Flicker seemed to be a common bird, seen in many places during our trip.

As always, I hope you enjoy my post and thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week!