Week Number 2

We finished our second week at Bitter Lake NWR and I'm still captivated by the Blue Curls...

and Pepper Grass

This weather vane graces the maintenance barn

The old headquarters building is classic adobe style

We discovered this gorgeous mural depicting some of the wildlife 

I counted 12 different snake species.

The marker cites designation as a National Natural Landmark.  

The Refuge is named for Bitter Lake, an alkaline playa located on the north end of the Middle Unit. 

That's not snow, it's salt!

More than 70 sinkholes dot the landscape surrounding Bitter Lake

 but only the largest is named. 

 Lake St. Francis

This area is closed to the general public, understandably a dangerous environment. 

The new Visitor Center was dedicated in 2006, 

a  thoroughly modern state of the art facility 

setting on the bluff overlooking the marsh and the Pecos River. 

Sandhill Crane, Snow and Ross's Goose are the star winter residents, but when they leave the water levels are reduced for spring and summer waders such as 

American Avocet

White-faced Ibis

and Black-necked Stilt. 

Grassland birds include

Western Meadowlark

which seem leaner and lankier than the Eastern from South Texas

Vesper Sparrow lurk in the brush along the wildlife drive. 

This road runner visited the eastern deck of the VC, visibly upset with his reflection 

He raised his spread tail and flailed his spread wings, flogging his image more than once before admitting defeat. 

A pair of Great Horned Owl showed up just at sunset and serenaded us most of the night. 

Another beautiful sunset behind Capitan Mountain, 10083 feet high, which makes a great landmark for measuring the northward march of the sun toward the summer solstice. 

April 9 

April 16

On the Refuge, every day is Earth Day.