Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Start & Finish: Rio Grande Village, Big Bend NP

Very slow start to the day. Enjoyed most of the morning in camp, warming up nicely. Before noon we stopped at the visitor center for this area. The Rio Grande Village consists of the NPS campground, Visitor center and the following concession services; store, laundry & showers and RV park with hookups. After lunch we were enjoying some ice cream at the store when I looked up and spotted this Greater Roadrunner up on the roof, probably looking for a handout.

Rooftop Roadrunner


Nearby is the Boquillas Canyon Overlook and crossing. The Rio Grande flows below the cliff and overlooks the crossing into Mexico. The canoe (pictured below) will come ferry you across. You can walk or take a burro into town for lunch at one of several restaurants. This crossing was made legal in the past year. The park service literature has information if you are interested to make the crossing.

Boquillas Crossing


Flower - mallow


After dinner and closer to sunset we walked out on the Nature Trail that starts from the campground. It was a full moon night and lots of people were out in the area to get pictures. Ocotillo is one of my favorite desert plants, they are tall, spindly sticks with bog thorns that are bare most of the year. With a very little rain leaves will sprout along the stalks and every Spring, with or without rain, they bloom as bright orange flame-shaped flowers. To me they represent the harshness and beauty of the desert - all in one plant.

Ocotillo blossom


Full Moon over Boquillas Canyon



Wildlife Sightings
Verdin
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Turkey Vulture
Vermilion Flycatcher
Chipping Sparrow
Western Screech Owl (heard)
Common Poorwill (heard)
Northern Cardinal
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Lizard
Bat
Cottontail Rabbit