Texas Creek BLM Rec site--a few sheltered places

As I noted in the previous post, the Texas Creek BLM Recreation site has heavy ATV and dirt bike use. Fortunately most of the riparian habitat adjacent to the Arkansas River is not easily accessed by motorized vehicles which spares these important areas.

The riparian habitat in the bottom pic is where I found the nesting Yellow Warbler in the posts below. I also saw a few Cedar Waxwings here yesterday. Though we had a heavy run-off, this area has a good willow edge with some cottonwoods while junipers are on the adjacent upland areas creating some diversity. The surrounding mountains add to the scenic viewshed.

I also found this lizard under a railroad bridge that leads to this riverside retreat just a short way from the noisy motorized area. I believe it is a Prairie/Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) that seems to have lost most of its tail. Unbelievably there is prairie grassland in the motorized area (though it often suffers from off-road driving). In fact in the grassland that hasn't been tore-up by off-road vehicle use there is some beautiful blue grama grass.
SeEtta