Lou & Jan's Excellent Birding Adventures: March 2017

Trip Report Las Vegas

Date:

March 2017

Who would have ever thought you could go to Vegas for nearly a week and not see the inside of a casino the whole time. There are some incredible outdoor venues in Clark County -- and we took a lot of them in. The weather was great -- not a drop of rain -- and most days were filled with sunshine.

Its always fun to find "western" birds and believe it or not, Vegas can get you some pretty unusual ones. The marquee attraction has to be the Crissal Thrasher. This guy is a little harder to spot than most birds, as it tends to be shy and hide. But we caught sight of one in the "burn area" at the Clark County Wetlands Park. He perched nicely for some great pics (see #52 below).

Despite a 43+ hour trip home (one cancelled flight, one missed connection), we will definitely go back -- its too much fun to not.

1. American Robin
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

2. Audubon's Warbler
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12
     aka Yellow-rumped Warbler

3. Brewer's Blackbird
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

there are no crows around Vegas

4. Common Raven
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

5. Great-tailed Grackle
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

6. Lesser Goldfinch
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

7. Mourning Dove
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

8. Rock Pigeon
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

9. White-crowned Sparrow
     Location:  Primm Forest Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-12

10. Abert's Towhee
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

sleeping

11. American Avocet
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

12. American Coot
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

13. American Kestrel
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

14. American Pipit
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

15. American Wigeon
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

16. Bufflehead
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

17. Canada Goose
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

18. Cinnamon Teal
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

19. Common Gallinule
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

20. Common Goldeneye
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

21. Costa's Hummingbird
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

22. Double-crested Cormorant
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

23. Eared Grebe
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

24. Gadwall
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

25. Gambel's Quail
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

26. Great Egret
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

27. Green-winged Teal
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

28. Killdeer
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

29. Least Sandpiper
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

30. Lesser Scaup
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

31. Lincoln's Sparrow
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

32. Long-billed Dowitcher
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

ubiquitous

33. Mallard
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

34. Marsh Wren
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

35. Northern Harrier
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

36. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

37. Northern Shoveler
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

38. Pied-billed Grebe
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

beautiful breeding plumage

39. Redhead
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

40. Red-winged Blackbird
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

male

41. Ring-necked Duck
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

42. Ruddy Duck
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

43. Say's Phoebe
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

44. Turkey Vulture
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

a pretty little bird fairly common here

45. Verdin
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

46. Wilson's Snipe
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

47. Wood Duck
     Location:  Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

48. Anna's Hummingbird
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

49. Bewick's Wren
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

50. Black Phoebe
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

51. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

harder than most to find
very happy to get a decent photo

52. Crissal Thrasher
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

53. Snowy Egret
     Location:  Clark County Wetlands Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-13

54. Cedar Waxwing
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

55. Cooper's Hawk
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

56. Eurasian Collared-Dove
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

57. European Starling
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

orange is unusual
usually red
diet can affect color

58. House Finch
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

59. Northern Mockingbird
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

60. Phainopepla
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

61. Red-tailed Hawk
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

62. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

63. Savannah Sparrow
     Location:  Corn Creek
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

64. Tree Swallow
     Location:  Mt. Charleston Scenic Drive
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

65. Western Scrub-Jay
     Location:  Mt. Charleston Scenic Drive
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-14

66. Ring-billed Gull
     Location:  Veteran's Memorial Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

67. Common Merganser
     Location:  Lake Mead NRA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

68. Horned Lark
     Location:  Lake Mead NRA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

69. House Sparrow
     Location:  Lake Mead NRA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

America's ugliest duck! Surprised to find one here.

70. Muscovy Duck
     Location:  Lake Mead NRA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

71. Western Grebe
     Location:  Lake Mead NRA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-15

72. Black-throated Sparrow
     Location:  Red Rock Canyon NCA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-16

a nice western woodpeecker to find

73. Ladder-backed Woodpecker
     Location:  Red Rock Canyon NCA
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-16

74. Juniper Titmouse
     Location:  Spring Mountain Ranch SP
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17

75. Oregon Junco
     Location:  Spring Mountain Ranch SP
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17
     aka Dark-eyed Junco

76. Red-shafted Flicker
     Location:  Spring Mountain Ranch SP
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17
     aka Northern Flicker

77. Sharp-shinned Hawk
     Location:  Spring Mountain Ranch SP
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17

78. White-throated Swift
     Location:  Spring Mountain Ranch SP
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17

79. Chinese Goose
     Location:  Sunset Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17

80. Graylag Goose
     Location:  Sunset Park
     County: Clark  State: NV  Country: US
     Date: 2017-03-17

NOTE: Photos are best-of-trip and thus may not be from the location where
the species was first seen.

Other Stuff

wild burro
Spring Mountain Ranch State Part

lucky find!

Hoover Dam
from the new bridge

distanct snow-capped Mt. Charleston
from Corn Creek

88 degrees in Vegas, yet snow still piled to the roof atop the mountain
Mt.Charleston

scene behind Lake Harriet
Spring Mountain State Park

Jan in the field
Corn Creek

Lou in the field
Corn Creek

Lou & Jan's Excellent Birding Adventures

Monday, March 27, 2017

Las Vegas March 2017