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8 Feb Barrows goldeneye [Ron or Heidi ] 7 Feb Euro Wigeons, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull etc. around Reno [Martin Meyers ] 6 Feb Lemmon Valley (2/6/12) [Fred Petersen ] 6 Feb Lake Park (Reno) Birds, 5 Feb 2012 [Brian Adams ] 6 Feb FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas ADDITION [Bird Preserve ] 6 Feb Virginia Lake, Reno (2/5/12) [Fred Petersen ] 5 Feb Willow Creek & Mountain Falls (Pahrump) (Nye County) [Darlene Feener ] 5 Feb Reno area bird sightings [ann murphy ] 5 Feb Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 5 Feb Fwd: LONG-TAILED DUCK - still in Bullhead [Carl Lundblad ] 4 Feb Re: Two Great-horned Owls [Brian Adams ] 4 Feb FWD Laughlin Long-tailed Duck [David Vander Pluym ] 4 Feb Stillwater, Fallon, Carson Lake, Sparks Marina (no rarities) [Martin Meyers ] 3 Feb Two Great-horned Owls [Sue Herrera ] 2 Feb Adult & Immature Bald Eagle [Sue Herrera ] 31 Jan Miscellaneous Sightings Around Reno [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 30 Jan Color-banded Goldfinch, Rancho San Rafael (1/30/12) [Fred Petersen ] 30 Jan Silver State Valley [Sue Herrera ] 30 Jan Out and about in Reno today [Miles Shaylor ] 30 Jan Fwd: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 13, 2012 [] 29 Jan Mason Valley WMA-Lyon County, Brunswick Canyon Road-Carson City Area [Rob Lowry ] 29 Jan Paradise park today [Miles Shaylor ] 29 Jan Barrow's Goldeneyes, American Dippers, etc. in Reno today [Martin Meyers ] 29 Jan Stillwater and Fallon [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 29 Jan Willow Creek & Mountain Falls [Darlene Feener ] 29 Jan Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve East of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 29 Jan Learning curve [Sue Herrera ] 29 Jan Great-Horned Owl turns into a Red-tailed Hawk [Sue Herrera ] 29 Jan Dipper 1/26/12 in Reno [ann murphy ] 28 Jan Eurasian Wigeon (male), Barrow's Goldeneye, Tundra swans at Lemmon Valley WTP [Rick/Meg Andrews ] 27 Jan 1/27 Lake Mead, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls [Andrew Lee ] 26 Jan Harris's Hawk & So. NV birding [Rose Strickland ] 26 Jan Winnemucca & Paradise Valley sightings [Sue Herrera ] 24 Jan Re: Dark morph Snow Goose, RSR Park, Reno [Brian Adams ] 24 Jan Southern Nevada Sightings last week [Greg Scyphers ] 24 Jan Reno birds Jan 20-21, 2012 [ann murphy ] 22 Jan Gyrfalcon not seen today [Martin Meyers ] 22 Jan Dark morph Snow Goose, RSR Park, Reno [Brian Adams ] 22 Jan Las Vegas Wash [Aaron Ambos ] 22 Jan FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 21 Jan Bill Hart's birding library [Mark Stirling ] 20 Jan Warm Springs--Glendale--Overton--Logandale [Clarke Jesse ] 19 Jan Minden, NV [Lisa Lister ] 19 Jan Goshawk at Hunter Creek Trail [Alan de Queiroz ] 19 Jan From the moderator: server was down for a day [Alan Wallace ] 18 Jan Around and about Reno today -- Varied Thrush, etc. [Martin Meyers ] 19 Jan Test message by moderator: ignore [Alan Wallace ] 17 Jan Varied Thrush still at Crissie Caughlin Park [Alan de Queiroz ] 17 Jan correction of date [ann murphy ] 17 Jan Willow Creek & Mountain Falls [Darlene Feener ] 17 Jan Minden surprise [Lisa Lister ] 17 Jan Las VEgas REdpolls [Jim Moore ] 16 Jan Gyrfalcon at Stillwater [Jane Thompson ] 16 Jan FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 15 Jan GYRFALCON photos posted [Greg Scyphers ] 16 Jan Re: Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 [Brian Adams ] 15 Jan Herring Gulls, Virginia Lake, Reno (1/15/15) [Fred Petersen ] 15 Jan Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 [ann murphy ] 15 Jan Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 [ann murphy ] 15 Jan Lake Park, NW Reno: Great Egret [Brian Adams ] 15 Jan GYRFALCON continues at Stillwater NWR [Greg Scyphers ] 14 Jan 1/14 Lake Mead notes [Andrew Lee ] 13 Jan Fw: BRRI Belize Raptor Tour in December [Susan Stevenson ] 13 Jan cool refuge raptor sighting today! [Susan Sawyer ] 13 Jan Short-Eared Owl-Genoa Lane, Carson Valley [Rob Lowry ] 13 Jan Re: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) [Brian Adams ] 12 Jan Re: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) [Jacque Lowery ] 12 Jan pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) [Rick/Meg Andrews ] 11 Jan Varied Thrush-Crissie Caughlin Park, Reno [Rob Lowry ] 11 Jan Long-Eared Owl-Deadman's Creek Trail, Washoe Valley [Rob Lowry ] 11 Jan Eurasian Wigeon still at Lakeridge [Kenneth Drozd ] 11 Jan No Redpoll in Fernley Today [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 10 Jan Eurasian Wigeon continues at Lakeridge Golf Course [Greg Scyphers ] 10 Jan Fwd: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 7, 2012 [] 10 Jan White-tailed Kite in Pahrump [Morgan Peters ] 10 Jan Common Redpoll in Fernley [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] Subject: Barrows goldeneye From: Ron or Heidi <ronjaramillo AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:26:00 -0800 Hi All, First posting ever. Saw a Barrows Goldeneye at Paradise Park in Sparks today. It was in the farthest west pond with a common female. Sincerely, Heidi and Ron JaramilloSubject: Euro Wigeons, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull etc. around Reno From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:02:50 -0700 I began the day at the Lemmon Valley Sewer Ponds, where the first bird I saw was an adult Bald Eagle hunting the ponds -- flying low over each pond. Ducks scattered, but the eagle didn't get anything. Since I had gone there hoping to see the two ducks previously reported by Meg (Eurasian Wigeon, later also reported by Fred, and female Barrow's Goldeneye), the Bald Eagle excitement, while fun, had the probability of being somewhat counter-productive. However, I was able to find the female Barrow's in the outermost ponds, and, after considerable searching, the male Eurasian Wigeon out in the middle of the playa. Cold temperatures and clouds helped, as there was no heat distortion for distant scope viewing. About 125 Tundra Swans continued on the playa, and all the usual ducks were present, including 14 Lesser Scaup and one male Ring-neck. Next stop was Virgina Lake, where I saw an interesting gull. A first-cycle Herring-type gull with mostly white head, solid black bill (most Herring Gulls by this time of year have begun to show some pale at the base of the lower mandible) and minimal streaking on uppertail coverts, with that area appearing white in flight at any distance. The wings seemed pretty typical for Herring, with all-dark outermost primaries, and pale inner-primary window. I got some photos, so I'll spend some time later seeing how it matches up with the typical (Smithsonianus) Herring Gull, vs. perhaps some more exotic sub-species. I never got as close to it as I would have liked, unfortunately. The Snow Geese that have been around for awhile were not present when I was there today. At the Lakeridge Golf Course, I observed the continuing female Eurasian Wigeon (making this a two Euro Wigeon day.) This is the third time I've seen two Eurasian Wigeons on the same day in the Reno area (but on the other two occasions, 11/20/93 at Virginia Lake and 11/26/04 at Lemmon Valley, the two were together.) A brief stop at Rosewood Lakes (firehouse pond) brought nothing remotely unusual. Final stop was Sparks Marina. Lots of gulls -- probably the most I've seen this winter. There was one adult Mew Gull along with ten Herring Gulls (1 first-cycle, 2 secoond-cycle, 7 adult.) There was a rather unusual looking first-cycle Ring-billed Gull -- plumage was typical but the bill was somewhat thin and pointed, sort of like a Mew Gull. I think it was just a slightly deformed bill, rather than any kind of hybrid or anything even stranger. (I did wait around for it to fly to make sure the tail/rump pattern was typical for Ring-bill -- it was.) All in all, an interesting day. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Lemmon Valley (2/6/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 23:34:51 -0500 Lemmon Valley, Washoe Co (2/6/12). 10:00am-noon. We birded the Lemmon Valley sewage ponds this cold sunny morning for the first time since last fall. The ponds were mostly frozen over, but there were still lots of waterfowl, the majority crowded into the ice-free portions of the big northern pond. The playa was also mostly iced-over, the swans, Canada Geese & other waterfowl being largely confined to the edges of a narrow ice-free corridor near the center. The most abundant ducks by far in both places were Mallards with Gadwall, shovelers & pintails also present in substantial numbers. I looked over the flocks fairly carefully and found the drake Eurasian Wigeon reported earlier, but nothing else at all uncommon. Here's the complete list (19 sps) Tundra Swan--c.100 (all out on the playa, at the edge of the ice-free area) Canada Goose--?100 Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon--1 male (at first in the ponds, & then out on the playa) American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback--5-6l Redhead--?25 Lesser Scaup--?20 Bufflehead--10-12 Common Goldeneye--c.20 Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle--1 (near-adult) Northern Harrier--2-31 immature Coot White-crowned Sparrow We first spotted the Bald Eagle as we were driving in along the dirt road leading to the ponds. It was flying low over the desert, when it suddenly swooped down onto a drake Canvasback which it attempted to carry off but dropped after a few seconds & flew up onto a telephone pole where it stayed for a while keeping an eye on its prey. The Canvasback looked dead but when I walked over to it after the eagle had flown off for good, it proved very much alive--though obviously injured--fluttering off into some bushes 30-40 ft away. What a duck was doing here--in dry desert 100 yds from the nearest water--is anybody's guess. Maybe the eagle had dropped it there before we arrived? http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/6833673409 (Bald Eagle) --Fred PetersenSubject: Lake Park (Reno) Birds, 5 Feb 2012 From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 16:43:53 -0500 On Sunday morning there were a few birds of mild interest at Lake Park in NW Reno: Northern Mockingbird (1) Eurasion Collared-Dove (2) Brian AdamsSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas ADDITION From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 15:20:11 +0000 We had a immature NORTHERN SHRIKE, photos were taken. Best in birding, Je Anne The new entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is now open. Take the 95/515 freeway to the Galleria exit, go east and cross Boulder Highway. The Preserve entrance will be on the north side of the road, follow the driveway and signs to the parking lot and Visitors Center. December, January and February hours will be 7 AM to 2 PM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. If you have 2011 bird calendars which you would like to recycle we will be happy to recycle them and use them for our educational displays. Please send them to "The City of Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 240 Water Street, PO Box 95050, Henderson, Nevada, 89009-5050". Thank you! We had (63) species observed this week. The following birds were seen or heard by staff and visitors at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas: Canada Goose Snow Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck - Some males starting to get blue bills. Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Least Bittern Snowy Egret Black-crowned Night-heron Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sora Virginia Rail Common Gallinule (Formerly Common Moorhen) American Coot Killdeer Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull California Gull Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Tree Swallow Verdin Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch Happy Birding! Randy MichalSubject: Virginia Lake, Reno (2/5/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 00:08:40 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (2/5/12). 11:15am-11:45 Had a quick walk around the lake this morning to see what I could see. The highlights follow: Snow Goose--4 (2 adults, 2 immatures) Lesser Scaup--3-4 (an unusually large number nowadays) Common Goldeneye--5 Hooded Merganser--10-12 Pied-billed Grebe--1 I've been seeing the 4 Snow Geese regularly at V. Lake ever since Martin first reported them last month. They're always in the same place (west side south of the island), dozing in the water not far offshore. --Fred PetersenSubject: Willow Creek & Mountain Falls (Pahrump) (Nye County) From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 22:46:19 -0500 Today February 5, 2012, started out with two Cooper's hawks watching the ducks on the pond. The highlight of the day were a female and male Vermillion Flycatcher seen at Willow Creek. All birding trips that I take are a learning experience. Today was a time of quiet and wonder at all that was moving around me. A total of 57 species were seen today. Mountain Falls birding: (MF) Willow Creek birding: (WC) Mallard AT MF&WC Gadwall AT MF Green-winged Teals AT WC tucked into the back of the pond near Richard and Carol's American Wigeon AT MF&WC Northern Pintail AT WC hidden into the back of the pond near the Green-winged Teals (3) Pintail's a male & two females. Northern Shoveler AT MF & WC Canvasback AT MF Ring-necked Duck AT MF&WC Common Merganser AT MF&WC Ruddy Duck AT MF&WC Gambel's Quail AT MF&WC Pied-billed Grebe AT MF Eared Grebe AT MF Great-Blue Heron AT MF Northern Harrier, on a bush near the ground, watching little birds coming and going AT MF Sharp-shinned Hawk AT Willow Creek ahead of me flapping and gliding as I drive into Richard&Carol's driveway. Cooper's Hawk AT Mountain Fall's hanging out at the front pond. (2) Red-Shouldered Hawk AT WC sitting near the clubhouse watching the American Wigeon's on the pond. Red-tailed Hawk AT MF AT the top of a large Mesquite tree, spreading it's tail. American Kestrel AT MF AT the top of a street light. American Coots AT MF&WC California Gull AT WC on Ed's pond. Enjoying the pond by itself. Seemed in no hurry to leave. Rock Pigeon's AT MF&WC Eurasian-Collared Dove's calling AT MF&WC Mourning Dove's AT MF&WC Burrowing Owl (1) in Pahrump, sunning itself. Anna's Hummingbird AT MF&WC Black Phoebe AT WC Vermillion Flycatcher's (2) AT WC the female went flying past me followed by the male. A beautiful sight! Loggerhead Shrike AT MF in the Mesquite American Crows AT MF in the field Common Ravens AT MF&WC Horned Larks AT MF three large groups Verdin AT WC Rock Wren AT MF in the field catching my eye as it moved it's body up and down. Mountain Bluebirds AT MF in the field feeding. American Robins AT MF in the Mulberry tree. Northern Mockingbird AT MF in the Mesquite European Starlings AT MF in the Mulberry tree. American Pipit AT MF feeding in the field with the Mountain Bluebirds. Cedar Waxwing's AT MF in the Pyracanta bushes. Phainopepla AT MF in the Mesquite tree. Orange-crowned Warbler AT MF&WC at suet feeders. Yellow-rumped Warbler AT MF&WC at suet feeders. Chipping Sparrow AT WC in the parking lot. Sage Sparrows AT MF racing down the path in front of me with their tails up high. Savannah Sparrows AT MF along the irrigation ditch. Song Sparrow's AT MF&WC in the leaf litter. White-crowned Sparrow's AT MF&WC Dark-eyed Junco's AT WC in Richard and Carol's front yard. (2) Oregon Western Meadowlarks AT MF in the field feeding with the Pipits and the Mountain Bluebirds. Red-winged Blackbird in Pahrump, in a Fir tree eating a pine cone. Brewer's Blackbirds AT MF&WC Great-tailed Grackles AT MF&WC House Finch AT MF&WC Lesser Goldfinch AT MF&WC at feeders House Sparrows AT MF&WC Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, NevadaSubject: Reno area bird sightings From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 19:28:50 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: On 1/31/12 there was a Prairie Falcon flying overhead at Rancho San Rafael park. I saw its black axillaries. About 11:30 am On 1/24/12 I saw a Hutton's Vireo at Paradise Park. Saw the big white eye ring, notched tail (longer than a Ruby-crowned Kinglet).About 11:45 am. On 2/4/12 there were 9 Common Goldeneyes in the river at the Lear Theater area at 2:30 pm. The hybrid brown goose is still at Idlewild. (2/4/12) Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 22:09:46 +0000 The new entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is now open. Take the 95/515 freeway to the Galleria exit, go east and cross Boulder Highway. The Preserve entrance will be on the north side of the road, follow the driveway and signs to the parking lot and Visitors Center. December, January and February hours will be 7 AM to 2 PM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. If you have 2011 bird calendars which you would like to recycle we will be happy to recycle them and use them for our educational displays. Please send them to "The City of Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 240 Water Street, PO Box 95050, Henderson, Nevada, 89009-5050". Thank you! We had (63) species observed this week. The following birds were seen or heard by staff and visitors at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas: Canada Goose Snow Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck - Some males starting to get blue bills. Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Least Bittern Snowy Egret Black-crowned Night-heron Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sora Virginia Rail Common Gallinule (Formerly Common Moorhen) American Coot Killdeer Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull California Gull Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Tree Swallow Verdin Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch Happy Birding! Randy MichalSubject: Fwd: LONG-TAILED DUCK - still in Bullhead From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 13:51:55 -0700 The Bullhead City/Laughlin LTDU continues, and can most likely be seen in both states at different times. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Susan DrownSubject: Re: Two Great-horned Owls From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 21:53:21 -0500 Sue, With a pair of G.H. Owls, the one with the lowest-pitched hoot is the female. Typically the male hoots first, and the female answers right after, followed by a pause. Brian Adams RenoSubject: FWD Laughlin Long-tailed Duck From: David Vander Pluym <scre AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 21:44:32 -0500 I just received a photo of a LONG-TAILED DUCK from Feb 3 in Bullhead City/Laughlin found by Bruce Bodjack.The bird was described as being in the river at the end of a dirt road on the south side of the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce. I believe this is the area just south of Harrah's Casino or across from the Bullhead City Community Park (at least this is the area google puts the Chamber of Commerce). Good birding David Vander Pluym Lake Havasu CitySubject: Stillwater, Fallon, Carson Lake, Sparks Marina (no rarities) From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 18:40:22 -0700 The Gyrfalcon failed to make a showing this morning (and Generallisimo Franco is still dead.) (For those of you who were not Saturday Night Live fans in 1975, just ignore the second half of that sentence.) I was at Stillwater from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., but there was no sign of the Gyr. Much more open water than the last time I was there (or the time before, or the time before.) So even if the Gyr is still on the refuge, he (or she) has lots more area to hunt. A Barn Owl and a couple of Short-eared Owls began hunting around 10:15. A flyover American Bittern was my first for 2012. Lots of ducks (Canvasbacks seemed particularly abundant), about 500 Tundra Swans, a flyover by a group of four Black-crowned Night-herons, four Rough-legged Hawks, the usual complement of Northern Harriers and Red-tails (although fewer than on previous visits), and several Loggerhead Shrikes. After leaving Stillwater, I stopped off at St. John's Lutheran in Fallon, where the Western Screech-owl was cooperative. Then off to Carson Lake, where 80 American Goldfinches near the entrance was probably the best sighting (not counting the Neel's, always a nice sighting.) The area on the northwest side where Longspurs have usually been present in past years was less exciting. Only a few small flocks of Horned Larks, a fairly large flock of American Pipits, and no Longspurs. Hunting is still going on at Stillwater and Carson Lake, but I think the season ends soon. On my way home, I stopped off at Sparks Marina, where the Herring Gulls are increasing, with nine present today (six adult, two second-cycle, one first-cycle.) But nothing else (gull-wise) besides good numbers of California and Ring-billed Gulls. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Two Great-horned Owls From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:03:53 -0500 6:30 AM. 17º F. Dawn breaking the night sky. While walking home from my early morning swim, I heard a Great-horned Owl, then I heard two. Always ready, I was armed with my spotlight, and found the first bird on a pole on Minor Street & Mizpah. Almost immediately it was joined by the second bird. After hooting at each other for a few minutes, both birds flew onto denuded trees on Parkview Ave & Mizpah. If only I had a built in camera. Their silhouettes were beautiful against the breaking dawn skyline. Both birds ended up in an evergreen on Ballard Street. Sue WinnemuccaSubject: Adult & Immature Bald Eagle From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 18:53:06 -0500 Off on my Thursday rounds. The weather in the 30's, clear skies, sun shining. The highlight for me here in Winnemucca was a singing Bewick's Wren along Reinhart Lane. Male & female Northern Harrier were hunting again along Reinhart Lane and E. National. Great close up views of both. Red-tailed Hawk were out in abundance; as were American Kestrel, interestingly enough all males. Paradise Valley. My first sighting, an immature Bald Eagle on highway 290 a few miles from PV. I got a few pictures of it perched before it was mobbed by a Common Raven. It took off, and I got several (more than several) shots of it getting mobbed. After tearing myself away from the Eagle I headed into PV and down Hinkey Summit Road only to see an Adult Bald Eagle. I was able to get a fairly good shot of this before it flew, and several in flight. Also along Hinkey Summit Road, a large flock of noisy Bush Tits. These came so close that my one almost alighted on my foot. More hunting Northern Harrier and a large flock of approximately 40 Canada Geese. All other birds seen today were your usual common to everyday species. All in all, not a bad day for me. Sue Herrera Winnemucca, NVSubject: Miscellaneous Sightings Around Reno From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:01:20 -0800 Today Becca and I birded Lemmon Valley, Damonte Wetlands and the Sparks Marina. We made the following sightings of note: Swan Lake Nature Area - 1 White-fronted Goose among the Canada's in the field next to the parking lot. Note: The board walk is closed for repairs. Lemmon Valley Sewage Ponds - We re-found the female Barrow's Goldeneye but we could not find the male Eurasian Wigeon. There was also an early male Cinnamon Teal present. Damonte Wetlands - could not find the avocet reported yesterday, however there was a Great Egret, a Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Least Sandpipers and a Say's Phoebe. There were also about a hundred gulls, all California and Ring-billed. Most of the gulls at the Sparks Marina were Ring-billed and California except for four Herring Gulls, 3 adults and one first cycle. Dennis Serdehely Fernley, NVSubject: Color-banded Goldfinch, Rancho San Rafael (1/30/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:30:23 -0500 Rancho San Rafael, Reno, Washoe Co (1/30/12) Our only sighting of interest at RSR this morning was a color-banded Lesser Goldfinch, part of a small flock in a clump of dog willows adjoining the path through the wetland restoration area. The specific location was the small footbridge across Evans Creek about halfway between Herman's Pond & the McCarran underpass. The bird concerned was a male, with 2 colored bands (blue over lavender) on the left leg, & a pale band of some sort (maybe metal, but we never got a decent glimpse of it) on the right leg. As far as we could see, none of its 5 or 6 flock mates was banded. So, obviously somebody's conducting a study of the local goldfinches. I would like to report the sighting but don't know who to report it to. Does anyone here know? --Fred PetersenSubject: Silver State Valley From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:59:20 -0500 Did a little drive-by birding on the way to visit friends in the Silver State Valley (Sand Pass Road area), north of Winnemucca off Highway 95. Sunny, blue skies and breezy, around 40ºF. 1 Golden Eagle, perched and flying. 2 Northern Harriers, male & female, both quartering fields. 3 separate sightings of American Kestrel. One perched male, two flying at various points along the roads. 1 Red-tailed Hawk. 1 Rough-legged Hawk. Plenty LBJ's and many Horned Lark. A couple of incidentals: One healthy looking Coyote, 5 Pronghorn Antelope and sadly one road smashed Barn Owl. My friend said she had seen 'A ton of Turkey Buzzards. You know, the ugly ones with the red head.' yesterday. I thought January a little early for this area for Turkey Vultures. Sue winnemucca, NVSubject: Out and about in Reno today From: Miles Shaylor <mgshaylor AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:39:09 -0500 There was a solitary avocet at Damonte ranch this morning and this afternoon there were four green winged teals at Mira Loma park. Miles Shaylor RenoSubject: Fwd: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 13, 2012 From: melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:25:31 -0700 Looks like I missed forwarding this one, so it is a bit late. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 13, 2012 From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: theyurt AT wirelessbeehive.com CC: The Yurt feeders, just below main entrance to Great Basin National Park, Baker, White Pine, US-NV Jan 13, 2012 8:00 AM - 8:35 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Observers: Melissa Renfro and John B. Free Jan 13 to 15/2012 Conditions: clear to overcast, 33 deg to 37 deg; Wind 3 mph W 8 species Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 5 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 2 Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 1 Shrike chasing Western Scrub Jay through shrub and Juniper Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 40 Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 3 Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]) 10 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)Subject: Mason Valley WMA-Lyon County, Brunswick Canyon Road-Carson City Area From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:43:53 -0500 Hello! Today (Sunday, Jan. 29th), I spent about 90 minutes birding at Mason Valley WMA, stopping at Hinkson's Slough, Bass Pond, North Pond, and along the main road (Lux Lane) starting south at Miller Lane and going north to Sierra Way. The following birds were observed: Barn Swallow-1 by Hinkson's Slough Black Phoebe Cinnamon Teal-3 males at North Pond Double-Crested Cormorant-2 at Hinkson's Slough Sharp-Shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Harrier-2 Red-Tailed Hawk-14 Mountain Bluebird-about 18 Loggerhead Shrike-2 Western Meadowlark-10 with several singing Sage Sparrow-5 Song Sparrow American Kestrel Spotted Towhee-2 Horned Lark-numerous Northern Flicker-5 White-Crowned Sparrow-many Bewick's Wren Northern Shoveler-16 to 18 at North Pond Gadwall-many at North Pond Ruddy Duck-several Bufflehead-12 Green-Winged Teal-several at North Pond Lesser Scaup-6 at North Pond Common Goldeneye-2 females at North Pond Downy Woodpecker California Quail-3 American Coot-many Canada Goose-several European Starling-many On my return home, I drove up Brunswick Canyon Road about 6-7 miles one way from Sedge Road, which is accessed off of S. Deer Run Road in the Pinion Hills area east of Carson City. The following birds were observed during my brief drive: Northern Goshawk-good looks at one as it flew just above some trees along the ridge line on the west side of the canyon. It then turned east, flew across the road over me, and flew into some trees on the ridge line on the east side of the canyon Canyon Wren Western Scrub Jay-5 Red-Tailed Hawk-2 Northern Flicker-2 White-Crowned Sparrow-many Mason Valley WMA is about seven miles north of Yerington in Lyon County. The southern entrance (the only one currently open) is accessed off of Miller Lane. The northern entrance currently is closed but I believe reopens for the "season" on Feb. 1st. The northern entrance is accessed off of Sierra Way. Both of these streets are accessed from Highway 95A. Brunswick Canyon Road is not paved, and a high-clearance vehicle (truck/SUV) is highly recommended as the road is very rocky in some sections, rutted, and has some icy/snowy/muddy stretches. Rob Lowry Carson CitySubject: Paradise park today From: Miles Shaylor <mgshaylor AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:40:26 -0500 At Paradise park in Reno today were the usual assortment of geese, ducks and coots. There were also a dozen or so Hooded mergansers, six Common mergansers, four Common Goldeneyes, a pair of scaups (I can't tell the difference between Greater and Lesser), several dozen Northern shovelers and three Black-crowned night herons. I've also had a Northern flicker visiting my bird feeder for several days now and eating the seeds. (The finches are not amused....) Miles Shaylor Reno btw, the scaups at Paradise park will come quite close and mix in with the other birds when someone is feeding them making for some nice photographs.Subject: Barrow's Goldeneyes, American Dippers, etc. in Reno today From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:24:57 -0700 Just back from southern California, where I had about as much luck seeing the Gyrfalcon that's been down there as I had seeing the one that's been up here, i.e., didn't see it. Sigh... Spent this afternoon cruising around Reno, with a few interesting sightings. I started at the Lemmon Valley Sewer Ponds, where I was not successful in relocating the Eurasian Wigeon or female Barrow's Goldeneye found by Meg Andrews yesterday. A walk around Sparks Marina yielded one adult Herring Gull and not much else of note. A walk around Virginia Lake yielded four Snow Geese (two adult, two immature) and not much else of note. A walk along the Truckee River from Keystone to 395 was the best part of the day. An adult male Barrow's Goldeneye was with a few Commons about halfway between Keystone and Arlington. Continuing downstream, I spotted the American Dipper at the Sutro Street bridge, as reported by Ed Kurtz. A bit further downstream, there was a large group of Goldeneyes that included one adult male and two female Barrow's Goldeneyes. And at 395, there were three more American Dippers. (These were easily seen by walking out on the bridge that is directly under the freeway and looking downstream.) Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Stillwater and Fallon From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:15:16 -0800 Becca and I went to Stillwater NWR today in the forlorn hope that the Gyrfalcon would turn up. We didn't see it but it was a great day for raptor watching. We saw 5 Rough-legged Hawks, 4 Prairie Falcons, several American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harriers as well as 3 Short-eared Owls. Waterfowl numbers were low except for several hundred Tundra Swans in the various ponds throughout the refuge. Duck species included Mallard, Gadwall, 2 Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks and Canvasback. On the way home we stopped and saw the Western Screech-Owl roosting in his usual spot behind the St. John's Lutheran Church day care center. There was a single Common Gallinule in the irrigation ditch at Testolin and Drumm Lanes south of Fallon. Dennis Serdehely Fernley, NVSubject: Willow Creek & Mountain Falls From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:41:52 -0500 Today is January 29, 2012 and what a day of birding it was. A cool start to the morning with wonderful sunshine all day. I am reporting two birds for Carol Cantino. She is seeing Golden-crowned Sparrow's (2) in her back yard and this week she saw a male Nashville Warbler. Unusual I know but Carol is trustworthy on what she reports. I started birding at 6:30 a.m. in Mountain Falls. A total of 52 species was seen today. Townsend's Solitaire (1) in my yard near the Juniper evergreen which has berries on it. (2 species) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) in my yard in Quercus tree Northern Shoveler (35) pond #1 (4 species) Redhead (2) pond #1 Ring-necked Duck (94) pond #1 American Coot (366) pond #1 Cooper's Hawk (2) All these birds in garden with Pyracantha bushes. (11) species Cedar Waxwing (17) European Starling (22) House Finch (11) Mountain Bluebird (82) Northern Mockingbird (1) American Robin (7) Sage Thrasher (1) Chipping Sparrow (1) at the base of the tree in the leaf litter Eurasian-Collared-Dove (11) Great-tailed Grackle (9) Canvasback (4) on pond #2 (3 species) Ruddy Duck (23) on pond #2 Common Merganser (1) on pond #2 Horned Larks (3 separate groups all together number undetermined all in agricultural field. (13) species Red-tail Hawk (2) White-crowned Sparrow's (77) in sage brush near agricultural field American Crow (19) in agricultural field Anna's Hummingbird in Mesquite tree near agricultural field Northern Harrier (1) flying over field House Sparrow (32) in bushes near agricultural field Say's Phoebe (1) flying out from post into agricultural field Savannah Sparrow (3) in bushes near agricultural field Song Sparrow (2) in irrigating ditch with water in it Sage Sparrow (3) bushes to barb wire and running down path and alongside irrigation ditch Western Meadowlark (6) in agricultural field Golden Eagle (1) sitting on the ground Burrowing Owl (2) outside town of Pahrump (2) species Common Raven (6) Willow Creek: Pahrump (5) species Mallard's (62) (Ed's pond) (Willow Creek) American Wigeon's (136) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Red-shouldered Hawk (1) AT Ed's & then later another two near Richard's and Carol's making two seen together (2) Great Blue Heron (1) Clubhouse area AT Willow Creek (4 species) American Kestrel (1) Black Phoebe (1) Gambel's Quail (36) Red-winged Blackbird's (33) Richard and Carol's pond and the area around their house (8 species) Brewer's Blackbird (9) Dark-eyed Junco (1) Slate-colored (6) Oregon Green-winged Teal (3) Northern Pintail (4) Lesser Goldfinch (5) Lincoln's Sparrow (2) Orange-crowned Warbler (1) Yellow-rumped Warbler (7) Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, NevadaSubject: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve East of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:18 +0000 The new entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is now open. Take the 95/515 freeway to the Galleria exit, go east and cross Boulder Highway. The Preserve entrance will be on the north side of the road, follow the driveway and signs to the parking lot and Visitors Center. December, January and February hours will be 7 AM to 2 PM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. If you have 2011 bird calendars which you would like to recycle we will be happy to recycle them and use them for our educational displays. Please send them to "The City of Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 240 Water Street, PO Box 95050, Henderson, Nevada, 89009-5050". Thank you! We had (57) species observed this week. The following birds were seen or heard by staff and visitors at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas: Canada Goose Snow Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck - Some males starting to get blue bills. Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Black-crowned Night-heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Osprey Sora Virginia Rail Common Gallinule (Formerly Common Moorhen) American Coot Killdeer Western sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Verdin Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher Sage Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle's) Abert's Towhee Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle House Finch Happy Birding! Randy MichalSubject: Learning curve From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:57:09 -0500 My apologies for not stating just where my report was from or ending my report with my name and where I live. It won't happen again (I hope). Great-Horned Owl & Red-tailed Hawk at top end of the Winnemucca golf course. Sue Herrera Winnemucca, NVSubject: Great-Horned Owl turns into a Red-tailed Hawk From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:16:23 -0500 I awoke this morning to the hooting of a Great-horned Owl. After quickly surveying the area from my garden and not seeing the bird, I threw on some clothes and headed one street over to the golf course, where I know these birds like to hang. After a thorough search I did come up with a Red-tailed Hawk, and thought maybe my owl had morphed. I will be out with the spotlight come tomorrow morning.Subject: Dipper 1/26/12 in Reno From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:50:01 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: On Jan. 26, 2012 at 2:30 pm there was a Dipper singing under the Sutro St. bridge. A beautiful song almost like a thrush. Then it flew west along the river to a rock where it did some up and down bobbing. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Eurasian Wigeon (male), Barrow's Goldeneye, Tundra swans at Lemmon Valley WTP From: Rick/Meg Andrews <andrews2727 AT ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:54:28 -0800 I took a quick break from housework this morning, and swung out to Lemmon Valley WTP. There was a nice selection of waterfowl on the last pond, along with 16 or 17 Tundra Swans out on the playa. While a lot of ducks were still sleeping on the spit of land, there were quite a few swimming about and doing a lot of courtship displays. I was getting a particular kick out of the Common Goldeneyes, because I have never seen their courtship before. The 5 males would stretch out their necks as far as possible and momentarily rest their chins on the water, and then suddenly throw back their heads until the back of their heads were touching their rumps. They would hold this pose for a second or two, with their bills agape, and then repeat the process a minute later. The two female Common Goldeneyes were not in the least impressed, but the female Barrow's Goldeneye sure was. She was following one of the males around while making exaggerated pigeon-like moves with her head, going left-right-left-right. While I was scoping out the Goldeneyes, one of the nearby Wigeons turned his head and caught the light, and I saw that he was a lovely Eurasian Wigeon--nice rufous head with a buffy crown. A complete list of the birds is below, but the count is a little low (I didn't count many of the sleeping birds). Directions can be found on the Lahontan Audubon website. The road was ok as far as the last pond, but it was starting to get pretty muddy past that point as the ground thawed out. Meg Andrews Reno, NV Canada Goose 100 Tundra Swan 16 Gadwall 80 Eurasian Wigeon 1 Seen very well through scope. Rufous head with a buffy crown stripe American Wigeon 10 Mallard 200 Northern Shoveler 45 Northern Pintail 6 Green-winged Teal (American) 50 Redhead 18 Lesser Scaup 2 Bufflehead 10 Common Goldeneye 7 Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Ruddy Duck 18 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 20 Mourning Dove 2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)Subject: 1/27 Lake Mead, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:06:40 -0800 Hi birders, I made an afternoon visit to Lake Mead and had 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Las Vegas Bay. An adult and the continuing 1st cycle bird. I initial saw an adult Lesser Black-backed next to the campground at Government Wash and am assuming the one in Las Vegas Bay was the same bird. Several Brewer's Sparrows were also along Government Wash. This time I hiked to the northern section of Las Vegas Bay and got better views. photos of both birds are here: http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/gnatcatcher/ Andrew Lee HendersonSubject: Harris's Hawk & So. NV birding From: Rose Strickland <rosenreno AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:23:15 -0800 NV birders, we spent several days over the last week birding in So. Nevada where it was almost as cold as in Reno. Seeking 2012 year birds, we greatly enjoyed reacquainting ourselves with many Mojave Desert birds and early migrants or overwintering birds. Highlights include the chocolate brown Harris's Hawk in Boulder City with its chestnut leggings and shoulder/wing patches, the extraordinarily brilliant yellow-green Orange-crowned Warblers found everywhere and the two knockout blue hues of the Western and Mountain Bluebirds at the LV Wetlands Park and Duck Creek. The Harris's Hawk took six trips over 3 days to the San Felipe and Vaquero intersection in Boulder City. On our "unsuccessful" last trip as we were returning east on Buchanan to Hwy. 93, we spotted a single Harris's Hawk perched on a light standard near the Veterans Park. It flew to the south across the golf course and towards the usual area where it has been seen. Orange-crowned Warblers were at the Henderson Preserve, and LV Wetlands Park. The two bluebird species were spotted not far from each other, making the comparison of the different shades of blue easier - purple-blue Mountains along the fence in front of the Stadium, just south of Duck Creek, and the more sky-blue Westerns eating mistletoe berries at the Wetlands Park. Mojave Desert denizens included: Phainopepla, Verdin, Gambel's Quail, Black-tailed Gnatchatcher, Abert's Towhee, Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds, Red-breasted Mergansers, Blue-winged Teal, Vermilion Flycatcher, Red-naped Sapsucker and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. Overwintering and early returnees included: American Redstart, Townsend's Solitaire, Least Bittern, Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Sora and Virginia Rails, Snowy Egret, one Killdeer, Common Yellowthroat and Green Heron. Always nice to spot were an immature Bald Eagle near 33 Hole overlook at Lake Mead and an Osprey circling over Veterans Park in Boulder City. Let me know if you'd like the locations where we saw any of these species. On a sadder note, we learned that the Avian Research Center at the Barrick Museum at UNLV is being closed down and its outstanding collections of over 1300 bird species from Nevada, the western US and the North and South America and nest and egg collection is leaving the state. Its curator, Dr. John Klicka, is also leaving. This is a monumental loss of a world class avian collection and avian researcher to both UNLV and to the state of Nevada. I'm trying to get in touch with Dr. Klicka to find out more of the details. Good birding! Rose Strickland, RenoSubject: Winnemucca & Paradise Valley sightings From: Sue Herrera <trubrit AT WMCA.NET> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:04:03 -0800 Did a little birding in a very windy, overcast Winnemucca this morning. The smaller birds were scarce, but Northern Harriers were out in force and hunting low across the fields. I saw at least two different Males and females along East 2nd street, and Rheinhart Lane. Unusual sighting for me here in Winnemucca were Rough-legged Hawks. At least two separate birds, possibly seen several times as I traveled around. Off to Paradise Valley, where the wind was joined by a heavy to steady rain with snow still on the ground. Traveling down 290, Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawks were hunting, along with the usual Red- tailed Hawks. But my best sighting, a Golden Eagle. I took several pictures both perched and in flight, and after careful inspection, feel that it was probably a sub adult. I'm no professional, so its up for grabs. Back in Winnemucca on National Street, with a slightly calmer wind, I found a flock of approximately 30 Mountain Bluebirds feeding in the fields. I was able to capture these on my camera also. This is my first post in many years. Hope I did it right. Sue Herrera Winnemucca, NVSubject: Re: Dark morph Snow Goose, RSR Park, Reno From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:19:59 -0500 Update: I relayed my friend Jim's report of a "dark-morph Snow Goose" at Rancho San Rafael sports complex, but after reviewing recent posts I believe he probably saw the Ross' Goose seen in that area. He was not birding at the time and did not glass the bird, but just saw it from N. Virginia Street while driving. This morning at 7:40 am on Wesley Drive, Reno, near Lake Park I had two Snow Geese fly over my house from the direction of RSR Park southward towards possibly Virginia Lake (?) or S. Meadows. FWIW, that's a new backyard bird for me. Brian Adams RenoSubject: Southern Nevada Sightings last week From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:45:55 -0800 I didn't have a lot of time to bird in southern Nevada on my last trip down but I was able to take a couple hours out of one of the days and I made a few stops on the trip down and back. Here are a few of the minor highlights I had last week in southern Nevada. January 15, 2012 Circle L Ranch, Dyer -HARRIS'S SPARROW - seen and photographed in the orchard with the large flock of Juncos and White-crowns. Arlemont Ranch -Bald Eagle (ad.) - my first in Esmeralda County Dyer area -Rough-legged Hawks (2) - only my second and third in Esmeralda County. January 17, 2012 Hemmenway Harbor Lake Mead NRA -MEW GULL - this bird was an adult so it is clearly different than the first cycle bird that Andrew Lee has reported here. I did photograph this bird. Boulder Beach Campground -AMERICAN REDSTART - female continues Boulder Beach -Red-breasted Mergansers (7) -Horned Grebe (in Boulder Harbor area) Sunset Overlook -Bald Eagle (ad) -Horned Grebes (4 all seen together) -Red-breasted Merganser (1) -Common Loons (3) Las Vegas Bay (from Rocky Point/33-hole Overlook) -Red-necked Grebes - two seen together. One appeared to be a first winter bird and the other appeared to be a winter adult. Las Vegas Wash/Bay delta area -Barn Swallow - a little surprising but not my first in mid winter in Nevada -Violet-green Swallow - somewhat of a surprise -Swallow sp. - at least two other individuals that I couldn't identify January 22, 2012 Pahranagat NWR (Middle Marsh) -White-tailed Kite Pahranagat NWR (Upper Pahranagat Lake) -Bald Eagles - at least 8 individuals, 6 immature and 2 adults -Hooded Mergansers - 14 females and 3 males -Tundra Swans - around 180 birds Alamo -Bald Eagles - two more immatures Ash Springs area -Bald Eagle - another immature Key Pittman WMA (Frenchy Lake) -Merlin Key Pittman WMA (Nesbitt Lake) -Orange-crowned Warblers (2) Greg Scyphers Sparks, NVSubject: Reno birds Jan 20-21, 2012 From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:53:41 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: There were 15 American Robins near the Fairgrounds on Sutro St. on Fri. Jan 20, 2012. On Sat. Jan 21, 2012 there was 1 Slate-colored Junco & 1 Oregon Junco in the same area On Sat. Jan 21, 2012 there were 6 C. Goldeneyes in the river by the Lear Theater in downtown Reno. Also 1 Belted Kingfisher there. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Gyrfalcon not seen today From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:19:04 -0700 Today at Stillwater NWR I was joined by the Neels and the Lowrys, but none of us were joined by a Gyrfalcon. Lots of Short-eared and Barn Owls flying around all day, plus Rough-legged Hawks, one Ferruginous Hawk (just before the refuge entrance), a multitude of Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Loggerhead Shrikes, Mountain Bluebirds, Tundra Swans, Canvasbacks, etc. One Short-eared posed for photos. It was cloudy the whole morning, making it feel really cold. The main refuge roads were fine, but anything off the main road surface was very gunky. My third try. Oh well... Incidentally, there is a Gyrfalcon in southern California, possibly the southern-most record in the U.S. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Dark morph Snow Goose, RSR Park, Reno From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:19:33 -0500 From a birder friend: Sunday 22 January, 10:00 am, at the Rancho San Rafael sports complex (North of N. McCarran Blvd) there were some Snow Geese in with Canada Geese, including one dark morph "Blue" Snow Goose. Also, later in the day Sunday, your narrator saw a Prairie Falcon near the water tank north of N. McCarran at Keystone Canyon. Brian Adams, RenoSubject: Las Vegas Wash From: Aaron Ambos <aambos AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:05:45 -0500 I visited several spots along the Las Vegas Wash today (1/22/12). Highlights included a female vermillion flycatcher and 2 American bitterns at Duck Creek in the Wetlands Park and a Mew Gull and Peregrine falcon where the Wash crosses Vegas Valley (West of Hollywood). Cheers, Aaron AmbosSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:20:10 +0000 The entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is off of Galleria and Moser. Take the 95/515 freeway to the Galleria exit 64B, go east and cross Boulder Highway. The Preserve entrance will be on the north side of the road, follow the driveway and signs to the parking Lot and Visitors Center. December, January and February hours will be 7 AM to 2 PM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. We had 61 (Sixty-one) species observed this week. The following birds were seen or heard by staff and visitors at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas: Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Canvasback Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Least Bittern Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Sora Common Gallinule American Coot Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull California Gull Rock Dove Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike Tree Swallow Verdin Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Northern Mockingbird Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch Best in Birding Je Anne BrancaSubject: Bill Hart's birding library From: Mark Stirling <markstirling AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:06:06 -0800 Many of you will remember Bill Hart, avid Nevada birder. He died almost three years ago after a long retirement from the California Dept. of Fish and Game, mostly as warden in the South Lake Tahoe region.  His family has asked me to find a buyer or buyers for the bulk of his birding library. It comprises more than 110 volumes, about 60 are hardbound, all of them retain dust jackets, when issued. The rest are paperbound. As you might imagine, most are heavily illustrated. The great majority are in fine condition, Bill took good care of his books. Price -- $450 for the lot, see list below.  The books may be seen at my house in Gardnerville, by appointment. Please call me, Mark Stirling, at 530 318-4787, or email markstirling AT sbcglobal.net  Bill enjoyed traveling to look for birds. He made several trips to Hawaii, Florida, Michigan, coastal Texas, S.E. Arizona, and southern California, especially around the Salton Sea. He went twice to Alaska, including far out on the Aleutian Islands, and as far north as Nome. He went to Tahiti, twice to Belize, to Costa Rica, and two or three times deep into Mexico. He was also a competitive decoy carver - he won blue ribbons for both decorative and service birds. Let me know if you are interested in the 10 or 12 decoy/wood carving books he left.  Hardbound Brazil, The Birds of Japan, 1991 Wolfe, Penguins, Puffins, and Auks, 1993 LeMaster, Ducks and Other Waterfowl, 1985 Grossman and Hamlet, Birds of Prey of the World, 1964 (jacket worn) Ortega, Cowbirds and Other Brood Parasites, 1998 Harrison, Seabirds, an Identification Guide,1983 Alderton, The Atlas of Quails, 1992 Byers, Curson, and Olsson, Sparrows and Buntings, 1995 Nero, The Great Grey Owl, 1980 Curson, Quinn, and Beadle, Warblers of the Americas, 1994 McFarlane, A Stillness in the Pines: Ecology of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, 1992 Johnsgard, Waterfowl, 1968 Preston-Mafham, Madagascar. A Natural History. 1991 Yates, The Nature of Borneo, 1992 Fisher and Peterson, The World of Birds, no date Newman, Tropical Rain Forest, 1990 Pickford, Pickford, and Tarboton, African Birds of Prey, 1990 Klein, Loon Magic, 1985 Johnsson, Birds of Europe, 1993 Skutch, Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds, 1999 Raffaele, Birds of Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands, 1989 Am. Birding Assoc., ABA Checklist, 1995 Richards, Shorebirds, 1998 Heinzel, Galapagos Diary (Guide to the Archipelago’s Birdlife), 2000 Lewington, Alstrom, Colston, Rare Birds of Britain and Europe, 1992 Heinzel, Birds of New Providence & the Bahama Islands, 1975 Pratt, Bruner, Berrett, Birds of Hawaii & the Tropical Pacific, 1987 Zeranski and Baptist, Connecticut Birds, 1990 Johnsgard, Grouse and Quails of North America, 1973 Bradley, Birds of the Cayman Islands, 1985 Bond, Birds of the West Indies, 1979 Burk, Waterfowl Studies (for the decoy maker, hunter, bird watcher, etc.), 1976, jacket edgeworn, With, Burk, Complete Waterfowl Studies, V.3, Geese and Swans, 1984 Livingston, Birds of the Eastern Forest, parts1 and 2, and Birds of the Northern Forest, paintings by John Lansdowne, 3 volumes, all 1977 Forshaw, Howell, Lindsey, Stallcup, Birding, 1996 Karmali, Birds of Africa, 1990 Tyrrell, Hummingbirds of the Caribbean, 1990 Harrison, editor, Bird Families of the World, 1978 Eckert, The Wading Birds of North America, 1981 Low and Mansell, North American Marsh Birds, 1983 Mackenzie, Birds of the World – Game Birds, 1989 Daws, Hawaii, The Islands of Life, 1988 Robbins, Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and D.C., 1996 Sick, Helmut, (transl. from the Portuguese by William Belton), Birds in Brazil, 1993 Elphick, editor, Atlas of Bird Migration, 1995 Tveten, Coastal Texas. Water, Land, Wildlife, 1982, jacket top edge worn Richards, Birds of Kenya, 1991 Parmelee, Antarctic Birds, 1992 Inskipp and Inskipp, Birds of Nepal, 1985 Berger, Hawaiian Bird Life, 1981 Newfield and Nielsen, Hummingbird Gardens, 1996 Stokes, Stokes, and Brown, Stokes Purple Martin Book, 1997 Fry, Fry, and Harris, Kingfishers, Bee-Eaters, & Rollers, 1992 Clements, Birds of the World, a Check List, 1978, jacket with a little edge wear Peterson, Field Guide to Western Birds, 1961 (6th printing), jacket with edge chips Cleere and Nurney, Nightjars, 1998 Restall, Munias and Mannikins, 1996 Barnard and Thompson, Gulls and Plovers, 1985 Bolen and Flores, The Mississippi Kite, 1993  Paperbound Rappole and Blacklock, Birds of Texas, 1994, pb Cohen, Bird Nests, 1993, pb Delorey, A Birder’s Guide to New Hampshire, 1996, pb Castro and Phillips, The Birds of the Galapagos Islands, 1996, pb Holt, A Birder’s Guide to Colorado, 1997, pb Holroyd and Coneybeare, The Compact Guide to Birds of the Rockies, 1989, pb Wauer, Birder’s Mexico, 1999, pb Sequoia Audubon Soc., San Francisco Peninsula Birdwatching, 1996, pb Hine and Schoenfeld, editors, Canada Goose Management, 1968, pb Root, Atlas of Wintering North American Birds, 1988, pb Searby, The Costa Rica Traveler, 1990, pb Erlich, et al, Birds in Jeopardy, 1992, pb Kemper, Birding Northern California, 2001, pb Muse and Muse, The Birds and Bird Lore of Samoa, 1982, pb Mlodinow and O’Brien, America’s 100 Most Wanted Birds, 1996, pb Massey and Zembal, Guide to Birds of the Salton Sea, 2002, pb Matthiessen, The Wind Birds, 1994, pb Henderson, The Caribbean and the Bahamas, 1994, pb D’Arcy, Birds of Ireland, 1986, pb Sheck, Costa Rica: A Natural Destination, 1996, pb Fussell, Birder’s Guide to Coastal North Carolina, 1994, pb Cruikshank and Cruikshank, 1001 Questions Answered About Birds, 1976, pb Taylor, Birder’s Guide to Southeastern Arizona, 1995, pb, some wear Davis and Russell, Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, 1995, pb Kennedy, et al. Guide to the Birds of the Philippines, 2000, pb Anderson & Squires, The Prairie Falcon, 1997, pb Eckert, Birder’s Guide to Minnesota, 1994, pb White, Birdwatching Sites – Eastern States, Western States, 2 volumes, both 1999, pb Harrison, Seabirds of the World, 1996, pb Wauer, Birds of the Big Bend, 1996, pb Morse, Birder’s Guide to Ocean Shores, Washington, 1994, pb Scott, Birder’s Guide to Wyoming, 1993, pb Finlay, Bird Finding Guide to Canada, 2000, pb Forsyth and Miyata, Tropical Nature, 1995, pb Armstrong, A Guide to the Birds of Alaska, 1981, pb (some leaves loose) Wauer, A Birder’s West Indies, 1996, pb Kricher, A Neotropical Companion, 1997, pb Bolander and Parmeter, Birds of Sonoma County, California, 2000, pb Ffrench, Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, 1991, pb Chartier, A Birder’s Guide to Churchill, 1994, pb Soehren, The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Hawaii, 1996, pb Potter, Parnell, Teulings, Birds of the Carolinas, 1980 pb Duncan, Bird Migration, Weather, and Fallout….Alabama and N.W. Florida, 1994, pb Harrison, Seabirds of Hawaii, 1990, pb Am. Birding Assoc., Birdfinding in Forty National Forests and Grasslands, 1994, pb National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (4th ed), pb Pranty, A Birder’s Guide to Florida, 1996, pb Westrich and Westrich, Birder’s Guide to Northern California, 1991, pb White, A Birder’s Guide to the Bahama Islands, 1998, pb West, A Birder’s Guide to the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, 1994, pb McEneaney, The Birder’s Guide to Montana, 1993, pb Am. Birding Assoc., A Birder’s Guide to Eastern Massachusetts, 1994, pb Schram, A Birder’s Guide to Southern California, 1968, pb 　 　 　 　Subject: Warm Springs--Glendale--Overton--Logandale From: Clarke Jesse <lvjesse AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:17:40 -0800 Clark Co. Observers: Rita Schlageter & Joan Clarke. 8 am to 3 pm. Frontage road off Hwy 93--I-15 junction, access road to Moapa power plant: Common raven Rock pigeon Vesper sparrow Say's phoebe Lesser goldfinch House finch Sage sparrow (abundant) Sage Thrasher Warm Springs: Phainopepla Loggerhead shrike Merlin Ring-necked duck Amer. coot White-crowned sparrow Prairie falcon Say's phoebe Swainson's thrush Dark-eyed junco Song sparrow No. flicker Marsh wren Red-tailed hawk No. mockingbird Yellow-rumped warbler Mallard American robin Western meadowlark Eu. starling Abert's towhee Common raven Horned lark Glendale: No. harrier (M & F) American crow(20) White-crowned sparrow(100+) Prairie falcon (great aerial show) Savannah sparrow (30) Logandale/Overton Bowman Reservoir Ladder-backed woodpecker Red-winged blackbird White-crowned sparrow Western meadowlark No. mockingbird Grt.-tailed grackle Eur. collared dove Brewer's blackbird No. Harrier Ring-necked duck Abert's towhee Northern pintail Ring-billed gull Ruddy duck Mallard Green-winged teal Western Bluebird Rock pigeon House finch Logandale: Bald Eagle adult Red-tailed hawk Amer. kestral Rough-legged hawk Mourning dove Gambel's quail Eu. Starling Say's phoebe Loggerhead shrike Phainopepla Killdeer (50+) No. flicker, red shafted Canada goose Wildlife Refuge, Overton White-throated swift Sharp-shinned hawk Ruby-crowned kinglet Mallard Wild turkey Greater roadrunner Canada goose Amer. wigeon Joan Clarke & Rita SchlageterSubject: Minden, NV From: Lisa Lister <lister39 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:20:26 -0800 Well the Greater White-fronted Goose has joined all the Canada Geese that hang out at the ponds across the street - more or less - from our house and they were all joined by two Ross's Geese today. Lisa Lister Minden, NVSubject: Goshawk at Hunter Creek Trail From: Alan de Queiroz <alandqz AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:17:48 -0800 On an extremely windy hike this afternoon on the Hunter Creek Trail in the Carson Range (access at Michael D. Thompson Trailhead on Woodchuck Circle) I saw exactly two birds, a Golden Eagle and a Northern Goshawk. Got a very nice look at the goshawk as it flew up the canyon near eye level, fighting the wind. Alan de Queiroz RenoSubject: From the moderator: server was down for a day From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:44:05 -0800 The server for our listserve went down from the middle of Tuesday night until an hour or so ago. The folks at National Audubon who oversee the black boxes got it back up and running. It looks like messages that were caught in limbo (my test message and the one from Martin Meyers) came through after the fix. However, if you posted something during that interval and it didn't show up, then just send it again. This happens rarely, and hopefully it will be a long time before it happens again. Cheers, Alan **************************** Alan Wallace Nevada bird listserve moderator Reno NVSubject: Around and about Reno today -- Varied Thrush, etc. From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:43:15 -0700 I birded around Reno today (holding onto anything firmly planted in the ground to avoid being blown away.) I was able to spot the Varied Thrush at Crissie Caughlin Park, exactly at the location provided by Alan de Queiroz. Even got a pretty nice photo, which I've put up on my website. (Address of website is below -- select "Recent".) I also have several photos on there from my trip to Texas and Florida (from which I just returned.) A visit to Idlewild Park and a walk along the Truckee upstream yielded a Prairie Falcon, several Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, a Downy Woodpecker, a Black Phoebe and the rest of the usual denizens. Virginia Lake had a cooperative immature male Common Goldeneye, a fly-by Merlin, eighteen Hooded Mergansers, and one first-cycle Herring Gull in addition to the regulars. At the firehouse pond at Rosewood, there were the long-staying seven minima Cackling Geese, eleven Greater White-fronted Geese, and five Snow Geese. An American Kestrel was my third falcon of the day. I'd be happy to trade all three for one BIG one at Stillwater. : - ( Sparks Marina late in the day had a smattering of gulls, maybe 250 total. One was a first-cycle Herring Gull that I'm pretty near certain was the same bird I saw earlier in the day at Virginia Lake. (I photographed both and was able to compare them.) There was also one adult Herring Gull. Otherwise, only Californias and Ring-bills. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Test message by moderator: ignore From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:09:30 -0800 **************************** Alan Wallace Nevada bird listserve moderator Reno NVSubject: Varied Thrush still at Crissie Caughlin Park From: Alan de Queiroz <alandqz AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:31:24 -0800 Varied Thrush -- a beautiful male -- was still at Crissie Caughlin Park in Reno this afternoon. It was feeding on fruits in the Russian olive by the metal benches mentioned in previous reports (a little upstream from the playground area). A Hermit Thrush visited the same Russian olive and ate some fruits. I also had distant views of a probable Merlin perched high in a tree on the other side of the river. Complete list follows: Crissie Caughlin Park, Reno, Washoe, US-NV Jan 17, 2012 1:50 PM - 2:50 PM Protocol: Traveling 0.5 mile(s) Comments: At Crissie Caughlin Park and on the bike path west as far as the McCarran Bridge 22 species Canada Goose 5 Mallard 25 Common Goldeneye 4 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 2 California Quail 30 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Rock Pigeon 40 Mourning Dove 2 Northern Flicker 2 Steller's Jay 4 Western Scrub-Jay 10 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 12 Varied Thrush 1 Very clear views of orange wing bars, eyebrow, and undersides (including scalloping), dark breast band; dark gray back. Bird was feeding on fruits of Russian olive tree. European Starling 8 Spotted Towhee 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 2 American Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 40 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Alan de Queiroz RenoSubject: correction of date From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:19:06 -0800 I am writing this note to correct the date of the sighting by Ed Kurtz at Rancho San Rafael. It was my mistake. The correct date was January 8, 2012 (not January 1, 2012) The time of the sighting was approximately 3:30 pm. Ann MurphySubject: Willow Creek & Mountain Falls From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:35:28 -0500 This report is for Sunday January 15, 2012. Sorry about the delay, computer has not been working. A member of West Branch Red Rock called me to tell me he saw a Pygmy Nuthatch on the 12th of January. His first name is Paul and he is an expert birder. He asked that I not mention where he saw the bird or to give his last name. I mention it here because he has not seen this bird in Pahrump for twenty-five years. Perhaps this bird took a vacation from Mt. Charleston and came to Pahrump for a visit. Richard and Carol Cantino are still seeing the Golden-crowned Sparrow coming in to their yard. Sunday, was a magical day for me. So many birds. Total species for the day were 58. Location #1 Habitat: Pond AT golf course AT Mountain Falls American Coots (500) Common Merganser (1) Mallard (36) Northern Shoveler (27) Redhead (1) Location #2 Habitat: Pond number 2 AT golf course AT Mountain Falls Ring-necked Duck (54) Ruddy Duck (9) Canvasback (11) Gadwall (3) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Location #3 Habitat: Garden entrance to Mountain Falls Cedar Waxwing (1) Eurasian-Collared Dove (2) European Starling (1) Northern Flicker (1) American Crows (8) (They were not Ravens) In the winter I see Crows in the Moutain Falls area & sometimes WC. Location #4 Habitat: Agricultural field with water in irrigation ditch. This habitat was as active as I have ever seen. It was 8:30 a.m. and it was a cool sunny day. The argicultural field looked like it was moving. There were so many birds feeding there. American Kestrel (1) Bewick's Wren (1) Cooper's Hawk (1) Ferruginous Hawk (1) (Greater Roadrunner (2) Golden Eagle (1) Horned Lark (35) Killdeer (2) One was taken by a Northern Harrier Loggerhead Shrike (1) Mountain Bluebird (44) Northern Harrier (1) Orange-crowned Warbler (1) Phainopepla (1) Ravens, Common (22) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Rock Pigeon (132) Sage Sparrow (5) Savannah Sparrow (3) Song Sparrow (4) Verdin (2) Western Meadowlark (11) White-crowned Sparrow's (37) Yellow-rumped Warbler (6) Location # 5 Habitat: Rural community of Pahrump Burrowing Owl (1) Northern Mockingbird (1) Location #6 Habitat: Willow Creek: Mesquite Gambel's Quail (16) Location # 7 Habitat: Open field on Willow Creek: Near homes. Crissal Thrasher (1) House Sparrow's (71) Say's Phoebe (1) Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Location # 8 Habitat: Ed's Pond on Willow Creek: Great-tailed Grackle (13) Location # 9 Habitat: Open field House Finches (10) Location # 10 Habitat: Richard and Carol's Ponds on Willow Creek& surrounding vegetation. Anna's Hummingbird (2) Mourning Dove (9) Brewer's Blackbird (8) Dark-eyed Junco (2) Slate-colored and (6) Oregon Great Blue Heron (1) Green-winged Teal (3) Lesser Goldfinch (3) Lincoln's Sparrow (1) Northern Pintail (5) One beautiful male and four females Red-Shouldered Hawk (1) Wood Duck (1) a beautiful male Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, NevadaSubject: Minden surprise From: Lisa Lister <lister39 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:35:10 -0800 I just got back from a walk down to the wildlife ponds and trail at the entrance to Winhaven subdivision where there was a single Greater White-fronted Goose along with many Canada Geese and other waterfowl. A new bird for me here in Nevada. Lisa Lister Minden, NVSubject: Las VEgas REdpolls From: Jim Moore <jmoore AT TNC.ORG> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:29:38 +0000 In my backyard at feeding station on Sunday Jan.15 in Spring Valley neighborhood of Las Vegas with many English Sparrows - 2 Common Redpolls - male very distinct black mask and deep red front/crown area - no red rump. Female or immature was less colorful. Chipping while foraging on ground - stayed separate from sparrows and much more skittish. Did not appear yesterday. Jim MooreSubject: Gyrfalcon at Stillwater From: Jane Thompson <NevadaJane AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:44:17 -0800 Several people saw the gyrfalcon today in pretty much the same place he was seen by Bill and Greg. Today the group stopped short of the gates and just parked along the road. We watched the water to the south and finally just before noon the gyrfalcon made a few passes over the east end of the lake and then disappeared for close to a half hour. Then he was suddenly seen moving very low and close to the far shore heading to the west. He hit a coot and lifted it up into the air but then dropped it and started flying away to the south climbing as he went. Finally he disappeared from sight. Jane Thompson RenoSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:24:35 +0000 The new entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is now open. Take the 95/515 freeway to the Galleria exit 64B, go east and cross Boulder Highway. The Preserve entrance will be on the north side of the road, follow the driveway and signs to the parking Lot and Visitors Center. December, January and February hours will be 7 AM to 2 PM. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. We had 70 (Seventy) species observed this week. The following birds were seen or heard by staff and visitors at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas: Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Canvasback Green-winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sora Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Long-billed Curlew Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Barn Owl Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-shafted Flicker Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike Verdin Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch Lesser Goldfinch Best in Birding Je Anne BrancaSubject: GYRFALCON photos posted From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:43:25 -0800 I have posted a few pictures of the Gyrfalcon that I took today at Stillwater NWR. The photo link to my Flickr page is below. You can click on the individual image and then the magnifying glass to bring up a larger view or you can use the other three links below to go strait to the larger images. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvbirdr/ -OR- Image 1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvbirdr/6706472199/in/photostream Image 2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvbirdr/6706470181/in/photostream Image 3 http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvbirdr/6706468437/in/photostream Greg Scyphers Sparks, NVSubject: Re: Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:49:56 -0500 Too bad this was two weeks ago. It flew SW from RSR, so it might have flown over my house. Think of it: A backyard bird entry of Magnificent Frigatebird? Hey? Brian Adams RenoSubject: Herring Gulls, Virginia Lake, Reno (1/15/15) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:51:04 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (1/15/12). 10:45am-11:30 Today's highlights were 3 Herring Gulls (2 adults, 1 1st-winter) roosting on the ice with the Ring-bills & Californias. I haven't seen this many Herring Gulls at VL since the glory days of the mid-90s, when up to 20 or so weren't unusual at this time of the year. Otherwise, just the usual winter ducks: Mallard (of course) Northern Shoveler--lots Common Merganser--10-12 Hooded Merganser--10-12 Ruddy Duck As reported by others, the Snow & Ross's geese continue at Rancho San Rafael. Here's a shot of the Ross's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/6698727365/in/photostream --Fred PetersenSubject: Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:17:01 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: I was birding at Rancho San Rafael park on Sunday Jan. 1, 2012 and saw the 2 Snow Geese and 1 Ross' Goose previously reported in that location. I spent some time studying a Cooper's Hawk on a lightpole near the ranger's house. As I was about to leave the park I turned around to take one last look at the Cooper's Hawk when "it" flew overhead: a huge bird, all black, with huge sickle-shaped wings, a really long straight tail (like a magpie shape), a small head, about 20 feet up above me, moving really fast, almost floating, headed in a SW direction, and then it was far off in the distance. I only wish I could have seen it better. My impression is that it was a Magnificent Frigatebird. They have turned up out of range in other places. It is a review species in Nevada. I am posting this sighting so it may be used as location documentation if anyone else encounters this bird. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Reno bird sighting Jan. 1, 2012 From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:59:10 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: I was birding at Rancho San Rafael park on Sunday Jan. 1, 2012 and saw the 2 Snow Geese and 1 Ross' Goose previously reported in that location. I spent some time studying a Cooper's Hawk on a lightpole near the ranger's house. As I was about to leave the park I turned around to take one last look at the Cooper's Hawk when "it" flew overhead: a huge bird, all black, with sickle-shaped wings (huge), a really long straight tail (like a magpie shape but longer), a small head, about 20 feet up above me, moving really fast, almost floating, headed in a SW direction, and then it was far off in the distance. I only wish I could have seen it better. My impression is that it was a Magnificent Frigatebird. They have turned up in unexpected places out of range. It is a review species in NV. I am posting this sighting as location documentation if anyone else encounters this bird. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann Murphy7Subject: Lake Park, NW Reno: Great Egret From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:33:05 -0500 As I write this, at 1:30 pm Sunday 15th, there is a Great Egret at Lake Park in NW Reno, corner Keystone and Coleman Drive (plus other streets.) It's eating quite a few minnows or tadpoles, can't be sure. There's still a light skim of ice on the shadiest parts of the pond. I've lived one half block from this pond since 1988 and this is the first egret I've seen there. (Rarely cormorants and herons.) Also, on Friday 13th there were several Eurasian Collared-doves on my street, Wesley Drive, at Keystone Ave. These are the first I've seen in this general locale since last summer. BrianSubject: GYRFALCON continues at Stillwater NWR From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:16:05 -0800 Today January 15th 2012 at about 9:45 AM, I relocated the gray morph GYRFALCON at Stillwater NWR. The bird was on one of the fence posts at the Swan Lake gate adjacent to the Swan Lake Landing. This is where it was originally seen two days ago. I got some very nice photos of the bird as it perched atop the post. Truly a stunning bird. This is the closest I have ever seen one. I will post a photo tonight when I get down to Vegas. After about a couple minutes of me photographing it from inside my truck, the bird flew to the northeast. If anyone is going to search for this bird I would check all around Swan Lake and Tule Lake and continue on Center Road to Navy Cabin Road to Pintail Road. The bird flew towards Pintail and Nutgrass Lake so it would also be a good idea to check Nutgrass Lake via Nutgrass Road. The bird seems to favor these areas probably because the have open water and plenty of ducks for food. Maybe this bird will winter here. This is a NBRC review species so I will submit my notes and photos. This individual represents the first photographically documented Gyrfalcon for Nevada and it will be the first one submitted to the committee. Nevada Redpolls and Gyrfalcon, now where is the Snowy Owl? Greg Scyphers Sparks, NV Sent from my iPhoneSubject: 1/14 Lake Mead notes From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:21:10 -0800 Hi birders, I was able to refind the likely 1st cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull in Las Vegas Bay today and this time I was able to get prolonged views and it is indeed a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The bird was ridiculously far away along the opposite bank of Las Vegas Bay and a scope was need. Along the Rocky Point and 33-hole overlook there was a Red-necked Grebe and a Pacific Loon. Here are some digiscopes of todays birds http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/gnatcatcher/ Andrew Lee HendersonSubject: Fw: BRRI Belize Raptor Tour in December From: Susan Stevenson <sssfromslt AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:41:39 -0800 Hi Nevada Birding Friends, I'm forwarding this email from Ryan Phillips, a raptor expert, who does research in Belize. He's been helping me every time I get a raptor ID question. I'm sharing this information about a trip that he is leading next December, totally for your interest. Please advise if this information is not appropriate for this listserve, Sue Stevenson --- On Fri, 1/13/12, Ryan PhillipsSubject: cool refuge raptor sighting today! From: Susan Sawyer <susan_sawyer AT FWS.GOV> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:22:18 -0500 during the mid-winter raptor survey, Stillwater NWR biologist Bill Henry got a great close-up view and photo of an adult gray morph Gyrfalcon. Beautiful bird! Perched on a fence post at the Swan Lake gate on Center Road, about 11am. I'll try to post the photo on the refuge website. Also sighted several Bald and Golden Eagles, Ferruginous, Red-Tail Coopers hawks, Prairie Falcon, Kestrel and LOTS of Harriers doing the mating dance/flights.Subject: Short-Eared Owl-Genoa Lane, Carson Valley From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:19:13 -0500 Hello! Earlier this evening at about 5:20 PM, a Short-Eared Owl was observed on the north side of Genoa Lane about 0.75 miles west of Rte. 395 in Carson Valley. The owl was hunting in its "moth-like" pattern at a fair distance from the road, I had good looks at it through my scope as it flew straight towards me much closer to the road before it wheeled back around away from me and eventually disappeared. This is the same general area where I observed/photographed one last February. Rob Lowry Carson CitySubject: Re: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:24:16 -0500 Meg, Unless the raccoon is cornered or protecting young, you don't have to worry much about it threatening you. You definitely don't want it indoors or in your garage, as they can and do carry a variety of diseases and parasites. They're omnivores, so they'll eat almost anything, but they seem to seek out high-protein morsels, in particular they love eggs and crayfish. They're also adept at predating on voles and rodents. Brian Adams RenoSubject: Re: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) From: Jacque Lowery <nevadabird AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:44:00 -0800 A couple of years ago I had 5 orphaned baby raccoons hanging around for a while. One night I heard something in the garage and turned on the light. I had a front opening bin with bird seed in it. Because of previous problems with raccoons I had put a long nail through the latch. The little rascals had pushed through the lower part of the door and there were 3 of them in the bin eating bird seed! It was a mixture with sunflower, safflower and millet; so I'm not sure if they were choosing a particular seed or eating it all. So the answer is yes, if they are hungry enough I think they will eat just about anything. Last weekend we had to completely rebuild the banks of our artificial creek from raccoons uprooting rocks looking for ? -frogs, bugs, whatever. Jacque Lowery -----Original Message----- From: discussion about Nevada's bird life [mailto:NVBIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG] On Behalf Of Rick/Meg Andrews Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:33 AM To: NVBIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG Subject: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) This morning at 6:00 a.m., I was filling my bird feeders in the dark, when I heard what I thought was a large cat climbing a nearby 6' wooden fence. I was kind of yelling at it to get out of here, because I do have problems with the neighbors' cats hanging around my feeders. I was thinking it seemed like it was a very large cat, when it turned around and I found it was a very large raccoon! I know it can't get at my feeders, which are on high metal poles, but it may have been checking out the dropped seeds. Do they eat seeds? I know they are attracted to pet food and garbage, neither of which I leave outside (although I don't think the same can be said about all of my neighbors). I am going to take a flashlight out with me tomorrow when I fill the feeders, because this one sure wasn't very afraid of me. Meg Andrews Reno, NVSubject: pest at my bird feeder (not a bird sighting) From: Rick/Meg Andrews <andrews2727 AT ATT.NET> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:33:18 -0800 This morning at 6:00 a.m., I was filling my bird feeders in the dark, when I heard what I thought was a large cat climbing a nearby 6' wooden fence. I was kind of yelling at it to get out of here, because I do have problems with the neighbors' cats hanging around my feeders. I was thinking it seemed like it was a very large cat, when it turned around and I found it was a very large raccoon! I know it can't get at my feeders, which are on high metal poles, but it may have been checking out the dropped seeds. Do they eat seeds? I know they are attracted to pet food and garbage, neither of which I leave outside (although I don't think the same can be said about all of my neighbors). I am going to take a flashlight out with me tomorrow when I fill the feeders, because this one sure wasn't very afraid of me. Meg Andrews Reno, NVSubject: Varied Thrush-Crissie Caughlin Park, Reno From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:47:29 -0500 Hello again!
While briefly in the Reno area this morning (Wed., Jan. 11th), I stopped at
Crissie Caughlin Park and after about 15 minutes of looking, observed the
Varied Thrush first reported by Chuck Coxe on Jan. 8th. The thrush was observed
in the same area as reported by Alan De Queiroz on Jan. 9th ('some metal
benches a little upstream of the jungle gym").
Rob Lowry
Carson City
Subject: Long-Eared Owl-Deadman's Creek Trail, Washoe ValleyFrom: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:40:09 -0500 Hello! At about 4:15 PM today (Wed., Jan. 11th), a Long-Eared Owl was observed in the farther upslope part of the willows along the Deadman's Creek trail. At one point, it was perched up in a dead tree down the trail providing great looks. When last observed, it went to fly back upslope, and one of a pair of Cooper's Hawks roosting in the area flew up, and the hawk and the owl interlocked talons in mid-air for a few seconds. Pretty cool to see! The Deadman's Creek trail head (a small parking lot enough for three vehicles) is on the south side of Eastlake Blvd., south of Washoe Lake State Park. Eastlake Blvd. is accessed from Rte. 395 just north of Carson City. Rob Lowry Carson CitySubject: Eurasian Wigeon still at Lakeridge From: Kenneth Drozd <kdrozd AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:19:52 -0800 At lucnchtime I found the female Eurasian Wigeon which Greg Scyphers reported. It was with a flock of Americans, but at a different spot than Greg described. I found the flock walking around grazing about 150 yds directly west of the spot where the golf carts go under Plumas. They then flew just to the south, across a cart path and irrigation ditch where there is another pond. Ken Drozd Reno,NVSubject: No Redpoll in Fernley Today From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:28:27 -0800 Despite a constant watch of our feeders this morning by us and several out of town birders, the Common Redpoll was not seen. If it shows again I will of course post an update. Dennis SerdehelySubject: Eurasian Wigeon continues at Lakeridge Golf Course From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:15:15 -0800 This afternoon, January 10, 2012, I stopped by Lakeridge Golf Course in Reno to see if the female EURASIAN WIGEON was still there. I originally found this bird on the Truckee Meadows CBC in mid December and I wanted to get it for my 2012 year list. It was indeed still present with the large Wigeon flock at the northwest most pond on the west side of Plumas. If anyone is interested in seeing this bird and you need better directions, please contact me via email. Also, beware of golf balls, the golfers are taking advantage of the lack of snow. I also went out to Dennis Serdehely's today and photographed the COMMON REDPOLL. Greg Scyphers Sparks, NVSubject: Fwd: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 7, 2012 From: melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:59:46 -0700 ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: eBird Report - The Yurt feeders, Jan 7, 2012 From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org To: theyurt AT wirelessbeehive.com CC: The Yurt feeders, White Pine county, just below main entrance to Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV Jan 7, 2012 7:30 AM - 8:05 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Observer: John B. Free Jan 7 to 8/2012 Conditions: Mostly cloudy to overcast; 27 deg to 16 deg (frost) 6 species Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 3 Obvious pecking order Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 1 Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 35 Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 5 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]) 20 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 9 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)Subject: White-tailed Kite in Pahrump From: Morgan Peters <mpetersd AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:45:52 -0800 Dan Williams and I observed a White-tailed Kite perched on top of the "Pahrump Dermatology" billboard along Hwy 160 just north of the Maverick gas station. We stopped to photograph but the kite was bumped by a rock dove. The bird flew south and we were not able to relocate it. Morgan Peters Lake Forest, CA mpetersd AT gmail.comSubject: Common Redpoll in Fernley From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:57:50 -0800 We have a Common Redpoll showing up at our feeder this morning. If anyone is interested in seeing it please call me for directions at 771-1575. Dennis Serdehely |