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8 Feb Rancho San Rafael Park (Reno) birds [Rick/Meg Andrews ] 8 Feb Sandhill Crane Band Resightings Solicited [Chad August ] 8 Feb Duck Creek-Clark County Wetlands Park 2-7-2010 [Randall Michal ] 8 Feb Pahranagat Upper Lake Reopens (no sightings) [Carl Lundblad ] 8 Feb FW: Pahranagat Area [Bird Preserve ] 8 Feb FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 7 Feb GW gull (continues), Virginia Lake; Reno (2/7/10) [Fred Petersen ] 7 Feb Yellow Rumped Warbler - Spanish Springs [M Robards ] 7 Feb Leconte's Thrasher RFI [Tom Kelly ] 7 Feb Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County [Darlene Feener ] 7 Feb Bird Report - Pruess Reservoir, Millard County, Utah 2/5/10 [Melissa Renfro ] 6 Feb Northern Mockingbird [Cynthia Goddard ] 6 Feb Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Friday 2-5-2010 [Randall Michal ] 5 Feb Laughlin Area [Carl Lundblad ] 5 Feb Sparks Marina (2/5/10) [Fred Petersen ] 5 Feb Rough-legged Hawk at Damonte Wetlands (Reno) [Martin Meyers ] 5 Feb Waterfowl banding in Fallon area [Chris Nicolai ] 5 Feb Clark Co. Wetlands Park.....Mergansers [Aaron Ambos ] 5 Feb COMMON GRACKLE in Beatty [Greg Scyphers ] 5 Feb Virginia Lake; Reno (2/4/10) [Fred Petersen ] 4 Feb mystery bird Reno 2/3/10 - possibly Leach's Storm-Petrel [ann murphy ] 4 Feb Pahranagat Valley, 1/31-2/1/10 [] 3 Feb Cackling Goose, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls in Reno/Sparks [Martin Meyers ] 2 Feb Nevada birds in Moscow [Jim Diane ] 2 Feb Cackling Goose, Tundra Swans, Virginia Lake; Reno (2/2/10) [Fred Petersen ] 2 Feb Rhodes Ranch Las Vegas [Bob Gotschall ] 2 Feb Re: Swans at DaMonte Wetlands, Reno NV 1/31/10 [Judy Phoenix ] 2 Feb Swans at DaMonte Wetlands, Reno NV 1/31/10 [SAMARENO ] 2 Feb Corn Creek (Golden-crowned Sparrow continues) [Greg Scyphers ] 1 Feb Lemmon Valley (2/1/10) [Fred Petersen ] 1 Feb Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County [Darlene Feener ] 31 Jan Amargosa Valley: Sandhill Cranes and Long-eared Owl [Carl Lundblad ] 31 Jan Willow Creek Golf Course [Darlene Feener ] 31 Jan Willow Creek Golf Course [Darlene Feener ] 31 Jan Carson Valley/Topaz Lake [Gerrad Jones ] 31 Jan Swan Lake NSA [Bob Goodman ] 31 Jan FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 30 Jan Reno and Carson City Area [Je Anne ] 30 Jan Pretty day at Pyramid Lake, but very few birds [Martin Meyers ] 30 Jan Great Reno Caper Audubon Trip [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 30 Jan Swifts Over Amargosa [Carl Lundblad ] 30 Jan Swan Lake NSA [Bob Goodman ] 30 Jan White River Valley [David Worley ] 29 Jan Floyd Lamb/Bristlecone Trail [Carl Lundblad ] 29 Jan Slow day at the Sparks Marina (1/29/10) [Fred Petersen ] 28 Jan Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports [Matt Kennedy ] 28 Jan Fallon Area [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 28 Jan UNR Manzanita Pond birds 1/28/10 [ann murphy ] 28 Jan Cackling Goose, a few gulls in Reno/Sparks [Martin Meyers ] 28 Jan GW, LBB gulls, Virginia Lake; Reno (1/28/10) [Fred Petersen ] 27 Jan Sandhill Crane in Pahrump [Carl Lundblad ] 26 Jan Gulls again, Virginia Lake; Reno (1/26/10) [Fred Petersen ] 26 Jan Great Backyard Bird Count [Jill Neumann ] 25 Jan Re: Baird's Sandpiper at Pyramid Lake [Joel Geier ] 26 Jan Wildlife (birds/animals) safari in Minden area [Michael M ] 25 Jan Slight correction on Baird's Sandpiper post [Martin Meyers ] 25 Jan Baird's Sandpiper at Pyramid Lake [Martin Meyers ] 24 Jan Re: Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County [Carl Lundblad ] 25 Jan Greater White-Fronted Geese, Rosewood Lakes Golf Course [Rob Lowry ] 24 Jan Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County [Darlene Feener ] 24 Jan Oasis Valley [Laura Cunningham ] 24 Jan FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 23 Jan Reno and Sparks - A 7Gull Day [Dennis & Becca Serdehely ] 23 Jan Red-shouldered Hawk & Merlin, west Reno, Jan. 23, '10 [Alan Wallace ] 23 Jan Montello Snow Sparrow (Bunting) [Jill Neumann ] 23 Jan Re the Virginia Lake Wood Duck/Mallard pair (1/22/10) [Fred Petersen ] 22 Jan Re: Wood Duck-Mallard pair?, Barrow's Goldeneye at Virginia Lake [Bob Goodman ] 22 Jan Wood Duck-Mallard pair?, Barrow's Goldeneye at Virginia Lake [Alan de Queiroz ] 22 Jan Re: Snow bunting (house sparrow in disguise) [Jill Neumann ] 22 Jan Sparks Marina, Sparks, Washoe Co (1/22/10) [Fred Petersen ] 22 Jan The Montello "bunting" [Martin Meyers ] 22 Jan Snow bunting (house sparrow in disguise) [Aaron Ambos ] 22 Jan Montello Snow Bunting (Sparrow?) [Jill Neumann ] 22 Jan leucistic house sparrow [Elisabeth Ammon ] 21 Jan Snow bunting? [Aaron Ambos ] 21 Jan Merlin and others-- Old NW Reno [Wendy Broadhead ] Subject: Rancho San Rafael Park (Reno) birds From: Rick/Meg Andrews <andrews2727 AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 16:31:02 -0800 I walked around Herman's Pond and the arboretum at lunch today. The pond is finally thawed-1 week ago it was still completely frozen over. The only birds on the pond were 5 mallards, 20 Canada geese, and 1 coot. Also 1 kestrel on the west side of the pond. The woods around the creek coming out of the pond were pretty birdy, as was the arboretum. I saw 1 cooper's hawk, 2 red tail hawks, 2 n. flickers, 1 downey woodpecker, an Audubon's warbler, a brown creeper, at least 14 robins, 2 steller's jays, 1scrub jay, a hermit thrush, mourning doves, starlings, Oregon juncos, and some quail. The trees around the ranch buildings were full of birds, but I didn't have time to look at them very carefully. I believe they were mostly lesser goldfinch and house finch, but I did see 1 American goldfinch and 1 cedar waxwing. Note: for the last several weeks I have only seen red tail hawks on the light poles at the ballfields. Today, 1 of the hawks was in the songbird garden (only about 10 feet above my head, so we got a good look at each other); the other hawk was in the oak grove in a tree near last year's nest. Meg AndrewsSubject: Sandhill Crane Band Resightings Solicited From: Chad August <c.w.august AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:36:40 -0800 Hello NV Birders,
I am currently a graduate student at the University of Nevada-Reno working
on a project studying the demography of greater sandhill cranes breeding in
northeastern Nevada. Cranes that breed in northeastern Nevada, south-central
and southwestern Idaho, and extreme northwestern Utah are assigned to the
Lower Colorado River Valley (LCRV) population and are the least abundant of
any migratory population of sandhill cranes (~2500 birds). They spend the
winter at the Gila River, Cibola NWR, Imperial NWR, Havasu NWR, and Colorado
River Indian Reservation in Arizona and at Salton Sea NWR and Brawley in
California. Although their migration path is unknown, it is possible they
will travel through Pahranagat Valley, Kirsh WMA, Key-Pittman WMA, and
additional valleys and agriculture areas throughout eastern Nevada. We marked
several adults and juveniles with white PVC auxiliary markers with blue
two-digit alpha-numeric codes placed above the tibiotarsus ('knee') to
determine survival rates. I would appreciate any birders that come
across sandhill cranes in the state to check for these bands. You can report
resightings directly to me and I can provide you with any information I have
on the individuals.
--
Chad W. August
Master's Student, Wildlife Ecology
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
University of Nevada, Reno
Office: 775-784-6558
Cell: 515-368-3135
caugust AT cabnr.unr.edu
Subject: Duck Creek-Clark County Wetlands Park 2-7-2010From: Randall Michal <rmichai637 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:15:11 -0500 Hello all, on Sunday morning Babette and I took a walk out at the Duck Creek area of the Clark County Wetlands Park during a break in the rain. We were able to walk around the southernmost Duck Creek Pond to the east side and back north a ways until our path was blcoked by a 40 foot wide stream of water spilling from the pond. We also spent a short time near the main Wetlands Park Visitor's Center to see if we could find the male Vermillion Flycatcher (We did). Here is the complete list of observed birds: Eared Grebe Western Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night-heron White-faced Ibis ( 6 in a drainage channel next to Wetlands park Dr. near the VC) Canada Goose Mallard Northern Pintail Gadwall Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Cinnamon Teal Northern Harrier Gambel's Quail American Coot Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull (Immature) Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher (Just west of the VC) Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Vermillion Flycatcher (Male working the trees directly next to the north side of Wetlands Park Dr.west of the VC) Marsh Wren White-crowned Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Abert's Towhee Randy MichalSubject: Pahranagat Upper Lake Reopens (no sightings) From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:04:46 -0800 The Upper Lake/Campground area at Pahranagat NWR reopened this weekend according to a USFWS news release. The area had beel closed for replacement of the water control structures in the dam. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: FW: Pahranagat Area From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:02:18 -0800 Saturday, February 6th, Marcy, Rita and I birded the Pahranagat Valley area. Temp. 42 to 45, calm wind and rain in the afternoon. The following fifty-three (53) species were seen. Snow Goose (4 white and 1 blue phase) Canada Goose Tundra Swan (1 adult & 1 juvenile) Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon (1 male) American Wigeon (lots) Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead (mating) Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron White-tailed Kite (1 Middle Marsh) Bald Eagle (2 adults, upper lake) Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Red-shafted Flicker Common Raven Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Fox Sparrow (possible we would have liked a better look) Lincoln's Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Oregon Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird House Sparrow Best in birding, Je Anne BrancaSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:37:06 -0800 STARTING DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH THE HOURS WILL BE FROM 7:00 AM TO 2:00 PM. ________________________________ The following birds were seen or heard this week by staff and visitors from February 1st, 2010 thru February 7th, 2010. We had Sixty-six (66) species recorded this week. Greater White-fronted Goose (2/3 4 on pond 9) Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern (heard) Great Egret Snowy Egret Green Heron Black-crowned night Heron White-faced Ibis Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon Common Moorhen American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull California Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Red-shafted Flicker (heard) Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Common Raven Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Verdin Bushtit Cactus Wren (2/1 near pond 3) Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher European Starling American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle's) Abert's Towhee Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch DON'T FORGET YOUR HAT, SUNSCREEN AND WATER!!!! Open 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, last entry is at 1:30 pm. You need about two hours to bird the Preserve. Directions from the I515 (US 93 & 95), take exit 64A, Sunset Road east. Follow the signs (blue signs with white letters), turn left (north) on Moser. For more information call 702-267-4180. Best in birding, Je Anne BrancaSubject: GW gull (continues), Virginia Lake; Reno (2/7/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:17:26 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (2/7/10) When I arrived at the lake this morning (11:15), the first-year Glaucous-winged Gull was roosting with c.350 other gulls (Ring-bills & Californias in about equal numbers) in the big expanse of exposed muddy lake bottom at the north end, & it was still there when I left about 45 minutes later. O/w nothing much to report. The male Lesser Scaup continues, but there was no sign of the Cackling Goose, Wood Duck or Lesser Black-backed Gull. Fred PetersenSubject: Yellow Rumped Warbler - Spanish Springs From: M Robards <pezealogy AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:35:29 -0800 We've had a YR-Warbler hanging around the suet feeder on our peach tree for the last two days, not a regular in our yard. In fact I haven't noticed one for maybe at least a year. I wasn't sure at first, but this tree is right out a window so I did get a couple of pix which I'll put up as time permits during football. I was hoping to get a view of his 'under' side but I think I've ID'd it without that (I hope!) melissa Spanish SpringsSubject: Leconte's Thrasher RFI From: Tom Kelly <tkelly_1 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:37:35 -0500 I am going to be in Las Vegas for work in early March for a couple of days, and would like to try for LeConte's Thrasher. I know last year I was out that way , but it was late April, so my attempt for Leconte's at Corn Creek was unsuccessful. Was that too late in the year, or are they sparse at Corn Creek? Is Corn Creek my best shot within a reasonable drive? Thanks, Tom Kelly ChicagoSubject: Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County From: Darlene Feener <robertfeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:37:59 -0500 Birding from 8 a.m. to noon 40 species seen 1.Red-shouldered Hawks: 2 2.Dark-eyed Juncos: 24 (18 were Slate colored and 6 were Oregon) 3.Rock Doves: 32 4.Mourning Doves: 17 5.Red-winged Blackbirds: 3 6 American Crows: 5 7.Mallards:91 8.American Wigeons: 80 9.White-crowned Sparrows: 15 10. Northern Flickers: 3 together 11. Great-tailed Grackes: 16 12. American Coots: 43 13. Ruddy Ducks: 2 14. Ring-necked Ducks: 3 15. Northern Pintail: 1 16. Gambel's Quail: 46 17. Raven's: 2 18. Northern Mockingbird: 1 19. House Sparrows: 45 20. Phainopepla: 1 21. House Finches: 6 22. Song Sparrows: 2 23. Yellow-rumped Warblers: 4 24. Western Bluebirds: 6 25. Eurasian-collared Doves: 3 26. Red-naped Sapsucker: 1 27. Say's Phoebe: 1 28. Anna's Hummingbird: 1 29. Chipping Sparrows: 2 30. Lesser Goldfinch: 2 31. Northern Shoveler: 1 32. Black Phoebe: 1 33. Mountain Bluebirds: 10 34. Red-tailed Hawk: 1 35. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1 36. American Robin: 1 37. Brewer's Blackbirds: 2 38. Northern Harrier: 1 39. Verdin: 1 40. Cooper's Hawk: 1Subject: Bird Report - Pruess Reservoir, Millard County, Utah 2/5/10 From: Melissa Renfro <melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:59:47 -0800 > Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 10:33 PM > To:Subject: Northern Mockingbird From: Cynthia Goddard <cynthiagoddard AT MAC.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 08:33:51 -0800 After a long dull period for Fallon backyard birds we were visited
Friday Feb. 5th by a Northern Mockingbird, who came in for water at
our feeding station. Mockingbirds aren't very common for our area,
and surely this is the first I've seen in our yard at this time of year.
Cindy Goddard
Subject: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Friday 2-5-2010From: Randall Michal <rmichai637 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 07:32:38 -0500 Hello all, I apent a couple of hours birding the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, east of Las Vegas, on Friday morning. Nothing particularly special except perhaps for some early returning Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Here is the complete list of observed birds: Eared Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Green Heron Black-crowned Night-heron Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Gadwall Northern Shoveler (I estimate about 1200-1500, roughly) Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Redhead Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Red-tailed Hawk Cooper's Hawk (Adult) Northern Harrier (2 adult females, 1 juvenile) Gambel's Quail Common Moorhen American Coot Greater Yellowlegs California Gull Ring-billed Gull Greater Roadrunner Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Verdin Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) European Starling Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow House Finch Randy MichalSubject: Laughlin Area From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:45:08 -0800 I birded in the Laughlin area for a few hours today. At Davis Dam there was a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE below the dam with 6 Common Goldeneyes, a drake GREATER SCAUP, and 8 Hooded Mergansers. A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER drake was above the dam in AZ waters. Additional birds on the AZ side of Lake Mohave included a Herring Gull at Katherine Landing, 4 COMMON LOONS and a HORNED GREBE at Cabinsite Point. I birded most of the river cooridor south to Avi where AZ, NV, and CA meet. An additional 35-40 female Common Goldeneyes were along the river well south of Laughling, closer to Avi. This area had another dozen Hooded Mergansers and 50+ Buffleheads. Lots of mallards, wigeons, and an assortment of other ducks. Gulls were numerous with about 2000 along the entire stretch including the occasional California and 2 HERRING GULLS. A SNOWY EGRET was just south of the Big Bend. A single unidentified Swallow flew over between Laughlin and Avi. Yesterday I had a MERLIN at the ag. fields north of Avi. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: Sparks Marina (2/5/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 23:32:00 -0500 Sparks Marina, Sparks, Washoe Co (2/5/10) We ended up spending almost 4 hours at the marina today, mostly in the cove gull watching, though we also walked around the lake & took a longish lunch break. Here’s the species total for the day (16 species). Canada goose—?100 Gadwall—?10 Mallard—?10 Lesser Scaup—1 male Ruddy Duck—c.30 Pied-billed Grebe—4-5 Eared Grebe--3 Black-crowned Night Heron—1 American Coot—c.100 Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull—12-15 Thayer’s Gull—1 1st-winter Western Gull—1 subadult Rock Dove Brewer’s Blackbird And now, here is more about gull movements at the marina than some people may wish to know. When we arrived at 11:00am, there were about 100 gulls in the cove, all as far as I could tell Ring-bills (just a few as usual) & Californias; there were no gulls anywhere else at the marina. This changed at 12:45 when additional gulls started drifting into the cove, joining the existing flock on the beach and in and around the pontoons. There were now about 600 gulls in the cove, the Thayer’s, Western & Herring Gulls all coming in with the new arrivals. At 1:35, there was a sudden panic (cause unknown) with the entire flock taking to the air. After a few minutes , about half the birds were back in the cove, & half had settled in a large raft in the middle of lake, & this was still the situation when we left for home an hour later. The Western Gull was among the birds that returned to the cove, first landing on the pontoons and then on the beach where I managed to snap a few photos before it moved back to the pontoons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/ (Western Gull) Fred PetersenSubject: Rough-legged Hawk at Damonte Wetlands (Reno) From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:10:57 -0700 My wife (Barb) and I walked around Damonte Ranch Wetlands today. Bird activity was moderate, and included one Rough-legged Hawk who hung in the air for several minutes, posing for photographs. I can't help wondering if this is the same bird that posed for many photos last year at the same location. Ducks included Canvasbacks, Ring-necks, Green-winged Teal, two Cinnamon Teal, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Mallard, and Ruddy Duck. Two immature Tundra Swans were a pleasant surprise. (I saw a Mute Swan at the large impoundment last October and was afraid the swans today were more of the same, but fortunately, these were "real" birds.) Approximately 300 Canada Geese were at the south end. The rest of the birds included one Greater Yellowlegs, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, American Coot, California Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, five Northern Flickers, some European Starlings, one White-crowned Sparrow, numerous Red-winged Blackbirds, six Western Meadowlarks, and some House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches. The weather was wonderful, too. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Waterfowl banding in Fallon area From: Chris Nicolai <nicolai AT UNR.NEVADA.EDU> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:12:40 -0800 Hello all- Just wanted to get the word out if anyone would be interested in assisting us banding waterfowl. We have 2 projects going on right now. The first is the long-term study of wood ducks. The second is post-season banding of waterfowl. We are just getting things started for the year. We have caught about 80 woodies so far and read another 50 bands or so. As for the effort at Carson Lake, we have birds beginning to feed on bait piles and hope to start catching ducks early this next week. So, if you happen to see wire or corn while birding at Carson Lake, we ask to not disturb them, they are getting checked daily. Below is a link for a semi-blog I will be posting. It will be the primary way I will provide dates, times, and directions for when banding will be occurring. This will cut down on my cell phone and emailing time. No experience is necessary and we welcome anyone interested in banding waterfowl. http://www.nevadawaterfowl.org/volunteer/volunteer-to-band.html Chris Chris Nicolai Contract Waterfowl Biologist 1000 Valley Rd. Reno, NV 89512 NEW PHONE NUMBER EFFECTIVE JANUARY 20, 2010 Office :(775)784-6558Subject: Clark Co. Wetlands Park.....Mergansers From: Aaron Ambos <aambos AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:36:22 -0500 I made a quick trip along the Duck Creek trail at the Clark Co. Wetlands Park this morning. Had about 37 species with the highlights including a female Red-breasted merganser, a female hooded merganser, a male vermillion flycatcher, and a merlin.Subject: COMMON GRACKLE in Beatty From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:17:20 -0800 Yesterday February 4, 2010, I found a male bronze form COMMON GRACKLE in Beatty. The bird was with a large flock of Blackbirds at the end of E. Amargosa St. along the river. This may be the same bird I viewed in the area last winter. I thought last year's bird may have been a female, but I guess it could have been a first year bird. This bird was clearly an adult male and even gave one of the Sibley guide identified male calls. I did get some photos of the bird to compare to last year's bird. Common Grackle is a NBRC review species so I will be submitting written and photo documentation. Other stops and birds: Peregrine Falcon - HWY 95 & the 215 at the north end of Las Vegas (diving on and harassing another bird on the ground) Vanderbuilt road Pond, Beatty -Canvasback -Redhead (6) Lida -Mountain Bluebirds (8) Lida Summit -Juniper Titmouse Single Row Trees, Dyer -Brewer's Sparrow - seems out of season but I don't know for sure. I will need to consult resources. -Mountain Bluebirds (~15) -Ferruginous Hawk - dark morph Circle L Ranch, Dyer -Another winter tree loss. The large tree in front of the ranch house has been cut mostly down. I don't know if it broke and the workers then cut it or if it was just cut down. There is still enough of a tree left that it will still grow back, but it will be many years before it is as big as it used to be. Many rarities have been found in this tree over the years so it is sad to see it reduced to almost nothing. Greg ScyphersSubject: Virginia Lake; Reno (2/4/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:56:30 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (2/4/10) The drake Wood Duck & his “mate” were back at the lake again today after several days absence. When I first spotted the pair they were roosting at the water’s edge at the N end. 15 minutes later the drake (& doubtless the duck also) was in the scrum of geese, ducks & other birds scrabbling for bread on the west side. Otherwise, it was very quiet. I didn’t get to the lake until 3:30 when many of the gulls & geese may have already left for the night. In any case, numbers were low with nothing unusual--no Cackling Goose or Glaucous-winged or Lesser Black-backed Gull. Here’s a photo of theWood Duck: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/4331218045 Fred PetersenSubject: mystery bird Reno 2/3/10 - possibly Leach's Storm-Petrel From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 20:44:53 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: There was a very unusual bird yesterday (2/3/10) flying at about 25 feet above the Diamonds Casino on Sutro St. Ed Kurtz relayed his impressions of this bird to me in a phone conversation. He did not have binoculars at the time of the sighting. His first idea was that it was somewhat like a nighthawk but larger. It had sickle-shaped wings, bent at the wrist, and was flying back and forth erratically in a mothlike way. It had a squarish-appearing tail, no obvious white rump. Yet it seemed like a Leach's Storm-Petrel in its behavior. He observed it for about 30 seconds. Then it suddenly flew south and into the sun and was gone. It was a very windy day. Afterwards Ed researched it in 5 field guides. The Smithsonian guide mentions that a LSP's forked tail can appear square. This is the identification he is leaning toward. He asked me to put this sighting on the list as a "possible". If it is still in the area it would probably be in a lake south of Reno. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Pahranagat Valley, 1/31-2/1/10 From: ammon AT GBBO.ORG Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 08:16:42 -0600 Hello all - I just did our biweekly water/shorebird counts in Pahranagat Valley, and here are the highlights: Key Pittman WMA: Tundra Swans (160) Snow Goose (5) Cackling Goose (6) the usual assortment of wintering ducks (heavy on the Ruddy Ducks and Redheads, but nice diversity; ~1500 ducks total) Pahranagat NWR: Middle Marsh Sandhill Crane (1 - out of season) Cackling Goose (2) Bald Eagle (1 immature) again, nice variety of wintering ducks Lower Lake: not much happening (the usual winter ducks) Upper Lake/Marsh (closed to the public due to construction) Tundra Swan Snow Goose Cackling Goose deep-diving ducks, incl. Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, plus the usual shallow divers and dabblers; overall ~3000 ducks Golden Eagle The ducks were still spooked from the hunting season that just ended the day before, so if you go, don't expect to get close-up looks for a little while. The Middle Marsh area was recently burned to open up the wetlands. Should be a good shorebird migration out there in a couple of months. Lots of Mountain Bluebirds. Otherwise in the Valley: Ferruginous Hawk, and a nice variety of resident raptors. -- Elisabeth M. Ammon Executive Director Great Basin Bird Observatory 1755 E. Plumb Lane #256 Reno, NV 89502 c (775) 722-9116 fx (775) 323-4226 ammon AT gbbo.org www.gbbo.orgSubject: Cackling Goose, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls in Reno/Sparks From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:38:57 -0700 I visited Virginia Lake around noon today. The continuing Glaucous-winged Gull was present, as was the continuing tiny Cackling Goose (at the far south end.) There was also a very strange Canada Goose, with some sort of abnormality causing a massive bulge beneath the breast. Tumor? It can't be just something he swallowed, it's way too big. If anyone sees this critter and can figure out what's going on, I'd be interested. (I did get a photo -- I guess I could put it up on my website, but it's not a pleasant sight. Maybe it would be better for me to send it to anyone interested. Send me an email if you want a copy.) I then walked from Idlewild Park upstream to the condominiums. There was a mixed flock of Goldeneyes including one adult male and three female Barrow's Goldeneyes. There was also a first year male with a face sort of resembling Barrow's, but I think it was a young Common Goldeneye, based on head shape. (The Barrows have been around, off and on, since before Christmas.) Finally, a walk around Sparks Marina provided opportunities for full-frame photos of the continuing Western Gull, who bathed near shore and then walked up onto the beach (north end.) Four adult and one first-cycle Herring Gulls were the only other non-California/Ring-bills present. Today was the first day I've walked around the marina and not seen a single Black-crowned Night-heron. Did the cold, stormy weather drive them away? Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Nevada birds in Moscow From: Jim Diane <woobib AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:20:38 -0800 I recently spent a hectic 2-1/2 hrs guiding a Russian engineer around the Carson Valley with the intention of photographing as many Nevada birds or wildlife as we could find. It is a pleasurable feeling knowing that the images of our common birds and Genoa's Mule Deer are now in the Russia being shown as trophies to the Moscow birders. Our photo list included, Am and Lesser Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, Am Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-rumped warbler, Downey WP, N. Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Calif. Quail, Song Sparrow, Spotted towhee, W Scrub Jay, Steller's Jay, Mt Chickadee, Barn Owl, Mallard, Gadwall, Ring-neck, Red head, Widgeon, Canvas Back Ducks and one White-fronted Goose. The raptors were the show: Shape-shinned Hawk- ad and im, Cooper's Hawk -ad and im, Light and dark form Red-tailed Hawks -ad and im, Red-shouldered Hawk - ad and Im, Am Rough-leg Hawk -ad, Prairie Falcon - ad, Kestrel-ad and Im, Bald Eagles- 1yr to ad. A thermal built over the Dangburg Home ranch and 5 Bald Eagles and 4 Red tails soared from 200ft to 4500ft above us, it was just spectacular to see. But true to western hospitality, in the final sun rays, an full blown adult Golden come by and circled for some photos. There is a fellow in Russia who would not surprise me if he came back for more Nevada birds. For the rest of us: Eagles and Ag is just around the corner. Jim Woods 775-720-7009 Jim AT birdingnevada.com www.birdingundernevadaskies.comSubject: Cackling Goose, Tundra Swans, Virginia Lake; Reno (2/2/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:24:25 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (2/2/10) The highlight today was a tiny Cackling Goose, doubtless the same bird reported by Martin Meyers on 1/28. When I first spotted it (1:45pm), it was with Canadas at the outlet culvert at the south end. It subsequently swam back & forth with its flock mates between the outlet & the island, sometimes following the Canadas onto the shore for short periods. A little after 2:00, it suddenly took wing for no apparent reason, giving its high-pitched flight calls as it headed west over the suburbs. This was a was a very small goose, hardly if at all larger than a Mallard: stubby-billed & dark breasted with a broad dusky chin strap & slight traces of a white neck-ring. The other interesting sighting this afternoon was a pair of Tundra Swans which flew over the south end of the lake while I was photographing the Cackling Goose. I heard them before I saw them; they were heading east. Gulls. Nothing unusual today, not even the first-year Glaucous-winged Gull which has been more or less resident at the lake the last few weeks. Gulls numbers in general were low. The lake was completely ice-free today for the first time in about 2 months, so the principal roosting area far out on the frozen surface no longer existed. Photos: here’s a couple of photos of the Cackler: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/4326373175/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/4327100930/in/photostream/ Fred PetersenSubject: Rhodes Ranch Las Vegas From: Bob Gotschall <gotschall_robert AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:57:44 -0500 On a casual walk at the Rhodes Ranch golf course in Southwest Las Vegas I finally saw something besides Mallard, Dark-eyed Junco, Great Tailed Grackle, Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Rock Dove, House Sparrow, House Finch and Coot: Common Merganser 12 male and female Double-crested Cormorant 1 Anna's Hummingbird male 1 (no feeder). This weekend sounds equally slow with rain forcast (not that I'm complaining, the birds can use a break). Bob Gotschall Las Vegas (temp)Subject: Re: Swans at DaMonte Wetlands, Reno NV 1/31/10 From: Judy Phoenix <jphoenix AT PYRAMID.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 17:08:47 -0800 And in the ponds on the path west of the Damonte High School - all the
others plus red heads (20 male and female), and green-winged teal (10
male and female). Lovely day.
Judy
SAMARENO wrote:
> Hi, we went for a walk to celebrate the sun on Sunday.
>
> Just wanted to mention there were 2 swans ("Tundra?) on the large wetland
"lake".
>
> We turn off DaMonte at the McDonalds and go down to Peri (?) Landscaping.
>
> The "lake" is past the creek that runs along the walking path that starts
there.
>
> Anyway, some nice birds and sun make a great weekend.
>
> No Harrier
> Red Tailed Hawk
> Great Blue Heron
> Yellowlegs
> Tundra(?) Swans-2
> Canada Geese-present
> Bufflehead-4+?
> Gadwalls-present
> Mallards-present
> Ruddy Ducks-8+
> Goldeneye(sp)-2+
> No Shovelers-6+
> Red-winged Blackbirds-20+
> Song Sparrows-2
> Eu Starlings-2
>
> I think I heard a Snipe.
>
>
> Sue Anne Marshall
> a.k.a. samareno "at" yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: Swans at DaMonte Wetlands, Reno NV 1/31/10From: SAMARENO <samareno AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:42:21 -0800 Hi, we went for a walk to celebrate the sun on Sunday.
Just wanted to mention there were 2 swans ("Tundra?) on the large wetland
"lake".
We turn off DaMonte at the McDonalds and go down to Peri (?) Landscaping.
The "lake" is past the creek that runs along the walking path that starts
there.
Anyway, some nice birds and sun make a great weekend.
No Harrier
Red Tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Yellowlegs
Tundra(?) Swans-2
Canada Geese-present
Bufflehead-4+?
Gadwalls-present
Mallards-present
Ruddy Ducks-8+
Goldeneye(sp)-2+
No Shovelers-6+
Red-winged Blackbirds-20+
Song Sparrows-2
Eu Starlings-2
I think I heard a Snipe.
Sue Anne Marshall
a.k.a. samareno "at" yahoo.com
Subject: Corn Creek (Golden-crowned Sparrow continues)From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:25:49 -0800 This morning February 2, 2010, I visited Corn Creek more to give my dog a walk than really birding, but I certainly looked over the area pretty good. The adult Golden-crowned Sparrow was still present and there were eight Western Bluebirds, lots of Phainopeplas (at least 20-25), lots of Robins (nothing good mixed in), a Crissal Thrasher, a couple Townsend's Solitaires, a Marsh Wren and 18 other regularly occurring species. Greg ScyphersSubject: Lemmon Valley (2/1/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:48:49 -0500 Lemmon Valley, Washoe Co (2/1/10) Encouraged by Bob Goodman’s report on birds & conditions yesterday, we headed out to Lemmon Valley this morning, first to the sewage ponds, then on to Pompe Road & the SLNR boardwalk. The road in to the sewage ponds was muddy but passable & there was lots of open water in the ponds & playa, though still some ice. Here are the highlights. Tundra Swan—37 scattered over the playa Cinnamon Teal—1 male (sewage ponds) Northern Shrike—1 adult (Pompe Road) Otherwise, lots of ducks & Canada geese in the sewage ponds/playa as Bob said, but apart from the Cinnamon Teal nothing even a little unusual—no White-fronted, Snow or Ross’s geese, Eurasian Wigeons, Greater Scaup (as far as I could tell) or Barrow’s Goldeneyes (though good numbers of Common Goldeneyes). Rails. For the first time I can remember we failed to encounter any rails—Soras or Virginias—along the boardwalk. No only did we not see any rails or hear any spontaneous calling, but there was zero response to playbacks of the calls. There was plenty of open water of suitable depth & my guess is that the local population has been driven out or extirpated by the big January freeze-up. If so, it will be interesting to see how long recolonizaton takes. Fred PetersenSubject: Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County From: Darlene Feener <robertfeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:20:44 -0500 Listing of species seen on January 31, 2010 was 43. After sending photo onto Carl Lundblad and having him look at what I thought might be a Cackling Goose, it turned out to be a subspecies varation of Canada Goose. I was hesistant to identify the goose by its size alone and I never got close enough to get pictures of its face. Thank you Carl and others that looked at photo. I learned a lot about the Cackling Goose this weekend. Listing of species seen on January 31, 2010 should be 42 not 43.Subject: Amargosa Valley: Sandhill Cranes and Long-eared Owl From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:41:14 -0800 I birded mostly on private property (with permission, of course) in Amargosa Valley this morning where the best birds were 2 additional SANDHILL CRANES and a LONG-EARED OWL. The ponds at the dairy had a grand total of zero waterbirds. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: Willow Creek Golf Course From: Darlene Feener <robertfeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:55:43 -0500 Forgot to put where Willow Creek Golf Course is located. It is in Pahrump, Nevada (Nye County)Subject: Willow Creek Golf Course From: Darlene Feener <robertfeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:53:12 -0500 Birding from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A beautiful day to bird.(43 species) 1.American Wigeons: 95 2.Mallards: 55 3.Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 4.Common Ravens: 2 5.American Crows: 6 6.Mourning Doves: 16 7.Anna's Hummingbirds: 2 8.Costa's Hummingbird: 1 9.Great Blue Heron: 1 10. Red-winged Blackbirds: 12 11. House Sparrows: 15 12. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 13. Eurasian-collared Doves: 5 14. House Finches: 8 15. Ruddy Ducks: 3 16. Dark-Eyed Juncos: 5 (Slate colored) 17. American Coots: 32 18. Northern Shovelers: 45 19. Green-winged Teals: 10 20. Ring-necked Ducks: 6 21. Great-tailed Grackles: 8 22. American Pipit: 1 23. Say's Phoebes: 3 24. Red-Shouldered Hawk: 1 25. Gambel's Quail: 17 26. White-crowned Sparrows: 9 27. Phainopepla: 1 28. Verdin: 3 29. Northern Harrier: 1 30. Song Sparrow: 1 31. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1 32. Pied-billed Grebe: 1 33. Canada Goose: 27 34. Unknown smaller goose with Canada: possible Cackling Goose? 1(pictures) 35. Northern Mockingbird: 1 36. Ruby crowned Kinglet: 1 37. Mountain Bluebirds: 4 38. Prairie Falcon: 1 39. Brewer's Blackbird: 1 40. Ladder-backed Woodpecker: 1 41. American Kestrel: 1 42. Ferruginous Hawk: 1 43. Red-tailed Hawk: 1Subject: Carson Valley/Topaz Lake From: Gerrad Jones <gdjones831 AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:09:36 -0500 On Saturday, January 30th, My dad (Ron Jones) and I went to Topaz Lake for the afternoon (3-5 pm). There weren't too many birds on the lake but it was still a good trip. This is what we saw on the lake. Canada goose (20) mallard (2) common goldeneye (1) common merganser (25) ruddy duck (2) ring-billed gull (3) golden eagle (1) common raven (1) The highlight was definitely the bald eagles in Carson Valley. Although we didn't drive around the valley, we did see 2 adults and 2 juveniles in some of the fields. At the moment, the cows are calving and it is a good time to drive around the valley to see eagles. Gerrad JonesSubject: Swan Lake NSA From: Bob Goodman <Pandion36 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:41:31 EST Sunday, January 31, 2010 Swan Lake NSA, North valleys Reno The openings in the ice across the playa area have enlarged, and are occupied by a host of Canada Geese and many species of ducks. They are pretty far out from any land except for some of the ducks and gulls near the end of Pompe Way. Today there are more Tundra Swans, numbering around 30, also very far out. The only sewer pond with any open water is the largest, most northern, and there were ducks of all makes and models huddled throughout the open water and the ice. Cheers, Bob GoodmanSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:43:40 -0800 STARTING DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH THE HOURS WILL BE FROM 7:00 AM TO 2:00 PM. ________________________________ The following birds were seen or heard this week by staff and visitors from January 25th, 2010 thru January 31st, 2010. We had Fifty-seven (57) species recorded this week. Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Black-crowned night Heron White-faced Ibis (1/28, pond 9) Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon Common Moorhen American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull California Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Red-shafted Flicker (heard) Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Common Raven Tree Swallow Verdin Bushtit (heard) Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch DON'T FORGET YOUR HAT, SUNSCREEN AND WATER!!!! Open 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, last entry is at 1:30 pm. You need about two hours to bird the Preserve. Directions from the I515 (US 93 & 95), take exit 64A, Sunset Road east. Follow the signs (blue signs with white letters), turn left (north) on Moser. For more information call 702-267-4180. Best in birding, Je Anne BrancaSubject: Reno and Carson City Area From: Je Anne <gann2 AT COX.NET> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:14:59 -0800 Rita and I enjoyed nice weather while birding the Reno and Carson City area on Thursday and Friday. We had 62 species for the trip. Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Canada Geese (lots) Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Redhead (Jack's Valley road) Ringed-necked Duck (Jack's Valley Road) Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye (Oxbow along with a Beaver) Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagles (several on Jack's Valley Road) Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shoulder Hawk Red-tailed Hawk (lots) American Kestrel Merlin (Verdi) California Quail American Coot Lesser Black-back Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Thayer's Gull Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker (Jim E. yard) Red-shafted Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub Jay (Costal sub species) Common Raven Bushtit (Verdi) Bewick's Wren American Dipper (pair in Verdi) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (with his crown up) American Robin European Starling Audubon's Yellow rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee (Jim's yard) Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Slate-colored Junco Oregon Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Best in birding, Je AnneSubject: Pretty day at Pyramid Lake, but very few birds From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:59:40 -0700 The broken cloud cover with beams of sunlight breaking through made for some wonderful scenery today at Pyramid Lake. Good thing, as there wasn't much birdlife to keep my attention. In fact, I've never been to Pyramid Lake and seen fewer birds (I'm talking about total number, not just species.) I had hoped I might see the Baird's Sandpiper (who should be in South America), but I was not successful. Of course, there is nothing restricting that bird from wandering along the entire shoreline (all of which looks like nice shorebird habitat right now). I started at "The Willows" and walked north a while, then south awhile. I came across all of one Killdeer (in about two miles of walking.) (In fact, if you include all my stops along the shoreline plus an additional walk down at the delta, my total count for all forms of shorebird was, well, one Killdeer!) Duck numbers were very low, although a flock of 30 Greater Scaup near the end of the pavement was nice. A few dozen Bufflehead were seen at various locations between The Willows and the delta. There were a few Mallards at the delta. And I saw eighteen Tundra Swans at the delta. Even Coots were relatively scarce -- I expect I saw no more than a hundred all afternoon. Three Common Loons, a few (really just a few) Western-type Grebes, one Pied-billed Grebe, and maybe a dozen Eared Grebes. There was a congregation of gulls at Sutcliffe, maybe 35 California Gulls and four adult Herring Gulls. At The Willows, I had a small flock of Bushtits, but absolutely nothing else. The trailer park at Sutcliffe was the most "birdy" spot of the day, with American and Lesser Goldfinches, a half-dozen Eurasian Collared-doves, one American Robin, and numerous House Sparrows, House Finches, and Starlings. Add in the occasional Common Raven and that about wrapped it up. Sure glad it was pretty! Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Great Reno Caper Audubon Trip From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:18:48 -0800 Fifteen birders joined my wife Becca and me at various times during the day as we explored the various birding spots in the Reno-Sparks Area. The day started out with some light snow flurries at Virginia Lake but turned into a beautiful and for the most part sunny day. We started out at Virginia Lake at 9:00 am with both the adult Lesser Black-backed and the first year Glaucous-winged Gull that have been present most of the winter. The other highlight here was a Red-naped Sapsucker in the trees at the north-east corner of the lake. The usual collection of ducks and gulls were also present as well as 3 Black-crowned Night-Herons. The Lesser Scaup and Wood Duck however were not to be found. Our next stop was the Sparks Marina. We arrived there around 11:00 am. There were only a couple of dozen Ring-billed and California Gulls present with no Western, Herring or Thayer's. A single cormorant and a single Eared Grebe were also present. We then went on to the Rosewood Lakes area and hit pay dirt at the pond on Hidden Valley Road. On this pond we had 6 Greater White-fronted Geese, 5 Cackling Geese and the male Eurasian Wigeon. We then walked the slough behind Mira Loma Park. Highlights here included 4 Greater Yellowlegs and a single Great-tailed Grackle. A return to the Sparks Marina late in the afternoon only added a single Herring Gull to our list for the day. Our total species count for the day was 52. Dennis SerdehelySubject: Swifts Over Amargosa From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:54:56 -0800 Scott Page and colleagues led a UNLV Educational Outreach birding trip to Ash Meadows today. Things were a little slow overall, but things that got me mildly excited included a large flock (30+) of apparent white-throated swifts circling the Carson Slough, as distantly viewed from Peterson Reservoir, and a female HOODED MERGANSER (rare on Ash Meadows) at Crystal Reservoir. Has anyone seen any northbound cinnamon teal yet? Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: Swan Lake NSA From: Bob Goodman <Pandion36 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:56:07 EST Saturday, January 30, 2010 Swan Lake NSA, north valleys of Reno Late this morning I went to check out the conditions at Swan Lake. The sewer ponds were still frozen over for a large part, but the road in is very muddy, so didn't go all the way in. At the interpretive area the road is muddy but passable. From there I could see some open water in a few places across the main body of the area, and an adult Bald Eagle landing on the ice quite a ways to the east. From the end of Pompe I scoped the playa area and relocated the Bald Eagle, now eating a morsel, and a small group of Tundra Swans along the eastern shore where there appears to be some open water. Canada Geese and many ducks were flocked to each of the open lenses of water. Right at the end of Pompe was a Loggerhead Shrike calling incessantly. Sky Vista pond is still completely frozen over, so no activity there. Cheers, Bob GoodmanSubject: White River Valley From: David Worley <daveworl AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:05:09 -0500 I spent most of last week doing some work in the White River Valley south of Lund. After ravens, the most common large birds were golden eagles, with about six observed. Other raptors included two prairie falcons, at least two northern harriers, and one merlin (richardsonii). Horned larks were the main passerines observed, but a few sage and white-crowned sparrows were also present.Subject: Floyd Lamb/Bristlecone Trail From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:30:48 -0800 After a quiet stop in Indian Springs I went to Floyd Lmab Park in north Vegas this morning which was similarly quiet except for some interesting waterbird sightings and counts including 3 Hooded Mergansers, 136 Common Mergansers, 54 Double-crested Cormorants, and a Great Egret. In the afternoon I snow shoed the Bristlecone Trail at the top of Lee Canyon. Most notable were quite a few Red Crossbills (20+) including a singing male. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: Slow day at the Sparks Marina (1/29/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:24:56 -0500 Sparks Marina, Sparks, Washoe Co (1/29/10) We took our weekly stroll around the marina today. Duck numbers & variety continue to decline—only 4 species total & only 10 Northern Shovelers. We checked out the cove twice, at 10:50am & at 12:15. On both occasions there were only about 80 gulls, all Ring-billed or Californias as usual, plus a single adult Herring Gull at 10:50, & 2 adult HGs at 12:15. Here’s the list (15 sps). Canada goose—c.15-20 Gadwall—10-12 Mallard—c.15 Shoveler—10 Ruddy Duck—?75 Pied-billed Grebe—6-8 Double-crested Cormorant—1 Black-crowned Night Heron—1 American Coot Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull—2 Rock Dove European Starling Brewer’s Blackbird *Including a very small Canada-type goose, but certainly not a minima (breast too light, bill not stubby enough) & probably not any kind of cackler (head-shape wrong). Fred PetersenSubject: Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports From: Matt Kennedy <kennedym2009 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:33:04 -0800 Dear fellow birding enthusiasts,  As a lifelong birder and professional aviator for over 16 years, I am conducting a nation-wide study on the level of community support for the mitigation measures used at airports to reduce the wildlife strike hazard to commercial aircraft. Getting input from different regions of the country is necessary to gauge whether there are regional differences due to varying bird populations or possible high profile incidents involving wildlife strikes on aircraft.  Responses are submitted electronically to a database that does not identify users, so your answers will be completely confidential. Findings will be released only as analyzed data or summaries in which no individual’s answers can be identified. Please take a few moments to share your opinions and experiences. I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to contribute toward this important research about community views on wildlife mitigation measures at airports.  The survey can be accessed at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XTVS225  If you would like a summary of my findings, please send me your e-mail address at kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com. Once the study is complete, I will e-mail the summary to you. Best Regards, Matt Kennedy Graduate student in Aeronautical Science Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversitySubject: Fallon Area From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:59:18 -0800 I birded Fallon and vicinity today. My first stop was at the St. John's Room to Grow Day Care Center at Mertin and Taylor to see the Western Screech-Owl and it was still there. I then went to Carson Lake but did not stay long as it was a muddy mess. I did see a Rough-legged Hawk before leaving and a Prairie Falcon along US 95 on the way there. Continuing along Pasture Road east and north of Carson Lake I had a second Prairie Falcon as well as a flock of 10 Great-tailed Grackles. I then birded some of the irrigation ditches south of Fallon where I had a single Common Moorhen at Drumm and Testolin Roads. Testolin Road has been very reliable for this species for the last few years, including up to 8 during the Fallon CBC two years ago. Not having spent much time at Carson Lake I decided to check Harmon Lake and Stillwater NWR. Both of these locations were still frozen over and there were no birds. S-line Reservoir east of Fallon had open water but only a few Canada Geese and Ring-billed Gulls. A quick check of Soda Lake on the way back to Fernley produced only some coots and a single Ruddy Duck. Dennis SerdehelySubject: UNR Manzanita Pond birds 1/28/10 From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:16:29 -0800 Submitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: The following birds were at Manzanita Pond on the UNR campus on Thursday Jan.28, 2010: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male) 2 Redheaded Ducks (1 male, 1 female) 2 Am. Coots 2 Mute Swans 5 Oregon Juncos 1 Common Merganser (male) Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann MurphySubject: Cackling Goose, a few gulls in Reno/Sparks From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:00:12 -0700 I had may first chance to get out for a little birding since returning from southern California. I went down to Reno around 3:00 and visited Virginia Lake and Sparks Marina. At Virginia Lake, I found a really tiny Cackling Goose along the south shore. The Glaucous-winged Gull reported by Fred was present, but the Lesser Black-backed Gull was not. All other gulls at Virginia Lake were California or Ring-billed. At Sparks Marina, there were several hundred gulls, with a few Herring Gulls (one first-cycle, one second-cycle, two adults) and the continuing Western Gull. I'm hoping for time to get out to Pyramid Lake within the next couple of days to see if the very out-of-season Baird's Sandpiper has hung around, and to see what else might have been blown in by the storms. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: GW, LBB gulls, Virginia Lake; Reno (1/28/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:26:31 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (1/28/10) We visited the lake this morning between 10:30 & 11:15. At 10:35, both the Glaucous-winged (1st-year immature) & Lesser Black-backed (adult) gulls were in their usual places among the California & Ring-billed gulls roosting on the ice at the N end. At 10:40 a bunch of these gulls (100 or so), including the Lesser Black-back, took off to the northeast, leaving 150 or so behind; a few minutes later, gulls--maybe the same ones that had left, maybe not--started drifting in from the northeast & the numbers on the ice began building up again, but the LBB Gull was not among them. The GW Gull never budged during any of this, but remained dozing & preening on the ice throughout. The LBB Gull was in direct sun for a change, & it wasn’t too far out, so I had an unusually good view of it. Apart from its comparatively large size & dark mantle, the most salient feature to my eyes were the bright chrome-yellow legs. Other birds Green-winged Teal—1 male (an uncommon bird at VL) Lesser Scaup—1 male (continues) Steller’s Jay—none today, but 1 yesterday After finishing up at the lake, we went on to the Nevada Museum of Art to see the Raphael exhibition. Nothing to do with birds, I know, but very impressive & highly recommended. Fred PetersenSubject: Sandhill Crane in Pahrump From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:47:35 -0800 Today a single first-year SANDHILL CRANE was in Pahrump. The bird was in a field of the Pahrump Dairy, easily visible from Irene St. just west of Blagg St. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NVSubject: Gulls again, Virginia Lake; Reno (1/26/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:20:22 -0500 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (1/26/10) I birded VL this afternoon where gull movements continue to puzzle. When I arrived (2:30) there were about 200 gulls roosting on the shore & ice at the N end, all Ring-bills & California’s. At 3:20 another bunch (?100) came drifting in from the N, including a first-year Glaucous-winged Gull (doubtless the same bird that’s been at VL off & on for the last couple of weeks), & settled down among the other gulls. Ten minutes later, as I was leaving for home, about the same number (I don’t know if the Glaucous-winged was with them or not) suddenly took wing & flew off to the SE. The presumed Canada Goose/Swan Goose hybrid was present again today (on the W side with Canadas as usual) and there was a lone Double-crested Cormorant on the island, the first that I’ve seen at the lake since the big freeze. There was no sign of the drake Wood Duck (I wonder where it is, when it’s not at the lake?). Northern Shovelers. There were about 100 shovelers, mostly in 2 big “rotating cells” at the edge of the ice at the N end. As always when I see these cells I wonder what the ducks are feeding on. Whatever it is, it thrives in cold water since in my experience the more frigid the conditions the more prevalent the cells. Fred PetersenSubject: Great Backyard Bird Count From: Jill Neumann <jill AT PENALTYSHOT.COM> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:44:41 -0800 Hi everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know that the Great Backyard Bird Count is coming soon. The dates are February 12 through the 15th. You can find out more information on it by going to WWW.Birdcount.org. or WWW.gbbc.org. It is a lot of fun and it helps with bird research. Please check out the website and do what you can to help the research on birds in your area. Thank you Jill Neumann Montello NVSubject: Re: Baird's Sandpiper at Pyramid Lake From: Joel Geier <joel.geier AT PEAK.ORG> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:44:45 -0800 Hi Martin & All, Curiously enough, a wintering Baird's Sandpiper has been seen a couple of times around the Astoria area in coastal Oregon, within the past 3-4 weeks -- also far north of this species' normal wintering range. Not that two dots on the graph make a trend, but it's enough to make one sit up and take notice. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Corvallis, OregonSubject: Wildlife (birds/animals) safari in Minden area From: Michael M <alucard2100 AT MAIL.RU> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:27:44 -0500 Hi, everybody. My name is Michael, I'm from Russia. I'm now in Minden, Nevada, for a couple of weeks on a business trip and I was thinking about photographing some wildlife in the area on my free weekend (January 30-31). Is there any company around which can arrange widlife watching tour/safari? I'm interested both in birds (owls, etc.) and in mammals (deers, bears, badgers, etc.) Or, alternatively, is there any recommended place to go to see such animals? Please advise. Thanks a lot.Subject: Slight correction on Baird's Sandpiper post From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:58:59 -0700 Clay and Bruce saw the Baird's at Pyramid Lake on Sunday, 1/24, not Saturday. Sorry. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Baird's Sandpiper at Pyramid Lake From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:14:40 -0700 I just received a report from Bruce Webb, a very talented California birder I know well. He and Clay Taylor (from Swarovski optics) birded Pyramid Lake on Saturday. Along the shoreline near the Willows, Clay spotted a Baird's Sandpiper with a couple of Killdeer! While Baird's Sandpipers are regular at Pyramid in migration, a midwinter sighting is astounding. (I haven't done any serious research as to whether or not it is unprecedented, but I've certainly never encountered, or heard of, one in midwinter up here before. Anybody?) Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Re: Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County From: Carl Lundblad <carl.lundblad AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:59:02 -0800 Only thing I can add to Darlene's Willow Creek list this week is 1 CHIPPING SPARROW, I think my first in mid-winter in Nye Co., on 1/22. I've not seen the broad-billed hummingbird this month (2 visits), but it could still be around. Carl Lundblad Ash Meadows, NV On Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 4:43 PM, Darlene FeenerSubject: Greater White-Fronted Geese, Rosewood Lakes Golf Course From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:56:18 +0000 Hello! I just observed six of the referenced geese feeding in the grass near a large flock of Canada Geese in the Rosewood Lakes golf course. The GWFG can be observed from Hidden Valley Drive near its intersection with Carnoustie Drive, but they can be better observed from Carnoustie Drive. Rob Lowry Carson City Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySubject: Willow Creek Golf Course: Pahrump: Nye County From: Darlene Feener <robertfeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:43:24 -0500 Birding from 7 a.m. to noon today. 35 degrees at 7a.m.Movement was slow at first then picked up at 9:30a.m. 39 species seen today. 1.Red-winged Blackbirds: 41 2.Canada Geese: 32 3.Mallards: 78 4.American Wigeons: 217 5.Mourning Doves: 62 6.Great Blue Heron: 1 7.House Finches: 10 8.Common Raven: 1 9.Green-winged Teals: 15 10. Northern Shovelers: 38 11. Ruddy Ducks: 3 12. Ring-necked Ducks: 2 13. American Coots: 23 14. Northern Flicker: 1 15. Common Raven: 1 16. Great-tailed Grackles: 12 17. American Pipits: 6 18. White-crowned Sparrows: 11 19. Gambel's Quail: 16 20. House Sparrows: 9 21. Phainopepla: 1 22. Red-shouldered Hawks: 2 23. Say's Phoebes: 2 24. Dark-eyed Juncos: 39 Oregon & 16 Slate colored 25. Eurasian-collared Doves: 7 26. Rock Doves: 52 27. Verdins: 2 28. Western Bluebirds: 14 29. Mountain Bluebirds: 36 30. Northern Mockingbird: 1 31. Anna's Hummingbird: 1 32. Brewer's Blackbirds: 2 33. Western Meadowlarks: 41 34. Yellow-rumped Warblers: 5 35. Ladder-backed Woodpeckers: 2 36. American Kestrel: 1 37. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 38. Crissal Thrasher: 1 39. Song Sparrow: 1Subject: Oasis Valley From: Laura Cunningham <bluerockiguana AT HUGHES.NET> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:05:42 -0500 Jan. 24, 2010-Nye County north of Beatty The Amargosa River finally flowed, and immediately a pair of Mallards swam in the 6-inch deep water in the meadows. American kestrel-one with a mouse in its talons, possibly a deer mouse. Red-tailed hawk-1 Prairie falcon-1 Gambels' quail Eurasian collared dove-9 Northern "red-shafted" flicker-1 Mounring dove-1 Bewick's wren-1 Marsh wren-1 Common raven-2 Mountain bluebird-few White-crowned sparrow-40 or so. House sparrow-15 Song sparrow-1 Dark-eyed "Oregon" junco-5 Brewer's blackbird-50 European starling-more than 50 American goldfinch-1 House finch-1 Horned lark- flock of 50-60 in creosote by rain pools near ghost town of Rhyolite on January 23. Laura CunninghamSubject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve Located Near Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:42:39 -0800 STARTING DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH THE HOURS WILL BE FROM 7:00 AM TO 2:00 PM. ________________________________ The following birds were seen or heard this week by staff and visitors from January 18th, 2010 thru January 24th, 2010. We had Sixty-two (62) species recorded this week. Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Least Bittern Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned night Heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Common Moorhen American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Red-shafted Flicker Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Tree swallow Verdin Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) Abert's Towhee Song Sparrow Lincoln sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch DON'T FORGET YOUR HAT, SUNSCREEN AND WATER!!!! Open 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, last entry is at 1:30 pm. You need about two hours to bird the Preserve. Directions from the I515 (US 93 & 95), take exit 64A, Sunset Road east. Follow the signs (blue signs with white letters), turn left (north) on Moser. For more information call 702-267-4180. Happy Birding!, Lupe VarelaSubject: Reno and Sparks - A 7Gull Day From: Dennis & Becca Serdehely <birders AT ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:17:56 -0800 Today Becca and I visited Virginia Lake and the Sparks Marina. The Lesser Black-backed Gull and the first winter Glaucous-winged gull were still present as was the male Wood Duck, which was still being accompanied by the female Mallard. Upon arriving at the Sparks Marina, the first gull we observed was the Western Gull that has been there off and on this winter. We also had a single first winter Thayer's Gull several Herring Gulls and of course numerous Ring-billed and California Gulls. The Western Gull was in the water in the cove and the Thayer's was on the pontoons in the cove. A seven gull day, not bad for western Nevada. Dennis SerdehelySubject: Red-shouldered Hawk & Merlin, west Reno, Jan. 23, '10 From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:04:04 -0800 On a walk this afternoon in west Reno, I heard, then saw, an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. This is the same area west of the McCarran-Mayberry intersection where I reported two in late December and have seen them semi-regularly for several years. Also in the area was a female Merlin that had just caught a mouse/vole and was eating it while perched on top of a nearby telephone pole. Alan Wallace Reno NVSubject: Montello Snow Sparrow (Bunting) From: Jill Neumann <jill AT PENALTYSHOT.COM> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:21:15 -0800 For those of you planning to make a trip out to Montello The bird was seen again today. She is making more appearances now. She is starting to hang out more with the local House sparrows. She must have blown in with a storm as she was not born here otherwise we would have seen her before this. She is adapting very well. Thank you JillSubject: Re the Virginia Lake Wood Duck/Mallard pair (1/22/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:14:36 -0500 Re Alan’s report on the VL Wood Duck & its female companion: I first encountered the pair on December 31st and saw it regularly thereafter until a couple of weeks ago. On all these occasions the Wood Duck followed the Mallard closely, “defending” her against drake Mallards by nipping at them if they got too close. The last time I saw the pair was January 11th & I had assumed that the 2 birds had moved on (perhaps a case of the female leaving for some reason & the male following her). It’s nice to know that they’re back. I’ve seen drake Wood Ducks paired with female Mallards on at least 2 other occasions in recent years: once (2008) at the Sky Vista Pond (Lemmon Valley) & once (2004) at the Lemmon Valley sewage ponds. My guess is that such pairings happen fairly commonly whenever stray drake Wood Ducks find themselves in ponds with lots of Mallards but no females of their own species. Mallard drakes, of course, will mate with anything so I imagine the reverse combination—male Mallard x female Wood Duck—must also occur, though I’ve never encountered it. Fred PetersenSubject: Re: Wood Duck-Mallard pair?, Barrow's Goldeneye at Virginia Lake From: Bob Goodman <pandion36 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:45:28 EST Alan - At the Sky Vista pond in north Reno, a male Wood Duck paired with a female Mallard at least four years running. The male was very protective, fought off Mallard drakes, and at one point led a string of female Mallards around the pond. I never witnessed any mating, but as the spring would wear on, the Wood Duck would be gone. Cheers, Bob GoodmanSubject: Wood Duck-Mallard pair?, Barrow's Goldeneye at Virginia Lake From: Alan de Queiroz <alandqz AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:38:08 -0800 I was at Virginia Lake in Reno this afternoon from about 5:00 to 5:30. When I arrived there were less than 10 goldeneyes present, but by the time I left there were at least 60, including a male Barrow's (with two females that were probably also Barrow's, but light was pretty bad at that point so I'm not sure). The goldeneyes must come in to roost on the lake. A male Wood Duck, probably the same one that's been seen several times this winter, was also at the lake. Oddly, it seemed to be paired with a female Mallard. Twice when I approached these two birds, they swam off and stayed close together. I was thinking there's no way that a Wood Duck and Mallard would mate, but I googled "mallard-wood duck hybrid" and found this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_m/3565323701/ along with several other records of such hybrids. Pretty weird that these not-very-closely-related species sometimes pair up. I'll be curious to hear if anyone else sees those two birds together. Alan de Queiroz RenoSubject: Re: Snow bunting (house sparrow in disguise) From: Jill Neumann <jill AT PENALTYSHOT.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:44:18 -0800 I agree she is very pretty. --- aambos AT COX.NET wrote: From: Aaron AmbosSubject: Sparks Marina, Sparks, Washoe Co (1/22/10) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:56:41 -0500 Sparks Marina, Sparks, Washoe Co (1/22/10) We took our weekly walk around the marina today. Duck numbers & variety continue to be disappointing. When we reached the cove (1:00pm) there were about 150 gulls on the pontoons & beach: mostly Californias as always but also including a small contingent of Ring-bills & a few Herring Gulls. A Glaucous-winged Gull turned up later. Here’s the complete list (18 sps). Canada goose—c.75 Gadwall—6-8 Mallard—4-5 Shoveler—?50 Ruddy Duck—?50 Pied-billed Grebe—5-6 Eared Grebe—3-4 Double-crested Cormorant—2 Black-crowned Night Heron—1-2 American Coot Red-tailed Hawk--1 Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull—5* Glaucous-winged Gull—1** Rock Dove European Starling Brewer’s Blackbird *The Herring Gulls consisted of 3 adults & 2 1st-winter immatures. One of the immatures was noticeably slighter than the other. I looked at this bird long & hard, trying trying to turn it into a Thayer’s Gull but I don’t think so—the primaries were wrong (all dark) & the bill had too much of a gonydeal angle. **The Glaucous-winged Gull flew in at 1:22pm while I was scoping the gulls on the pontoons, on which it landed for a few minutes before heading off again eastwards across the lake. It was an unusually dark 1st-winter bird & may have been the same individual as the dark GW Gull observed at the marina on various occasions earlier in the season. Fred PetersenSubject: The Montello "bunting" From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:08:36 -0700 Great work, Jill. Your persistence provided us with neat photos of a really neat bird, and also a valuable learning experience for all of us! Thanks, Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CASubject: Snow bunting (house sparrow in disguise) From: Aaron Ambos <aambos AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:37:32 -0500 Thanks for additional photos Jill. It definitely looks like a partially leucistic female house sparrow. Neat looking bird!Subject: Montello Snow Bunting (Sparrow?) From: Jill Neumann <jill AT PENALTYSHOT.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:17:03 -0800 Hi Everyone. I have posted many more pictures to our website. The more that I look at the bird it could be a house sparrow. Today it was fighting with and hanging out with some house sparrows so there is a few comparison pictures of it. There is also one with a white crown sparrow. I hope these pictures help to identify it. The bird was here at 11:30 today and stayed for a while until my cat walked by. Thank you Jill www.penaltyshot.com/birds/3.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/4.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/5.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/6.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/7.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/8.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/9.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/10.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/11.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/12.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/13.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/14.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/15.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/16.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/17.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/18.jpg www.penaltyshot.com/birds/19.jpgSubject: leucistic house sparrow From: Elisabeth Ammon <ammon AT GBBO.ORG> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:46:27 -0800 Hello all - thanks for the tip, Carl, for the images of leucistic house sparrows. I've had one visit the backyard for a few months now, not cooperative enough for a picture, but that's indeed what it looks like. Funny, because I always thought that a true albino should have white only (or that a partial albino should still have bright whites). Mine was, as in many of the google images, golden cream-colored and with dark eyes. Indeed reminiscent of a snow bunting, but in the case of mine, it still had the faint markings of a house sparrow. I suspect that's variable though. Happy birding. Elisabeth -- Executive Director Great Basin Bird Observatory 1755 E. Plumb Lane #256 Reno, NV 89502 c (775) 722-9116 fx (775) 323-4226 ammon AT gbbo.org www.gbbo.orgSubject: Snow bunting? From: Aaron Ambos <aambos AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:48:18 -0500 The bird in the photo almost has a house sparrow look to it. I Googled "leucistic house sparrow" and came up with some interesting photos. Maybe it is a partially leucistic house sparrow or finch. It would be great to see some more pics!Subject: Merlin and others-- Old NW Reno From: Wendy Broadhead <arthead AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:15:01 -0500 Today just as the snow started I noted a small falcon on the telephone pole in my backyard. Until this June there was a large cottonwood there and I am still hoping for the usual raptors that used to visit the cottonwood with regularity. Today I saw not the usual but a merlin. I have seen one gliding above the neighborhood (near Keystone Canyon) on numerous occasions but not one in my yard. So, the pole has attracted (and the birds at the feeders) the usual (cooper's + sharpies) and the unusual. A red-tailed hawk flew over as well but it took the gang of about 20 magpies to unseat the merlin. The usual feeder birds today were: dark-eyed juncos, white-crowned sparrows, lesser goldfinches, American goldfinches, house finches (all numerous), a spotted towhee, a mtn. chickadee, two mourning doves, a few scrub jays, two northern flickers and the territorial mockingbird. Happy snow and birding! Wendy |