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16 May Mississippi Kite at Las Vegas Wash [Debbie Van Dooremolen ] 16 May Help with Hummingbird ID [Gary Zachman ] 16 May Declining Eurasian Collared-Dove population in Austin (Lander Co.) [Alan Wallace ] 16 May California Quail chick, west Reno (Washoe Co.), May 16 [Alan Wallace ] 15 May 5/15 Wetlands Park/Duck Creek Area, Stilt Sandpiper [Andrew Lee ] 14 May Unusually Dark House Finch in Fallon [Carol Amos ] 14 May Northern Pygmy Owl [Rose Strickland ] 14 May Corn Creek [James Holmes ] 14 May No Subject [] 14 May Rancho San Rafael (5/13/12) [Fred Petersen ] 13 May Desert Loop Trip & Pahranagat Valley [Greg Scyphers ] 13 May 13 MAY 2012 Corn Creek Clark Co NV USA [Richard Saval ] 13 May Pahrump: Willow Creek: Mountain Falls: Nye County [Darlene Feener ] 13 May FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 13 May Sage Thrasher, White Lake (N. Reno) 12 May 2012 [Brian Adams ] 13 May Hello email from Jim Cooper [Alan Wallace ] 12 May 12 MAY 2012 CORN CREEk CLARK CO NV [Richard Saval ] 12 May 5/12 Floyd Lamb Park, Clay-colored Sparrow [Andrew Lee ] 10 May 05-06 May 2012 Corn Creek, Clark Co NV [Richard Saval ] 9 May Northern Pygmy-owl, etc., at Spooner Lake State Park [Martin Meyers ] 8 May Re: new bird [Bob Goodman ] 8 May Re: new bird [Mary Jo Elpers ] 8 May Best place(s) to see prairie falcons, Las Vegas area? [Aaron Milenski ] 8 May corn creek this am [James Holmes Jr ] 8 May new bird [Linda Hiller ] 8 May No Subject [] 8 May No Subject [] 7 May NBRC update (long) [Martin Meyers ] 7 May More Virginia Lake Egrets [Ken Drozd ] 7 May Horned Grebe, Virginia Lake, Reno (5/7/12) [Fred Petersen ] 7 May Migrant Fallout, Corn Creek, Las Vegas, 5/5 [Mike Resch ] 7 May Henderson ponds [James Holmes Jr ] 7 May Railroad Valley WMA, Kirch WMA, and Pahranagat NWR [Rick/Meg Andrews ] 7 May Virginia's Warbler, Carson River Park (Carson City), May 7 [Alan Wallace ] 6 May Willow Creek & Mountain Falls (Pahrump) (Nye County) [Darlene Feener ] 6 May Reese River near Austin [David Worley ] 6 May Desert Loop trip report, 5/5/12 [Martin Meyers ] 6 May FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 6 May Carson CIty Area Odds and Ends-May 4th and 5th [Rob Lowry ] 4 May Harris's Hawks still present in Boulder City. Also Pahranagat trip report. [Martin Meyers ] 4 May Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Thursday, May 3rd [Rob Lowry ] 3 May Black-headed Grosbeak [Kris Pizarro ] 3 May Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope Hummingbirds, west Reno (Washoe Co.), May 3 [Alan Wallace ] 3 May Oasis Valley - migrant wave [Laura Cunningham ] 3 May Rufous Hummingbird [John Anderson ] 2 May Gray Vireos and other birds at Red Rock Canyon [Karl Kosciuch ] 2 May Pied-billed grebe with a problem [Miles Shaylor ] 1 May Miller's Rest Stop (5/1/12) [Fred Petersen ] 1 May Spring Mountain State Park Area Located near Red Rock Canyon-Las Vegas [Je Anne ] 1 May No Subject [Linda Hiller ] 30 Apr Mira Loma/Hidden Valley, Reno [Ken Drozd ] 30 Apr Eurasian Wigeon at Swan Lake NSA [Greg Scyphers ] 1 May Willow Creek: Pahrump, Nevada (Nye County) [Darlene Feener ] 30 Apr Virginia Lake, Reno (4/30/12) [Fred Petersen ] 30 Apr Sapsuckers & Ibises - Washoe County [Peter Fairley ] 30 Apr Raptor squabble in Southwest Reno [Jacque Lowery ] 30 Apr FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas [Bird Preserve ] 30 Apr Carson City and Reno Locales, and Mason Valley WMA Odds and Ends [Rob Lowry ] 30 Apr Wilson Canyon, Lida Junction, Miller's Rest Stop [Laura Cunningham ] 30 Apr Willow Creek: Pahrump, Nevada (Nye County) [Darlene Feener ] 29 Apr Northern Parula, North Reno, 29 April 2012 [Brian Adams ] 29 Apr 28-29 April Corn Creek Clark Co NV USA [Richard Saval ] 29 Apr Steller's Jays in Caughlin Ranch Reno NV [Diane McAllister ] 28 Apr Calliope Hummingbird, Evening Grosbeak, west Reno (Washoe Co.) April 28 [Alan Wallace ] 28 Apr RFI: Location for gray vireo near Las Vegas? [Karl Kosciuch ] 28 Apr Black-throated Grey Warbler in west Reno [Kathy Oakes ] 27 Apr 4/27 Wetlands Park/Duck Creek, SESA [Andrew Lee ] 27 Apr Virginia Lake - Snowy Egrets [Ken Drozd ] 27 Apr Ross' gulls, Reno, 4/26/12 [ann murphy ] 27 Apr Washoe Lake Bellevue Exit and Davis Creek Park-Fri., April 27th [Rob Lowry ] 27 Apr BACKYARD VISITORS! [Cindy Joyce ] 27 Apr Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Thursday, April 26th [Rob Lowry ] 26 Apr Mogul FOS [John Anderson ] 26 Apr Female Hooded Oriole in Fallon??? [Carol Amos ] 26 Apr Oxbow Park, Reno (4/25/12) [Fred Petersen ] 25 Apr Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Wed., Apr. 25th [Rob Lowry ] Subject: Mississippi Kite at Las Vegas Wash From: Debbie Van Dooremolen <Debbie.VanDooremolen AT SNWA.COM> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 12:28:21 -0700 This morning at about 9 a.m., Tim Ricks and I observed an adult Mississippi Kite at the Las Vegas Wash near the Pabco Road Weir in Henderson. The bird was perched in a mesquite tree growing in the discharge channel that carries treated wastewater from the City of Henderson's water reclamation facility to the Las Vegas Wash. It was very agreeable and allowed us to get several pictures before flying to the edge of an adjacent stand of tamarisk where it perched again. At that point we had to head off to finish our field work. Debbie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Van Dooremolen Environmental Biologist II Southern Nevada Water Authority Resource Management Biology Team P.O. Box 99956 Las Vegas, NV 89193-9956 Subject: Help with Hummingbird ID From: Gary Zachman <gmzachman AT EMBARQMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 15:25:31 -0400 East, Las Vegas, 5-16-12, I noticed a different Hummingbird at the feeder this morning. Maybe just an immature, but I'm not sure. Can anyone help? Pictures aren't great but should be good enough for an ID I hope. http://s317.photobucket.com/albums/mm376/gmzachman/ Thanks, Gary Zachman Subject: Declining Eurasian Collared-Dove population in Austin (Lander Co.) From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 11:39:54 -0700 Frank Whitman, who lives in Austin (Lander Co.), asked me to pass the following along to the listserve. Over the past several years, the number of Eurasian Collared-Doves has soared in that town. This year, they have been nearly absent, and Frank today wrote that he finally found one bird. In a few trips to Eureka, to the east, he noted a similar decrease, although he didn't pay as much attention there. Given the rapidly growing populations in other northern Nevada towns (Lovelock, Winnemucca, Elko, for example), this marked decline in at least Austin is notable. Alan Wallace Reno NV Subject: California Quail chick, west Reno (Washoe Co.), May 16 From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 10:27:57 -0700 A pair of noisy California Quail have at least one tiny, equally noisy chick in my yard this morning. With a three-week incubation time, this indicates that the egg(s) was laid in late April. This seems early, but it's always nice to see regardless of the timing. Alan Wallace Reno NV Subject: 5/15 Wetlands Park/Duck Creek Area, Stilt Sandpiper From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 18:42:55 -0700 Hi birders, Late this afternoon Greg Scyphers and I enjoyed a nice alternate Stilt Sandpiper in the middle pond of the Duck Creek area of Wetlands Park. It was associating with a few dowitchers. Andrew Lee Henderson Subject: Unusually Dark House Finch in Fallon From: Carol Amos <amosc AT CHURCHILL.K12.NV.US> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 23:25:46 -0400 We have a very dark House Finch that showed up at our place in Fallon a few days ago and he's been eating sunflower seeds and getting a sugar rush from the oriole nectar. I've never seen a House Finch this dark and it was quite a nice surprise. You should be able to click on the link below and see the images. If not, please email me and I will send the images to you. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354290207957356.89632.342690642450646&type=1 Are House Finches this dark very common? He sure threw us for a loop. Carol Amos Subject: Northern Pygmy Owl From: Rose Strickland <rosenreno AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 15:26:25 -0700 NV birders, Dennis and I took a hike up the Thomas Creek trail this morning up into the pine forests of the Carson Range, between Reno and Lake Tahoe. We encountered many spring migrants, including Cassin's Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Warbling Vireos, and one W. Wood-Pewee - no Olive-sided Flycatchers yet. American Robins abounded, singing, bringing food to nests, present everywhere. Also numerous were Red-breasted Sapsuckers. The highpoint of the excursion occurred on the way back down the Dry Pond Trail, just before it joins the main Thomas Creek Tr. I stopped to watch chattering chickadees and other birds just off the trail. When Dennis arrived, he was able to sort out a very strange outline in the tree shadows of a small bird with a very long hairy tail into 2 critters, a Northern Pygmy Owl clutching his lunch of a chipmunk which was longer by far than the owl. Let me know (off-line) if you'd like to see a photo. The owl is just a bit larger than a House Sparrow and is a resident of these woods, but very hard to locate, except by accident. We have seen the owl in lower Thomas Creek on at least two Reno CBCs. A fine sunny breezy day in paradise! Rose Strickland Reno Subject: Corn Creek From: James Holmes <jfholmes AT UCDAVIS.EDU> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 13:38:29 -0700 I just talked with Amy Sprunger, who is the Refuge Manager at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge (Corn Creek) regarding the changes that have been happening over the last couple of years at Corn Creek. In a nutshell, here is what is happening.. The front pond has been cemented in for a couple of reasons: 1) there are pipes built in to provide water for cooling of the new building/office that is to be built, 2) there are pipes for any fire in the area, and 3) the pond will hold some of the endangered pupfish. The reason for the cement (besides the pipes) is to prevent the crawfish (which eat the pupfish) from living there (apparently the crawfish need to bury into the mud). The new office will go where the current trailer/restrooms are. Not sure on the date for that construction. The stream is diverted to the meadow and the ponds (which were man made) and are being allowed to dry. This will revert back to a more natural scenario. Very little further habitat "destruction" is needed. 97% of the "destruction" is done. No current plans to remove the mulberry trees. They are planting native plants, about 50% are now in the ground. "It should be better when everything is done, but patience is needed." She felt it will look much improved next spring. Hope this is true. Thanks Jim Holmes Subject: No Subject From: melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 11:56:24 -0600 -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 9:16 PM To: theyurt AT wirelessbeehive.com Subject: eBird Report - Pahranagat WLR, May 11, 2012 Pahranagat NWR, Lincoln County, US-NV May 11 to 12, 2012 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Traveling over 3.0 mile(s) Observer: John B. Free and Melissa Renfro (May 11th) and with 14 others from Red Rocks Audubon (L.V.) on 5/12/2012. conditions: Clear, 85 deg (5/11), 54 deg to 86 deg on 5/12/2012. Traveling on roads and trails on North Pahranagant Lake NWR 47 species Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 7 Gadwall (Anas strepera) 1 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 18 Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 5 Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 2 Redhead (Aythya americana) 2 Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 4 Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 5 , Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) 12 Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) 5 , Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 5 Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 4 Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 3 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 American Coot (Fulica americana) 1000 American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) 20 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 8 , Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 5 Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) 5 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4 Inca Dove (Columbina inca) 7 seen on the road Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) 5 Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) 2 Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) 1 Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 2 Singing male heard by group Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 2 Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) 6 Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) 12 Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus) 1 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2 Common Raven (Corvus corax) 4 Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 1 MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei) 1 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 25 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 25 Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) 1 Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) 5 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1 Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 40 Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) 20 Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 4 Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: Rancho San Rafael (5/13/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 04:39:42 -0400 Rancho San Rafael, Reno, Washoe Co (5/13/12) I walked along the creek today from boundary to boundary. The weather was fine--sunny but not too hot--but the birding was poor with whole families among the missing (flycatchers, vireos, warblers) & not a single oriole or grosbeak. Here are the highlights, such as they are: Spotted Sandpiper--1 (Herman's Pond) Great Horned Owl Black-chinned Hummingbird--1 (Evans Crk, N of McCarran) House Wren--5-6 (dto) Northern Mockingbird--1 (Wetlands Restoration Area) Chipping Sparrow--1 (dto) There were 3 Great Horned Owls altogether, an adult & 2 fledglings near this year's nest. The Evans Creek breeding territory is evidently a good one since a full complement of young is fledged almost every year. This year I never saw more than 2 nestlings but I didn't visit the nest very regularly & small young would have been easily overlooked earlier in the season. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/7193656098/in/photostreamon (I wish all birds were as easy to photograph as owls). Fred Petersen, Reno Subject: Desert Loop Trip & Pahranagat Valley From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 20:43:37 -0700 On Friday May 11th 2012 I birded Dyer and Lida. The birding was rather slow with not too much around. The HARRIS'S SPARROW is still at Arlemont Ranch and is looking quite spiffy now. Also at Arlemont Ranch there was a male Vermillion Flycatcher. At Sage Hen Road trees there were very few birds but a Coachwhip Snake provided some excitement for my dog. He began to give chase thinking it was a lizard, but as soon as he recognized it as a snake he quickly turned tail and went the opposite direction. I guess his rattlesnake avoidance training is still stuck in his mind even though his training was more than 5 years ago. Not much else of note in Dyer. There were singles of Western Wood Pewees at most stops, a few Gray Flycatchers, a Hammond's or two, still a few Green-tailed Towhees and a few Black-headed Grosbeaks. Numbers were still good for Wilson's Warblers and Yellow Warblers. Had my first couple MacGillivray's Warblers of the season. In Lida, there was a good number of Warblers in the willows with one Nashville, four Orange-crowned, a Myrtle, an Audubon's, at least 25 Wilson's, 10 Yellows, a Common Yellowthroat, and a couple MacGillivray's. The only bird of note was a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker using a telephone pole to drum on at the old residence in Lida. On Saturday May 12th, I birded the loop again and was joined by Meg Andrews. At Miller's Rest Stop we had a male NORTHERN PARULA, a Townsend's Warbler, a couple Warbling Vireos, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, three Snowy Egrets and 31 Lark Sparrows among others. At Arlemont Ranch we relocated the HARRIS'S SPARROW and found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW drinking and bathing in a water filled tree well. There was also a second year Summer Tanager present. On the way out of the ranch we pished at the row of trees that are just south of the houses and found a male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. The bird was kind enough to sing a few times for us. At the Dyer Pond we found another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. There were also at least five large bats flying around in the middle of the day. I found one in a tree and it looked like a Hoary. Not much in Lida other than the continuing Ladder-backed Woodpecker. At this point I continued south. The Ponderosa Dairy was fairly slow with one Semipalmated Plover and a few peeps. There was also a sick Prairie Falcon at the edge of one of the ponds. Not sure what was wrong with it, but it was not behaving normally. On Sunday May 13th, I found 3 male BOBOLINKS at a private ranch in southern Lincoln County. At the roadside rest in Pahranagat there was a Cassin's Kingbird. Middle Marsh had a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Near the refuge headquarters there was a singing Bell's Vireo. In the row of trees below the upper Pahranagat Lake Dam, there were two Townsend's Warblers (one was singing) and another Bell's Vireo. At the Upper Pahranagat Lake there was a Brown-crested Flycatcher and a Vermillion Flycatcher. I had a male Summer Tanager at Ash Springs. At Nesbitt Lake (Key Pittman WMA) there were two NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES together in a muddy area. One eventually went up into a tree and began to sing. There was also a Swainson's Thrush here. Not much else to report. A couple late sightings that I neglected to post last weekend: On Sunday May 6th, the female HOODED WARBLER was still at Circle L Ranch in Dyer and there was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at the Dyer Pond. Greg Scyphers Sparks, NV Subject: 13 MAY 2012 Corn Creek Clark Co NV USA From: Richard Saval <kwibirder AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 18:53:27 -0700 Low numbers today. Highlights only: A second Spotted Sandpiper at the cement pond Indigo Bunting (male) in mulberry trees at the big house Bobolink (male) in pasture R Saval LAS Subject: Pahrump: Willow Creek: Mountain Falls: Nye County From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 19:13:10 -0400 Birding today 5-13-2012 was abbreviated due to this being Mother's Day. Burrowing Owls (6) adults at 3 different burrows Willow Creek: Went by to check on Red-shouldered Hawk's Mountain Falls: While walking along the agricultural field I could hear Western Meadowlark's singing. Horned Lark's were everywhere. Two beautiful Blue Grosbeak hanging out on the barbed wire and flying back and forth into the Mesquite. A Golden Eagle was on the ground beneath a Mesquite tree. He lifted up into the air as I surprised him. The wing span of this bird is incredible at close range. A Common Raven, came and chased the Golden Eagle for a few minutes and then the Golden Eagle settled in the top of a Mesquite tree to look out over the agricultural field. White-faced Ibis (12) hanging out in the middle of the lush green agricultural field. Yellow-headed Blackbird's around a pond, with a male Ruddy Duck tucked into the reeds. An American Coot and a Mallard swam on the pond. Great-tailed Grackle's were calling. A Northern Mockingbird was making his presence known with his constant chattering of different bird's song's. Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, Nevada Subject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 21:00:28 +0000 STARTING JUNE 1ST THROUGH AUGUST 31ST OUR HOURS WILL BE 6:00 AM TIL NOON. LAST ENTRY AT 11:30 AM. The entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is off Galleria Drive. Take the US95/I515 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. OUR HOURS FROM MARCH 1ST THRU MAY 31ST OUR HOURS WILL BE 6:00 AM TO 2 PM. LAST ENTRY IS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING. We had seventy-nine (79) 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 Gadwall Mallard (babies) Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler (few left) Redhead Lesser Scaup (2) Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Clark's Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Sora Common Gallinule American Coot (4 babies on pond 9, 5/13) Killdeer Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Semipalmated Sandpiper (5/13, pond 2 found by Kyle Burt) Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Ring-billed Gull Caspian Tern (5/10 pond 4, Randy Michal Forster's Tern Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Black-chinned Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Gray Flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher (5/10 at VC, Randy Michal) Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Common Raven Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Verdin Marsh Wren Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Northern Mockingbird Crissal Thrasher Orange-crowned Warbler Lucy's Warbler (heard) Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's & Myrtle) Townsend's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Abert's Towhee White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark (1 on 5/7) Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Lesser Finch House Sparrow Best in birding, Je Anne Branca Subject: Sage Thrasher, White Lake (N. Reno) 12 May 2012 From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 16:24:28 -0400 There was a Sage Thrasher at (dry) White Lake in N. Reno (near Bordertown) on Saturday 12 May in the sage flat near the fence line on the US 395 side of the the lake. This happens to be the first one I've seen in about twenty years, which says more about my meager birding activity than about the population of Sage Thrashers. There is an active Magpie nest along the main Keystone Canyon bike trail, maybe 1/2 mile north of the main parking area. The nest is prominent and literally within reach from the trail proper in a clump of willow brush. Today in my yard I watched a Lesser Goldfinch gorging on dandelion seeds. What amazed me was its technique for reaching the foot-tall weed tops without hovering. It landed low on a dandelion and shinny up the stalk until its weight bent it down towards the ground, then it "flew" dragging the stalk over an adjacent stalk and deftly grasped the second, pulling the two stalks together. Now with two stalks forming an 'A' frame that was strong enough to support the finch's weight, it shinnied up the two converging stalks to the seed balls. When it had gleaned all the seeds from the two tops, it flew both stalks over to yet a third stalk and added it to the two already in its grasp, forming a tripod out of the cluster. After consuming the third ball of seeds, it released the stalks and started over on a fresh pair of dandelions. Brian Adams Subject: Hello email from Jim Cooper From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 09:50:17 -0700 I would suggest not clicking on the link in Jim Cooper's posting until he tells us that it is legit. It has all the markings of spam at the least or an invitation to a virus at the worst. Jim's address book may have been hacked. The National Audubon server is very good about filtering these out, but an occasional one does slip through. Alan Wallace Nevada bird listserve moderator Reno NV Subject: 12 MAY 2012 CORN CREEk CLARK CO NV From: Richard Saval <kwibirder AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 16:01:01 -0700 No wind today. Expected migrants in one & twos, Best bird from my 16 yaers of records, Swainsons Hawk soaring heading N. Another late date SPSA at Cement Pond. R Saval LAS Subject: 5/12 Floyd Lamb Park, Clay-colored Sparrow From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 15:18:21 -0700 Hi birders, This morning at Floyd Lamb Park there was a Clay-colored Sparrow in the lawn area next to the large lake associating with some Chippies and Brewers. Some other notable birds seen included a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers where the sparrows were at, the return of Brown-crested Flycatchers, and a White-winged Dove. Warblers were dominated by Yellow and Wilsons, but there were several Townsend's and BT Grays and 5-6 Macs. Andrew Lee Henderson Subject: 05-06 May 2012 Corn Creek, Clark Co NV From: Richard Saval <kwibirder AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 19:37:37 -0700 As others have reported. Saturday was as good as it can get. Sunday slightly diminished. Both days, a strong wind from N. As my Father would say (WW II vet) Corn Creek is FUBAR. A miracle that the brown shirted beavers have not chopped down the mulberry trees. But the fence has been moved to increase viewing distance. It may be better in the future, but not during my lifetime, I'm 63. R Saval LAS Subject: Northern Pygmy-owl, etc., at Spooner Lake State Park From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Wed, 9 May 2012 23:38:44 -0700 It was a perfect day for a hike in the mountains. Clear, sunny, T-shirt weather. There was no snow on the North Canyon Trail going up toward Marlette Lake. (The North Canyon Trail leaves from Spooner Lake State Park, Douglas County, but most of the trail is in Carson City county. However, I joined the trail by parking at the Spooner Summit parking lot for the Tahoe Rim Trail, then hiked down to Spooner Lake, after paying the $1.00 entry fee, north to the Spooner Lake Cabin Trail, and from there to the North Canyon Trail.) After the North Canyon trail passes over the summit and heads down toward Marlette Lake, there was enough snow to make it a bit more difficult (I quit there and turned around.) There were lots of birds around, with the highlight being a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL which posed for the best photos I've ever gotten of one. (I put the best one on my website, address below. Click on the "Recent" tab.) The owl was about 600 yards up the North Canyon Trail from the intersection with the Spooner Lake Cabin Trail. There were a lot of Warbling Vireos singing. This seemed a bit funny -- I haven't seen a single Warbling Vireo yet on migration in the desert (and Greg says he's only seen one so far,) but there are plenty in the high country. Wonder how they got there. Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warblers and Wilson's Warblers were the only warblers I came across. There was one Western Wood-pewee and two Dusky Flycatchers (one Dusky was singing its full song, the other was doing its special dee-dee-hic call, which I think is heard only near the breeding grounds.) I saw a couple of White-headed Woodpeckers and a couple of Red-breasted Sapsuckers (one of which posed for decent photos.) A Hairy Woodpecker engaged in a running battle with the Pygmy-Owl (they seemed evenly matched -- nobody won.) Several Northern Flickers were around. One "Sierra" Fox Sparrow called from the brush, and one Sooty Grouse hooted up near the top of the trail. Surprising to me were three WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS. I have seen very few in the Tahoe Basin (one at South Shore in September, 2010 and one at Tahoe City in early May, 2004.) Here's a complete list: Sooty Grouse 1 California Quail Western Grebe 1 Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 White-headed Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee 1 Dusky Flycatcher 2 Warbling Vireo 12 Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay 3 Mountain Chickadee American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson's Warbler Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Brewer's Blackbird Cassin's Finch Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CA Subject: Re: new bird From: Bob Goodman <Pandion36 AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 22:02:10 -0400 Great Horned Owls had nested frequently in the many cavities around Rye Patch Reservoir years ago when I was doing boat/photography there. Also, Prairie falcons, Barn Owls, and Ravens. The cavities were in the mud banks, and the same ones were used year after year. Cheers, Bob Goodman In a message dated 5/8/2012 2:28:32 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, mjelpers AT AOL.COM writes: Regarding Great Horned Owls nesting in cavities in cliffs, I found a pair that raised young from a nest in a cliff cavity high above Desert Creek in southern Douglas County when I was working on the NV Breeding Bird Atlas some years ago. Mary Jo Elpers mjelpers AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Linda Hiller To: NVBIRDS Sent: Tue, May 8, 2012 11:33 am Subject: new bird Heard a bird that sounded like one of our ubiquitous Bewick's wrens on my alk in the desert yesterday and didn't have my binoculars. I could see it, here at the top of a bitterbrush (just like a Bewick's), and the song was imilar, eye stripe was visible, yup Bewick's. Just in case I could enlarge shot of the bird later, I aimed my point-and-shoot camera at it and got ome pics. Black-throated Sparrow! Not a rare bird, I know, but one that is nusual here in Jacks Valley, south of Carson City. We are at the "becalmed" stage here right now . we have usual suspects but ess of them as they're off nesting. The Bullock's orioles are in full orce, battling each other at our popular Oriolefest grape jelly feeder along with one black-headed grosbeak, robins, finches and starlings who lso love the jelly). I've said it before and I'm saying it again, if you on't feed grape jelly, you're missing out! The cedar waxwings have left for the most part although yesterday they ipped in and out. And thanks to everyone who looked at the fuzzy pic of the ystery owl in a cliff hole. Interestingly, the consensus is great horned wl! Of course, we can all id that bird in our sleep, but it's a fascinating ase of not seeing a bird where you expect to see it. I have never seen reat horns nesting like this, but Kathy O. said she saw it last year, and ho knows, here in Carson Valley where we've lost many tall trees, maybe his species is just adapting! Good birding, all . Linda Hiller Linda Hiller (775) 267-3580 home office (775) 781-4916 mobile greenacres23 AT charter.net www.savingmystories.com Subject: Re: new bird From: Mary Jo Elpers <mjelpers AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 17:28:11 -0400 Regarding Great Horned Owls nesting in cavities in cliffs, I found a pair that raised young from a nest in a cliff cavity high above Desert Creek in southern Douglas County when I was working on the NV Breeding Bird Atlas some years ago. Mary Jo Elpers mjelpers AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Linda Hiller To: NVBIRDS Sent: Tue, May 8, 2012 11:33 am Subject: new bird Heard a bird that sounded like one of our ubiquitous Bewick's wrens on my alk in the desert yesterday and didn't have my binoculars. I could see it, here at the top of a bitterbrush (just like a Bewick's), and the song was imilar, eye stripe was visible, yup Bewick's. Just in case I could enlarge shot of the bird later, I aimed my point-and-shoot camera at it and got ome pics. Black-throated Sparrow! Not a rare bird, I know, but one that is nusual here in Jacks Valley, south of Carson City. We are at the "becalmed" stage here right now . we have usual suspects but ess of them as they're off nesting. The Bullock's orioles are in full orce, battling each other at our popular Oriolefest grape jelly feeder along with one black-headed grosbeak, robins, finches and starlings who lso love the jelly). I've said it before and I'm saying it again, if you on't feed grape jelly, you're missing out! The cedar waxwings have left for the most part although yesterday they ipped in and out. And thanks to everyone who looked at the fuzzy pic of the ystery owl in a cliff hole. Interestingly, the consensus is great horned wl! Of course, we can all id that bird in our sleep, but it's a fascinating ase of not seeing a bird where you expect to see it. I have never seen reat horns nesting like this, but Kathy O. said she saw it last year, and ho knows, here in Carson Valley where we've lost many tall trees, maybe his species is just adapting! Good birding, all . Linda Hiller Linda Hiller (775) 267-3580 home office (775) 781-4916 mobile greenacres23 AT charter.net www.savingmystories.com Subject: Best place(s) to see prairie falcons, Las Vegas area? From: Aaron Milenski <amilenski31 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 16:36:54 -0400 Hello all, I will be visiting Las Vegas in a few weeks, and I have a pretty good handle on where to bird in the limited time I will have there. I do have one question for knowledgeable people on this list, though. One bird that's high on my wish list is a prairie falcon. I know they're relatively common, but are there particularly good spots to look for them, or is it just a matter of driving on highways and back roads and looking at the fields and in the sky? Also...I'm a huge fan of owls. Are there any likely spots to find any of the ones I don't see where I live (Ohio), i.e. barn owl, flammulated owl, western screech owl, long-eared owl? Thanks! Aaron Milenski Subject: corn creek this am From: James Holmes Jr <jfholmes AT UCDAVIS.EDU> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 12:06:29 -0700 Good numbers of expected migrants. Highlights included male VERMILLION FLYCATCHER and a pure male INDIGO BUNTING. On another note, I am not sure what the long term plans are for Corn Creek but I hope it involves habitat restoration. The current, continued habitat destruction does not appear to be the best for the wildlife. The stream has been diverted and the upper ponds are essentially dry. Stream now flows into the pasture and all trees around the upper ponds are down/gone. Anyone know the long range plans? Thanks Jim Holmes Subject: new bird From: Linda Hiller <greenacres23 AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 11:33:29 -0700 Heard a bird that sounded like one of our ubiquitous Bewick's wrens on my walk in the desert yesterday and didn't have my binoculars. I could see it, there at the top of a bitterbrush (just like a Bewick's), and the song was similar, eye stripe was visible, yup Bewick's. Just in case I could enlarge a shot of the bird later, I aimed my point-and-shoot camera at it and got some pics. Black-throated Sparrow! Not a rare bird, I know, but one that is unusual here in Jacks Valley, south of Carson City. We are at the "becalmed" stage here right now . we have usual suspects but less of them as they're off nesting. The Bullock's orioles are in full force, battling each other at our popular Oriolefest grape jelly feeder (along with one black-headed grosbeak, robins, finches and starlings who also love the jelly). I've said it before and I'm saying it again, if you don't feed grape jelly, you're missing out! The cedar waxwings have left for the most part although yesterday they dipped in and out. And thanks to everyone who looked at the fuzzy pic of the mystery owl in a cliff hole. Interestingly, the consensus is great horned owl! Of course, we can all id that bird in our sleep, but it's a fascinating case of not seeing a bird where you expect to see it. I have never seen great horns nesting like this, but Kathy O. said she saw it last year, and who knows, here in Carson Valley where we've lost many tall trees, maybe this species is just adapting! Good birding, all . Linda Hiller Linda Hiller (775) 267-3580 home office (775) 781-4916 mobile greenacres23 AT charter.net www.savingmystories.com Subject: No Subject From: melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 11:13:18 -0600 -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 4:34 PM To: theyurt AT wirelessbeehive.com Subject: eBird Report - The Yurt Feeders, Apr 20, 2012 The Yurt Feeders, below Great Basin National Park main entrance, White Pine, US-NV Apr 20, to 22 2012 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Protocol: Stationary Primary Observer: John B. Free. 2 folks from Park City, UT invited to observe. Conditions: Clear, 65 deg 75 deg. 19 species Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 3 Male has been herding 2 immature females about Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 2 Pair have been courting and hunting just around Eastern edge of property in brush American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 4 Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) 2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [cafer Group]) 1 Male tapping on nesting box on side of Yurt Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 4 Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 3 Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) 2 , Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 1 House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 3 Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 2 White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 4 Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) 7 feeding flock Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 1 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3 *********************** The Yurt Feeders, White Pine, US-NV Apr 27, to 29/2012 2012 7:30 AM - 8:05 AM Protocol: Stationary Observer: John B. Free Conditions: Clear, 45 deg to 54 deg. Chipmunk at feeder 19 species Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 2 Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 7 African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) 1 On feeders and hanging with Eurasian Collared Doves Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1 First Mourning Dove seen this season Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) 1 First seen on 4/23/2012 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [cafer Group]) 1 drumming on nesting box Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 12 Young PIJA begging on feeder Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 1 Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 1 Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1 Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 3 Intruder male, later found adult in walk-in cage without tail feathers, escorted 'til flew in tree White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 7 Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2 First observed this season Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) 6 Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1 ***************************** Subject: No Subject From: melsyurt AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 11:11:00 -0600 ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: Fw: eBird Report - The Yurt Feeders, May 3, 2012 From: "BFree" Date: Mon, May 7, 2012 12:31 pm To: "Melissa Renfro" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Yurt Feeders, between Baker, NV and Great Basin National Park main entrance, White Pine, US-NV May 3 to May 6 , 2012 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM Protocol: Stationary Observer: John B. Free Conditions: clear, 48 deg, (Fri May 4 AT 3 PM), chipmunk at feeder; wind 2 to 9 mph 21 species Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 2 Tom seems to be courting an immature female Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 2 American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 5 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2 First of the season observed; possible pair Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) 1 heard at the Yurt (first of season) Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [cafer Group]) 2 Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 20 feeding flock with several begging juveniles Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1 Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1 (First of the season and rarely seen at the yurt:: , Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) 1 First male of the season (5/3) Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) 1 First of season at feeder: Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 5 Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1 First of the season observed Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) 1 First of the season Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) 5 one male has bright orange head Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1 in breeding plumage This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: NBRC update (long) From: Martin Meyers <nbrc AT GBBO.ORG> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 20:51:26 -0700 The NBRC has completed reviews of another packet of records. Among other things, this packet contained three records for Harris's Hawks. While one of these records (2011-016, Las Vegas Wash, 12/20/11) was not endorsed (description insufficient, according to a majority of the committee members), the other two records were both endorsed. For both of the endorsed cases, identification was never in question -- excellent photos and other documentation provided unmistakeable evidence of that identification. But for a species like Harris's Hawk, which is one of the favorite hawks used by falconers, the question of origin is of paramount importance. Falconers do lose birds. And those birds may show up pretty near anywhere. So when such a species shows up out of range, (and very far out of range in one of our cases), the suspicion that a wayward falconer's bird might be involved must be dealt with. Record 2011-105, the astounding record of four Harris's Hawks inhabiting a residential area in Boulder City, first observed and photographed by Maureen Kammerer on 12/14/11 and still present, was one of the cases. There were a couple of specific issues that raised concerns. For one thing, photos (particularly of the immature bird) showed extensive feather wear, particularly a very tattered tail. "Cage-wear" is one of the pieces of evidence often cited when a committee chooses not to endorse a record of a species that might have been an escaped bird. And then there was the location -- several photographs showed the bird(s) sitting on a fence surrounding a home in Boulder City. Surely an escapee would be likely to stay near familiar territory. However, both of these concerns were dealt with by the committee. As to the very worn tail feathers, a falconry expert with a great deal of Harris's Hawk experience was consulted. He stated that wild Harris's Hawks, because of their habit of chasing prey on the ground in scrub habitats, often receive considerable damage to the tail. He was convinced that worn rectrices were not an indication of captive origin. And as to the residential location, for some reason, that's just something Harris's Hawks do! They are regularly found in their normal range in Arizona living in the suburbs. So those two arguments do not seem to argue against natural occurrence. One other fact argues strongly FOR natural occurrence. None of these birds had leg bands. Many of the great photos provided by the multiple submitters of documentation for this record showed the legs clearly. The falconry expert asserted that virtually all falconers put permanent leg bands on their birds, and that these are extremely unlikely to come off. Add the fact that this species has been showing up further and further from its native range in recent years, with many of these extralimital sightings being endorsed by state records committees, and the NBRC's unanimous endorsement of the record comes as no surprise. Record 2011-014, a single Harris's Hawk at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, photographed by Brian Day, the refuge manager, on 3/27/11, was an even more difficult challenge for the committee. Excellent photos showed that there were no leg bands. The written description of the bird's behavior sounded reasonable for a wild Harris's Hawk. Plumage appeared to be in good condition. So far, so good. But, while Boulder City is actually pretty close to the regular breeding range of this species, the Sheldon bird was hundreds of miles from any known population. In fact, research by committee members determined that this record appears to be the second northernmost record for the species ever to be endorsed by any state committee. (The Nebraska records committee has endorsed two records at approximately the same latitude, one slightly further north than 2011-014, one just a tiny bit south. One of our members contacted the Nebraska committee to double-check the report.) This record required two circulations -- there were two negative votes on the first round. On the second round, there was one negative vote. The NBRC bylaws state that a record receiving no more than one negative vote is considered endorsed. But Harris's Hawk was not the "raptor of the packet!" Nor was the Mississippi Kite (Corn Creek, 5/21/03), endorsed unanimously. Nor the White-tailed Kite (Pahrump, 1/10/12), also unanimously endorsed. No, the most exciting raptor -- make that the most exciting bird -- reviewed in this packet, and one of the most exciting birds in the whole world, was the Gyrfalcon found (and photographed) at Stillwater NWR by Bill Henry. Unanimous NBRC endorsement of this record (2012-001) established this regal falcon (at one time only royalty could hunt with a Gyrfalcon) on the Nevada State Checklist. (I used the word "established" -- the species was already on the checklist provided by Carolyn Titus and adopted by the NBRC at its formation in 1994. However, the committee had never reviewed a record for the species until now.) The Gyrfalcon was seen by a number of Nevada birders and provided great joy to all. (I'm not included in that number, alas, but it's not from lack of trying.) Another fabulous record in this packet was a Connecticut Warbler (Floyd Lamb Park, found by Andrew Lee on 9/3/11). This is one of the most difficult warblers to observe in western North America. (It's not all that easy to see even where it's supposed to be.) But there was never any doubt about whether or not to endorse this record. Great photos, and an absolutely wonderful video showing the bird walking around on the ground, were totally convincing for all committee members. A number of other warbler records were endorsed, including one Yellow-throated Warbler (Dyer,6/11/11), one Prairie Warbler (Dyer, 9/13/11), one Blackburnian Warbler (Pahranagat NWR, 9/23/07), and one Painted Redstart (Corn Creek, 5/7/11). These four species are in the "very hard to find in Nevada, but not quite a Connecticut!" category. A bit more regular for the state is Worm-eating Warbler. A sighting at Pahranagat NWR on 10/8/10 was considered to be the same bird previously reviewed (and endorsed) by the committee from a sighting at the same location on 9/26/10. There are now eleven NBRC-endorsed records for this species. Five Tennessee Warbler records were endorsed by the committee -- Red Rock National Conservation Area, 5/23/11; Dyer, 5/30/11; Floyd Lamb Park, 9/8/11; Dyer, 9/11/11; and Dyer, 10/8/11. There are now fifteen committee-endorsed records for this species, with at least one record in five of the previous ten years. There were three endorsed warbler records for species which have subsequently been removed from the review list (i.e, stil great birds to find in Nevada, but with enough endorsed records and a predictable enough pattern of visits to remove the requirement for the rigorous review process by the NBRC.) One Chestnut-sided Warbler (Pahranagat NWR, 9/13/11), one Palm Warbler (Miller's Rest Stop, 9/16/11), and one Prothonotary Warbler (Lida, 9/16/04). A record for Yellow-throated Vireo (Miller's Rest Stop, 6/12/11) was also unanimously endorsed. That's the fifth endorsed record for that species. The weekend of 6/11/11 and 6/12/11 will be forever remembered by one birder (um, yeah, that would be me) as "Yellow-throated weekend!" (See Yellow-throated Warbler above.) A record for Hepatic Tanager from Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 6/7/11, went through two rounds of reviews but did not receive committee endorsement. Members of the committee felt that Summer Tanager had not been effectively eliminated by the extensive documentation. Of course, as with all records submitted to the committee, endorsed or not, the record remains in the database and the documentation remains available for future researchers (who sometimes reach different conclusions.) Martin =================================== Martin Meyers Secretary, Nevada Bird Records Committee website: http://gbbo.org/nbrc ================================== Subject: More Virginia Lake Egrets From: Ken Drozd <kdrozd AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 20:39:28 -0700 Took a walk around Virginia Lake this evening. There were seven Snowy Egrets on the island. As Fred Petersen reported, only two pairs were on nests. We could see an egg in one nest when the parent stood up. There was also a Great Egret standing at the north end of the island, well away from the Snowys. The Clark's Grebe was still there, but we didn't see any other grebes. Ken Drozd Reno, NV Subject: Horned Grebe, Virginia Lake, Reno (5/7/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 23:20:41 -0400 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (5/7/12) Today’s highlights: Horned Grebe—1 (near-full breeding plumage) Clark’s Grebe--1 Snowy Egret--6 Black-crowned Night Heron—1 (water’s edge, SE corner) Of the 6 Snowy Egrets on the island, 4 (2 pairs) were on or near nests (or the beginnings of such). The other 2 egrets were just standing around without obvious association with nests. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/7155493378/in/photostream (Horned Grebe in mid-dive) Here’s a photo of a gopher snake encountered on the Desert Loop last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/7154613296/in/photostream --Fred Petersen, Reno Subject: Migrant Fallout, Corn Creek, Las Vegas, 5/5 From: Mike Resch <mresch8702 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 22:41:36 -0400 Experienced an absolutely amazing migrant fallout on 5/5 at Corn Creek just north of Las Vegas. David Donsker and I arrived at Corn Creek at first light and immediately noticed a number of kingbirds flying into the trees from the desert. As the steady stream of birds continued, we noticed numerous warblers flying in along with the kingbirds. The first tree we reached was loaded with Western Kingbirds – although only 10 feet tall it had at least 50 kingbirds on it perched like Christmas tree ornaments. Each binocular field in each mulberry tree contained at least 5 Bullock’s Orioles and a few more Western Kingbirds. Groups of 5 to 10 warblers (mostly Audubon’s) were in the trees, on the ground, in the grass, on fence posts - just everywhere. We birded the oasis from 5:15 to 11 and conservatively estimated 2,000 birds of 75 species. Counting was next to impossible as the birds were constantly flitting from tree to tree. We returned and birded the area again from 2:30 to 5:30, and although activity was much lower, there were still hundreds of migrants, several more still flying in from the desert, and we found several species we didn’t have in the morning. And then there were the unusual and rarities – · Indigo Bunting – 1 adult male seen in the morning and seen again (or a second bird?) in the afternoon · Black-and-White Warbler – 1 adult male seen several times, and also heard singing several times · Rose-Breasted Grosbeak – 1 adult male seen and heard singing in the morning and seen again (or a second bird?) in the afternoon. Record shots taken · Hepatic Tanager – 1 female, record shot taken. Other highlights with likely conservative numbers – · White-winged Dove – 2 · Eur Collared Dove X Mourning Dove – 1 · Eur Collared Dove - 6 · Vaux’ Swift – 1 · White-throated Swift – 1 · Black-Chinned Hummingbird - 4 · Western Kingbirds – 300-500 · Western Pewee - 3 · Willow Flycatcher – 1 · Hammond’s Flycatcher – 1 · Dusky Flycatcher – 2 · Gray Flycatcher – 3 · “Western” Flycatcher – 1 · Ruby-Crowned Kinglet – 1 · American Pipit – 2 (late) · Plumbeous Vireo – 1 · Cassin’s Vireo – 2 · Warbling Vireo – 1 · Orange-Crowned Warbler – 3 · Virginia’s Warbler – 1 · Lucy’s Warbler – 1 · Yellow Warbler – 20-30 · Audubon’s Warblers – 500-700 · “Myrtle” Warbler – 4 · Black-throated Gray Warbler – 1 · Townsend’s Warbler – 1 · Yellowthroat – 6 · Chat – 1 · Wilson’s Warbler – 15-20 · Western Tanager – 10-15 · Blue Grosbeak – 3 · Lazuli Bunting – 15 · Lark Sparrow – 20 · White-crowned Sparrow – 10 · Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1 · Bullock’s Orioles – 100-150 · Hooded Oriole - 1 · Pine Siskin – 3 · American Goldfinch – 1 (late) · Lesser Goldfinch – 3 Mike Resch Pepperell, MA Subject: Henderson ponds From: James Holmes Jr <jfholmes AT UCDAVIS.EDU> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 17:43:35 -0700 This morning there was a Vaux's Swift with the swallows at the ponds. All expected swallows plus a white-throated swift as well. Otherwise, the expected species including 92 phalaropes (mostly Wilson's but a few Red-necked). Jim Holmes currently in Las Vegas Subject: Railroad Valley WMA, Kirch WMA, and Pahranagat NWR From: Rick/Meg Andrews <andrews2727 AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 14:44:16 -0700 I decided to spend a day visiting 2 places I had never seen. Railroad Valley WMA consists (in part) of a couple of very small ponds, and is located just off of Hwy. 6 in northeastern Nye County.� There were a handful of migrating birds, but nothing really worth noting.� Several Pronghorn antelope, and who knew there were so many oil wells in Nevada? Next I stopped at the Adams McGill reservoir at the Kirch WMA, which is also located in Nye County off of Hwy. 318 (between Lund and Hiko).� I wished I had a boat, so that I could have seen more of the reservoir.� The little that I saw was from standing on the shore near the boat ramp.� There was a calling ("singing???") American Bittern just a few feet away from the boat ramp, and a nearby singing Common Yellowthroat.� There were the usual assortment of reservoir-type birds, ie Mallard, Redhead, Eared Grebe, Northern Pintail, Canada Goose, Ruddy Duck, and American Coot.� Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens, Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were located in the cattails.� Also on the water were both Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, and lots and lots of terns!� I saw at least 3 pair of Caspian Terns, (including one that delivered a fish to a mate)�a couple of Forster's Terns, 1 Black Tern, and several terns that were too far away to ID.� But best of all, there were 8 Franklin's Gulls, which was a life bird for me.� Even though they were flying past me in fairly brisk winds, they were easy to tell apart from Bonaparte's Gulls.� The next day I headed to the Upper Lake at Pahranagat NWR, which is located just below Alamo off of Hwy. 93.� The first thing I saw after setting up my scope were 5 more Franklin Gulls.� Whoo-hoo!� These were much nicer to look at than the ones at Kirch,�because they were floating placidly on the lake.� The birds above and below the lake were pretty much as Martin had described them a few days ago, although I didn't see any Myiarchus flycatchers (I don't know if that was due to the wind, the accipiter that was present, or just me).� I did manage the best looks I have ever had at�Yellow-breasted Chats, both below and above the lake.� At the end of the dam, I was admiring a Vermilion Flycatcher when I saw 4 Sandhill Cranes lift off from a small meadow just south of the dam.� Oh, and there were 2 more Red-necked Phalaropes present, along with about 15 Wilson's Phalaropes.� I thought about going to Meadow Valley Wash today, but I was worn out, so I decided to come on home.� On the way home, I stopped at the little reservoir between Warm Springs and Rachel, because I always find something unusual there.� Today,� it was a Common Loon and Green-tailed Towhee.� By the way, last week I was finding Green-tailed Towhees at 3 or 4 different locations in Ash Meadows.� The best birds of that trip were a pair of Hooded Orioles at Point of Rocks.� The male was truly spectacular to look at .� Sorry I didn't write about that trip, but I was having� some e-mail issues last week.� Meg Andrews Reno, NV Subject: Virginia's Warbler, Carson River Park (Carson City), May 7 From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 14:28:04 -0700 I was birding at Carson River Park this morning and found a Virginia's Warbler. I first heard its metallic "chink" call and then its song, both of which were repeated several times but not continuously. I finally located it in the lower parts of some dense brush and small trees, getting a good look at it. I watched it for a while and then continued south to Mexican Dam. When I passed the same place half an hour or more later, I could hear it in the same general location, but I didn't search for it. For those familiar with the trail leading from the Carson River Park parking lot south to Mexican Dam, the bird was where the trail meets up with the Mexican ditch. At that point the trail briefly divides, with one part following the ditch and the other part dropping down and crossing some spillage from the ditch (there's a small pond/large puddle there). The bird was in the dense underbrush between these two trail segments and seen from the lower trail; later, it had move about 100 feet to the south, just southeast of the lower trail segment. Except for a gazillion singing House Wrens, a dozen or more noisy Bullock's Orioles, two Lazuli Buntings, and one Western Tanager, it was actually pretty quiet, much different from what Rob Lowry has described of late. Carson River Park can be reached by taking E. 5th St. from downtown Carson City and then left on Carson River Road to the parking lot at the river. Alan Wallace Reno NV Subject: Willow Creek & Mountain Falls (Pahrump) (Nye County) From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 23:50:11 -0400 Yesterday I birded for an hour behind Mountain Falls and saw a beautiful Golden Eagle. Also a Common Yellothroat. This morning after finishing viewing the Burrowing Owls, I drove over to Willow Creek to see what might be hanging out there. Viki Calzascia arrived right after me, she had also been out studying Burrowing Owls. We decided to bird Willow Creek together. Birds seen at Willow Creek: For May 6, 2012 Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Western Tanager (male)which Viki saw first, a new bird sighting for Viki) Black-chinned Hummingbird Western Kingbird Wilson's Warbler Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Yellow-headed Blackbird Mallard Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Red-shouldered Hawk American Coot Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Say's Phoebe Common Raven Northern Mockingbird Phainopepla Western Meadowlark Great-tailed Grackle Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Canada Goose American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler At Mountain Falls today the following birds were seen. The White-faced Ibis would fly off when the Turkey Vultures hovered over them. White-faced Ibis (44) Spotted Sandpiper Lark Sparrow Turkey Vulture Western Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Western Kingbird Violet-green Swallow Horned Larks Bewick Wren (heard this bird singing before I found it) Northern Harrier Orange-crowned Warbler Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, Nevada Subject: Reese River near Austin From: David Worley <daveworl AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 23:42:27 -0400 Working near Austin last week, I drove a stretch of road east of the Reese River north of Highway 50. Birds on the river included Canada geese, gadwall, American wigeon, northern pintails, killdeer, long-billed curlews, Wilson's phalaropes, and a group of 50 white-faced ibis. Red-wing and yellow-headed blackbirds called from a marshy area, and a northern harrier and cliff swallows flew over the area. Sagebrush habitats supported singing sage thrashers, Brewer's sparrows and western meadowlarks, while American kestrels, mountain bluebirds, pinyon jays and Cassin's finches were in the pinyon-juniper forest in the mountains closer to Austin. More dated, we checked Centerville Marsh two weekends ago and found about 40 tricolored blackbirds in the marsh, all east of the highway and north of the nursery south of Centerville. David Worley Reno, Nevada Subject: Desert Loop trip report, 5/5/12 From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 14:02:27 -0700 Birded the "Desert Loop" yesterday, 5/5/12. The eastern side (Tonopah and Miller's Rest Stop) were not very productive (and it was really cold in the morning), but Dyer was very birdy. I did not complete the loop, as it was getting pretty late by the time I finished birding in Dyer (i.e., did not visit Lida.) However, Dennis G. and Rose S., with whom I birded in Dyer, said that Lida had been extremely windy and difficult to bird (although they said there were quite a few birds hunkered down in the willow patches.) Greg S. birded with me on the eastern side, and again briefly at the end of the day in Dyer. A few birds of note in Dyer were one HARRIS'S SPARROW at a private ranch and a female HOODED WARBLER at Circle-L (also private, but very birder-friendly for several decades.) Also, a single VAUX'S SWIFT spent at least an hour circling over the Dyer Pond. A beautiful COMMON LOON in alternate plumage swam around on a small ranch pond, occasionally vocalizing. Interestingly (to me, anyway), there had been an alternate plumage Common Loon on the same pond on 5/12/07. A single SWAINSON'S THRUSH was my earliest for Esmeralda (by one day.) There was also one Hermit Thrush. Empidonax flycatchers were present in good numbers. Most were Grays, but there were also several Duskies, a few Hammond's, and a few "Westerns". I have not yet seen a Willow this year. (My earliest record for Willow Fly in Esmeralda County is 5/22.) White-crowned Sparrows were abundant at numerous locations. In nearly all cases, there were a number of dark-lored individuals (that's the one that breeds in the Sierra and throughout the interior west.) Pale-lored birds (pretty sure all the pale-lored ones I saw were the Taiga breeders which winter in our area) still outnumbered the dark-lored ones by about two or three to one. A few Green-tailed Towhees were nice to see. They haven't quite made it up to the breeding location near my house in Truckee yet. Small groups of Cassin's Finches were spotted at several locations (as is usual for this time of year.) Warblers included Wilson's (probably most abundant), Yellow (also lots of these), Yellow-rumped (with several "Myrtles" mixed in with the "Audubons" at most locations, Orange-crowned (not too many of these), Common Yellowthroats, and one Yellow-breasted Chat (and, of course, the one Hooded.) A few Black-headed Grosbeaks were at scattered locations, and a few Lazuli Buntings were at Circle-L. I saw one Plumbeous Vireo (Circle-L) As usual on the loop, shorebirds were not abundant, although I did have one Solitary Sandpiper along with the Spotted Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts, and Killdeer. There were also several Wilson's Phalaropes. Incidentally, I saw two very pale Collared-type doves, one at Miller's Rest, one in Dyer. The Miller's bird was a bit smaller than the Eurasians it was associating with. I am not sure whether these represent a pale Eurasian Collared-dove, a Ringed Turtle-dove (technically, domesticated African Collared-dove), or a hybird combination. I did not get to see the underside of the tail on either bird, and neither was quite as uniformly pale as some others I've observed in the state. All Ringed Turtle-doves in Nevada are considered to be escaped cage-birds or offspring of such escapees. They are not considered an "established introduced species" anywhere in North America. Interestingly (again, probably only to me), I grew up in St. Petersburg, FL, which hosted the only (then) officially established population of these bird, with thousands flying around in parts of the city. All have long since disappeared, and the American Birding Association removed them from the North American checklist -- when a previously "established" population of exotics disappears, the presumption is that they really never were truly established. The same thing happened to the tens or hundreds of thousands of Crested Mynas that used to inhabit the Vancouver, B.C. area. Here's a complete species list for the day (all sightings from Dyer except the Cedar Waxwings, which were in Tonopah, and the Golden Eagle, which was near the split of highways 6 and 95.) Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead California Quail Common Loon Eared Grebe White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Prairie Falcon American Coot Killdeer Black-necked Stilt Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Vaux's Swift White-throated Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher "Western" Flycatcher Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Plumbeous Vireo American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Northern Mockingbird Sage Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson's Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Green-tailed Towhee Harris's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Bullock's Oriole Cassin's Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CA Subject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 20:32:32 +0000 The entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is off Galleria Drive. Take the US95/I515 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. OUR HOURS FROM MARCH 1ST THRU MAY 31ST OUR HOURS WILL BE 6:00 AM TO 2 PM. LAST ENTRY IS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING. We had eighty-nine (89) 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 Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard (babies) Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler (many be 30) Redhead Ring-necked Duck (1) Lesser Scaup (2) Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe (alternate plumage) Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Snowy Egret Green Heron (pair) Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis (24) Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon Common Gallinule American Coot (nesting) Killdeer (4 babies pond 4) Black-necked Stilt American Avocet (nesting) Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher (3) Wilson's Phalarope (several) Red-necked Phalarope Franklin's Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Black-chinned Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Western type Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Verdin (babies) Marsh Wren Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (babies) American Robin (heard) Crissal Thrasher European Starling MacGillivray's Warbler Common Yellowthroat (heard) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's & Myrtle) Townsend's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Green-tailed Towhee (near pond 6 5/6) Abert's Towhee Brewer's Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Western Tanager (male AT vc 5/4) Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole (several) Hooded Oriole House Sparrow Best in birding, Je Anne Branca Subject: Carson CIty Area Odds and Ends-May 4th and 5th From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 01:21:37 -0400 Hello! The following birds were observed on Friday, May 4th and Saturday, May 5th in the Carson City area: HOME FEEDERS Western Tanager-1 male on Friday Black-Headed Grosbeak-2 males and 1 female both days Black-Chinned Hummingbird-pair both days Bullock's Oriole-2 or 3 both days CARSON RIVER PARK/SILVER SADDLE RANCH Lewis's Woodpecker-1 on Friday, which makes 3 years in a row that at least 1 has been seen here in the first week of May Dusky Flycatcher-3 on Friday Spotted Sandpiper-3 Willet-2 on Friday MacGillivray's Warbler-1 on Saturday Vaux's Swift-1 on Saturday Bullock's Oriole-15 to 20 both days with a couple of females Wilson's Warbler-3 on Friday Golden Eagle-1 on Saturday Pinyon Jay-15 on Saturday Great-Horned Owls and owlets Western Screech Owl-2 on Saturday Wood Duck-5 on Friday, 2 on Saturday DEADMAN'S CREEK TRAIL (Saturday) Long-Eared Owl-1 on nest Cooper's Hawk-pair at nest MacGillivray's Warbler Orange-Crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Bullock's Oriole Rock Wren Western Kingbird-pair WASHOE LAKE BELLEVUE EXIT (Saturday) Willet Semipalmated Plover Forster's Tern-5 Long-Billed Dowitcher-3 Wilson's Phalarope-3 Clark's Grebe-2 White-Faced Ibis-8 Spotted Sandpiper DAVIS CREEK PARK (Saturday) Calliope Hummingbird-2 males on their respective territory Red-Breasted Sapsucker Golden-Crowned Sparrow Rob Lowry Carson City Subject: Harris's Hawks still present in Boulder City. Also Pahranagat trip report. From: Martin Meyers <martin AT SIERRABIRDBUM.COM> Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 22:20:08 -0700 I finally managed to get down to Boulder City to look for the Harris's Hawks yesterday afternoon (5/3/12). I spotted two adults in flight on several occasions at various locations along San Felipe. I believe it was the same two each time. Then today I spent the day in the Pahranagat Valley. A bit windy, but reasonable. The Roadside Rest was not particularly active. Middle Marsh and Upper Lake had a nice assortment. One Bell's Vireo sang below the Upper Lake dam. Lots of warblers around but of only a few species. Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (mostly Audubon's but at least a half-dozen Myrtle), and one Lucy's Warbler at the north end of Upper Lake. And a Yellow-breasted Chat actually posed for photos in the sunshine! (I'll get a photo up on my website after I get home in a couple days.) Flycatchers included lots of empids -- Hammond's (1), Gray (lots), "Western" (3), Dusky (several). Two Brown-crested Flycatchers at Upper Lake (one along the lake, one just below the dam), Ash-throated Flycatcher (a few -- one was sitting very near one of the Brown-cresteds for a nice comparison), plenty of Western Kingbirds, a few Black Phoebes, and a few Western Wood-Pewees. (I also had one Olive-sided on the way up to Pahranagat.) Lots of Lark Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows (about a quarter of the White-crowneds were dark-lored), and Song Sparrows. A single White-throated Swift was with a mixed flock of swallows at Middle Marsh. I had one Lazuli Bunting at Upper Lake. One Greater Roadrunner did its thing below the Upper Lake dam. And all the usual suspects -- Bullock's Orioles, Bewick's and Marsh Wrens, Mourning and Eurasian Collared-doves, lots of House Finches, Northern Mockingbirds, Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds,Great-tailed Grackles, a few American Kestrels, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, etc. Not too many ducks -- some Ruddies, Mallards, Gadwalls, and a couple of Ring-necks. At Frenchy Reservoir (Key Pittman NWR), I had two Cattle Egrets, one Long-billed Dowitcher, about fifteen Spotted Sandpipers, one Black-necked Stilt, six Forster's Terns, one Wilson's Phalarope, and a very large swallow flock with Bank, Barn, Cliff, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged. Martin --------------- Martin Meyers email: Martin (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com Truckee, CA Subject: Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Thursday, May 3rd From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 00:58:57 -0400 Hello! Earlier this evening (Thursday, May 3rd), I birded the referenced location from the parking lot up to upstream of the dam and back. The following birds were observed during my hike: PRAIRIE WARBLER-while observing the 3 owlets in the second Great-Horned Owl nest, I clearly heard the distinct song of a Prairie Warbler coming from a nearby tree. I stood still and listened while it sang 3 stanzas of its song. I could not visually locate it nor did it sing again for the next 20 minutes or so that I looked for it. I have seen and heard numerous Prairie Warblers while living in Ohio, and there was no doubt that I heard one. On my way back to the parking lot, I tried to look for it again in the same area for another 15 minutes but again no luck. Townsend's Warbler-2 males Wood Duck-3 Common Yellowthroat Orange-Crowned Warbler Yellow-Rumped Warbler-25 Dusky Flycatcher Bullock's Oriole-7 males and 2 females Western Kingbird Lazuli Bunting Black Phoebe Black-Headed Grosbeak Willet-2 in flooded Jarrard Ranch field White-Faced Ibis-35 in the same flooded field Western Screech Owl Great-Horned Owl-2 nests with 3 "branching" owlets each and the respective mother nearby American Kestrel-5 Common Merganser-male Gadwall-pair Great Egret Western Meadowlark-2 Spotted Towhee Bushtit-8 Belted Kingfisher Song Sparrow-2 Cliff Swallow-many Turkey Vulture-7 Downy Woodpecker-4 Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker-6 Lesser Goldfinch-2 Bewick's Wren-3 California Quail-26 House Wren-about 25 American Robin-10 including 1 "piebald" Killdeer-4 Mourning Dove-9 Black-Billed Magpie-4 House Finch-2 Brewer's Blackbird-8 Red-Winged Blackbird-10 Mallard-32 Double-Crested Cormorant Canada Goose-many European Starling-many The parking lot for Carson River Park is off of Carson River Road (which runs off of E. Fifth Street) just before the bridge over the Carson River in the eastern part of Carson City. Rob Lowry Carson City Subject: Black-headed Grosbeak From: Kris Pizarro <kpizarro5485 AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 17:52:02 -0700 Our FOS male Black-headed Grosbeak visit our back yard buffet today. He was fully dressed for spring and made several trips to the birdbath, each time chasing off 5-10 Lesser Goldfinches. Location - between the VA hospital and Keitzke Lane, south of Wilkinson Park on Taylor. Kris Ann Pizarro Subject: Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope Hummingbirds, west Reno (Washoe Co.), May 3 From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 17:22:27 -0700 Yesterday, a male Black-chinned Hummingbird was at my feeders in west Reno, and the first female arrived today. Today also brought a bright orange and very feisty Rufous Hummingbird (I'm 5 miles east of John Anderson's feeders in Mogul, so this undoubtedly is a different bird). A male Calliope Hummingbird (possibly the one that I reported on Saturday) also made a few visits to one of the feeders; he comes from and then returns to the Truckee River corridor, just a block to the north of my yard. Alan Wallace Reno NV Subject: Oasis Valley - migrant wave From: Laura Cunningham <bluerockiguana AT HUGHES.NET> Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 20:03:25 -0400 April 30, 2012 - Oasis Valley north of Beatty, Nye Co., along Hwy 95. White-faced ibis - 6 flying. Black-chinned hummingbird - male and female Costa's hummingbird - male. Lucy's warbler - 1 singing. Wilson's warbler - 1 Yellow warbler -1 singing Yellow-rumped warbler - few Black-headed grosbeak - male singing, female. Hooded oriole - male and female. Bullock's oriole - 2 males, 3 females. Western kingbird May 3 - same location. Wilson's warbler - 20 or more moving through the willows, cottonwoods, and honey mesquite. Calling, males and females. Yellow warbler - 6 or so. Orange-crowned warbler -1 Common yellowthroat - 2 or 3. Lazuli bunting - 1 bright male, 2 non-breeding males, and 1 female. Blue grosbeak - 1 male and 1 first summer male. Singing. Western tanager - 1 male. Gray flycatcher - 1 Say's phoebe -2 Western kingbird - few pairs. Cliff swallow - several Black-chinned hummingbird - 1 male, 1 female. Bullock's oriole - 7-8, males, females, first year males. Yellow-headed blackbird Red-winged blackbird American kestrel Prairie falcon Northern harrier Mourning dove - 15 or more. Eurasian collared dove -5-7 House finch Gambel's quail Killdeer Mallard - 2 pairs in the Amargosa River wetlands. --Laura Cunningham Subject: Rufous Hummingbird From: John Anderson <jga.birding AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 07:38:43 -0700 We have an adult male Rufous Hummingbird visiting our feeder this morning in Mogul. I took some snapshots and uploaded them to Picassa. John Anderson Reno, Nevada Mogul is 7 miles west of downtown Reno. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=105043753992536130791&target=ALBUM&id=5738310174283458193&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLni4fryq6WwgE&feat=email You are invited to view John Anderson's photo album: 2012_05_03_Hummingbird 2012_05_03_Hummingbird May 3, 2012 by *John Anderson* View Album Play slideshow Message from John Anderson: Rufous hummingbird, yard, May 3, 2012 If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=105043753992536130791&target=ALBUM&id=5738310174283458193&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLni4fryq6WwgE&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account . -- John Anderson Reno, Nevada Subject: Gray Vireos and other birds at Red Rock Canyon From: Karl Kosciuch <kosciuch AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 21:17:54 -0600 Hi all - I'd like to thank those that responded to my RFI regarding gray vireo. Early this morning I found several gray vireos at Red Rock Canyon near the Children's Discovery parking area to just past the Willow Springs parking area. The males were very vocal and often defended their territory as other males approached. Black-chinned sparrows were vocal, and it seemed that Wilson's warblers were everywhere. I had several black-headed grosbeaks and one Townsend's warbler among other local breeders. Best, Karl -- Karl Kosciuch, Ph.D. kosciuch AT gmail.com Subject: Pied-billed grebe with a problem From: Miles Shaylor <mgshaylor AT ATT.NET> Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 15:16:07 -0400 I was at Paradise Park in Reno a short while ago and spotted a pied-billed grebe with what appears to be a wad of fishing line stuck to its bill. The bird appears weak. When I approached, it swam off only a short distance. It didn't dive at all. Is there anything that can (or should) be done here? It's in the northwest corner of the pond closest to the corner of Oddie and El Rancho.There's a patch of reeds near the culvert between the two northernmost ponds. I lost sight of the bird near that patch of reeds. Miles Shaylor Reno Subject: Miller's Rest Stop (5/1/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 23:32:40 -0400 Miller's Rest Stop, Esmeralda Co (5/1/12). 2:45pm-4:30 We visited Miller's this afternoon for the first time this spring. A beautiful day, sunny & warm becoming a little breezy shortly before we left. There weren't a whole lot of birds--and nothing unusual--but a reasonable selection for the time of year. The outdoor water hasn't been turned on yet & the lawn & watering basins were quite dry, so much of the action was around the stand pipes which we set to drip. Here's the complete list (19 species Rock Dove--c.25 Mourning Dove--1 Eurasian Collared Dove--12-13 Gray Flycatcher--1 Western Kingbird--1 Common Raven--1 Northern Mockingbird--2 European Starling--6-8 Yellow Warbler--4-5 Yellow-rumped Warbler--1 Lark Sparrow--6 Savannah Sparrow--2 Western Tanager--1 male Lazuli Bunting--1 male Yellow-headed Blackbird--c.10 Brewer's Blackbird--5-6 Brown-headed Cowbird--flock 25-30 Lesser Goldfinch--3-4 House Sparrow --Fred Petersen, Reno Subject: Spring Mountain State Park Area Located near Red Rock Canyon-Las Vegas From: Je Anne <gann2 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 18:06:20 -0700 We (Babette, Rancy, Charles, Dianne, Rita & Je Anne), birded the Spring Mountain State Park today, weather beautiful, 70's very little wind, sunny. We end the day with 55 species see and 2 heard. White-faced Ibis (17 flying over) Turkey Vulture Mallard Ruddy Duck Cooper's Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (2) American Kestrel (male chasing a Red-tailed Hawk) Gambel's Quail (heard) American Coot Spotted Sandpiper (1) Mourning Dove Long-eared Owl White-throated Swift Anna's Hummingbird Ladder-backed Woodpecker Hammond's Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Western "type" Flycatcher Black Phoebe Say's Phoebo Western Kingbirds (lots) Warbling Vireo Black-throated Magpie-Jay Northern Rough-winged Swallow Juniper Titmouse Verdin Bewick's Wren (heard) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Townsend's Solitaire Swainson's Thrush (2) Crissal Thrasher European Starling (all over) Phainopepla Orange-crowned Warbler Lucy's Warbler (nice male) MacGillivray's Warbler (male & female) Wilson's Warbler (lots) Yellow-breasted Chat (great looks) Summer Tanager (several males and 2 females) Western Tanager (several) Green-tailed Towhee (3) Spotted Towhee (1) Chipping Sparrow Lark Sparrow Song Sparrow (1) Black-headed Grosbeak (males & females) Red-winged Blackbirds Yellow-headed Blackbirds Great-tailed Grackles Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Orioles (few) House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow We also saw lots of Burro's, 5 White-tailed Deer and Black-tailed Jackrabbits. It was a great day and several life birds for some. Best in biridng, Je Anne Branca Subject: No Subject From: Linda Hiller <greenacres23 AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 10:34:06 -0700 Here in Jacks Valley south of Carson City, we've had a flock of 40 cedar waxwings keeping us company for the past three days. They LOVE the pond waterfall, being the aquaphiles they are, and even though we're all being advised to get rid of our junipers for fire prevention, that is their favorite tree. That, and the other "unpopular" tree, the Russian olive. They bounce back and forth from the two trees, dipping down to the waterfall every so often, popping over for a maple, apple or plum blossom . it's a waxwing ballet! We also have a nesting owl in the canyon south of here that perplexes. It's in a hole in a bank where you'd normally see a barn owl, but this darker guy is squished in there, looks kinda like a long-eared owl to me . need to take the scope down there tonight . but we're used to this species being in the nearby cottonwoods. Anyone seen long-ears nest like this? I have a lousy pic and am happy to email anyone who asks . Don Molde's seen it and he mentioned great horned . anyone wanna take a shot? Good spring birding, all! Linda Hiller (775) 267-3580 home office (775) 781-4916 mobile greenacres23 AT charter.net www.savingmystories.com Subject: Mira Loma/Hidden Valley, Reno From: Ken Drozd <kdrozd AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:52:01 -0700 I made a lunchtime visit to the ponds along Mira Loma today. Not a lot of birds, but some nice variety, including a Spotted Sandpiper and a Willet. There were also 9 Wilson's Phalarope on the big pond. There were 5 Forster's Terns at the pond by the Hidden Valley fire station. Full species list: Canada Goose Mallard Gadwall Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Ruddy Duck Turkey Vulture Black-Necked Stilt American Avocet Willet Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Ring-billed Gull Forster's Tern Rock Pigeon Barn Swallow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Ken Drozd Reno, NV Subject: Eurasian Wigeon at Swan Lake NSA From: Greg Scyphers <scyph AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:20:47 -0700 This afternoon April 30, 2012, I observed a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Swan Lake. The bird was observed from the levee at the Lemon Valley waste treatment ponds. Also present at Swan Lake were around 2,000 peeps with some obvious Dunlin mixed in. The shorebirds were way out on the mud flats and the wind was too great to use a scope. At the Waste treatment ponds there were around 25 Bank Swallows (FOS), a few Red-necked Phalarope, a Willet, two Canvasback, three Buffleheads and Western and Least Sandpipers. Greg Scyphers Sparks, NV Subject: Willow Creek: Pahrump, Nevada (Nye County) From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 01:28:05 -0400 Meg Andrews, from Reno and I birded Willow Creek today. The outstanding bird of the day was a Blue-winged Teal (male) spotted by Meg, in with a pair of Cinnamon Teals. Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, Nevada Subject: Virginia Lake, Reno (4/30/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:42:28 -0400 Virginia Lake, Reno, Washoe Co (4/30/12) Here are today's highlights: Bufflehead--2 Eared Grebe--2 (full breeding plumage) Snowy Egret--3 (island) Turkey Vulture--1 drifting over the lake Bonaparte's Gull--1 (immature) 2 of the Snowy Egrets were standing together near the beginnings of a nest. The saddle-back Goose nest in one of the flowerbeds has come to the usual untimely end--no eggs, no eggshells & no goslings. An all too typical outcome: in my experience few of the feral wildfowl at the lake attempt breeding & none has ever succeeded. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/7130351319/in/set-72157627923244904/?reuploaded=1 (Bonaparte's Gull) Fred Petersen, Reno Subject: Sapsuckers & Ibises - Washoe County From: Peter Fairley <fairleysub AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:09:17 -0700 Sighted a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers yesterday while skiing about a mile west (downhill) of the Tahoe Meadows (Sheep Flat) on Mt. Rose Highway. Also saw a flock of about 30 White-Faced Ibis along hwy 395 in Washoe Valley this afternoon. Finally, saw a Bald Eagle flying towards the Nevada stateline at Crystal Bay, Lake Tahoe yesterday - but I was in Brockway on the California side of the border, so I hope it's ok to mention it on this list. Subject: Raptor squabble in Southwest Reno From: Jacque Lowery <nevadabird AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:34:25 -0700 Last evening in failing light I noticed what I thought was a Prairie Falcon (he's visited before) sitting in a cottonwood that is a favorite perching/roosting site for various hawks. Without binoculars in hand I was looking hard to see if the ID was right, when out of nowhere two red-tails came swooping in, screaming. There was a ferocious scuffle, then two birds took off. I'm looking to see where the 3rd one is in the tree and the two came back. There was more screaming and fighting, then all three departed. The red-tails chased the other one for a long time. I finally lost sight of them when they were over Damonte wetlands area. It was a neat thing to witness; wish the light had been better for better views. Jacque Lowery Subject: FW: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve east of Las Vegas From: Bird Preserve <Bird.Preserve AT CITYOFHENDERSON.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:32:17 +0000 The entrance to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is off Galleria Drive. Take the US95/I515 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. OUR HOURS FROM MARCH 1ST THRU MAY 31ST OUR HOURS WILL BE 6:00 AM TO 2 PM. LAST ENTRY IS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING. We had ninety-three (93) 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 Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard (babies) Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler (few left) Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup (2) Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Gambel's Quail Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe (alternate plumage) Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern Great Egret Snowy Egret Cattle Egret Green Heron (pair) Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Sora (heard) Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Spotted Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope (2) Franklin's Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Vaux's Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker (confirmed last week) Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Verdin Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher Orange-crowned Warbler Lucy's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's & Myrtle) Black-throated Gray Warbler Wilson's Warbler Abert's Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow (photos taken) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow (few) Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch House Sparrow Best in birding, Je Anne Branca Subject: Carson City and Reno Locales, and Mason Valley WMA Odds and Ends From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:14:46 -0400 Hello! Yesterday and today (Sat., Apr.28th and Sun., Apr. 29th), birded Mason Valley WMA (briefly), and some locales in the Carson City and Reno areas. The following are some highlights: MASON VALLEY WMA (Saturday) There was a large Boy Scout camp-out going on at the North Pond. Several people in boats, floating, and fishing so there were few birds observed overall at North Pond and Hinkson's Slough. The Canvasback Pond is now occupied by a large herd of cattle (along with waterfowl) and several of the trees/bushes along the road appear to have been removed. The platform at North Pond that was used by Osprey's the past few years is now occupied by at least 2 Great-Horned Owlets. One of the adults was perched on a log just above the water surface at North Pond (different to see). The Osprey pair was observed building a nest at another platform out past Bass Pond. Also saw several Western Kingbirds and one Lark Sparrow. Went to the old Anaconda copper mine pit lake in Yerington and saw a White-Throated Swift along with Bank, Barn, and Northern Rough-Winged Swallows. BRUNSWICK CANYON ROAD AND OFF-ROADS (Saturday late afternoon/evening) Mountain Quail-scared up a covey of about 12-14 birds. Also heard another dozen or so total calling in the evening. Northern Goshawk-scared up an adult along one of the off-roads Common Poorwill-saw 1 on the main road at night (copper eye-shine gives them away), got good photos Juniper Titmouse-2 Gray Flycatcher Cassin's Finch-several CARSON CITY WATER RECLAMATION PONDS (Sunday morning) Pulled off the side of Rte. 395 north from the Fairview Drive entrance ramp and observed: Semipalmated Plover-2 Long-Billed Dowitcher-several Dunlin-a few Greater Yellowlegs American Avocet-several Black-Necked Stilt-several Wilson's Phalarope-several WASHOE LAKE BELLEVUE ROAD EXIT (Sunday morning w//Rose Strickland, Dennis Ghiglieri, and my wife Ricki) Willet-14 Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope-6 Caspian Tern Forster's Tern-3 Clark's Grebe-8 to 10 White-Faced Ibis-4 DAVIS CREEK STATE PARK (Sunday morning w/Rose, Dennis, and my wife Ricki) Calliope Hummingbird-2 males, 1 in willows at Group Picnic area, the other in tip of tree next to Nature Trail (where both reported this past Friday) Golden-Crowned Sparrow Red-Breasted Sapsucker-3 Common Merganser female on pond GALENA CREEK STATE PARK SOUTH ENTRANCE (Sunday early afternoon w/Rose, Dennis, and my wife Ricki) Red-Breasted Sapsucker Townsend's Solitaire Chipping Sparrow-2 Pygmy Nuthatch-saw 2 at hole in dead tree, heard more Pine Siskin Red-Breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper THOMAS CREEK/DRY POND TRAILS (Sunday 3-6 PM) Sooty Grouse-heard then had great views of one in same exact area where we saw one last year on May 1st just off the Dry Pond trail. From the junction of the Thomas Creek and Dry Pond trails, follow the Dry Pond trail for exactly one mile (according to my Garmin Forerunner), which is along the last switchback before you reach the top at Dry Pond. There is a large broken tree trunk lying on the ground on the upslope side of the trail. We crawled up the slope where we continued to hear it. Finally, it flew down to the ground farther upslope from me where I saw it strut on the ground with it's tail fanned out and it's golden sacs bulging. As I crawled and worked my way through the slippery pine needles upslope, it then flew back downhill and landed in a tree just above my wife's head, where it stealthily worked its way up the tree from branch to branch. By the time I got back downhill and realized it was above my wife's head (she didn't want to yell to me, and I didn't realize that she sent me a text message), I did not have clear enough views of it to get a decent photo. Cassin's Vireo-2 Red-Breasted Sapsucker-2 Brown Creeper-2 Golden Eagle-1 soaring overhead Clark's Nutcracker-several Townsend's Solitaire-saw 1 in tree calling, then later saw 2 feeding on small red fruit from a bush near the creek Downy and Hairy Woodpecker next to each other with a Red-Breasted Sapsucker in the same field of view Please e-mail for directions to any location. Rob Lowry Carson City Subject: Wilson Canyon, Lida Junction, Miller's Rest Stop From: Laura Cunningham <bluerockiguana AT HUGHES.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:38:53 -0400 I was driving a lot this week and made a few observations: April 24, 2012 - Swainson's hawk flying over the desert along Hwy 95 a few miles north of Lida Junction around 11 AM. April 29, 2012 - Flocks of 50-60 White-faced ibis-type flying over the low passes north of Carson City along Hwy 395, heading northwards in the morning. Wilson Canyon along the West Walker River, 10 AM: Cliff swallow - a hundred or more flying around the river and into mud nests on the rock cliff faces above the river. White-throated swift Song sparrow - singing Spotted towhee - singing Bullock's oriole- singing House wren - singing Black phoebe House finch- singing American goldfinch- singing Common raven Mourning dove Brief stop at Miller's Rest Stop - at 2 PM, it was rather dry, dusty, and warm so not much activity: Lark sparrow -2 on the lawn. Yellow-rumped warbler - 1 Other warbler - with yellow, then completely disappeared before I could find it. Say's phoebe --Laura Cunningham Subject: Willow Creek: Pahrump, Nevada (Nye County) From: Darlene Feener <darlenefeener AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:19:52 -0400 Viki Caleascia and I birded Willow Creek, and Calvada Eye this morning. I also birded other areas of Pahrump. We started the morning off with a juvenile Common Raven, on the ground. It appears he fell out of a tree. He was standing on his feet and appeared to be in shock. The adults were flying over our heads. There was nothing we could do for it. One of those things that happens at this time of year. Below is a listing of birds we saw today, April 29, 2012. MF: for Mountain Falls: WC: for Willow Creek: Calvada: for Calvada Eye. White-faced Ibis AT MF California Gulls AT MF Rufous Hummingbird AT MF Gray Flycatcher AT MF Tree Swallow AT MF Barn Swallow AT MF Lark Sparrow AT WC&MF Cinnamon Teal AT WC Black-chinned Hummingbird AT MF Costa's Hummingbird AT MF Western Kingbird AT WC&MF Yellow-headed Blackbird AT WC Phainopepla AT MF Wilson's Warbler AT MF Mallard AT WC&MF Ruddy Duck AT WC&MF Gambel's Quail AT WC&MF Sharp-shinned Hawk AT WC Cooper's Hawk AT Calvada Eye with something in his feet that he had caught Red-shouldered Hawk AT WC flying overhead with something he caught in his feet. Prairie Falcon AT WC American Coot AT WC&MF Killdeer AT MF Rock Pigeon AT WC one all white color variation Eurasian Collared-Dove AT WC&MF Mourning Dove AT WC&MF Greater Roadrunner AT MF (Two juveniles snapping their beaks) Burrowing Owl in Pahrump Lesser Nighthawk AT MF Anna's Hummingbird AT WC&MF Black Phoebe AT WC Say's Phoebe AT Calvada Common Raven AT WC&MF Horned Lark AT MF Verdin AT MF Bewick's Wren AT MF Western Bluebird AT WC American Robin AT Calvada Northern Mockingbird AT WC American Pipit AT MF Yellow-rumped Warbler all over town Chipping Sparrow AT WC Song Sparrow AT WC White-crowned Sparrow AT WC&MF Western Meadowlark AT MF Red-winged Blackbird AT WC Great-tailed Grackle AT WC&MF House Finch everywhere Lesser Goldfinch AT Calvada House Sparrow AT WC Submitted by Darlene Feener Pahrump, Nevada Subject: Northern Parula, North Reno, 29 April 2012 From: Brian Adams <bra356 AT NVBELL.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:51:02 -0400 A friend who is a reliable birder (and holds a degree in wildlife biology) reports seeing a male Northern Parula in his yard at the northern terminus of Eisan Ave in North Reno. (North Virginia -> Hoge Road -> Eisan Ave.) It is a new Nevada bird for him, but he has seen many Parulas in North Carolina where he grew up and studied. While at his home this afternoon I did not see the Parula, but saw a House Wren (inspecting a clothesline pole for a nest site, and display singing with wing flutters), nesting Magpies (male bringing pet kibbles to the nest where the female is apparently on eggs), Northern Mockingbird, and Western Kingbird, but no Bullock's Orioles yet (annual yard nesters.) Brian Adams Subject: 28-29 April Corn Creek Clark Co NV USA From: Richard Saval <kwibirder AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:00:13 -0700 28 April Migrants were stacked up in numbers due to strong N wind. Noteworthy: Blue-winged Teal (4) at cement pond White-throated Swift (1) at cement pond White-winged Dove (1) at orchard 29 April Numbers down by 75 % and no wind. WWDO continued. R Saval LAS Subject: Steller's Jays in Caughlin Ranch Reno NV From: Diane McAllister <diane AT IMPRINTSOFNATURE.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:00:35 -0400 I have noted an increase of Steller's Jays also in my yard. I have had an occasional jay during the winter months only. This year, a first, I have a nest, atop a honeysuckle bush. It is guarded by a dogwood tree, with only a side entrance. The parent has been sitting for 2 wks now. Nice to see! They enjoy the grape jelly set out for the Oriole's, as do the house finches. I hope the nest is successful. Happy Birding! You never know who is going to show up, but set the table. Warm Regards, Diane McAllister Subject: Calliope Hummingbird, Evening Grosbeak, west Reno (Washoe Co.) April 28 From: Alan Wallace <wallacealan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:57:36 -0700 A male Calliope Hummingbird visited my feeder several times today, the first hummer in the yard this spring. On my afternoon walk today, I heard and then saw a male Evening Grosbeak among all of the other regular birds (notably, lots of Mountain Chickadees and both goldfinches) along the semi-daily route. Compared to the huge irruption of these birds last spring, I had to laugh that I was excited by one bird. Also, Steller's Jays built a nest along the Truckee River just across from Oxbow Nature Center about 10 to 14 days ago. Since then, I occasionally have seen one of them on the nest, with the other nearby (the nest is high, so I can't see into it). I'm guessing that the eggs will hatch within a week if everything goes according to plan. Although Steller's Jays aren't exactly uncommon, they were pretty uncommon in this area 10 years ago. Their numbers have gradually increased over the years, and I had seven in my yard (not too far away) one morning this winter. So it's good to find a nest to confirm local breeding. Alan Wallace Reno NV Subject: RFI: Location for gray vireo near Las Vegas? From: Karl Kosciuch <kosciuch AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:15:42 -0600 Hi all - I'll be in Las Vegas next week and wanted to try again for gray vireo. I missed it last year at Red Rock Canyon in the Willow Springs area in mid-April. I'd like to go to Red Rock again as the area is very scenic, and I enjoy the black-chinned sparrows. If you have suggestions for Red Rock or another area near LV, I'd appreciate the tip. Best, Karl -- Karl Kosciuch Subject: Black-throated Grey Warbler in west Reno From: Kathy Oakes <oakesy AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:43:16 -0700 Hi all, � Friday afternoon, on the Steamboat Ditch Trail, east of where it goes under McCarran, near the area of steep outcrops of the Hunter Creek Sandstone, we saw our FOS Black-throated Grey Warbler working the bitterbrush, which is blooming and very fragrant.�� � A pair of Barn Owls nested for many years in a large hole in the steep rock outcrop in this area. Last year, when we checked on the owls, we were surprised to find that a pair of Great Horned Owls had taken over the hole. This year, the Great Horns are nesting there again and have at least two fluffy chicks tucked way back into the hole. � Kathy Oakes. Subject: 4/27 Wetlands Park/Duck Creek, SESA From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:05:26 -0700 Hi birders, I made a quick late afternoon visit to Wetlands Park, Duck Creek area and had a Semipalmated Sandpiper in the middle pond associating with a few Leasts and Westerns. There were also 4 Wilson's Phalaropes, a Semipalmated Plover, and a singing Chat. Andrew Lee Henderson Subject: Virginia Lake - Snowy Egrets From: Ken Drozd <KDROZD AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:52:23 -0700 Took a walk around Virginia Lake this evening and saw four Snowy Egrets on the island, picking out nest sites. Also three Bufflehead and three eared grebes, but nothing else of note. On the way home we saw an Osprey perched in a tree at the corner of Sharon and Pineridge (SW Reno). Ken Drozd Reno, NV Subject: Ross' gulls, Reno, 4/26/12 From: ann murphy <amurphy0607 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:31:17 -0700 Sumitted on behalf of Ed Kurtz: There were 2 Ross' gulls at Virginia Lake, Reno, on Thursday 4/26/12 at 12:30 pm. Wedge-shaped tail, pearly gray wings, pinkish color under the wings. Posted for Ed Kurtz by Ann Murphy Subject: Washoe Lake Bellevue Exit and Davis Creek Park-Fri., April 27th From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:00:43 -0400 Hello! This morning from about 9:30-10:30 AM, I briefly stopped at the referenced locations and observed the following birds: WASHOE LAKE BELLEVUE EXIT Willet Dunlin-14 Semipalmated Plover-3 Forster's Tern-6 Savannah Sparrow Western Meadowlark Black-Necked Stilt-a few Mallard-some DAVIS CREEK PARK Calliope Hummingbird-1 male was observed right where I saw him last year at this time of April in the top of a thin bare tree next to the Nature Trail (I didn't even need to get out of the car). I later observed one male in the willows by the Group Picnic area. Not sure if it was the same male flying to/from both areas or a second male. Hermit Thrush Gray Flycatcher-heard/saw 1 working the willows and brambles near the Nature Trail Red-Breasted Sapsucker-heard/saw 1 drumming, heard a second one drumming White-Headed Woodpecker-heard 1 Western Bluebird-pair perched on the fence at the park entrance, saw a third in the park Fox Sparrow-close up views of one singing Yellow-Rumped Warbler-3 Clark's Nutcracker-heard a few Song Sparrow-2 Spotted Towhee-2 Steller's Jay-a few House Wren Bewick's Wren American Robin Canada Goose-some Both locations are accessed from Rte. 395, north of Carson City in Washoe Valley. Rob Lowry Carson City Subject: BACKYARD VISITORS! From: Cindy Joyce <cjoyce671 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:41:56 -0700 Hi Everyone! :) Just wanted to share a few of my backyard visitors in Clover Valley, Wells, NV (Elko County). These are photos from last year and this year. Hope you ENJOY! Please feel free to e-mail me with any comments! :) Cindy Joyce, Wells, NV cjoyce671 AT hotmail.com BACKYARD VISITORS!View photos Download allYou are invited to view Cindy's album. This album has 36 files. Subject: Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Thursday, April 26th From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:53:10 -0400 New arrivals today (Thursday, April 26th) at the referenced location in eastern Carson City included the following: Vaux's Swift-a tight flock of 4 flittering slowly into the wind upstream of the dam Dusky Flycatcher Bank Swallow-9 Other miscellaneous observations included: Yellow-Rumped Warbler-35 Orange-Crowned Warbler-3 Lazuli Bunting-1 male singing Ruby-Crowned Kinglet-3 feeding together Cliff Swallow-about 75 Northern Rough-Winged Swallow-several White-Crowned Sparrow-1, most are gone Great-Horned Owl-2 nests with their respective mother's, with 3 owlets in one and 2 owlets in the other Rob Lowry Carson City Subject: Mogul FOS From: John Anderson <jga.birding AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:58:55 -0700 Here are a couple of first-of-season sightings for Mogul. Yesterday (4/25/2012), we saw our FOS Bullock's Oriole in our yard. Today (4/26) we saw our FOS Black-chinned Hummingbird. Mogul is 7 miles west of downtown Reno. -- John Anderson Reno, Nevada Subject: Female Hooded Oriole in Fallon??? From: Carol Amos <amosc AT CHURCHILL.K12.NV.US> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:11:43 -0400 We now have what we think is a female Hooded Oriole at our place. I posted pictures on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/NorthernNevadaBirding I would really appreciate some experts checking our pictures out. If you need me to email the pictures to you, I would be happy to send them. Thanks and let's hope this blasted wind stops soon. Really interfering with out birdwatching from the couch! Carol Amos Subject: Oxbow Park, Reno (4/25/12) From: Fred Petersen <fugle AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:24:13 -0400 Oxbow Park, Reno, Washoe Co (4/25/12) Highlights Eurasian Collared Dove--1 Bushtit--pair (probably nesting, or about to) Spotted Towhee--1 singing at the top of a dead tree. Wilson Warbler--1 male (FOS) Brown-headed Cowbird--3 (courting party) (FOS) Breeding birds included a trio of Canada Geese with 7 young goslings & a female Mallard with no less that 15 tiny ducklings. The Mallard family was on the pond along with 5-6 other Mallards. The adults--including the female with the ducklings--were floating about quietly, dabbling occasionally but mostly just resting. The ducklings in contrast were feeding frantically, darting back & forth over the pond phalarope-fashion, picking small food items from the surface. I couldn’t see what the ducklings were after, but it must have been high-value animal prey of some sort to justify the lavish energy expenditure. --Fred Petersen, Reno Subject: Carson River Park/Silver Saddle Ranch-Wed., Apr. 25th From: Rob Lowry <rlowry517 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:29:15 -0400 Recent arrivals today on the "migration express" include a singing Lazuli Bunting, a Wilson's Warbler, a Violet-Green Swallow, and two Orange-Crowned Warblers. Other miscellaneous observations include: Great-Horned Owl-a third owlet was observed in the first nest encountered Western Kingbird-the bird first observed on Sunday has appeared to have already paired up with another Bullock's Oriole-2 Wood Duck-a pair in the Mexican Ditch Western Screech Owl Canadian Tree Goose-a third one was observed up in until about two weeks ago was an active Red-Tailed Hawk nest. Apparently the Hawk moved on for whatever reasons. Rob Lowry Carson City