Clark County Nevada

This fall migration through the Nevada Great Basin this year product some rare birds especially in the Las Vegas area. The Great Basin has desert traps that attract migrants so I decided to spend a couple days on the road traveling from Reno to Las Vegas. I ended near the California border in an town off highway 15 call Primm. Right off the exit there was a grassy area where rare birds for the were seen. I didn’t find them but I did find this male American Redstart

Featured Photo: American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Primm (NV)

EQ: D800, 500mm f/1.4 Taken: 10-4-2018 at 15:06

Settings: 500mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO800, 1/3EV Conditions: sunny in shade

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla), Primm

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya), Primm

Before reaching Primm I stopped off at Corn Creek Desert NWR located off Highway 95 about 15mi north of Las Vegas. I saw 12 species and was able to capture Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Lincoln's Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's, and a close encounter with a Greater Roadrunner.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's (Setophaga coronata auduboni)

Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

The next spot was to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve just east of Las Vegas where I saw 52 species and got luck finding a Black Phoebe with an unlucky Variegated Meadowhawk. They also have a Desert Tortoise along with Thrashers, Quail, Shorebirds, Verdin, and Hummingbirds.

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)

Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

The next day I stopped at Miller's Reststop, ESM (NV), which is about midway on the way home. The were 16 species including a great view of a Red-naped Sapsucker and a Northern Flicker drinking a small pool of water.

Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Northern Flicker, Red-shafted(Colaptes auratus [cafer Group])

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

The final stop was along Walker Lake, MIN (NV) where I found Sparrows, a Rock Wren, and a Loggerhead Shrike to name a few. It was a quick trip and I did it in 38 hours.

Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.