Monday, February 11, 2013

NV - Common Crane - 01/21

 Common Crane - (2nd from right) with one 'Greater' and four Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Overton WMA, Clark Co., NV. January 21st, 2013. 

 Having caught up with the previously mentioned Nutting's Flycatcher early in the morning of Jan 21st, I had the rest of the day open. Rather than scour Lake Havasu for loons and grebes, I decided to head north to chase a previously reported Common Crane in southern Nevada. Despite a general reluctance to tackle yet another long drive, I was at the site by lunchtime and watching the Common Crane just twenty minutes after that. The day turned out to be much more than a blatant 'twitch' as Overton WMA in Clark County, a mere 75 minutes north of Las Vegas, proved to be exceptionally 'birdy'. The place seemed to be full of Gambel's Quails, Abert's Towhees and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, species that I'd typically associate with being much further south. In addition, other gems such as Trumpeter and Tundra Swans alongside each other and a beautiful Prairie Merlin made for a thoroughly rewarding day. 





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