NevadaWolf , 2 months ago to random

Some of the 32 species I saw today as I was driving around this morning. It was a beautiful day after the rain storm yesterday and it seemed the birds were out enjoying the cool spring morning under the bright sun.

#SLineReservoir #StillwaterNWR #LahontanValley #ChurchillCounty #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #EaredGrebe #SnowyEgret #AmericanAvocet #TurkeyVulture

A snowy egret peers down into a shallow pond, its bright white body lifted above the rippled water. The long neck is tucked back against it's shoulders, brilliant yellow eye gazing down long a long thin black beak. The rippled water causes the bright reflection to distort just slightly.
An American avocet hunts along the edge of a shallow lake. The black and white striped body of the bird is angled downward, its rust red head and neck focused on the muddy bottom of the lake, long curved black beak ready to snatch whatever it sees. The water is clear and shallow enough that the tracks of its hunt are visible, including where it circled around in a spiral as it went after some prey.
A large dark turkey vulture perches on the end of a grey power line support. It's wings are spread to soak in the morning sun, revealing the light grey/white underside. It's bald red head and white tipped beak are visible as it preens it's chest. A clear blue sky fills the background.

NevadaWolf , 2 months ago to random

Some of the visitors just use the large wetlands as a stopping point before continuing on their journey. Others make their way here and then stop for the rest of the year. I like seeing birds that I don't get to see often.

A fun note about this little Least Sandpiper (first picture). I saw them and carefully approached, but a Killdeer alerted everyone and all the birds took off. Decided to just stand still and see who returned. Eventually, about 20 of these little birds came back and landed within 10 feet of where I was standing. I took SO MANY pictures.

#CarsonLakeAndPastureWMA #LahontanValley #ChurchillCounty #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #LeastSandpiper #LongBilledDowitcher #AmericanAvocet #TreeSwallow #CliffSwallow

A row of five Long-billed Dowitchers probe the mud below the water in search of food. The birds a small, with round dark and reddish brown bodies, small heads, and a very long dark bill. Their long thin legs keep them above the water as they search.
A pair of American Avocets poke around in the short grasses along the edge of a lake in search of food. Their long grey legs support a teardrop shaped body, with black and white striped wings held against a white body. Their spring plumage of a rust red head and head is in full display. A long thin black bill, curved upward at the end, extends outward from a small black eye.
A rare (for me) chance with swallows perched long enough to get a picture of them. Two in a bare bush with thin branches. The top is an iridescent blue Tree Swallow, the colorful head, back, and wings in contrast to a pure white chest. Below, a Cliff Swallow clings to on the of the branches, it's brown and white body and bright red head with the distinctive white spot on its forehead making it easier to identify.