Birding 5-15- 2011 : Willow Creek: Pahrump: (Nye County)

May 15, 2011 at Willow Creek started off with five ravens,making loud
calling sounds and following me down the path to the second pond. Flying
closely over my head, it was a bit distracting as they were making way too
much noise for 6a.m. in the morning. There was an active nest, several
weeks ago with one young raven in it. Today I did not approach the nest and
was a distance away from it when the five of them approached me. I noticed
later in the morning, that three Ravens, flew over other people that were
in the same area and the Ravens, were exhibiting the same kind of behavior
they did with me.

Migrating bird seen today was a single Spotted Sandpiper.

New summer arrivals this birding session:
Bullock's Oriole, Western Wood Pewee and Yellow Warbler

Nesting birds:(not all listed)
Black Crowned Night Heron's
Western Kingbird, in the fork of a tall Cottonwood tree, sitting on the
nest.

Bird's with food in their mouths:
Bewick's Wren, Northern Mockingbird, and Verdins

Adult bird's with juveniles:
Black-crowned Night Heron (1) adult and (1) young Black-crowned Night Heron
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1) adult and (2) juveniles moving about the mesquite.
Greater Roadrunner (1) adult and (1)juvenile
Mallard (2) adults with (1) juvenile and (1) adult with (5) juveniles

Falcons/Hawks

American Kestrel (1)
Prairie Falcon (1)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Red-shouldered Hawk (2)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)

A Tree swallow was flying with Violet-green Swallow's and Barn Swallow's
when one Tree swallow, landed briefly on the ground beside a male mallard
to pick up a single white feather and flew off with it.

A Prairie Falcon, flew into the top of a Cottonwood tree and a Bullock's
Oriole, male flew into the same tree two branches away from it at the top
of the tree. (I liked the contrast of these two birds, so I took pictures).

After leaving Willow Creek, I went to the South of Pahrump to check on
Burrowing Owls. A friend earlier in the week told me there were now 4
pairs. When I arrived today, I viewed them from the inside of my vehicle.
There were two Burrowing Owl's present with one at one burrow and another
one a little distance away at another burrow. These owls are making their
home on a lot of land that could possibly hold 2-3 homes. The people who
live in the neighborhood are very attentive to the safety of the owls.

Submitted by
Darlene Feener
Pahrump, Nevada