Birding 12-10- 2011 : Willow Creek: Pahrump: (Nye County)

I have noticed in the past few weeks that the ducks seem to have favorite places. Gadwall and Northern Pintail   prefer Willow Creek. Canvasback and Redhead and Goldeneyes seem to prefer Mountain Falls. I had one of the most exciting birding experiences today. It was wonderful to be out birding. I started off seeing the Golden Eagle at the entrance to Willow Creek. He then flew down to Pahrump Valley Blvd. I followed him and watched him fly down Pahrump Valley Blvd from telephone pole to telephone pole. When I first saw the Peregrine Falcon, he was at the top of a Cottonwood tree. The sun was on him and the only thing I could see for sure was the outline of his tail. I thought at first it was the Red-shouldered Hawk. As I moved closer, I could see some markings on his  face and then he flew off. I thought then that it might be a Peregrine because of his swift flight, and I then started walking in the direction he flew. Shortly thereafter. I found him at the top of another Cottonwood, and this is when I started taking pictures.

The following birds were seen today in Pahrump at Mountain Falls and Willow Creek (Total 45):

Pied-billed Grebe
Black-crowned Night Heron
Mallard
Northern Pintail (1 male and 2 females)
Gadwall (1 male)
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Canvasback (3 males and 6 females)
Redhead (1 male)
Common Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (light juvenile)
Golden Eagle (Willow Creek and Pahrump Valley Blvd)
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon (Willow Creek)
Gambel's Quail
American Coot
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeons) stopped counting at 500
Eurasian-Collared Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Verdin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Crissal Thrasher
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (5) Oregon
White-crowned Sparrow
Western Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch

Submitted by

Darlene Feener
Pahrump, Nevada