Birding Trip Report: Swan Lake Nature Study Area

During a recent visit to the Reno-Tahoe area, we stopped briefly to bird Swan Lake Nature Study Area, a wetlands habitat in Reno, Nevada. Lightning flashed in the distance and the thunderstorm clouds combined with the sun’s golden hour to produce this insanely gorgeous landscape.

A Bald Eagle greeted us from a pole as we pulled in to the parking area.

The floating boardwalk out into the lake was unfortunately blocked off, so we scoped the water from a distance and took a look around the surrounding marsh.

As we peered at the resting Tundra Swans and watched Canvasbacks, Redheads, and Ruddy Ducks swim about, we heard a Sora whinny loudly. Soon after, we were thrilled to discover it foraging out in the open right in front of us!

As the Sora foraged just 10 feet from us, we quietly observed it and took this short video below. We love how it repeatedly flicks its stumpy tail as it picks at the substrate. At 0:10 seconds, the Sora is briefly startled as a Song Sparrow flies in off-camera. You can also hear other marsh-loving birds in the background, like Red-winged Blackbirds and a Virginia Rail calling.

 
Black-billed Magpies are always a treat for us since we don’t get to see them back home. In classic Corvidae fashion, a small group of magpies harassed a hidden Sharp-shinned Hawk until it departed. Soon after, the magpies revealed their brilliant-white wing and body patches as they flew to their next perch.

As the clouds continued to gather and darken, we skedaddled before the approaching rain. We’re looking forward to a longer visit next time!