American Coot chick running on the ground with its tiny wings spread toward an American Coot adult

Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is a wonderful 580-acre park adjacent to the University of Nevada, Reno. Among many other features, the park hosts The Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Continue reading “Rancho San Rafael Regional Park”

Sora foraging out in the open on mud next to reeds at Swan Lake in Reno Nevada

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. Continue reading “Birding Trip Report: Swan Lake Nature Study Area”

Male blue bird Lazuli Bunting perched on a branch singing at Hunter Creek Trail near Mount Rose Wilderness, Reno Nevada

Birding Trip Report: Mt. Rose Wilderness

Earlier this week, we birded two creekside areas within the Mt. Rose Wilderness in Washoe County, Nevada, southwest of Reno. The first, Hunter Creek, winds through the Wilderness along a popular trail to a waterfall. The second, Jones Creek, runs through the Galena Creek Recreation Area, located along the Mount Rose Scenic Byway (Highway 431). Continue reading “Birding Trip Report: Mt. Rose Wilderness”

Red-tailed Hawk, Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County

Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore

A while back, our friend Rich Cimino asked if we’d fill in to lead his annual Beginning Birding event for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival since he’d be out of town giving the keynote address for the Owens Lake Bird Festival. Excited for the opportunity, we eagerly agreed.
 
The event is at Point Reyes National Seashore’s Woodpecker Trail next weekend, so yesterday we headed down to do a walk-through. Continue reading “Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore”

Birding Trip Report: Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge – Fallon, NV

Last week, we went to visit Teresa’s folks in Nevada and spent a day at nearby Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge in Churchill County. We learned early on that NWRs are right up our alley. The human-to-bird ratio is excellent: one encounters many birds and only rarely sees other humans. Continue reading “Birding Trip Report: Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge – Fallon, NV”