NevadaWolf, 13 days ago to Birds

As I was driving around Carson Lake, I spotted a Loggerhead Shrike giving a solo performance. So I stopped for awhile to watch them sing and snapped a few pictures.

The look that I got! "No photography during the concert!"

#CarsonLakeAndPastureWMA #LahontanValley #ChurchillCounty #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #Loggerhead Shrike

A small grey and white bird with black wing tips and a long black tail is perched on a bare branch. Its head is turned to look directly into the camera, the black face mask arched lines giving it a fierce look. Small black eyes can be seen amid the black feathers on either side of a closed beak.

NevadaWolf, 19 days ago to Birds

Last day of the month so wanted to see if I could add to my bird list for April. I was able to do so with one addition, a willet. Lifer!!

#CarsonLakeAndPastureWMA #LahontanValley #ChurchillCounty #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #LongBilledCurlew #GreatHornedOwl #GreatBlueHeron #Willet

A large brown owl perches in a tree, it's brown patterned body perfect for blending in against the bark of a tree (though not so much against the dull blue grey of early twilight). Though the body is facing away from the camera, showing the large wings and full tail, the head is turned completely around and staring into the camera. It's wide yellow eyes set back in the large oval face with the narrow black beak. The twin feathered "horns" are blowing in the breeze, the only part of the owl that is moving.
A Great Blue Heron appears small as it stands on the top crossbar of a corral entry. The bird's long thin legs are spread wide to support the large grey body. Its long neck is curved into an S with the bright yellow bill pointed off to the left.
A small brown and white speckled bird moves through the shallow water of a flooded grass pasture. Yellow legs come down from a white underbelly. Its wings have dark brown patterns while it's light brown head surrounds a gleaming black eye ringed in white. A long narrow beak extends straight out and glisten in the setting sun light.

NevadaWolf, 11 months ago to random

This weekend is the Spring Wings Festival, annual celebration of the migrating birds that make the stop at the Lahontan Valley. There's several activities one can do, like a scavenger hunt or a Big Day or, if you're a kid, a passport book that gets you an airboat ride across one of the reservoirs in the refuge.

Last year, my Big Day was 50 species recorded. This year, I tried to keep better track and ended up with 55 species!

I already updated my eBird and iNaturalist profiles with a majority of the pictures I took (really, you aren't missing out on some of those barely focused snaps) but wanted to share the pictures I like the best.

Super fancy Ruddy Duck.
Protective Canada Goose
Frazzled White-Faced Ibis.
Wind-blown Black-crowned Night-Heron

#LahontanValley #SLineReservoir #StillwaterNWR #Nevada #Birds #Birding #BirdWatching #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #RuddyDuck #CanadaGoose #WhiteFacedIbis #BlackCrowedNightHeron

An adult Canada Goose standing on one leg in a dirt and grass field, with one wing stretched down to the ground. In the shade beneath, a couple fuzzy yellow goslings are visible.
A White-faced Ibis stands on the raised edge of a canal with the flood waters filling the background. The bright sunlight shines on his fluffed feathers, causing the iridescent colors to pop against his dark red body. Pinks and purples edge his wings, while greens and yellows color his tail. The long grey bill extends out with from the namesake white face.
A Black-Crowned Night Heron stands on the side of the road where he landed after being spooked out of the canal by some dumb dumb in a 4Runner. The bright sunlight makes his white face, neck, and chest shine against his light grey wings and dark grey back. The black cap over his head and dark grey bill frames a brilliant ruby red eye with black pupil. Streaming out from behind his head are a trio of long thin white feathers lifted by the wind.