Back at the Refuge

Desert National Wildlife Refuge, in Nevada, is where my birding life began, so how special for me to take my dear friends there for their first birding experience. Danyell and Ben accompanied me on my first visit back. Danyell already has a fondness of birds, and her husband, Ben, is an excellent photographer (check out his work here) so I figured he'd enjoy the challenge of bird photography.

Shortly after we arrived, we ran into Jeanne, whom led the Audubon walk at Mt Charleston the prior week. Jeanne graciously walked us over to the Cooper's Hawk nest where we watched the mom feeding her young, though nearly full-sized, fledglings. Still in the nest, but preparing for their first flight by flapping their wings and hopping around the nest, means it won't be long now.

Jeanne also pointed out a Black-chinned Hummingbird nest! At chest height and only a couple feet from the trail, it was a great view. We stood back from the nest but in a place we could see with our long lenses and binoculars, and held still. Soon the hummingbird returned to the nest and we were able to get a photo before moving on to let her relax. 

We were amused by a number of Desert Spiny Lizards running across the trails looking like little dinosaurs. 

A week later I went back with my friend, Susan, for her first birding experience. This time I came prepared with my scope. When we reached the orchard, I spotted a Blue Grosbeak. I quickly put the bird in the scope for Susan and received the usual shock and awe response when someone sees their first bird in a scope. We were able to watch him for a bit before his mate showed up, which gave Susan a great example of the sexual dimorphism of birds. We were able to see both nests thru the scope. 

Both days we managed to see a decent variety of birds, despite the 100+ heat and short walk. I still can't get over my friends seeing a Cooper's Hawk nest with young, plus a hummingbird on a nest on their very first birding walk! I've been birding regularly for 6 years now and this week is the first time I've seen a hummingbird nest at all! I hope it was as memorable for my friends as it was for me being with them for such a special experience.

My third and last visit was with my family. Sadly the kids hardly remember when this was our backyard. In 2015 we volunteered here for four months in exchange for a campsite on property. It was an amazing experience, but the kids were only four at the time. (This was our actual campsite, just a short walk to the visitor center and trails!)

Asher is really interested in rocks and fossils, so we drove him out to Fossil Ridge to explore. It's a bumpy drive on the gravel road and much farther than it appears from the visitor center, but it was fun.

Along this steep slope, you can find large nautilus fossils inside the ridge's rock. 

Where Lions, Tigers and Teratorns Once Tread

 

Tule Springs Fossil Beds earned the designation of National Monument in 2014. This protects the 22,650 acre area where many Ice Age fossils like Columbian mammoths, dire wolves, two species of giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats and the American lion have been unearthed!  

There is evidence that camels, llamas, horses, pronghorn and bison also lived in this area. The wealth of information held within the ground here is like a time capsule just waiting to be opened to reveal its stories.

While we didn't spot any fossils (no digging allowed), we do enjoy exploring this area. 

Most interesting to me was learning of evidence of a bird I'd never heard about. The Teratorn, unearthed in 1962 was about a third LARGER than the condors we have today! This bird of prey stood about 2.5 feet tall, weighed roughly 33lbs, and had a wingspan between 11-12 feet! 

This protected area covers a huge territory on the north side of Las Vegas up to the shooting range and the wildlife refuge. While it doesn't yet have a visitor center, we were able to see some of the park's information and fossils on display at nearby Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

Mt. Charleston

We spent a couple days on Mt. Charleston. Coming up here is such a great relief from the heat (it's a good 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas)! 

One morning I joined Red Rock Audubon for a guided birding walk at Mt Charleston's Deer Creek where I saw a Cordilleran Flycatcher (lifer)! Our guide, Jeanne, is a fantastic birder and so great at teaching us not just about birds, but also other wildlife like this Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. I was pleased to find out she lives at the wildlife refuge where we lived for four months as work campers. 

After the walk, Daddy and the kids joined me for the Fletcher Canyon hike. I like the variety this trail offers. First you walk thru many trees, low-growing plants once you reach the river crossing, which was dry in June, and then suddenly you're greeted with steep rock walls of the canyon. 

I found a Virginia's Warbler (lifer) calling from the trees!

There were lots of butterflies, most of them tiny, visiting the plants along this section of trail.

We decided to turn around when we encountered boulders and steep walls at the end of the canyon. Asher tried out the natural slide.

Asher spotted a cool skink!

We met a couple along the trail and all of us ended up hiking back to the cars together while enjoying a lovely conversation. Back at the truck, we enjoyed the cooler weather just a little bit longer while eating a picnic lunch.

We always stop at the viewpoint and recently they added a paved trail that takes you down the side a bit to more interpretive signs.

Sadly the lodge at the very top of the mountain has recently burned down. We used to enjoy grabbing lunch or a hot chocolate there during the winter. The main lodge is still around (below). 

Here's a view of the newer visitor center from the road above. My favorite feature is the painted glass. It appears to just be etched, but when you look thru a polarized lens, a vibrant wildlife scene comes to life!