As always, even when on vacation, I find time to spend with my feathered friends. Although scorchingly hot and dry with temps in excess of 100 degrees F., the Las Vegas area offers much to birders. Henderson, just outside LV, has a terrific conservation area known as the Bird Viewing Preserve and is a must see area just minutes from "the Strip". Two very knowledgable conservationists gave me a first class tour of their nine sewage ponds yielding Yellow-headed Blackbirds, American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Cinnamon Teals, Ruddys, Greater Yellowlegs, countless Moorhens and Coots and, a lifer for me, White-faced Ibis. Also spotted was a lone Verdin feeding at a Hummingbird station.
The Red Rock Canyon area, although very arid, offered up several Black-throated Sparrows, Scrub Jays and many Cactus Wren. The latter bears no resemblance to a Wren as I know it but is nevertheless. Also seen were several Scott's Orioles near the visitor centre. Alas, I did not see a California Condor while at the Grand Canyon (a few hours from LV) but others did.
Interesting to note is that a lot of the non-water birds I saw were actually panting with beaks wide open. It does get pretty hot. There's no excuse for you gambling birders to take a break and visit some of the great birding areas around Las Vegas.
