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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
I spent this past weekend out west in Las Vegas. While most people probably don't associate Vegas with birding, there are a few areas close by that offer an opportunity to do just that. We took a little trip over to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for some combined hiking and birding fun. We explored the scenic drive, a 13-mile loop, which offers lots of eye pleasing scenery, overlooks, and a number of great trails. We stopped off at the first trail head, where I saw my first feathered friends, a pair of Western Scrub-Jays. This was my first sighting of the western version of the scrub-jay. They definitely shares the pleasing blue hues with the Florida version!
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| Western Scrub-Jay Red Rock National Conservation Area |
These guys decided to keep giving me the look away. I guess they are a little more standoffish than the jays around home.
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| Western Scrub-Jay Red Rock National Conservation Area |
The trails here at the first pulloff were alittle too steep for the tike so we headed on. We stopped a few miles up the drive at a great little trail that led to a small natural waterfall. There were a number a birds around on this trail. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were abundantly fluttering about the trail, although I couldn't find one on the right side of the trail for some better lighting!
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| Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red Rock National Conservation Area |
I spotted a pair of Sparrows were on the trail up ahead of us as we made our way up, and believe they were Chipping Sparrows, as they were sporting some distinctive rufous caps. Upon arriving at the waterfall, I spotted this guy,
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Red Rock National Conservation Area |
This was my son's first hike on a trail that contained lots of fun obstacles. He got the hang of it pretty quick!
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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
As for blackjack, we didn't really play, I just thought it went with the title...
